THE VENDING MACHINE

     As I left Vision Australia, I was relieved to have another newsletter ready for distribution. I headed to Kooyong station,  for the 90 minutes trip home. I approached the railway crossing to access my platform when the bells started, and the boom gates lowered blocking my way. I soon realized it was my train that was pulling out of the station.

     I was not too perturbed, as the next train was only 15 minutes away. Feeling a little peckish, I thought of returning to the cafeteria at Vision Australia for a sandwich. I decided a snack bar from the vending machine at the station would suffice. 

     I approached the machine at the entrance to the station realizing I would need some assistance to decide on, and purchase my selection. I heard the ‘klock, klock, klock’ of high heels approaching. I asked the lady if she would mind helping me buy a snack bar?

     The lady stopped in her tracks and said obligingly, “What would you like?” I explained that coconut was a favourite, so mentioned, “either a Cherry Ripe or Bounty bar”. The lady responded that she liked coconut too, but was unable to see anything containing it on display.

     I settled on another choice as she detailed what was available. The lady told me it would cost $2.50. I held out $5 in gold coins, so she could take the necessary money. After inserting $3 into the machine, she told me, “Only $2 has been recognized by the machine.”

     I told her not to worry, and offered her another dollar coin to make up the cost. The lady inserted the extra coin and we heard the change drop into it’s receptacle. The lady was relieved to see my previous dollar was returned along with my 50 cents change. Then reality hit that the snack bar had not dropped!

     The lady described to me that it is on a spiral and was teetering on its way, but not far enough. She tried to access it through the bottom tray, but this was impossible. I suggested I give the vending machine a solid bump on the side with my weight behind my shoulder. This made no difference, the bar would not budge.

     Not wanting to delay the lady any further, I thanked her for her efforts and asked if there was a phone number on the machine so I could report the malfunction and perhaps save others the same inconvenience and monetary loss. The lady wrote down the number so I could call the company on my arrival home.

     We parted ways as I thanked her again for her time.

     Once on the station, I took my backpack off and reorganized its load. After ten minutes, the feeling of hunger returned. I wandered back to the vending machine to check if by magic my purchase may have dropped.

     I gave the machine another unrewarded bump, and was feeling in the bottom tray for any offering. Then I heard ‘klock, klock, klock’ again. A voice called, “Excuse me, excuse me” and I stood to be greeted by the lady who had helped me earlier. She approached and extended her hand which presented me with a Summer Bar.

     ”My favourite coconut snack bar”, she said.

     The lady turned on her heels and returned from where she came.

     That snack bar was something special. I believe we both felt  very happy with the outcome of the Vending Machine Incident.

     When I returned home, I rang the vending machine company to advise them of the malfunction. A week later, I received a $2 money order in the mail. Their $2 would never replace the wonderful moment of my lady stranger and her Summer Bar.