some water from the fountain That way he would have enough money for a drink and chips or a drink and a chocolate bar or a drink and gummies In the parking lot Dad was talking to Coach Ben Coach Ben was patting him on the shoulder like he was almost finished answering his question If they finished talking while Jasper was inside getting a free drink when Dad came to meet him at the vending machines Jasper wouldn’t be there Then the thing that had happened in the grocery store a long time ago would happen again Dad would run around yelling and waving his arms The loudspeaker would boom out Code Red Code Red Jasper would drop whatever was in his hand change today or a whole carton of blueberries in the grocery store because he was so frightened Apple juice Jasper decided His money clattered down Words started scrolling by on the little screen above the coin slot YOUR SELECTION NOW PLEASE PRESS YOUR SELECTION NOW PLEASE Beep Each of the cans and bottles had a letter and a number The letter and number for apple juice was C3 PRESS YOUR SELECTION NOW PLEASE PRESS YOUR SELECTION Beep NOW PLEASE PRESS YOUR Beep Beep BEEP Hurry Hurry Jasper pressed C on the keypad then 3 Scary noises whirrs and rumbles and clanks started up The
whole machine shook with these sounds A can shot forward held by the machine’s claws The machine seemed to be showing Jasper the can it was red and black with a picture of a torpedo on it When the claws let go the can crashed to the bottom of the machine and rolled out of view Jasper squatted He was almost afraid to push against the door and see the drink waiting there Because apple juice came in bottles not cans Also he was pretty sure that apple juice would have a happy face not a torpedo He reached inside and took out the can the can of Torpedo High Energy Drink He pressed it to his cheek Cold
Cold and so so Bad In the parking lot Coach Ben was loading a big net bag of soccer balls into the trunk of his car Dad was still asking Why Dad might not let Jasper drink the Bad drink even though he’d already bought it But if Jasper opened it and started drinking now he would at least get to taste some of the Bad drink before he had to pour it out He stepped around the side of the machine where Dad wouldn’t see him and pulled the tab First came the sound of a torpedo firing Fizzy brown liquid bubbled out and over his hand Jasper leaned away from the can When he was sure it wouldn’t explode he changed hands and licked the sweet drink off his fingers His tongue prickled like there were tiny bombs going off in his mouth Wow he said Jasper Dad shouted making Jasper swing around and splash Bad drink onto Dad’s pants Jasper shrank down He looked from the can to Dad’s pants then up to his face
Dad said You scared me I looked over and you weren’t here He was breathing hard from running all the way from the parking lot He didn’t seem to notice the Bad drink splash on his pants Come here Jasper he said grabbing him and hugging so hard that some of the Bad drink spurted out of the can like water in a fountain It spurted up the back of Dad’s jacket Phew he said On the way to the car Dad squeezed and unsqueezed Jasper’s shoulder Remember that time You were about three I guess I lost you in the grocery store Yes Jasper said holding the Bad drink out so he wouldn’t get splashed too while Dad squeezed him I do remember It was horrible I felt like that just now And Dad squeezed him even harder
