Thursday, November 29, 2012

Meatloaf - It's What's for Dinner

Working on getting my writing game back on. Here's another short bit of fiction inspired by this week's prompt at Sunday Scribblings.

"Meatloaf - It's What's for dinner"


Craig hit the front door at 6:45 pm. It had been a long day; Heck, it had been a long week.

"Honey, I'm home!" he called out as he sat in the foyer removing his brown patent leather shoes.

"Oh good," his bride replied, "You're just in time. Dinner is coming out of the oven as we speak. It'll be on the table in just a few minutes."

At the sound of Craig's voice his beloved and faithful companion Rex came bounding in from the other room. Mostly Golden Retriever, but with a speck of Yellow Lab mixed in, Rex was as gentle and lovable as they come.

"Come on boy, let's go have dinner." his master said while giving him a scratch behind the ears followed by a light pat on his fluffy, auburn colored head.

Craig's wife Carol rounded the corner to the dining room at the same time the "Boy and his dog" (as she lovingly referred to them) did.

A large bowl of creamy-white mashed potatoes and a smaller bowl of green peas with a dollop of butter in the center already sat on the table as Carol delivered the main dish of her famous meatloaf.

She and her husband of twenty years sat and ate and shared stories of what had transpired during their respective days. Nothing exceptionally noteworthy, but that didn't matter. They were together and they were talking. Even after all these years they still enjoyed each others company.

After finishing a plate of dinner and when the conversation began to dwindle a bit, Carol got up and said, "How about another piece of meatloaf?"

"Sounds good honey."

Slicing off another portion and sliding it onto Craig's plate, Carol told him to enjoy and that she'd take care of clearing the table while he finished.

With the sound of dishes clanking in the kitchen sink, Craig felt it was safe and summoned over Rex, who had up to this point been quietly lying in the corner of the dining room. With a tail wagging, a pink tongue hanging out and his head cocked to the side just a bit, Rex was immediately at Craig's side waiting for his master's next word.

Discretely Craig took his remaining piece of meatloaf and passed it to his four legged friend. One quick gulp and all evidence was gone. At nothing more than a whisper, Craig leaned over and told his friend, "Between you and me... I've never liked her meatloaf."

17 comments:

Rinkly Rimes said...

What a nice man you created!

Dianne said...

a delightful sweet story
I like this couple :)

Akelamalu said...

One of these days she'll catch him and there'll be hell to pay! LOL

Jeni said...

Loved your Meatloaf story! Your writing is always interesting and spot-on. Keep it coming.

Brianna said...

I really like the characterization that you use for the dog, I feel like he's a real part of the story, and I think that it's well done. :^)

Jeff B said...

Thank you all, and just for the record, I've been married for twenty years, but the difference is I LIKE my wife's meatloaf! hehehe

Old Egg said...

Twenty years and he hasn't been game to fess up. That is devotion but it isn't wise. One day it will be proof to her that he has never been fully honest with her but it has all a been a charade. The dog will not always be his scapegoat. He may have to get his doc to tell him to watch what he eats! Great tale to ponder over.

Jeff B said...

Oldegg- All true, and makes you wonder what other skeletons are in the closet if he can't own up to something as simple as meatloaf!

Mel said...

*chuckling*

There's not much I do cook--but I can toss together a mean meatloaf, apparently.
We don't have a puppy--

And I prefer the positive spin on this tale. It makes me smile.
Well done, sir!

Ron said...

HA!

Great twist at the end, Jeff!

And I have to chime in with Dianne and say that I REALLY like this couple because we get a clear sense of their enjoyment of each other. You shared a lot in so few words.

Well done, buddy!

So glad to see you blogging again!





Jeff B said...

So Mel you know your meatloaf has never been turned into a Scooby Snack.

Ron- Seeing your George Jetson avatar (and of course your comment) made my whole day.

Laura Anne said...

Ha ha! Brilliant...!

Josie Two Shoes said...

I love this guy for being so sensitive to his wife's feelings, but you'd think somewhere in twenty plus years of communication he might have found a way to say that meatloaf wasn't his favorite. Dogs do come in handy as food disposals though, kids have been doing that for generations! :-) A sweet story one could almost visualize!

Travis Cody said...

Little white lie, eh?

Jeff B said...

Laura Anne- Thanks

Josie- Seriously. The guy needs to man up!

Travis- For the sake of his wife's feelings I think this one would be forgiven.

Vanessa Victoria Kilmer said...

A story of true love. Very romantic.

Roan said...

I loved this story. It's a good thing he has Rex. Hubby does most of the cooking. I have Willie.;)

Reading your story made me want to check out the prompts again. Haven't posted a story in a long time. What I really miss are the pictures you used to post as a prompt. Maybe someday you will surprise us with a prompt.