The Coyote Says

"That's all for today, class. You're dismissed." Mr. Iso concluded the session. "Nivara, you stay." I wasn’t surprised to hear my name. I knew exactly what this was about. My friends, however, looked at me with concern. "You guys go ahead." I said, forcing a smile in an attempt to ease their worry "We’ll wait for you outside." Astoria said, while Tristan merely nodded in agreement As the classroom emptied, I walked slowly to Mr. Iso’s desk. I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. This conversation was going to be ugly. "You have until Friday to buy the textbook, Nivara." Mr. Iso began. "You're the only one in your class who doesn’t have one." "Sir, is it really necessary for me to buy it? I can borrow one from my friends." I tried to reason. "And if there's an activity from the book, I can just copy the questions and work on them in my notebook." "We’ve had this conversation before, haven’t we?" Mr. Iso replied, his tone firm. "As I mentioned, this book will be crucial for your research paper. Since the research is done individually, each student needs their own copy." I fell silent. It seemed that no matter what I said, Mr. Iso was adamant about me purchasing the book. "Do you understand what I’m saying?" He pressed "Yes, sir..." I nodded, feeling the weight of my financial constraints. "But it's hard for my family to spend $50 on a book. We’re struggling... financially." "This book is not just for now; it’s an investment in your education. It will be useful for you throughout your studies." Mr. Iso explained. "If it’s really important to you, you’ll find a way to get it." I sighed, feeling defeated. "I'll do my best, sir." "Okay, you can go now." I walked outside to find Tristan and Astoria waiting for me. "Is it about the book again?" Tristan asked, concern etched on his face. I simply nodded. "If only I had money, I’d buy you ten of those books." "If only my mom hadn’t cut my allowance and taken my cards, I’d buy you a hundred!" Astoria chimed in "Well, if you hadn’t come home past your curfew, she wouldn’t have done that." Tristan teased Astoria shot him a playful glare and I chuckled at their banter. It was comforting to have friends who were always there for me, and I was thankful for their support. The three of us had been friends since the start of high school. Astoria lived in a grand manor, her family being one of the wealthiest in the country. Tristan resided alone in an apartment, preferring to live alone as his parents worked overseas. I lived with my mom in a modest bungalow. My dad had passed away when I was young, so it had always been just the two of us. "Wait, didn’t you say you found an online job before?" Astoria suddenly asked Tristan. "Maybe it can help Niv!" "It’s not really a job, but it does pay." Tristan replied "What is it then? A site?" I asked, hoping it could be a solution to my problem "Not a site, either." Tristan shook his head. "It’s—" "Ma’am Astoria!" Astoria’s driver called as we reached the school gate. "We need to hurry, ma’am. Your grandfather is at the manor." "Oh, I guess I can’t give you guys a ride today." Astoria said apologetically Usually, she would offer us a ride home, but there were occasional instances like this when she needed to go straight home. "That’s okay." I assured her We said our goodbyes, and she got into the car. I turned to Tristan as the car drove away. "So, what were you saying?" I asked, eager to hear more "I can’t give you the game. It’s too complicated." Tristan answered, starting to walk away I matched his pace, as my house was in the same direction as his apartment. "So, it’s a game? An application?" "I told you, I can’t give it to you." "Why not? Are you gatekeeping it?" "What? No!" "Then tell me, Tris. I really need it." He shook his head and covered his ears. "Can’t hear a thing." I grabbed his wrist and went down on my knees, desperation clear in my voice. "Please!" "Hey, stand up!" He pulled me up and glanced around to make sure no one was watching. "You’re making me look bad." "I’m desperate." I said softly, my voice tinged with frustration "Fine! I’ll tell you!" He said, a relieved look on his face as he saw my smile. "On one condition." "Anything! Just tell me." I urged, my hope renewed "Once you have the money you need, delete the game immediately." "Is it an illegal game?" I asked with a hint of worry "Just promise me." He insisted, ignoring my question Is it really illegal, then? Now my anxiety creeping in. "O-okay." I stuttered. "I promise." "I’ll send you the link when I get home." Tristan said. "Don’t make me regret this, okay?" "Jeez, okay." "Just remember this, Niv: if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is." I raised an eyebrow at Tristan's statement. Sometimes, he could be really confusing. His words echoed in my mind as we continued walking in silence. It didn’t take long for me to reach my home. "Don’t forget to send it to me, okay?" I reminded him "And don’t forget your promise." He countered "I won’t." I assured him. "Bye, Tris. And thank you." He waved goodbye and continued on his way. I walked into my small bungalow, feeling a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The house was quiet, and I went straight to my room to change into more comfortable clothes. After changing, I kept checking my phone, hoping to see a message from Tristan with the link. But there was nothing yet. His place was not far from mine—just a five-minute walk—so I hoped he would send it soon. But then a nagging worry crossed my mind. What if he changed his mind? Shaking off the thought, I decided to do something productive. "I guess I’ll just cook dinner for now." I said to myself. I went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, scanning the contents for something to make. I found some leftover rice from a few days ago and a few eggs. It wasn’t much, but it would work. With a sigh of relief, I decided to make egg fried rice. I took out a pan, added a splash of oil, and began heating it up. As I cracked the eggs and scrambled them in the pan, the aroma of cooking eggs filled the kitchen. I added the leftover rice, seasoning it with soy sauce and a sprinkle of salt. The simple meal was comforting, and cooking helped ease some of my tension. As I stirred the rice and eggs together, I continued to check my phone sporadically, still hoping for a message. Finally, as I finished cooking and started plating the food, my phone buzzed. I grabbed it quickly, my heart racing. It was a message from Tristan. I opened it and found the link to the game he had mentioned. Relief washed over me as I saw that he had kept his promise. My finger hovered over the link, eager to click and explore the solution to my financial dilemma. Just as I was about to tap the link, the door suddenly swung open, making me jump. It was Mom. "It smells good in here." She said with a smile, looking relieved to be home "I cooked egg fried rice for dinner, Mom. Let’s eat. You’re probably hungry, aren’t you?" "Yeah, work was tiring." She replied, visibly worn out We settled at the table and began to eat, chatting about our respective days. The conversation was light and comforting, a welcome distraction from the stress of the day's events. As we spoke, I couldn't help but glance at my phone, where the link still awaited.