(Start of Week 16. Theo's Balance: $59,545.00)
Week 16 – Monday
Monday morning arrived not with the jarring screech of an alarm, but with Theo surfacing naturally from a deep, uninterrupted sleep. He lay still for a moment, blinking at the familiar water stains on his ceiling, a strange sense of profound well-being washing over him. He felt… good. Impossibly, inexplicably good. Refreshed. Clear-headed. It was a sensation so alien after the relentless grind and anxiety of the past few months, punctuated by the caffeine-fuelled nightmare of last week's coffee experiment marathon, that it took him a moment to place its source.
The chicken shop.
Anticipation, clean and sharp, cut through the morning haze. The timed +1 enhancements on Jono's rotisserie and deep fryer had expired sometime overnight. The real-world test of his 'Tool Enhancement' hypothesis was complete. Despite having earned zero dollars in two weeks, despite the looming uncertainty of his next venture, the potential unlocked by proving that hypothesis felt more valuable than any single transaction. It felt like finding a master key after months spent fumbling with crude lockpicks. It felt like the best thing since sliced bread, or perhaps, perfectly roasted chicken.
The memory of last week's coffee binge sent an involuntary shudder through him. Six mugs, double shot, twelve shots in total, and a coffee or two even prior to the experiment as part of his normal routine. It was an amazing amount of coffee and caffeine… The jittery highs, the crashing lows, the night spent pacing like a caged lunatic, the lingering headache… even thinking about coffee made his eye twitch faintly. Definitely should have used soda, or something less potent for that experiment, he thought grimly. Or maybe just stuck to enhancing the beans and machine. Lesson learned.
He swung his legs out of bed, the usual stiffness surprisingly absent. He felt charged, eager. Maria's Charcoal Chicken wouldn't open until lunchtime, but the digital world offered clues. He grabbed his laptop, the enhanced machine booting quickly, a testament to the power he now wielded with slightly more understanding. He navigated to Google Maps, found the listing for the chicken shop, and clicked on the reviews, sorting by 'Newest'.
His breath hitched. Three reviews posted over the weekend.
The first, timestamped Saturday evening, was brutally succinct: ⭐☆☆☆☆ "WORST CHICKEN EVER. Ordered Wednesday night based on old memories. Dry, tasteless garbage. Chips were a soggy, salty mess. Avoid this place like the plague. Used to be good, now it's just sad."
Theo nodded internally. Okay, that fits. Wednesday was before my visit on Thursday, meaning this would have been before the +1 enhanced roaster and deep fryer being available. I've tasted the crap that Jono served me, giving it one star is generous. I would have given it half a star, or negative stars if I could. It was barely edible…
Then, the next two reviews, posted Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening respectively:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Wow! Tastes like Maria is back! Came here on a whim Saturday remembering the good old days, and was shocked! The chicken was SO tender and juicy, perfectly seasoned, skin was amazing. Chips were perfectly cooked too, crispy outside, fluffy inside (maybe needed a touch more salt for me, but that's personal preference). Service was a bit slow and the guy working seemed distracted, but the food? Incredible! Felt like stepping back in time. Bringing the whole family next week!" – Linda H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "OMG The Chicken!!! Heard from a friend it was suddenly good again, didn't believe them tbh lol. Went last night (Saturday). DUDE. So. Good. Chicken was fire, juicy af, skin was perfect. Chips were bangin'. Legit best takeaway chicken I've had in ages. Dunno what changed but KEEP DOING IT!!! Def coming back!" – Mike_P23
Theo scanned the reviews again, a slow, triumphant grin spreading across his face. There it is. Two glowing reviews, specifically citing the food quality from Saturday, sandwiched between a scathing review from earlier in the week and the long, depressing trail of one- and two-star complaints from the preceding weeks ("Dry," "Awful service," "Never again," "What happened to this place?"). There was a lone three-star review from a month ago, generously reminiscing about the past and hoping for improvement. The pattern was undeniable. The +1 enhancement on the roaster and fryer, active over the core weekend period, had demonstrably, dramatically improved the output, even with the utterly uninspired Jono at the helm. It worked. It f*ing worked. The validation felt like rocket fuel injected directly into his veins. He couldn't wait to see the aftermath in person tonight.
Late Monday night arrived thick with anticipation. Theo deliberately waited until after the main dinner rush, hoping for a chance to talk to Jono when things were quieter. As he rounded the corner onto the shop's street, however, his steps slowed. Instead of the usual desolate quiet, a small crowd milled around outside Maria's Charcoal Chicken. Maybe half a dozen people waiting, peering impatiently through the glass window. Inside, the lights blazed, and he could see Jono, usually slumped over his phone, moving with frantic, uncoordinated energy behind the counter, trying to bag orders while simultaneously wrestling with the rotisserie.
Interesting. Theo thought. Word got around fast. The two five-star reviews, maybe amplified by local social media chatter, had clearly driven unexpected traffic. He approached the small group waiting outside, adopting a look of mild curiosity.
"Long wait tonight?" he asked a young couple leaning against the wall, looking annoyed.
The guy rolled his eyes. "Tell me about it. Saw some post on Instagram raving about this place, said it was like 'legendary old-school chicken'. Drove half an hour to try it." He gestured dismissively towards the shop. "Been waiting twenty minutes already. Looks like chaos in there."
"Was it worth it?" Theo pressed gently.
The woman scoffed. "Doubt it. The people coming out don't look too happy."
Just then, a man emerged from the shop clutching a takeaway bag, his expression thunderous. Theo intercepted him casually. "Hey, sorry to bother you, was thinking of trying this place. How was it?"