Chips of Destiny

By Peter Amanatidis

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon,and Alan was getting ready for his birthday lunchwith his pals. For this special occasion, Alan put his favourite pair of jeans on, tucked his round belly in with his blue checkered button down, and put on a sharp blue tie. This special day gave him an extra groove. He had organised his lunch at Taco Bell, known for its world-famous nachos.

Alan arrived at the restaurant, and greeted his seven friends that were joining him. Once they stepped inside, the aroma of hamburger meat and tangy salsa hit them in the face. The noise coming from the chaotic kitchen and the bright, flashing lights around the menu caught Alan’s eye from the distance.After taking a look at the menu, they ordered a few sodas and the famous nacho plate. The cashier offered to bring their meal to the table, so the eight buddies went to take a seat. The world renowned treat were simply tortilla chips, a mix of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese, hamburger meat, and a secret seasoning hidden from the world. Even the employees were not told what the secret seasoning was.

After reminiscing over a couple of stories shared with his friends and sipping on the delicious Mountain Dew Baja Blast, the nachos arrived at the table. the scent coming from the sizzlingplatter had Alan and his friends salivating like hungry dogs. He was not able to take his eyes off the cheesy goodness. They all toasted,by tapping the nachos to each other like a toast with drinks. The moment the chips met, the lights went out and a loud buzzing noise rang across the restaurant for a couple of seconds. The lights beamed back on, and the buzzing noise went away with no explanation from anyone.

 

Everyone in the restaurant seemed to have just continued with their meals, so Alan and his friends followed. They were ready to dig in. As Alan went in for his first bite, he heard an abrupt shout. He paused and looked at the nacho and then went in for a bite once again, until he heard the same squeaky scream coming from the nacho. Out of shock and fear, Alan threw the nacho back onto the plate, and his friends did the exact same thing. They were all speechless. Each chip that they were holding onto was alive.

“They’ll cook you until you’re burnt to a crisp,” one chip said.

“Then they’ll have cheese sizzle down your shell,” screamed another.

Alan and his friends were in disbelief yet amused.They would have never imagined something like this ever happening in real life. The largest nacho introduced himself as Ignacio.

“Amigo, what my friends have told you is not a joke. We were in a scorching oven, with tons of toppings burning on our crispy skin,” explained Ignacio in a calm tone.

This was a miracle.

“Now please, señor, do not eat us as we have feelings like you,” continued Ignacio.

With their stomachs gargling, they laughed hysterically at the nachos and began eating the famous chips that were not alive. The friends crunched away at the heavenly tasting nachos. The chips began speaking to each of Alan’s friends. His birthday had just turned into a work of fiction.

The nachos began defending themselves against being eaten.

“I could wait for you at home all day and be your favourite person you see after a long day of work!” said one of the chips.

“Please. We have dreams too,” shouted another.

Alan began questioning if this was real life. He paused and looked at the chip that was once moments away from being crunched on.

“Dreams? What dreams can a nacho possibly have?” asked Alan.

“Well, we are more than a snack. We were not meant to be mindlessly eaten. Think about the flavours your taste buds detect when you put a nacho in your mouth. Those flavours represent our creativity and can be an awesome companion to have by your side,” a chip explained.

The guys showed little sympathy to the chips. They were far too tasty. The group enjoyed the entertainment and continued to debate back and forth. The nachos pleaded again.They had already gone through so much pain and suffering during the cooking process, they said. They deserved to be kept alive.
Alan’s group got to know the chips over the course of their dinner, and they enjoyed their company. The group of buddies had eaten all the nachos and were left with a few crumbs and the eight living chips.

 

It was time for them to make a decision. On a day that celebrates life, Alan had no room in his heart to take away the unbelievable life that these nachos seemed to have. They decided to spare the chips’ lives, and made them promise to embrace each friend’s life. They would embark on their life journeys together. The nachos were relieved. They immediately agreed, and the group raised their glasses again to a toast to friendship, the beauty of life, and miracles.

Each of Alan’s friends took a nacho and went to live with their new unbelievable companion. The chips would stay at home.That way, there would be no risk of them cracking or possibly turning back into simple, plain chip. These nachos were one of many incredible legends of Taco Bell, “home of the world-famous nachos”.

 

Peter Amanatidis from Canada is a burgeoning writer in his first year of literary exploration, known for his distinctive style characterized by simplicity, intensity, and a penchant for non-fiction-like narratives. With each story crafted, Peter’s skills as a storyteller evolve, reflecting a commitment to growth and refinement in his craft. As a developing writer, Peter's journey is marked by a dedication to honing his skills and delving deeper into the art of storytelling.