break would begin. It would be a short break and Mary would have to rush to reach the
nearest vending machine. Now it was time. Mary jumped up, grabbed her purse and was
off to the underground tunnel that led to the nearest snack haven. She darted into the
dank passageway and was drawn to the bright light at the other end. She started running,
oblivious to the curious looks of her fellow travelers. Success she was there. Nirvana,
the vending machine! By this time her hunger had made her aggressive and intolerant.
She growled at the indecisive people ahead of her, and patiently tapping her foot and
sighing heavily to signal her distress. Finally it was her turn.
Mary nervously fumbled with the change trying to force it into the slot, she
pressed the cryptic buttons with scientific skill, and down came one scrumptious
Pepperidge Farm tan and brown package of chocolate chip cookies, followed instantly by
a Pringles brilliant yellow bag of flavored potato chips. Like a furtive little mouse, she
snatched the tiny packages out of the machine and scurried off to a vacant bench in a
darkened corner where she could curl up with a bit of privacy and devour her prizes. She
at first could not think of anything other than ending the cravings. She opened the
package with the deft hands of a surgeon, and began devouring the food.
As her hunger subsided, Mary’s thoughts began to drift. She was a child again. It
was warm and sunny and she was happy. She was at the McClain County Fair. She had
forgotten how much she loved the sweet creamy taste of chocolate chip cookies followed
by the salty tang of fresh fried potato chips. She was walking down the fairway and the
exotic aroma of baking cookies mingled with the heavy scent of a percolating deep fryer
instantly made her feel young and carefree again. She could taste the hot, melted chunks
of chocolate coating her throat and savor the contrasting salty residue which she dearly
loved to lick from her fingers as she filled her mouth with the thick, delectable chips.
She was so very happy.
Mary was startled by the hand on her shoulder. Suddenly she was back in the
darkened corner and was being asked again, for an explanation for her tardiness. Mary
turned to sit up straight, the now empty tan and brown package along with the empty
yellow bag fell to the floor. Mary glanced down at them and smiled knowingly.
