50 Whole Cents

You know what can ruin your day faster than anything else?  The vending machine not dropping what you just spent 50 whole cents to buy.  It makes it seem like the entire world is out to get you.  If I had only know that such a dramatic occurrence would happen with my 50 cents I would have more wisely spent it.  That 50 cents could have bought a new pair of  shoes (remember how my "new" converse tennis shoes only cost me 50 cents at a yard sale).  That 50 cents could have bought at least 1 stamp with a couple of cents left over to mail a letter.  No, instead it was lost forever in the recesses of the ungiving vending machine.