The Burrito. To me, this could quite possibly be man’s greatest invention.

Not because of the succulent, creamy smooth Mexican cheese, or the molé sauce coupled with grilled chicken, or even the refreshing mild salsa finally double wrapped to perfection. No my friend, no indeed. For me, the burrito represents the most pure form of friendship that I have ever known. And for you perverse souls that think the friendship resides in the burrito itself, you are wrong. Dead Wrong. The friendship lies with an ancient friend who, along with me, has been fighting adolescent oppression since 8th grade.

This friend is Chris Kuchmek. My Burrito Brother. We have known each other before girls. We have known each other before music. But, before Qdoba, I think that we never really knew each other. It all started last summer, when both of us finally realized we didn’t fit in with the regular crowd. We didn’t turn to drugs to escape, or alcohol; no, we turned to burritos.

The first meetings were primitive affairs, awkward and quiet while we discussed movies, girls and our jobs. However, as time progressed, the intensity of these meetings did as well. Our voyages to Qdoba became more frequent as we continued to struggle along in life. We began pouring out our emotional turmoil, fears and hopes. We began to realize that our hopes for the future were similar, that our goals were strangely akin and simplistic.

The meetings became rituals. We order the same exact thing every time, we sit in the same booth every time and we brood over the same adolescent pains every time.

I feel that I have been blessed with the opportunity to have these burrito rendezvous. Without them, where would I turn when life puts me down? Parents? They don’t understand. Teachers? Is that a joke? No, the Burrito Brotherhood has given me a haven, a refuge where I can be myself and solve my problems with someone who understands them. It is like therapy—burrito therapy. And without it, there would be a grimmer and unhappier man writing this story.

So next time you hop into Qdoba with a friend that you trust, order a burrito anyway you like. Find yourself a comfortable booth and just be you. You’ll find that you wouldn’t trade the company for the world.