A Reason to Come Back

The old vending machine at the train station had one job: give people snacks.

One night, it gave a man an extra candy bar by accident. The man stared at

it. “Thanks,” he whispered, like the machine might take it back. The next night,

he came again. Same machine. Same button. Two candy bars dropped. Word spread.

People lined up. Pressing buttons. Waiting. Watching. Sometimes it worked.

Sometimes it didn’t. Then one night, the machine stopped working completely. A sign appeared

the next morning: **OUT OF ORDER.** People walked past, disappointed. Except the man.

He smiled, patted the machine, and walked away. Because the best thing it ever gave