Chicken Burrito for the Lab Rat’s Soul by Sam M. '07

DID YOU KNOW? Aristotle believed men had more teeth than women.

It was a most busy and miserable day that can be summarized in one sentence from 10.302: Transport Processes.

“There are two ways to look at this… let’s do it the harder way.”

Still, it wasn’t a day to remember. I didn’t injure myself again, but it still just ended up being a long, long, long day requiring some comfort food at the end. I haven’t been to Star Market in three weeks and the shelves of my formerly bomb-shelteresque pantry are now looking pretty spare, so I decided to indulge myself in a burrito from Anna’s Taqueria in the Student Center on my way home. My very favorite meal from Anna’s is a grilled chicken burrito, no cheese, black beans, salsa, hot sauce, extra lettuce, and sometimes guacamole (if I’m feeling extravagant enough to spare the extra $.55).

Now, I’ve been avoiding ATMs almost intentionally for the past few days, so the most I’ve had in my wallet in the past week has been four dollars. I don’t know, I just have no confidence in my wallet right now. After two Bahn Bao from Goosebeary’s yesterday, I was down to a mere two dollars in cash.

Luckily, Anna’s Taqueria in the student center accepts TechCash, which isn’t really money. Unluckily, I had left my MIT ID in my other pants. What to do with only $2 and a grilled chicken burrito that costs $3.05? Noticing that the lady in front of me in line was paying in cash, I decided to push my social skills to their natural limits and semi-politely asked the her if I could borrow a dollar or two to pay for my burrito.

…and then I found five dollars!

The nice, pretty, early-forties lady gave me a five dollar bill, although she received several ones in change. Five dollar bills have always been my favorite bills. I was almost dancing with delight. I repeatedly and very awkwardly offered to pay her back, take down her e-mail address, or merely give her the change I had recieved for my very affordable burrito, but she would have none of it. Walking away, she gazed heavenward and opined, “Someday somebody will do a favor for my sons.”

It looks like it ended up being a day to remember after all.

And then I still neglected to go to the ATM, which was ten yards away. As a great man once said, “Aristotle was the worst empiricist ever.”