“HEY, BOZO! DON’T YOU KNOW SIMPLE MATH?! YOU OWE ME TEN CENTS!” Madeline yelled.

“W-what? Oh, I am so sorry… I thought I gave you the correct amount…” the cart owner said, grabbing a dime out of the cash register. “There you go, I am so sorry for the inconvenience…”

“NOW GET ME MY FOOD!” Madeline yelled.

“Aye aye aye!” the cart owner exclaimed, handing over all the burritos and the churro bites bag. “Have a good day, ma’am.”

“Hmph, it would have been a good day if you didn’t try to cheat me,” Madeline grumbled as she walked away.

Chase shuffled anxiously; would there be enough churro bites left? Jane stepped forward to order. She was still feeling a bit full from the Rat-Wolf she ate earlier, so she ordered a small bean burrito with tomatoes and a small bag of churro bites. Her order was $7.42.

“I’m sorry my mother was being rude,” Jane said, handing over a $10 bill. “Keep the change.”

“Thank you,” the cart owner said, on the verge of tears.

“Alright! Finally it is my turn!” Chase said excitedly. “Can I get ten large burritos with everything on them and a large bag of churro bites?!”

“Oh, well…we’re fresh out of churro bites,” the cart owner said, cowering.

“…that’s alright…” Chase said, sounding defeated. “It’s only to be expected… Can I add three chicken quesadillas to my order, then?”

“Alright, that’ll be $152.64,” the cart owner said.

“Ah, okay. Here, keep the change,” Chase said, handing over a $500 bill.

“What in the heck, man?!” the cart owner exclaimed. “This has got to be counterfeit!”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The cart owner throughly examined the bill. Looking at a picture for reference, he squinted, deep in thought. Again, he held up the $500 bill to the sunlight. Shaking his head, he stashed it away.

“I don’t know where you found that, but thanks. Hey, there’s like, one churro bite left at the bottom of the bucket. It’s the least I can do for you,” the cart owner said, handing over the churro bite.

“Thanks, I’ll cherish this bite. Have a good day,” Chase said.

Chase received his burritos and quesadillas and left. The others had been waiting for him, using his shirt as a beach towel. Chase grinned and sat on the sleeve of his shirt next to his friends. Madeline took a big bite out of one of her burritos.

“WAIT A MINUTE! WHERE’S MY BEEF?!” Madeline shrieked.

“You ordered yours without beef,” Jane pointed out.

“No, I did not!” Madeline argued. “THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!”

Madeline was about to stand up. Thomas reached over and shoved his other beef burrito into her mouth. Madeline calmed down immediately. Chase laughed and began consuming his food.

“Chase, didn’t you want churro bites?” Jane asked, realizing that Chase had no churro bites.

“Y-yeah, I mean, I got one…” Chase said.

“Aw… Here, have mine,” Jane said.

“No, keep it. I don’t need churro bites…” Chase said.

Jane leaned against Chase and put a churro bite in his mouth from her bag. Chase accepted the food even though he denied wanting any. The next few minutes were spent dining on the burritos as the waves crashed against the beach.

Suddenly, Jane noticed something strange. A scraggly gray and Sandy orange creature was surfing in the ocean. At first, Jane thought it might be someone’s well trained dog. Nope. It was the Rat-Wolf.

“Wait a minute! Didn’t I eat the Rat-Wolf?!” Jane asked.

“What?” Thomas asked, staring at Jane in confusion.

Jane pointed out at the ocean. Thomas, shielding his eyes with one hand, scanned the area. The Rat-Wolf was gone. Jane sighed and shook her head; perhaps the heat was getting to her again.

Jane got up and walked up the edge of the water. As scared as she was of potentially getting swept away, she wanted to feel the cool rush of water on her burning hot feet. The wet sand at the edge of the water was also nice and cool. Chase walked up and loomed over her like a living wall.

“Hi,” he whispered.

“Chase!” Jane said, staring up at the girthy fellow.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t get a more private experience here,” Chase said.

“It’s alright,” Jane said. “You’ve been trying so hard, and that’s what matters.”

“Pretty ocean, am I right? Hah hah…though, you know…doesn’t compare to your beauty,” Chase said.

“I love you,” Jane murmured, leaning her head against his body.