Crank and Roll

A bright red gumball machine parked outside the laundromat was practically screaming for a mechanical audit. Naturally, I couldn’t leave prime rotary gears uninspected! I scurried up the cast-iron pedestal and dropped right onto the chrome coin housing. Big problem: a bent copper penny was wedged sideways in the slot, locking the internal tumbler rigid. Mechanical injustice! Planting my boots firmly against the scarlet enamel, I wrapped both gloves around the heavy chrome turn-key and put my full body weight into a sharp twist. Clack-chunk! The brass teeth caught, the cylinder ratcheted forward with a glorious metallic snap, and a bright blue gumball rattled down the spiral chute. Sweet justice served!