Dinner for Two (2nd Place)

“Dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes.”

“Thanks mom,” Daryl yelled back down the stairs, “What are we having?”

“We’re having a Sunset Café special,” Sheila replied.

“Grrreeaaat.” Daryl’s voice was ripe with sarcasm. Code for leftovers. Why did she always bring that stuff home? Just because she works there doesn’t mean she can torture the rest of the family with it.

“It’s meatloaf and scalloped potatoes. That should thrill you even more.”

“Do we have any ketchup?” I have to mask the taste with something.

“Yeee--esssss, we do,” his mother mimicked his sarcasm as she made two syllables out of yes.

Daryl’s mind raced with ideas. Meatloaf? How good could that be? I mean it’s leftovers from a restaurant and nobody wanted it there. Hmm… wonder what Todd’s doing? He flipped open his phone and texted him quickly ‘Smitty What R U having 4 supper?” then pressed the send button. Daryl waited. Todd always responded quickly. With any luck, he could mooch a meal.

Daryl’s phone buzzed. ‘Pizza. UR mom having meatloaf from D9R?”

‘Y’

‘Come Over. Mom says ok.’

Daryl closed his phone and smiled. No meatloaf for you, Daryl.

“Mom, can I go to Todd’s? He just invited me for supper,” Daryl yelled down the stairs again.

“I suppose. Be home by nine.”

Daryl’s father, Bob, just opened the door and Sheila waved from across the room. Daryl bounded down the stairs like a racehorse out of the gate. He grinned toward his mother and shot through the doorway. “Bye Dad.”

“See ya sport.”

Sheila sauntered over to the door and closed it with a soft click.

“It worked. Let’s go out to dinner. I ordered the Smith’s a pizza. You know – the usual.”


289 words
Flash Contest Entry