Behind the Hot Dog

     Nani had just gotten a job working with Hubert in Neopia Bazaar. He was very happy to get the job for a few reasons. One was because he could help earn some extra Neopoints for his family. Not that they were needy, they could get by with what they had, but he wanted to help them get some other luxuries that they'd like.

     Second, he had always been a bit of a lazybones type Snow Shoyru. He wanted to change that, and this would help teach him a bit more responsibility.

     Oh, and plus, he landed some free Nacho Cheese Stuffed Hot Dogs while on the job. Free food's always good motivation, especially when it's the best thing you've ever tasted.

     "Here's your order," he said with a smile to the Kyrii that had just bought a hot dog. The Kyrii walked away filling her face. That was another reason he liked this job. He loved helping others.

     "We need a Mashed Potato with Gravy down here, Nani!" came Hubert's voice. Nani nodded, grabbed a jacket potato, and slathered on the gravy. The scent was wonderful.

     He finished the potato, just in time to hear a very familiar voice yell out, "Hey, Nani!"

     He looked. His brothers had come to visit! Cool! He hastily gave the customer their potato, then ran to greet them.

     "How's it going, guys?" Nani said.

     "Great!" Butterfliex was just finishing off a smoothie and tossing it into the trash can nearby. "It looks like you're busy over there. When do you get off the job?"

     Nani looked at a clock on the wall. "About an hour," he said. "And the big business hasn't even started. Don't even get me started on how crazy this'll get as soon as they get some Speckled Hot Dogs."

     SharkTale laughed. "I won't."

     Again, Hubert's voice came over the shouting of orders. "Nacho Cheese Stuffed Hot Dog, Watery Hot Dog, and an Eggy Jacket Potato!"

     Nani groaned. "It's started. I'll see you guys in an hour. I gotta get cracking."

     Respectfully, his brothers left. Nani got back to the counter and threw an egg onto the skillet.

     * * *

     A few days later...

     Nani had been called aside from Hubert for a few minutes. "So, what is it you wanted to see me about?"

     "Well, Nani," Hubert said, "I've been watching you work, and I think you really deserve something extra."

     Nani's eyes widened. "Extra Nacho Cheese Stuffed Hot Dogs?"

     Hubert chuckled. "Nah, even better." He stopped and looked at Nani. "I'm going to give you a raise from your average pay."

     Nani's eyes widened again. "How much more?"

     "About an extra 3,000 Neopoints. Is that enough?"

     "Definitely!" Nani stood up and shook his boss's hand. "Oh, you won't regret this, Hubert!" He then reached back down onto the table and grabbed his hat, identical to Hubert's hat.

     * * *

     It was awesome getting paid more. Nani was able to get a new skateboard in a single day's pay! And that was an accomplishment, with the inflation at the toy shop blazing upwards.

     Although there had, in turn, been more customers arriving. Impeccable timing, Nani thought in his mind sarcastically.

     He grabbed his free Nacho Cheese Stuffed Hot Dog off the grill and took a bite. At least he got those, and more. Although, he wasn't sure if this was worth it.

     Nani turned his head as he heard Japanese yell out at him. "Hey again, guys. Did I tell you I got a raise?"

     SharkTale's eyes widened. "A raise? In your first week? Whoa, Nani, that's awesome!" Nani and SharkTale slapped hand and fin. "Hey, we're taking a trip to Maraqua. Want to come with us? I hear there are Yooyuball practice arenas down there. We can practice."

     Maraqua? Yooyuball? Nani loved both of those. "I'd lo..." He was cut off by Hubert's voice yelling for two Gherkin Hot Dogs. And a Poogle's voice calling for a Camouflage Hot Dog. And other indistinguishable orders.

     "Guess not. I gotta get back to work. Again. Sorry, guys. I'll try to get a break tomorrow."

     "Okay..." Butterfliex said, then walked away sadly. The others followed. Nani felt terrible about doing that, but he had to. Work needed to be done.

     Well, he thought, I'd better ask Hubert for that break. He walked over to the Mynci handing out Chilli and Cheese Hot Dogs.

     "Hey, Hubert, I need to ask you something. I need a..."

     He was again cut off. "Speckled Hot Dogs just came in. Prepare for the stampede. I need you to cook some. Quick, they'll start mobbing."

     Nani sighed, and got to the just-delivered box of Speckled Hot Dogs. This is gonna be another long day, he thought, forgetting his question.

     * * *

     Nani wiped off some sweat from his brow. This was getting hectic, after Hubert had announced 20% more restocks. Who would have thought getting a raise would be this much harder?

     "Hey, Nani!" He barely had time to look over his shoulder to see his brothers waving to him before another person started demanding an Ultra Cheesy Hot Dog.

     "Hey guys," he said as he prepared it.

     Butterfliex's smile dropped as he looked at Nani. "There must be a LOT of business here since your raise, isn't there?"

     Nani handed the hot dog to an Ixi. "Sure looks like it. Why does this always happen to me?" Then he started cooking a Creamy Hot Dog on the grill.

     "Well," said SharkTale, "we were just about to go over to Mystery Island. Want to see if you can get the rest of the day off?"

     "No way," Nani snapped. "It's just too busy today. I can't do it." He turned to the crowd of Neopets; Ixi, Skeiths, Scorchios, everyone. "I gotta go. I'll see you in a few hours."

     Had Nani had time to look back, he would have seen the very crestfallen faces of his brothers walking to the Neopia Plaza. Instead, he was busy finishing up the Creamy Hot Dog.

     * * *

     A few hours later, Nani burst through the door into 30812 Neopia Avenue, Neopia Central. Exhausted, he couldn't even say "hi" to his family as he walked upstairs to his bed. He flopped down and closed his eyes.

     Why can't they leave me alone? he thought. I know they want me to come with them, but I'm too busy working.

     Today they'd started arguing with him about going to Roo Island with them, and he'd almost lost his raise.

     Suddenly he saw a hot dog flying by his eyes. For some reason, it freaked him out. He felt himself standing up, but strangely, he still felt like he was lying down on his bed. Then, suddenly, there were hot dogs, everywhere.

     Mustard bottles, streams of ketchup, potatoes, everything, shot past his eyes. Some even hit his face and chest. As far as he could see, hot dogs, everywhere. Too many... Nani started running in the opposite direction, but he wasn't going anywhere... then he was falling, falling, falling... and then he awoke.

     Beads of sweat were still visible on his forehead. Had it been a dream? He felt his forehead. No mustard. Good, it was just a dream. But for some reason, it was a horrible one.

     Then Nani became aware of a light on downstairs. He heard voices. They sounded sad. He peeked down the stairs.

     "... too concentrated on his job," came a voice, which Nani distinguished as Japanese's. He sounded very sad, which surprised him, because Japanese was almost never sad.

     "I know," came SharkTale's voice, just as sad. "It's almost as if he isn't our brother anymore. He used to love going places with us, and now he stays in that oversized hot dog."

     Butterfliex's voice spoke up, more calm than the others', but still very sad by his standards. "He says he's helping our family, but he's only really making things bad."

     Nani almost shed a tear. Was this really what he had turned into - a workaholic? He was just trying to help his family. But like they'd said, he'd just torn himself away from them.

     He climbed back into his bed. Now he knew what to do.

     * * *

     The next morning, Nani arrived at the hot dog stand, his work cap on his head.

     "Hi, Nani," Hubert said with a smile. "Ready to get to work?"

     Nani looked Hubert in the eye. "Nope," he said.

     Hubert almost seemed to get angry. "What?"

     Nani pulled off his work cap. "That's right, nope. I'm not working. In fact," he said as he threw his cap back at Hubert, "I quit." And with that, he turned and walked away, wondering where he brothers were that day.

The End