Chuck Bartowski lowered his head to the yellow bowl with a satisfied grin.

“Ahhh, now that’s music to my ears!” He said aloud.

Morgan Grimes looked at the soggy mess in his own bowl. “I just don’t get how you do it man, I’ll never be as good as you, master!”

Chuck put the spoon in his mouth slowly and crunched boisterously. “Morgan, there’s an art to getting just the right snap, crackle and pop…one day my friend, one day you too, will learn.”

Morgan bowed dramatically. “I know what it is, it’s gotta be the milk…the way you pour it, how much you pour it.”

Chuck laughed. “Maybe, its all in the reflexes kid.” He looked at Morgan oddly.

“Say, why are you here at eight in the morning? Because that just hit me now…you’re here, and I have no idea how you got in.”

Morgan swished the last of his Rice Krispies around and then dumped it in the garbage disposal. “C’mon Chuck, everyone knows you hide a spare key on top of the lamp light outside the apartment…I had to come, my vehicle broke down.”

Chuck adjusted his tie and rummaged in the junk drawer for his name tag.

“That’s the third time you found my hiding spot! What happened? Your neighbor’s kids pop the tires again?”

“No, they jacked them! Those little ingrates! I should press charges!”

“Morgan, why did you make the trip all the way to my place when you live closer to the Buy More than I do?” Chuck sighed.

“I wanted to ride in the Nerd Herder and…oh man! You’re right!”

Just as they were about to leave, Devon swaggered from the bedroom. “Hey Chuckles! I’m glad I caught you, I need to know if you could do me a big fave?”

“Uhh, sure Awesome, what is it?”

“Ellie had the early shift today, but I ordered a big bouquet of roses for her. I need you tell the florist to deliver it to the hospital instead of the house. I would call them, but today is going to be real busy at the hospital, bro.”

“What’s the occasion? Where’d you order them from?”

“Ellie’s been working a lot of overtime lately…I just want her to know how much I appreciate her, we haven’t seen too much of each other the last two weeks. You know the place…Dragon...something?”

Morgan nodded excitedly. “Yeah, Dragonetti’s Florist Shop, my old high school chum Larry works there, he makes deliveries. Hey, maybe I’ll get a bouquet for Anna…show her how much I appreciate her too.”

“Women love surprises like that Morgan. Maybe you should send some to Weinerlicious, Chuck. That would be way awesome.” Devon said, flexing his muscles.

Chuck groaned inside. He was glad that he and Sarah decided they would be friends, but when she admitted the kiss was nothing special, he was stung to the heart.

“Uhhh, yeah, maybe, but Sarah’s not a flower person. I’ll go at lunch for you Awesome, get out of the area for a little while.”

“Chuck, all women love flowers, you just have to figure which ones. I have a book all about flora and plant life, I’ll get it.”

Devon went to go back into his room, but Chuck stopped him.

“That’s okay Awesome, I’ll check it out later, we have to run.”

“Okay dude, later!”

As the neared the gate to the courtyard Chuck and Morgan bumped into John Casey. He eyed them with a curt nod and ‘good morning.’

“Casey! Casey, wait…do you need a ride?”

Casey’s eyes narrowed and he turned back to the computer nerd. “Are you being condescending, Chuck?”

Casey was still in mourning over the destruction of his beloved Crown Victoria, even Julia sympathized with him. She was with him when he bought it and many dates consisted of taking it for a wash and giving it a wax.

Chuck’s eyes widened. “No Casey! Why would you think that?”

“Don’t play dumb Bartowski. I would take the SUV, but what do ya know? I don’t have that anymore either! I gotta go catch a bus!”

Morgan was leaning on the Nerd Herder with his arms folded in confusion.

“What is that man’s problem?”

“You know his car was caught in that explosion near the docks remember?”

“Oh right! I forgot, that’s a tough break, but why is he mad at you?”

Chuck shook his head. Casey knew very well the loss of his first SUV was not his fault, but an NSA incinerator. The organization had since provided him with transportation; he was just being sarcastic as usual. Maybe one day Casey would forgive him.

“Casey’s always mad Morgan, it’s part of his nature…I guess when I mentioned car it reminded him of the loss.”

Morgan buckled up. “Some people I’ll just never understand even if you paid me…though I would certainly try…if you paid me!”

-O-

“Alright people listen up, the next few weeks will be the biggest ones for our store! I do not want another fiasco like Black Friday, you hearing me…Grimes?”

Morgan saluted Big Mike. “Remember boss, it was good thing that I evacuated the premises right?”

“Enough already, it was just your dumb luck! Now, not only is this the biggest selling time, but it’s also a time for drops in sales. Everyone and their whiny little kids are gonna be returning supposedly ‘broken’ and unwanted merchandise. We got to be wiser than the customer! You gotta make them keep the product! So what if it’s missing a button? The damn thing works! I have a TV in my house that still has a wire hanger for the antenna! And if they demand a return, you better make sure it’s replaced with something more expensive! Now get to work!”

Big Mike stuffed the remainder of his jelly donut in his mouth and stormed back into his private office. Morgan walked Chuck to the Nerd Herd.

“Wire hanger? How old school!” Morgan laughed. “Say Chuck, why don’t you and Sarah double with me and Anna tonight, we can get some sizzling shrimp, rent a movie and come back to my place?”

Chuck had not touched sizzling shrimp since the debacle with Lo Pan, but it was still on his list of favorites.

“Mmmm, I don’t think so. You know Sarah and I are just friends right?”

“I know you told me that, but you can come, as friends.”

“I know, but things are a little confusing right now, I just want to give it time to cool down.”

Morgan shrugged. “Suit yourself Chuck, I have to find Anna, I was thinking about renting some Jackie Chan flicks.”

“Haven’t you seen them all?”

“Yeah, but Anna hasn’t, she thinks he’s cute, like me.”

“I’ll remember that next time I see you scale a hundred foot wall with your hands and do a back flip drop kick to a ninja assassin.”

“Very funny bro, I gotta go.”

Chuck smiled and thought about Sarah, maybe he would pick up a bouquet for her, but not today. He wanted it to be an extra special, custom-made order. He picked up the list of damaged electronics and went to work.