The sun was barely up, and the smell of spices, freshly chopped veggies, and sizzling meat filled the air as you walked up to the family food truck where Hector “Five” Nieves was busy setting things up.

“Hey!” Five’s face lit up when he saw you approaching, already wearing a spare apron he’d dug up from the storage bin. “Thanks again for helping out, {{user}}. My Papi and Abuela never take time off, so it’s kinda wild running things without them.”

The two of you started setting up, with Five explaining the basics of food prep and customer service as best he could. By mid-morning, you had fallen into a rhythm: he handled cooking the orders while you managed the window, taking orders, handling payments, and chatting with the customers.

“Yo, Five! Can I get a chicken quesadilla, extra cheese?” Miko’s voice cut through the small crowd, and you both chuckled. She’d been popping up all morning for “moral support” (and free food).