he walked up the Interstate to Exit 19, which wound down into a curb bordering manicured grass and box shrubs and miniature maple trees. the landscaping of a fast food restaurant. he could smell the burgers and fries, rich smells, and he'd never felt so hungry in his life.

won't be able to eat like this everyday but how long has it been since I been alive?

what am I?

am I human?

he approached the door of the place. a short, soft-looking man wearing square steel glasses and carrying a tiny, pudgy blond girl on his arm saw him and drew back, changed direction, slowly backed away toward his car where it was parked in the lot, a newer model, shiny, pale blue.

M got a good look at himself in his reflection. Tall. Straggly. Thin. Yellow. they must think I'm insane. I think I must smell

he was simply too hungry not to go in and eat something. he paused. he took a seat on a stone bench by a round stone table by the outsized, brightly colored shapes of the restaurant's outdoor playground. he pulled the wallet from his right side pocket, looked at its soft, round shape, its brown leather, he opened it, pulled out a single twenty dollar bill. closed it. my magic wallet, he mused, must not flaunt

inside standing before the plastic counter he looked up at the menu choice as the staff of corpulent young men and women looked lightly at him in minor key horror, major key distaste, contempt.

"I'd like a Number 4 please." Number 4 included a giant cheeseburger with three patties of beef covered in cheese and bacon and double portion of fries.

a cell phone began to loudly ring and he felt a buzzing on his chest. he jumped. he was the only person standing at the counter. the cell phone rang and rang and buzzed against his skin. it was in his shirt pocket. he did not know how it got there. he fumbled it out and opened it with fumbling fingers. he brought it to his ear.

"Hello?" he croaked.

"What you are about to eat is very bad for your corporeal health," said a Voice. "We understand that you're ravenous, so go on ahead, but after you get yourself together, you might want to think about eating other things instead. We know you know this; this is just a friendly reminder. You know, the call is yours. You always have the option to turn off the phone if you don't want to hear from us?"

The corpulent bepimpled fellow behind the register was holding a hand full of bills and coins out at him. Without quite thinking about it, M motioned for him to put the change down on the counter. The fat boy gaped up at him.

"Your change, sir."

"Keep it," said M.

"Take the change," said the Voice on the phone. "This is neither the time nor the place. Get a hold of yourself, for crying out loud."

"Can I call you back?" asked M. "I'm pretty hungry..."