The Dinner Disaster

It all started with a simple text message. Writer's Cramp Entry.

Lena had been waiting for this dinner for weeks. It wasn’t just any dinner; it was the first time her boyfriend, Mark, would be meeting her parents. She’d planned everything down to the last detail; reservations at her family’s favorite Italian restaurant, a perfect conversation starter, even a pep talk for Mark to ease his nerves. Nothing could go wrong.

Until it did.

A few hours before the dinner, she sent Mark a quick reminder text: “Hey babe, don’t forget dinner with my parents tonight at 7! Wear something nice. Can’t wait for you to meat them!”

~ ~ ~

Mark, who was in the middle of a chaotic work meeting, glanced at his phone and froze. His eyes locked onto a single word: meat.

Was this some kind of weird test? Was Lena’s family part of some bizarre initiation where he had to bring a meat dish to prove himself? He had heard of cultures with strange customs, but nothing like this. She hadn't mentioned anything like this before. The last thing he wanted was to show up empty handed and disappoint them.

Panicked, he ran to the nearest butcher shop after work. If they expected meat, he was going to bring the best cut possible. He settled on an four expensive, perfectly marbled ribeye steaks and had them wrapped up. He even bought a bottle of steak seasoning...just in case.

~ ~ ~

At exactly 7 PM, Mark arrived at the restaurant, slightly out of breath, the butcher paper wrapped steaks in hand. Lena’s parents, dressed in elegant attire, stared at the packages with puzzled expressions. Lena, who looked absolutely stunning, yet mortified, whispered, "Mark, what are you doing?"

Mark leaned in, just as confused. "You said to bring meat. I wasn’t sure if it was a gift or part of the dinner."

Lena blinked, then pulled out her phone and re-read her message. She covered her mouth as laughter bubbled out. "Oh my God. I meant meet them, not meat them!"

Her father chuckled, her mother smiled politely, and Mark turned crimson. The waiter approached just in time to defuse the tension. "Sir, would you like us to cook that for you?"

The table erupted into laughter, and though the night had started with a disaster, it ended with everyone sharing a meal...including, to everyone’s delight, a perfectly grilled steaks.