The Exploding Churros

Wherein I take a band name from Scalzi’s Next Band Name list, and spend no more than 20 minutes writing the story with the band name as a title.

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Jenny, Lisa and Elizabeth sat down at the outside table and put their lunch trays down before pulling off their backpacks and setting them down on the ground next to their feet. They managed to grab one of the best tables: not only did it face out into the lunch area, it has a shade that still functioned as a shade. The girls sat as best they could to put their backs to the wall, not wanting to miss anything that might happen at lunch.

Today was tacos day, and really, the only thing good about tacos day was that the dessert was Mexican flan or churros. Since the flan was always rubbery, the girls chose the churros. Lisa was convinced the school cooks put something addictive into the churros, because no one she knew could eat only one, and everyone was too full to eat two, yet always managed to finish the second one. Elizabeth agreed with Lisa.

As they started to eat lunch, Jenny heard her name being called. She immediately turned to her friends, “Whatever you do, don’t answer him,” she half-whispered to them.

“Why not?” Lisa asked back, leaning in close.

“Because it’s Jeremy.” Jenny said.

Elizabeth leaned in, too. “You know, I don’t know what your problem with him is. I mean, come on, look at him, he’s really good looking.”

“And good at soccer,” Lisa responded.

“And somewhat smart,” Elizabeth added.

“Did we mention good looking?”

“Well off.”

“Popular.”

“Stop it, you two. You both know why,” Jenny said.

“He hasn’t really done anything recently,” Elizabeth commented.

Jenny heard Jeremy call her name again. She glared at her friends. “Just don’t.” They stopped talking just as Jeremy hustled up to the table, and hovered near the edge.

“Uh, hi, Jenny,” he said.

She glared up at him.

When she didn’t answer, he shuffled from foot to foot for a bit, before asking, “So, uh, can I have your churro?”

Stunned, Jenny retorted, “No. No, you can’t have my churro.”

“Please?”

“Why would you ask that? No. Go away.”

Jeremy didn’t move.

“Go. Away.”

“I really need your churro.”

“What? No, you don’t.”

“Uh, yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yeah,” he reached up and scratched the back of his head. “I really, really do.”

Jenny looked up at his suspiciously. “Why?”

“Come on, please?” He leaned over the table.

“No.”

Jeremy reached out quickly, grabbed the churro from Jenny’s tray.

“Hey!” Jenny yelled at him, standing to grab back her dessert.

Jeremy turned and flung it into the air over the lunch crowd. As it started to fly over the fence on the outside of the lunch area, it exploded, sending small churro bits in many directions.

After watching the churro pieces fall to the ground, Jenny turned back to her friends. “See? Do you see what I mean? Every day! He does this every day!” she yelled, as she turned to glare at Jeremy.

“Just means he likes you,” Lisa said.

“Besides, he just saved you from today’s,” Elizabeth said.

“He’s cute,” Lisa continued.

“Soccer,” Elizabeth added.

“Somewhat smart.”

“I’m right here,” Jeremy commented.

All three girls turned to look him.

“Yep,” Lisa said.