Well, it’s either that or “bad things happen in threes.” But since I’m a positive person, I’d rather look on the bright side. Whatever cliche’ you use, the results are the same: the miracle of multiplying food at Taco Bueno has struck again. For the third time.
As has become custom for me on Wednesdays, I was headed through the drive-thru to pick up lunch in between piano students. I already had a drink, and I was low on cash, so my order was simple. ONE item. My favorite: a vegetarian black-bean burrito. I ordered, was told my total, gathered my cash, and proceeded to the window to pay and receive my order.
And somewhere in between, a blessed miracle occurred.
For you see, when I opened the bag after driving away from the window, I noticed not ONE wrapped food item, not TWO wrapped food items, but FIVE. It was obvious, even though they were wrapped, that at least one was burrito-shaped. Some were taco-shaped. Some were even quesadilla-shaped. None were vegetarian black-bean burrito shaped.
I’ll be honest: I was tempted. Tempted to take the food and run. Tempted to be grateful for being the recipient of another divine blessing over my Taco Bueno order. But when I discovered that there were no vegetarian black-bean burritos…and remembering the last time when I had been cheated out of my cheesecake chimis…well, I knew there would be no rejoicing in this meal.
So I turned the car around and headed back through the drive-thru. I rolled down my window and in my sweetest southern drawl informed the attendant that I had not, in fact, received MY order. Sheepishly, he admitted, “You ordered the vegetarian black-bean burrito. I think you got a #5.” And in a flash, my miracle order was reduced to one vegetarian black-bean burrito in a little plastic bag.
And I was happy.  Not as happy as I would have been if they’d thrown in a free mixed berry cheesecake chimi, but happy nonetheless.