As Ridley stared at the toy dispenser she realized she had a problem. Well, it wasn’t necessarily a problem if she didn’t want it to be. The fact was that Ridley only had three quarters. This machine needed two quarters per prize and odds were very low that she would get the… whatever it was inside, on her first try. She sat on the ground and looked around the glass casing. Thinking that this would be a great time to break something and run, she craned her neck around to see if anyone was watching. When she looked straight behind her she saw that—in fact—someone very much was. A tall clean cut man with glasses and a white button up shirt was standing right behind her.

  She supposed he would be handsome if he tried, but based on his clothing choices he looked a bit more book nerdy. He was playing with a large handful of quarters and was attempting to hide a smirk as he picked a couple of coins up and let them trickle back on the pile, letting the coins clink together.

  “Hey… dibs!” She said as she sat down in front of the machine and spread her arms, covering the dispenser entirely.

  “Good day miss. Have you given consideration to scheduling an interview?”

  “What?” She squinted and looked at the man again.

  She gasped as she realized, “You’re the telekinetic guy from the alleyway!”

  He looked panicked as he looked around to make sure nobody overheard her.

  “Young lady, I am not in the telecommunication field and have no idea why you would accuse me of being so. I did notice a lack of your application however.”

  “I am still considering it.” She lied as she had completely forgotten about his job offer.

  “Excellent, I look forward to reading your resume. Do you plan on purchasing a ring?” He asked pointing at the machine.

  “Um… yes. And you?”

  “I plan to purchase a few myself.”

  “Interesting… So, we both like plastic glittery rings with unicorns on them do we?”

  The man's face was a blank as her book report homework as he responded, “It seems we do.”

  Ridley turned around still sitting on the ground. She took her quarters and placed them in the slot. She said a little prayer, then turned the handle. The gears shifted and clicked before a clear plastic container rolled out into Ridley’s hand. She knew—even before turning it over to see a red rose image on the ring—that it wasn’t the mystery item she was looking for.

  “Say… could I get change for a $101 in quarters from you?” Ridley asked without even a hint of shame.

  “…no. I don’t think I have quite that many quarters.” He smiled slightly before sighing. “There is a quarter machine around the corner from here. Although I doubt it takes $100 bills.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  “Can I borrow some quarters?”

  The man looked down in his hand and actually considered it. “I’m afraid not.”

  “Could you, not use this machine until I get enough change to buy all of the rings? Leaving you in a crying puddle of tears and regret?”

  “I’m sorry, but I will have to pass.”

  “COME ON!”

  “…How about this. We likely both want a… collectible ring from this wildly popular… merchandise series. How about we take turns?”

  “You take only one turn while I go get change?”

  “Yes, does that sound fair?”

  “…pinky promise?”

  “I am unfamiliar with the exact rules of a pinky promise, but I assume they are similar to a normal promise.”

  Ridley stuck out her pinky. The man did the same, and they shook pinkies. As soon as they finished she ran for all she was worth to make change for $100 and grab $20 in quarters from the machine. When she returned she let out a sigh, as the man stood there holding a single plastic egg shaped container with a bland green ring in it.

  “Your turn miss…”

  “Ridley.” She told him as she marched up to the dispenser and inserted her quarters again.

  “Alexander.” He replied reaching out his hand. They shook hands, this time signaling the competition had officially begun.

  She twisted the handle causing quarters to clink and rattle into the machine and got a pink sparkly ring with a ladybug on it. She swore under her breath and moved aside for Alexander.

  “So Alex…”

  “Alexander.” He corrected.

  “Alexander, what got you into plastic, elementary school-girl ring collecting?”

  “I suppose the hobby came to me the same way it comes to any young man.” He said as he turned the handle with a click. He was awarded a purple ring with a red heart on it.

  “Oh?” Ridley asked with glee in her voice. “You must have been collecting for a long time if you were still young when you started, but pray tell of the specifics.” She said as she collected a white ring with a picture of a cartoonish diamond and sighed.

  “Simply the thrill of the hunt I suppose.” He put his quarters in and with a click an opaque golden plastic container came out. He looked up to meet eyes with Ridley. She walked closer to him to get a good look at the item that had drawn her here. It radiated pure mystery, and as Alexander opened the container she was able to see a slight glow even in the full sunlight.

  It was a thin gold band ornamented with a small pearl. Four golden wings were on the sides of the pearl, two large ones on the top and two smaller ones on the bottom. It looked to resemble a glowing fairy in flight.

  Ridley looked up at Alexander with puppy dog eyes. He seemingly paid no attention to her as he closed the plastic container. It looked like he hesitated for a second before putting it in his pocket.

  “How unfortunate.” He said aloud in a voice that could only be described as, C-list actorish. “This is obviously not the plastic ring that we were both looking for, as it is not plastic at all.”

  “I like it well enough, so why don’t you give it to me?” Ridley asked hungrily.

  He looked at her blankly before the slightest smile crept on his face. “Maybe I could give it to one of my established employees, as a bonus.”

  Oh, thats dirty, Ridley thought.

  “Fine! I’ll come to your interview. Can I have it now please?” She tried the puppy dog eyes approach again.

  “First thing you should learn, young Ridley, is the rewards of delayed gratification. Does tomorrow at nine work for you?” Alexander asked pulling out his cell phone calendar.

  “Yeeeeees.” She grumbled.

  “I will expect you then… do you need a new flyer?”

  “…yes please.”

  He pulled one out and wrote 9:00 am appointment with Alexander on it and a phone number. Then, with a nod, he left Ridley standing in front of the dispensers.

  “Arrgh!” Ridley shouted before throwing all her rings in the air and marching off. She paused after a few steps and went back to grab the lady bug ring off the ground. She put it on her hand then marched off again to find a burger joint. She deserved a good burger and soda before resuming her quest.