The Vending Machine

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Raizy sat curled up on the couch her head tilted to the window. The streets were silent and empty mirroring how she felt inside. Time was crawling by slowly. Raizy stood up and sluggishly opened the fridge. She stared at its contents for several moments until she finally shut it with a grimace. She traveled on to the pantry scanned it for a while and reluctantly retrieved a bag of chips. Raizy sank back onto the couch by the window. When would this hot dreary day end? 

And then she saw her from the window. Her classmate Nechama walking down the long street carrying her guitar on her back. Raizy pitied her; she must be so hot! Nechama continued on and stopped in front of the nursing home and Raizy watched Nechama make her entrance through the home’s double doors. 

Raizy realized that Nechama must have gone to play the guitar for elderly women. She knew Nechama lived far away and thought it was amazing that she came all the way here to do chesed! Raizy was very impressed. She thought of herself living practically across the street from the nursing home and never once had she gone to visit. At that very moment Raizy decided she would do this chesed as well. 

Grabbing the phone she excitedly dialed her neighbor’s number.