One and a half hours later.

Removing the scone ingredients from the fridge and closet, the chimera let out a tired sigh. If those stupid neighbor kids scream for even a second, he's leaving, mark his fingers! He is not dealing with pests today no matter what. Brown flats slapped onto his currently human feet, he plopped the ingredients in a tiny bag. Time to get this nonsense over with.

Wind practically ready to blow his shoulder bag away, the chimera pedaled to the medal. Man, this gust was ridiculously strong! What gives? He should have checked the weather before he prepared himself for the day! But, oh well, too late now, isn't it? Trudging towards the door, he knew he would regret this any second now.

Doorbell pressed, the hyena almost wanted to turn around. What if his neighbor was being haunted by food ghosts, too? If something happened to her sons, it would be all his fault, wouldn't it? There was still time to get away, maybe there's still a chance to do so. But, he couldn't bring himself to do so. He was already here.

Young, short boy with black hair opening the door, the chimera put on a shaky smile. Oh, great, Splashy Pants is here. The moment he caused trouble, he's so out of here! How old was this kid again, nine, ten? How should he know? Why should he care? Human children were a handful. Boy pointing at his skirt, he wanted to bit that digit clean off. Oh, boy, here it comes.

"Mom, the pretty neighbor girl's here," the kid said pointing. Feet them came towards the door.

"Good afternoon, Siorc, come in," his neighbor said.

Lady stepping away, the chimera broke into a sweat. This house was sweltering, what's going on in here? Not a single fan on, he tried to remember. Ah, that's right, this family is all about green energy, aren't they? No wonder those pests were in the pool all the time. But, he knew it wasn't good to judge.

Slightly taller boy already seated at the kitchen table looking at him, fingers were pointed at his skirt again. Didn't anyone teach these children it was rude to point? No? Thought so. Someone really needed to teach them that! But, oh well. It wasn't his job to teach common courtesy. If he ever had a child in the point zero, zero, zero, zero, zero one percent chance, the first thing he's doing the moment they're old enough is making sure they're nice and polite!

"Is this pretty lady gonna teach us to make scones?" the taller boy asked.

"Yes, this young man is your neighbor, Siorc," his neighbor said. "And, he's going to teach you how to bake some scones today."

"Wait, he's a guy?" the smaller kid asked. "Why's he wearing a skirt?"

"Sweetie, some people just dress differently than others, and that's okay," his neighbor said. "Now, wash up and get ready to bake, okay?"

"Okay!" The kids sprinted to the sink as they screeched such.

Placing down the ingredients on the table, the chimera ran his hands beneath the faucet as well. Maybe this mother was raising these boys well after all. Looking for a scone recipe on his phone, he wondered. Was there an easy one kids could understand? He supposed he'll make a small test batch to show them if not.

"Okay, mister, we're ready!" the shorter kid cried. "What do we do first?"

[First, add flour to the mixing bowl.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said. Putting a tiny bit in himself, he pointed at the line on the side of the bowl.

"Up to the line?" the taller kid asked.

[That's right, up to the line.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

Kids pouring the flower in gently, the hyena almost did a double take. These boys were actually listening? Color him pink! Bowl filled to the line, he took out the baking powder. Reading over the recipe, he wondered. They wouldn't have a hard time mixing the dry ingredients together, would they? Putting in a tiny bit of baking powder, he could feel the questions ready to drag him away.

"What's next?" the shorter kid asked.

[Add in the baking powder.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"Okay," the shorter kid said, tilting the bag over.

Flaky baking powder plopped down, the chimera gazed at the sugar listing. But, he couldn't help but wonder. Did these two have any dietary restrictions he needed to be made aware of? Maybe he should ask before he tells them to mix the sugar in. He should have thought about that before, right? Too late now, huh?

"What's next, big brother?" the taller kid asked.

[Could you call your mother in for a second, please?] Slow sliding text across his tablet asked.

"Why? Did we do something wrong?" the taller kid asked.

[No, I just have a question for her.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"'Kay. Mom!" the taller kid asked. Mom running in huffing, the inquiry raced on in.

"What's wrong, sweetie? Did you hurt yourself?" the neighbor asked.

"Siorc's got a question for you." He pointed rudely as he said such.

"What's wrong, Siorc? Do we not have enough ingredients?" the neighbor asked.

[I was just wondering if your boys have any dietary restrictions. I apologize, I should have asked this before.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"Thank you for your concern. My boys don't have any allergies or dietary restrictions," his neighbor said. She then turned towards her boys. "Save some scones for mommy, okay?"

"Okay!" the boys said in harmony.

Returning to the grind, the sugar had been dropped down next. Pinch of salt soon plopped in as well, the hyena broke into a sweat. He knew this family was a green one, but honestly, couldn't they at least open the window? But, he kept such complaints to himself. It was fine. It was best to not judge how other people ran their lives.

Dry ingredients all mixed in, the chimera took out the pastry cutter. Instructing the boys to cut a triangle, the frozen butter was ready and waiting. Wet ingredients plopped into a pot, he knew the next portion would be messy. Maybe he should whisk the wet portion. But, such had been quickly denied.

Wet and dry ingredients mixed together, the hyena drummed his fingers on the table. Did these boys really need his help? They seemed to know what they were doing just fine without him. But, he knew he couldn't say such a thing. What good would it do to point that out? It was best to just say nothing and move along.

Creamy creatures soon cut into wedges, the chimera gazed down at the confectionary. Did he take out too much cream? Maybe he did. Shaking his head, the cream had been slapped on. Little snacks plopped onto a metal tin, he read the next instruction carefully. They had to cool in the refrigerator before baking them? How strange. Putting them into the ice box of doom, the boy's eyes were locked onto his.

"What's next?" the boys asked.

[They have to sit in the refrigerator for fifteen minutes, and then they'll go in the oven.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

"Kay," the shorter boy said. He then turned towards his brother. "Let's play Foodiemon until they're done!"

Boys hopping onto the couch in the living room, the food enthusiast could feel his phone vibrate in his back pocket. Strange notification waiting for him, he almost did a double take. Friend from college leaving him a text, he placed his finger on his chin. Bogart, who graduated in his third year? It had been so long since he heard from him. Opening the message, his knees buckled at what waited for him.

<Bogart>

{Hey, Siorc, heard you got valedictorian, congrats! So, I gotta question for you. It's Niesha's birthday, and she wants a chocolate cake from the best of the best. Would you be cool with coming over and baking one with us?}

Reading such, the chimera's heart leaped out of his chest. Wait a second, a chocolate cake? No, no, no, no, this wasn't good. That blog post said to avoid baking chocolate cake right now! Should he turn this down? But, ah, no, maybe that was just a silly rumor! It would be fine, right? Of course it would. Fingers shaking, he typed away.

<Me>

{I can do that for you. Where do you live?}

{Bogart is typing.}

<Bogart>

{You'll do that for us? Cool, I live in Switzerland. Here's my address. <Redacted.> The party is in two days. Don't worry about doing this for free. I'll pay you good.}

<Me> {Alright, I'll be there. Tell Niesha I said happy early birthday.}

<Bogart> {See you soon.}

Locking his phone, the chimera closed his eyes for a moment. Should he really have said yes to that? Chocolate cakes were dangerous right now! But, maybe this would all blow over in two days. Should he contact the anonymous blogger about this? No, it was too soon for that. And, besides, there was a chance that wasn't true! Fifteen minutes soon passing, he removed the scones from the fridge, kids running in, shouts had come his way.

"Let's put it in the oven!" the shorter kid cried, hopping up and down.

[Absolutely not, I will put it in the oven.] Slow sliding text across his tablet said.

Slapping on the oven mitts, the young adult plopped the sweets into the burning cooking creature after preheating finished. Setting the timer for twenty five minutes, he scrolled through his phone once more. Searching far and wide for stories about chocolate cake monsters, a particular story nearly knocked him off his feet.

Story about a wedding party being cancelled because a chocolate cake ghost nearly burned down the entire hall, the chimera's heart fluttered. Was this really true? What should he do? He really shouldn't have accepted this offer! Maybe he should suggest a different type of cake be made. But, what good would that do now? He had already accepted. Man, he really should have asked questions first!

Booting up a food match three game on his phone as the timer ever so slowly hovered over the ten minute mark, he pressed the play button. Maybe he had time for a round or two. Running out of moves, he groaned. Man, these cookie puzzle games were made hard on purpose to entice him to spend money, weren't they?

Timer on the oven soon dinging, the food enthusiast gently removed the tray from the burning creature of doom. Kids looking ready to grab them immediately, he shook his head. Writing a sign to wait until they cool down to eat, he gazed at the scones. Hopefully his instructions were serviceable.

Scones cooled after quite some time, the time to devour had been upon the family. Offered a couple, the college graduate chowed down. Salty texture melting on his tongue, he almost wanted to float over a cloud. Man, he instructed these kids so good, he deserves an award! Scones gobbled up, the kids hopped up like a jumping bean.

"I want to make more another day!" the shorter boy cried.

"Me, too!" the taller boy cried. He then turned towards the mother. "Mom, can we play outside now?"

"Okay, but no pool today," the neighbor said.

Boys making a run for it, the hyena held back the urge to sigh. These kids were sure active. He supposed it was better than rotting inside all day on social media. Hearing a bat strike across the yard, he headed for the door. Time to head back home. Waving, he could soon hear the mother rustle through her pockets.

"Here you go, thanks for helping today!" the neighbor said. "Feel free to come here and bake any time!"

Fifty euro note in the palm of his hands, the food enthusiast did a double take. All this money for him? Bowing in gratitude, the hyena exited the abode. Returning to his own, he gazed at the text message once more, sighing. Opening the message folder, he wondered. Should he just cancel? Closing the device once more, he shook his head as he read some dumb cooking competition manga.