A vending machine, a glass of root beer, and a green apple.

Today was supposed to be picture-prompt day, but I really wasn't comfortable with using a picture of a bug so I'm switching Wednesday and Thursday for this week only. Without further ado...

After hours of sitting in the hospital waiting room Tom's stomach rumbled, reminding him that it was time to eat. In an effort to silence it, he walked over to the vending machines to see what they had to offer. One contained all your regular choices--chips, candy, cookies, everything that could send your blood pressure soaring or put you in a diabetic coma. Considering he was starving, it all looked really good and he wanted one of each. Next he saw a machine filled with sandwiches, even a hot dog. He eyed the hot dog, wondering if he should try one. He knew they wouldn't be as good as the ones at the ballpark, but he suddenly found himself craving one as he looked at the picture. He could see himself taking a bite of it and downing a nice cold glass of root beer. His friends always made fun of him for not drinking a real beer, but he really loved root beer. It was his favorite drink.

Before he could make a decision, he felt someone grab his hand and put something in it. When he looked down he saw a shiny green apple. He looked up to see his wife staring at him and he gave her a questioning look. She replied, "I'm not going to miss seeing our grandson for the first time because you ate something bad and had to be checked into the hospital."

As she walked back to their chairs, he took a bite out of his apple while looking longingly at the treats in the vending machines, then made his way back to his wife.