Espio slowly pushed the shopping cart through the produce section. "Charmy, what's the first thing on the list?"
"Um, it's…" Charmy looked at the list, but then got an idea. He slyly smiled.
"Cake."
"That's not on the list." Espio frowned.
"Well, if you know what's on the list, why do you ask me?" The bee pointed out.
The chameleon sighed. "Can you just tell me?"
Charmy squinted, turning the piece of paper this way and that before giving up. "I can't. You wrote it all weird."
"It's not weird, it's cursive. Just, here, I'll carry the list and you help me put the things in the cart." He took the piece of paper. "We need broccoli."
Charmy's face scrunched up and he stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Ugh, yuck, broccoli!"
"There's nothing wrong with broccoli."
"It's green! And you want me to get it?"
"Yes, because it's healthy, and we're going to eat it." Espio said in a firm tone, leaving Charmy no choice but to grab the vegetable. He held it as far away from him as possible, like he was dealing with something absolutely toxic, and bagged it quickly before dropping it in the cart. Charmy shuddered, wiping his hands to try to get rid of the icky green feeling.
Espio shook his head at the six year old's dramatics and looked at the list again. "Celery."
"Gross, celery!" He gagged. "Why are we even buying this stuff? Can't we just get pizza or chips?"
"No. We can't live off a diet of take-out and junk food – it's unhealthy." It was also expensive, which was something they couldn't afford with their financial issues. Not that Charmy had to know about that though.
The bee sighed and grumbled under his breath. He continued to gag and make faces at every vegetable that he was forced to put in the cart, but otherwise didn't protest anymore.
All in all, things were going pretty good today. Yet as Espio crossed out what they had already gotten, he couldn't help but feel like something was off...
Vector's sneakers squeaked on the glossy floor as he followed Espio and Charmy, when a glimmer caught his eye. One thing that being a detective had taught him was that anything shiny was valuable. Or a Badnik. Or a candy wrapper. Mostly Badniks and candy wrappers. But if there was a chance of finding something incredible, then by all means, Vector was going to seize the chance.
So without hesitating, Vector veered off to investigate the source of the shine. His teammates, who hadn't noticed he had left, kept on going.
He ended up in the electronic section, and had to hold up a hand to avoid being blinded by the glorious golden shine...
…of a brand new set of headphones.
Mesmerized, Vector grabbed the box the headphones were in. It proudly stated on the cover:
Guaranteed to burst your eardrums or your money back!
Vector had to have them. But the marked price made his heart drop. He pulled out his wallet and checked it. Not enough rings. Not even close. But maybe if he used some of the grocery budget…
He shook his head. No. He couldn't do that. As much as he wanted these headphones, he valued food just a little more.
But when he started to put the headphones back, it slipped out of his hands and crashed on the floor. Vector gasped in horror and fell on his knees to pick them up, only for a passing shopping cart to send the headphones skidding out of his reach.
He ran after them, but every time he got close, it got kicked or pushed away from walking shoppers and carts. Finally, the box slid inside a dark room that had the door slightly ajar.
Vector dove in headfirst, not seeing the sign above that said, Employees Only.
"Welcome everyone to the bi-monthly employee meeting!"
Drats, I've got to get out of here! Vector thought, and started making his way back to the door. Thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed the crocodile in the back clutching the slightly battered box.
"I'd first like to start by reminding that all employees get a free set of these new headphones." Another box, just like the one Vector had but undamaged, was waved around.
He swiveled around on his heels. Free, you say?
Espio and Charmy went to checkout and started putting things on the conveyor belt.
"So did ya find everything ya needed?"
"Yes, I-" Espio looked up, only to see a very familiar crocodile. "Vector, what are you doing?"
"What do you mean what am I doing? I'm working." He started scanning items.
"You don't work here." The ninja pointed out.
"Course I do. I'm an employee, and employees get free headphones." He chuckled as he adjusted the golden headphones, and picked up the next item.
"Ugh, yuck, broccoli!"
Charmy, who was bagging everything and tossing in the cart, exclaimed. "That's exactly what I said!"
"Espio, we were supposed to get real food." The crocodile said as he continued scanning. To his disappointment, there was not a single bag of chips, soda can, or ounce of sugar in sight.
"This is real food, and don't change the subject." Espio said, putting more items on the belt. "Now what-"
"Can I have a chocolate bar?" Charmy interrupted.
"No."
"Come on, Espio! Let the kid have a candy bar." Vector egged.
The ninja sighed. "Fine, but only one."
"Yay! Thanks Espio, you're the best."
"So, kid, what do you want?"
Charmy hummed as he looked over the assortment of candies above the conveyor belt. He pointed at the largest chocolate bar. "That one!"
"Alright, great choice." Vector reached over the counter, grabbed two candy bars, and scanned them both.
"We agreed we were only getting one." Espio frowned.
"Yeah, one for him, one for me." He explained. "Relax, it's on the house. A win-win for everyone. Oh, and it's gonna be 127 rings."
Espio blinked, "Right."
Vector was a cashier now, apparently. The chameleon took out his wallet and handed the money over.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Espio quietly muttered.
"Ya worry too much, everything's just fine."
"HEY YOU! YOU'RE NOT AN EMPLOYEE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
Vector flinched, dropping the rings all over the counter and floor. "Ok, time to go."
"What about your job?" Espio deadpanned.
"Uh, I quit!"