The Machine That Knew Best

Selin worked in a small office. A vending machine stood in the hall. It was old and very loud.

One morning, Selin was hungry. She put a coin in the slot. She pressed B4. B4 was a chocolate bar.

The machine shook. Something dropped into the tray. Selin looked inside. It was a small blue pen.

"I wanted chocolate," she said. "Not a pen."

Her coworker Wren walked into the hall with his cup. He looked at the pen and smiled.

"Oh, that machine is strange," Wren said. "It gives you what you need."

"I do not need a pen," said Selin.

"Wait and see," said Wren.

Selin went back to her desk. She had a form to sign. Her own pen was dry. She signed the form with the new blue pen. It worked very well.

Selin ran back to the hall. Wren was there again. He put a coin in the machine and pressed A2. A2 was a bag of cheese crackers.

A small box dropped into the tray. It was a box of tissues.

"Hmm," said Wren. Then he sneezed three times. His nose was full.

"You need that box," said Selin.

"Yes, I do," said Wren. He took a tissue.

Selin wanted to try again. She put in a coin and pressed C1. C1 was a cola. The machine gave her a bottle of cold water.

Selin drank it fast. She was very thirsty. She did not know that before.

"This machine is better than me," she said.

"It is better than all of us," said Wren.

The next day, Selin came to work early. Her boss, Inge, stood by her desk.

"Selin, we have a big meeting at noon," said Inge. "Please show the new plan to everyone."

"Yes, of course," said Selin.

She opened her bag. Her notes were not there. Now she knew the problem. She put the notes in her desk drawer last night. The drawer was locked. The key was at home.

Selin pulled the drawer. It did not move. She pulled again. Nothing happened.

It was a quarter to twelve. The meeting room was down the hall. Selin had no time to go home. She looked at the clock. Then she looked at the hall.

She ran to the machine. She put in a coin. She pressed B4 very hard.

The old machine hummed and rattled. Something small dropped into the tray.

It was a silver key.

Selin held the key in her hand. She did not understand. Then she did. It was small and cold. She ran back to her desk. She pushed the key into the lock. It turned.

The drawer opened. Her notes were inside.

"Thank you, machine," Selin said. She took the notes and ran to the meeting room.

Inge was at the door. She looked at the clock and then at Selin.

"You are on time," said Inge.

Selin gave her plan to everyone. She spoke slowly and clearly. Wren nodded at every page. The meeting was short. It went well.

"Good work," said Inge. "Now go and eat something."

After the meeting, Selin went back to the hall. She was very hungry now. She put in a coin and pressed B4.

The tray clicked. A chocolate bar dropped into the tray. Selin opened it and took a big bite.