SHORT SHORT WRITING
Writers
’
FORUMFLASH COMP RESULTS
The task was to tell rather than show a story set during a romantic date
£100 winner
The Food of Love by Lesley MacauleyA
gust of wind blew open the door of the Blue Boar Inn and
a young woman in a yellow raincoat stepped inside. As she
shook a broken umbrella a waiter hurried over to push the
door shut and relieve her of her dripping belongings, which were
beginning to form a small puddle.
He scurried off for the wet fl oor sign. The woman ran her fi ngers
through her dishevelled hair and approached a heart-sprinkled
candle-lit table for two where a young man sat waiting. She began
to apologise profusely for being late but he brushed her apologies
aside, assuring her that he had only just arrived himself and who
could be expected to turn up on time, if at all, on such a fi lthy
night as this. The surrounding diners murmured in agreement.
The waiter arrived with the menu and the young woman said
she hardly need look at it as she had heard that the lobster was
particularly good. She then ran her fi nger down the drinks list
where it lingered at the most expensive bottle of champagne.
The man smiled at her and pointed to what he said was a very
fi ne sparkling wine that he had tasted before, and assured her
that she would much prefer that over the champagne that was not
all it was cracked up to be, despite its price, and that it would go
very well with the beer-battered fi sh and chips, which he had also
heard was very good.
The waiter’s pencil hovered over his pad.
A look of disappointment crossed her face before it was replaced
with a smile and she agreed both would go just perfectly with the
establishment’s signature pudding that she had her heart set on –
the ‘Out of Season Strawberries drizzled in fi nest melted Belgian
Truffl es’. The young man frowned and said he doubted very much
that such a rich dessert would cut through the heaviness of the
main course half as well as the sharpness of a nice fruit salad.
Looking as though she might burst into tears the woman picked
up her napkin and blew her nose, loudly.
The waiter winced. The other diners exchanged glances.
Now it was the young man’s turn to make apologies. He’d had
expenses this week and if only she would say yes he’d buy her all
the lobsters she could eat – on their honeymoon! With a fl ourish
he produced from his top pocket a small box. The hushed patrons
gasped as he placed a small diamond ring on her fi nger.
The waiter’s relief was palpable as he laughed and snapped
his fi ngers for the best champagne to be served immediately and
declared their meal, a meal of lobsters and strawberries, was on
the house. Caught up in the moment, everybody bought drinks
to celebrate, for themselves, and for the happy couple, and they
all agreed it was the most romantic evening ever.
A week later, on the far side of town, the door of the White Hart
Inn opened and a young woman in a yellow raincoat stepped
inside. Lesley, from Burham-on-Crouch, Essex, says: ‘I was inspired by the
idea that “true love” is an honest emotion in a world of fake news – we
never know when we’re being had.’Runner-up
Time is of the Essence by Simon ShergoldJ
ohn, not his real name of course, had been glancing across the
bar at Catherine for a while now. Finally, tucking the engineer’s
conference lanyard behind his tie, he moved towards her and
asked if she’d like to join him for dinner. It wasn’t something he
normally did but there was something familiar about Catherine
that attracted him.
Catherine looked up from her wine glass and smiled. She
said she’d be delighted to join him, not least because her teacher
conferences could be so stuff y and boring in the evenings with
everyone working on lesson plans and management strategies.
Catherine said that homework seemed to apply to teachers these
days too.
As they sat across the table from each other they swapped
stories from the classroom and building site – each interested in
the other’s anecdotes and laughing politely at those that didn’t
quite work. John ordered more wine as the soup arrived and
Catherine commented quietly on the price of the bottle. John
told her not to worry and explained corporate expenses would
foot the bill. Catherine asked what his spend limit was for the
conference. John replied £100 a day, which made Catherine choke
a little into her glass. She said the school had given her £20 for
the weekend. John looked perplexed – Catherine explained that
Government cuts had taken their toll on teacher jollies.
Catherine was funny, no doubt about that. John laughed at her
easy humour, feeling more and more comfortable as the evening
progressed. They decided to share dessert – chocolate mousse
with pistachio ice cream – when it became apparent it was both
their favourite. John told Catherine to take fi rst scoop, which she
did and took most of the ice cream. John laughed again, swiping
at the mousse in retaliation. Catherine feigned mock outrage,