One option would a combination of Hash and Array... @drawers = {} @drawers[ :one ] = [] @drawers[ :two ] = [] @drawers[ :three ] = [] @drawers is a Hash, and each drawer in @drawers is an Array. You could then insert and remove things through these Arrays. thing1 = "This" thing2 = "That" @drawers[ :one ] << thing1 #=> [ "This" ] @drawers[ :one ] << thing2 #=> [ "This", "That ] @drawers[ :one ].delete( thing1 ) #=> ["This"] @drawers[ :one ] #=> [ "That" ] -- Posted via http://www.ruby-forum.com/.