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Chapter 5

Author: Roaring River
Out of the hundred grand, once I cleared my old debt and bought Rory's freedom, I had twenty thousand left.

I threw it down on a tiny place—just four hundred square feet. Barely fit the two of us, but it was ours.

It also meant I was back in debt. And now I had a kid to feed. Time to hustle even harder slinging mini burritos.

***

From the day I adopted Rory, I banned him from working the stand. School came first. No exceptions.

Every morning, I left early. Came home late.

Then one day, mid-burrito rush, my phone rang.

"Is this Rory's mother? He hasn't been showing up to afternoon classes. His grades are solid, but this still breaks school policy..."

My brain went static. Loud, buzzing static.

Rory always got home late. If he wasn't at school... where was he?

I ditched the stand that afternoon and tailed him.

He slipped into a scrapyard, greeting the workers like it was his second home.

"Rory!" My voice shot up before I could stop it. "Why aren't you in school? What are you doing here?"

He jerked around, eyes wide. "I... I just—"

"Just what?"

I was ready to let him have it—until I saw the fresh cuts on his wrist and the new calluses on his hands.

The anger evaporated, leaving a hard, painful twist in my chest.

I ruffled his hair. "What's going on in that head of yours? Skipping class?"

He flinched, like he expected me to scream. "You work so hard... and now there's the mortgage, and soon my school fees... I'm just this bottomless burden. I'm sorry. I'm dragging you down."

That broke me.

Too thoughtful. Too damn good.

"You're a kid. What can you even earn? It's just us now. We're not rich, but I'm not letting you go hungry. Your job is to study. Got it?"

His eyes welled up.

I messed up his hair again.

"Study hard. Get into a good high school, then college. Build your own life. And hey—once you're killing it out there, if you wanna hand me cash, cool. But not now. Deal?"

Rory pressed his lips together. "Okay. I'll make something of myself. I'll give you a good life."

I smiled. "I believe you."

He added, "I'll help you buy back your family home."

That got me. "Yeah, you will."

I talked to the scrapyard supervisor and brought Rory home.

Stopped by a pharmacy—those cuts on his hands needed disinfectant and bandages.

When I came out, Rory waved from across the street.

"I got it! Stay there—I'll grab you ice cream!"

Then—

A deafening roar.

A runaway truck. Coming right at me.

The pharmacy front blew apart in a spray of glass and wood.

Blood. Screaming. Chaos.

Rory's eyes went huge. His face went paper white.

He bolted toward the wreck, panic in every step. "Mom—!"

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  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 10

    "Yeah," Winona said. "Rory and I have zero painting skills. We've been learning this whole time..."I glanced at the canvas—let's just say it had "abstract vibes."My mouth twitched.So even the novel's golden girl and future psycho villain had things they totally bombed at.Back in my old life, I was an orphan. Never had a real birthday.This was the first time I got to celebrate one—not alone, but with a family.And for once, I actually knew what happy felt like.***Life settled fast. My burrito livestreams blew up, turning me into a mini local celeb. Money rolled in, and I knocked out the mortgage way ahead of schedule.Rory and Winona took the SATs—and crushed it.That summer, top colleges wouldn't stop blowing up our phone. Rory topped STEM. Winona ruled Arts.Even the food vendor street got hyped—balloons, posters, chalkboards shouting "Congrats Rory & Winona!"Proudest moment of my life.But what really hit? Knowing I'd changed their whole story.In the original n

  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 9

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  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 8

    Days rolled by like that until one night, after a long shift, I whipped up some shrimp and beef mini burritos for Rory and Winona.They were posted up at the tiny table, about to dig in—quiet, chill.Then out of nowhere, someone stepped up behind Winona. The table flipped. A crack echoed as a hand slapped her hard across the face.Winona didn't even dare to look back. She just covered her face, trembling.Then the woman grabbed a fistful of her hair and yanked, trying to drag her out.Still rocking my apron, I ran up and shoved her off. "Who the hell do you think you are, hitting a kid like that?"Rory jumped in front of Winona.The woman's pretty face twisted with rage. "Why can't I? She's my daughter. Broke, probably stole just to eat here! So what if I slapped her? Even if I beat her to death, she deserved it!"Yeah—stepmom Linda.She lunged at Winona, who was clinging to Rory. "You little brat, get home now. You'll regret this later."I blocked her again. "You lay one mor

  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 7

    By the time I snapped out of it, I was already walking Winona into the corner market for some warm, fresh bread.When we came back... there it was. Twisted metal, glass everywhere.Good thing my soft heart kicked in. Good thing Winona showed up when she did.Otherwise? I'd be roadkill.I didn't get hit, but the driver ghosted. Straight-up hit-and-run. News vans swarmed the scene.After that, Rory stopped swinging by after school. Started coming home late, sometimes all bruised up.Something felt off. So the next day, I tailed him.Found him by his old place.Some guy was facedown, drunk, bleeding out on the pavement.And Rory?He was going off—fists flying, totally unhinged.Then I saw the guy's face.Donald.He locked eyes with me. "Help me...""Rory! What the hell are you doing?"He froze for half a second, fist mid-air—then kept swinging."I know you blew it all again. If you come near us one more time, I swear I'll drag you to hell myself!""I didn't!" Donald's voi

  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 6

    Rory's breath hitched, chest tight like someone had their fist around his heart.Everything went gray.He bolted for the pharmacy, vision swimming, lips quivering.Just a few steps left, but in his head, it was all 'Please, please, please. Let her be okay.'Up close? It was a full-blown nightmare.A deep red truck sat there like a punch to the gut.The pharmacy's front wall? Gone. Just rubble now.The exact spot where Maya stood—flattened.Chunks of debris everywhere.His nose burned. He charged in, tearing at the wreckage with raw hands."You said you'd stay," he choked out. "Said you'd never leave. So where are you? Come on—come out!"Maya's face started to twist into his mom's.His chest tightened, panic rising fast.He couldn't lose someone else.Not again.Part of him believed it—that the others were right. That he was cursed.That anyone who cared about him was doomed.He kept digging, tearing through the wreckage.But there was nothing.He was unraveling, but

  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 5

    Out of the hundred grand, once I cleared my old debt and bought Rory's freedom, I had twenty thousand left.I threw it down on a tiny place—just four hundred square feet. Barely fit the two of us, but it was ours.It also meant I was back in debt. And now I had a kid to feed. Time to hustle even harder slinging mini burritos.***From the day I adopted Rory, I banned him from working the stand. School came first. No exceptions.Every morning, I left early. Came home late.Then one day, mid-burrito rush, my phone rang."Is this Rory's mother? He hasn't been showing up to afternoon classes. His grades are solid, but this still breaks school policy..."My brain went static. Loud, buzzing static.Rory always got home late. If he wasn't at school... where was he?I ditched the stand that afternoon and tailed him.He slipped into a scrapyard, greeting the workers like it was his second home."Rory!" My voice shot up before I could stop it. "Why aren't you in school? What are you

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    I knew instantly—it was Donald, Rory's dad.He was beating Rory with a broom, swinging like a maniac.The neighbors didn't even blink. This wasn't new.I sprinted over and grabbed the broom mid-swing. "He's a kid. You lay another hand on him, I'm calling the cops."Rory looked up at me, eyes ful

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    Watching this kid—who'd one day wreck the world—treat one meal like it was gold, I blurted, "Spring break's coming. Want to help at the stand? I'll cover your food."His whole face lit up. "Really?""Yup. We'll be at the tourist spot. It gets insane, and I need backup." I ruffled his wild hair. "Y

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    Kids that age—twelve, maybe thirteen—they're still growing. They need real food, not junk.I was just about to drizzle the sauce and bring out the next round when—Smack!A small table near the cart flipped over outta nowhere."Look at you. No mom, crappy dad, and you're out here eating like you

  • Saving Kids With Burritos   Chapter 1

    I laughed. "Three bucks is enough. You're even getting shrimp and egg."Rory blinked, stunned. "Seriously?"I grabbed a few tortillas from the warmer, slapped them on the griddle. "Seriously. Go grab a seat."He picked a corner spot, rubbing his hands and watching me like I was magic.As I flipp

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