Julie of Story A Day prompts us today to write only one side of a conversation. This may also turn out to be one of those stories in dialog I wimped out on yesterday. We shall see, as I write it.

Celebration

by Marian Allen

It’s a perfect day for a picnic, isn’t it? I’ll spread the blanket under this tree; you guard the basket.

Of course I don’t mind doing all the cooking and then driving over here. I love to cook, and I did all the driving the last few years, anyway.

Well, no, of course not to see you, when you lived right next door, Miss Silly! Now, don’t get me tickled when I’m unpacking the food, or I’ll spill something, sure as check.

I made all your favorite picnic foods: Here’s some cold fried chicken, potato salad — your recipe, of course, some of those big fat olives, my bread-and-butter pickles, deviled eggs– Well, I made half of them the way you like them and half of them the way I like them. You can tell which is which because yours have pickle relish in them. Yuck!

Oh! Yeah! Dessert! I made two little chocolate lava cakes. And here’s a thermos of tea. No, it’s only half as sweet as I like it, so that makes it just a little bit sweeter than you like it. Fair compromise? Good.

Don’t look now, but there’s a man coming over. His hair is all scraggly and he needs a shave. Skinny. Shhh, he’s right behind you.

Yes, it is a beautiful day for a picnic. No, of course I’m not frightened of you. Oh, my, I can’t imagine living in my car! That long? You must have it down to an art. I never knew they had showers at the church you can use. Isn’t that nice?

Can I offer you some food? Here: I’ll make you up a plate. You like potato salad? and which kind of deviled egg? Both? I’ll tell you what: I’ll put the rest of this chicken in one of the plastic bags I brought and moosh the egg halves together and put them in this other one and just give you the bowl of potato salad — it’s disposable, so don’t worry about that. Now you’ll have something for supper, too.

No, that’s all right. I need to be going. Would you like some cake? Here’s some plastic flatware with napkins and salt and pepper. –Oh! Salt and pepper on cake–of course I didn’t mean that! Oh, my, you’re funny! Oh, thank you for that laugh!

No, thank you, I can pack up.

Once a year, every year. This one, closest to the tree. We were best friends for over fifty years, and I always come picnic with her on her birthday.

Yes, it is a pretty place.

Thank you. God bless you, too. Goodbye.

~*~

MY PROMPTS TODAY: One-sided conversation. Making a meal for a friend. Giving a homeless man a meal. Having to eat alone…..

If you liked this story, you might like my other stories and my novels. Support an author: buy a book and leave an Amazon review. I thank you, and my cats thank you.

MA