Gloria and the Nearby Parking Meter

Once upon a time there was a man who wasn’t very sane. His name was Gloria. One breezy afternoon the man called Gloria was walking down the busy streets of New York City. He spotted an empty bench with a parking meter in front of it.

“Is this seat taken?” Gloria asked it. He waited a few seconds and sat down. The parking meter smiled.

“My name is Gloria. What’s yours?” The parking meter stayed silent.

“You don’t have a name? I’ll call you…” He paused for a moment and thought and said “Parking meter! I’ll call you parking meter!” Gloria grinned triumphantly at the incredible cleverness of the name he chose.

“The weather outside is wonderful isn’t it parking meter? This is the most perfect day ever, no?” The parking meter wanted to say “No” because in seconds it was pouring rain.

“Oh no!” Gloria cried. He took out an umbrella and sheltered himself and the parking meter.

“Parking meter, you’re the best! No one here ever cared about what I had to say! You’re the best listener in the whole world! I love you!” Gloria hugged it and talked to it for hours, occasionally giving it quarters claiming it was hungry and needed food.

“Do you know the time?” Gloria asked. He looked at the parking meter and it said ‘1:20’ but in a few seconds it read ‘1:19’

“O my gosh I’m late for my ballet recidal! I’ll come back right after I get back, I promise parking meter.” He hugged it again and left.

“Goodbye Gloria” the parking meter whispered.