Alarm clock ringing up a storm, the hyena practically buried himself deeper into the covers. Man, he could barely sleep last night. Is it the jetlag? Maybe it had been. How long before it would wear off? He supposed it would take some time before he could adjust to the seven hour time difference. But, no matter, it was time to get up and start the day.

Steak monster from the day prior flashing through his brain, the college graduate bit his tongue. Scream not releasing, sweat poured down his neck. That creature, it came out when he was cutting into the steak. Could those rumors be true about food ghosts haunting people really be true after all? He still couldn't get what Strix said the other day.

Reaching for his phone, the food enthusiast opened up the web browser. Gazing at the anonymous blog, he checked his comment. But, as expected, the person hadn't responded. Sighing, he put the device away. Who knows when or if they'll even say anything? It's far from likely they will. Who knows if they ever even update this thing or if they're even alive? He didn't have time to worry about such things, he needed get up and make breakfast.

Hopping out of the bed, the young adult fixed the bed cover. He needed to keep his blanket neat and tidy. Maybe he should take the time to do some laundry later today. But ah, no, not yet, too soon for sure. Heading for his drawers, he removed a set of clothes from the bottom container. He'd better hurry, didn't everyone have work today? He had lost track of their schedules over the years.

Leaping into the restroom, the chimera swore he could hear something screaming out the window somewhere. But, he shook his head to such. No, he was surely imagining it. The children neighbors next door were up to their usual summer schemes again, weren't they? How old were they now? Nine, ten? Whatever, he supposed it doesn't matter. He almost never interacted with the neighbors in any capacity.

Shampoo practically ready to burn his eyes, the screams kept on going. Man, who lets their youngsters play in the pool at seven in the morning?! Isn't that an afternoon activity? The neighbors, whoever they are, they should make a hard rule to wait until at least noon for that! But, oh well, why bother complaining? He can't fix something that isn't broken.

Cleansing reaching its end, the chimera puffed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Deigr and Coiote weren't here. They'd demand to use his bathroom right about now. Didn't they know that this one was for him, Leah and Natalie only? There were two other restrooms in this house, they could use theirs. But, he supposed he was lucky they were with their boyfriends right now.

Hairdryer freely breezing through his locks, a glittery pink shirt with a rainbow toaster pastry on it reflected in the mirror. Silky golden short skirt practically flittering through the air, the chimera did a little twirl. Was he looking sharp or what? But, maybe he should wear some stockings underneath. Towel plopped over his dripping head, he sprinted back towards his room.

Pitch black stockings nearly ripping as he placed them over his legs, the hyena groaned. Maybe it's about time he got some new ones. These stockings were old and falling apart. But, it'll have to do for now. He could feel a chill drop down his spine as he thought such. Surely, they wouldn't rip any further if his feet transformed, right? Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

Bristles pressing softly against his hair, the young adult placed his right hand on his chin. What should he make for breakfast this morning? Maybe he could make some toaster pastry pancakes with a meaty center. Did they still have any boxes of the cinnamon ones? Probably not. He guessed crumbling something else would have to do if so.

Clicking the matching cinnamon hairpins and earrings into place, the chimera reached for his apron. Do not kiss the cook, it's gross cloth upon him, he reached for his tablet instantly. Time to get started with the day! Reaching for the waffle maker, he headed for the cabinet down below.

Bowl soon plopped onto the table, the hyena plugged in the little waffle maker. Man, was he lucky his dorm let him take everything he bought on his school budget from the store. There was no way he would part with this innovative breakfast making tool! This thing was more useful than an air fryer! Okay, maybe not, but he can dream.

Pancake batter removed from the pantry, the toaster pastry box had been slammed upon the counter. Sausage removed from the refrigerator, he studied the countless areas of note. It looks like they were running low on food. Ugh, he was going to have to go shopping today, wasn't he? Might as well. It's not like he had anything better to do.

Everything placed on the table, the chimera could hear the lock turn inward somewhere. Practically dropping the pancake mix, the questions had begun to roll. Had mother and father finally returned from their excursion? But another worse option soon awaited him in an instant. Familiar heeled shoes stomping upon the welcome mat, his eyebrows twitched. Oh, great, guess who finally came back? Here come the insults.

"I'm home, Pira, wake up and make me a latte!" a demanding voice cried. "Ugh, look who it is. I was hoping you'd take a couple more years to graduate."

Complaining in the dining room in the corner had been a short adult humanoid appearing woman with light purple hair pulled into two twin drills. Light green eyes practically covered to the brim with makeup, her wings were quite awful looking. Didn't anyone teach Deigr how to put on makeup properly? Probably not. What a sham of a woman approaching her late thirties.

"What?! You mean he's back?!" the other voice groaned. "I was hoping he wouldn't so we could give his room to my boyfriend!"

Groaning in the dining room had been a short approaching middle age humanoid appearing woman with curly white purple haired that had been left down. Locks swept to the left going towards her shoulder, the chimera tried to stop himself from cracking his knuckles. First of all, who gave her permission to take his room? White button down blouse and rather tight jeans practically exposing her rump, she too had horrible looking makeup making her light violet eyes look like trash. This woman was almost forty now, why couldn't Coiote act like it? Reaching for his tablet he scribbled away.

[Well, too bad. I graduated on time, and I have a culinary license now, so I'm here to stay.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"Hmph, we thought that you'd take at least fifteen years to graduate!" Deigr cried. "Now, hurry up and make me a latte!"

[Oh, sorry, would you look at that? We're out of coffee beans!] Slow sliding text across his tablet screamed.

"Forget him, Deigr, he's hopeless," Coiote cried. "I bet he's making those stupid experiments for breakfast again. You should have taken a few more years to graduate!"

Sisters stomping off, the young adult held in the urge to groan. How immature were these two? They just wanted to take it out on him that they weren't successfully able to conceive yet again, weren't they? How annoying. Whatever, forget them, it's time to get cooking! Egg cracked, the chimera giggled. Man, these cinnamon sausage pancakes are going to be so tasty!

But, as he poured in the pancake mix, a chill dropped down his spine. What if another food monster decided to visit him while cooking? There was no way he could prepare himself for that if so. What should he do, and how should he deal with this in the future? He would need to figure out a way to eliminate them as soon as possible.

Sausages heated up and ready to go, the toaster pastries had been buried within the batter. Hopefully that cinnamon kick would pair well with the juice. He remembered when he first found this recipe a few years ago and how much he wanted to try it. His roommates weren't a fan, but with a little modification, this would definitely be perfect!

Reaching for the whisk, the hyena stirred up a storm. Oh, he could smell the meaty sausage now! Batter ready to go, he plugged the good old waffle maker in. Batter poured in, he reached for the plates. He supposed six would do. Or maybe five? He hardly knew his sibling's schedules anymore these days.

Waffle maker dinging, the chimera reached for the spatula. He needed to flip them over to the backside. First batch of four almost ready, he could hear the splashes through the window once again. Gazing through the paned glass, his eyebrows twitched. As he suspected, the neighbor kids are in that swimming pool already! Rich kids, he swears.

First batch ready to go, he plopped in the second one. Maybe four for everyone would do. Would there be enough batter for that? Hopefully so. Continuing the process for what felt like an hour, his apron was close to being decorated with sweat. Man, it had been so long since he got to use this waffle maker, he forgot how steamy it can make a room.

Final batch plopped onto everyone's plate, the chimera reached for his phone in his back pocket. Eight o'clock on the dot. Tea poured, he set the table. No food monsters in sight, the chimera huffed a sigh of relief. Maybe he happened to daydream that whole thing yesterday. There was no way those stories were real anyway, right? Of course not.

Feet barreling towards the dining room every which way, the chimera tossed the mitts in the drawer. So, everyone still wakes up at around eight in the morning. Some things never change. Noses sniffing up a storm, a sea of eyes had soon turned towards him. Oh, no, they weren't going to like this, were they?

"I smell sausage," Hase said. "Siorc, did you make that sausage pancake recipe trending online?"

[I did. Sorry, do you not like it?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"No, it's great, actually, we've been trying to make it for quite awhile now, but we always seem to ruin it. Right, Leah?"

"Yeah, we either water down the batter too much, or burn the sausage so much it's practically charcoal!" Leah cried.

"Or, we end up measuring stuff wrong," Pira said. "Too much sugar, too much batter, needless to say the kitchen's always a disaster while you weren't around, kiddo."

[Don't worry about measuring, I can help with that now that I'm back.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"That's our brother," Pira said, warm smile on his face. "They smell really good."

"Come on, dears, let's eat, we have to leave for work soon," Natalie said.

"Ya don't hafta say that twice," Varg said. "Let's eat."

Everyone practically gobbling the pancakes into nothing in an instant, the hyena blinked. Were they really that good? Maybe he should have made some more. Should he have woken up a little earlier and made some extras? He should have. He'll have to keep that in mind for next time, he supposed. Nibbling on his batch, the meaty juicy center nearly sent him to heaven.

Gulping down the tea, the food enthusiast practically burst into tears. Man, that really hit the spot. Maybe he should have made some more. But, maybe later. There was hardly any pancake mix left, what a shame. Well, no matter, he would be buying more shortly after this anyway. Maybe he could even get some other things he had been missing from good old Italy.

"Man, those were good! Next time, please make more!" Hase cried. She then headed for the sink. "I'm going to wash my plate!"

"You got summer classes at the local theater, right?" Natalie asked.

"Yeah, for most of the summer," Hase responded, nodding. "After all, Leah's taking an internship there."

"If I want to be a director, I have to see what it's like firsthand!" Leah cried. She then reached for a piece of leftover bread. "Let me help you with that stubborn meat stain!"

Hase still into acting, the chimera couldn't help but put on a barely visible smile. So, she was still in the performing arts college, huh? Good for her, she hadn't given up. So, why hadn't she answered his texts? Ah, maybe she had just gotten too busy. Or, maybe her college had a no cellphone policy or something. He had heard some programs were like that. He couldn't imagine a no technology rule! How terrifying.

"Well, I'm off to the store now," Natalie said, waving. "Farewell, dearies, see you in the evening!"

"Bye, Natalie!" Leah cried.

"See you later, Natalie!" Hase cried, waving.

"Yer gonna leave the plates to the girls?!" Varg cried. He then sighed as his watch beeped. "Never mind, boss wants me in a lens meeting. Leah, do ya two mind washin' one more plate?"

"Fine with me," Hase said. "A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen!"

Natalie exiting the abode and Varg going back to his room, the college graduate sighed as he placed his hand on his chin. He was still working from home three days a week, huh? What did he do again for a living? Ah, right, office worker. Guess that record deal never went through, did it? Maybe someday something would change.

Leah and Hase's ride soon coming for them, only two chimeras remained. Pira sipping his tea rather slowly while reading the morning paper, the hyena sipped his own. Gazing at the headline, popular pizza place closed, a wave of disappointment flowed through him. How disappointing, he used to get slices at that little shop all the time. Lowering his eyes into a squint at the fine print, his heart nearly skipped a beat at what had been beneath it.

Text reading, owner claims the reason for closure is the pizza oven was haunted, the chimera shook like a leaf. Oh, no, not this again. What should he do? There was yet another story related to food and hauntings. Maybe it's about time he takes that seriously. But, ah, no, what if it's just a coincidence? Brother closing the paper, his eyes soon met his.

"Well, kiddo, I have to head to the construction site," Pira said. "What's up in your agenda today? You're not starting your little odd job chimera-for-hire business until next week, right?"

Question coming his way, the food enthusiast wondered. The supermarket in Marghera, was it still open? If so many restaurants were closing up shop, there was no telling how many supermarkets were stuttering their doors too, right? Tablet out in front of him, he scribbled away upon the screen. Better to strike the iron while it's hot.

[I'm planning on going grocery shopping today.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said. He then scribbled away some more. [Is the supermarket in Marghera still open?]

"Of course, they even got some chimera specialized meat," Pira said, nodding. "The tram stops at Centro B1 in about twenty minutes, so you don't have to hurry."

[How much money is left on the grocery card?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"I'd say we still have about one thousands euros credit left on the card," Pira said. He then rummaged through his wallet. "Here you go, kiddo. See you tonight." He stepped away as he said such.

Gazing at the little plastic card, the hyena pocketed the creature for a moment. When was the last time he heard the word euros? No more stupid dollars and cents, thank goodness, bye quarter, bye penny!