The Pyramid Scheme

Maya's older cousin Jake burst into the kitchen holding a vitamin supplement bottle like it was holy water. 'This stuff is life-changing, Mays. You're gonna want in on this.' Maya rolled her eyes so hard she practically saw her own brain. Jake was always chasing the next big thing — last month it was cryptocurrency, now it was 'wellness entrepreneurship.' 'It's a pyramid scheme, Jake,' she said, scrolling through her phone. 'No, it's multi-level marketing,' he corrected, offended. 'There's a difference.' 'Is there?' 'Whatever. You're just jealous because I'm gonna be rich.' The doorbell rang. It was Leo, her lab partner, holding their bio project poster. His backpack strap was ripped, and he looked like he'd been chased by something. 'You are NOT gonna believe what just happened,' he said, breathless. 'I was walking through the woods behind the rec center, and I saw a fox. Like, right there. Just staring at me. And then — BAM — lightning hit a tree like ten feet away.' Maya laughed. 'A fox? In daylight?' 'I'm serious! It was totally weird and cinematic and stuff. Like, the fox didn't even flinch. Just looked at me like I was the idiot.' Jake perked up. 'That's a sign. Seriously. The universe is trying to tell you something.' Leo looked at Jake, then at Maya. 'Your cousin selling vitamins again?' 'Always,' Maya said. 'Wait,' Leo said, eyes widening. 'My sister fell for one of those. She bought, like, three thousand dollars worth of 'immune support gummies' and now she has a garage full of expired supplements.' Jake's phone buzzed. He looked at it and grinned. 'My sponsor says I hit Gold level. That's five hundred extra a month, baby.' Maya looked at Leo. Leo looked at Maya. 'Dude,' Leo said. 'You're not even making enough to cover your own vitamins.' Jake shrugged. 'It's about the HUSTLE, man. You wouldn't understand.' Outside, thunder rumbled. Another storm rolling in. 'The fox was probably trying to warn you,' Maya said to Leo. 'About multilevel marketing.' Leo cracked up. 'About capitalism in general.' Jake kept scrolling, oblivious. Outside the window, something moved in the backyard — a flash of red. Maya squinted. 'Um. Jake?' 'What?' 'There is literally a fox in your backyard.' Jake looked up. 'Is it a sign from the universe?' 'It's probably just hungry,' Maya said. 'Maybe it wants some vitamins.'