“So let me get this straight,” Taylor said, pinching the top of her nose lightly. “Your name is actually Chaos?”

  “Yes it is,” the primordial being said. His eyes flickered over to Ever.

  *Why did you come back?*

  ∞When did I say I would leave?∞

  *Your note-*

  “No disrespect, but what sort of mother calls their son Chaos?” Taylor asked.

  “I didn’t have any parents, actually.” Chaos said. “It’s just the name that I’ve always had.”

  “Oh I’m sorry!” Taylor said, hand over her mouth.

  “That’s quite alright.”

  The door opened again, a woman wearing an oversized sun hat walked in, a wide-eyed kid in tow.

  “Good morning!” Ever, Taylor and Chaos said in unison.

  The woman looked slightly taken aback by the hospitality. “Hi, thought I’d come in earlier to beat the rush.”

  The three staff members flew into motion: Ever flicked on the lights, Taylor slid the ice cream flavours into their places and Chaos put on the uniform and apron. The newest recruit was the first to the scoop.

  “How about some ice cream, young one?” He said kindly to the child. He deftly scooped the requested rainbow flavor and plopped it in a cone for the child. The fabric of reality warped ever so slightly as Chaos linked into Ever’s mind.

  ∞People have said over millenia that they like children for their purity and innocence. I like them because of their propensity to wreak havoc.∞

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  “Mmm.” Ever responded.

  “‘Mmm’, what?” Taylor said under her breath.

  “Nothing.”

  “He is good,” Taylor murmured. “It’s like he’s been doing it for ages.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Bye, see you again soon!” Chaos waved at the child as the door closed behind them.

  “Have you ever done this sort of thing before?” Taylor asked Chaos.

  “No, but I’ve rather been enjoying it - and Ever has been the most patient and accommodating teacher I’ve ever had.”

  Taylor crossed her arms, both eyebrows shooting up. “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “Well, we are heading into the busiest part of the year and my uncle hasn’t been able to find me a suitable casual yet, so… I guess we’ll keep you.”

  “Splendid!” Chaos said, clapping his hands together.

  —--

  “Why did you come back?” Ever asked Chaos, watching Taylor leave for her break.

  “Like I said, I didn’t say I was leaving. I said I might be back later,” Chaos said.

  “That usually means that you’ll be gone for a time.”

  “And I was.”

  “One weekend?”

  “Death’s apprentice, you assume that time works in the same way on Earth as it does in the realms that I inhabit. If I were to compare the duration of time I was away for to these earth revolutions, the earth would have consumed itself five times over.”

  Ever was silent. “So you’re just back here to scoop ice cream?”

  “I’m back here to first consume ice cream and second ponder upon humans and their idiosyncrasies.”

  The two of them stood together in silence, laughter from the afternoon program on the radio meandered between them lazily before dissipating. “Tell me, how are you finding living in this life?”

  “Overall fine, there have been some good learnings.”

  “Do you wonder,” Chaos asked slowly, “who you were in your past life?”