It’s time for Monday’s Finish the Story again. This is a flash fiction challenge which asks that we write a story in 150 words from the picture and first line prompt, kindly provided by the host, Barbara W. Beacham.
Here is this week’s photo . . .
. . . and here is my story, including the first line prompt:
*
‘Pizza anyone?’ the dark-headed waiter asked.
Chris glowered at the man, noting the name-tag on his jacket with the name ‘Fabio’ written on it. He was still piqued that Jane had booked the meal without consulting him. Their first anniversary, for Pete’s sake – and she knew he never ate pizza!
‘Menu and wine list…?’ Fabio continued, evidently puzzled by his hostile response.
‘Pizza … pizza… pasta …. I don’t eat any of these,’ Chris snapped. ‘Everything’s got meat in it. And I hate pasta!’
‘Ah, no meat …’ Fabio’s face crinkled in thought. ‘We can make vegetarian pasta … or pizza with mushrooms … or olives. Margherita pizza perhaps: sizzling white Mozzarella cheese, sweet red tomatoes, garnished with bright green bay leaves.’ He kissed his fingers and flicked them out. ‘The colours of Italia’s flag …’
Chris washed down his last mouthful with a swig of Chianti. ‘Best darned flag I’ve ever eaten.’
Word Count: 150
I wrote this story with my husband in mind. He’s a vegetarian – and a very faddy one. He won’t eat rice or pasta dishes and would never touch pizza until we had a holiday in Sorento. Not liking Italian food at all, he tended to eat Margherita pizza at least once every day. He certainly didn’t love it, and has rarely eaten it since.
If you’d like to read other entries, click here.
Millie Thom 
Chris saw sense!
Although this made me hungry…I enjoyed it!
Very well written and entertaining too.
The ending made me chuckle. Well done Fabio 🙂
I used to have a couple of colleagues who were extremely picky with their food. Every time we went for team lunch, there were endless discussions where we could or couldn’t go. Luckily, neither of them had a problem with Italian…
Try living with a husband like mine! Apart from cheese, eggs and vegetables, I’m stumped! He hates rice dishes, too. (Personally, I blame his mother! Haha.) Forty five years has made me quite creative with veggies, but not a lot else! Thank you for the comment, Sonia. 🙂
Great humor! This made me hungry–that’s a flag I’d eat… : )
Thank you, Emily! I’ve never tried a flag myself – a litttle indigestible, i would think! 🙂
Very funny. Great story.
Thank you, Rachel! 🙂
I’m glad that Chris finally ate the pizza Margherita. Maybe that Chianti made it taste a lot better. 🙂 Great story Millie! I enjoyed reading it (as I do all of your stories).
Chianti works wonders, of course. Thanks, PJ 🙂
I’m not sure what Chianti is but i figured it was some sort of alcohol. lol!
Chianti is an Italian wine and is quite a well known one here in Britain, as is Pinot Grigio. Chianti was only one word, so was better for the challenge! Haha. (Chianti is pronounced as though it begins with a k – like keeanti.) Ah … the perils/delights of alcohol, eh? 🙂
LOL! Yes, the perils and delights of alcohol. I quit drinking in 1993. So I’m not too knowledgeable about different kinds of alcohol.
I don’t drink nowadays, either, so I’m a total bore when we go out, or when we’re on holiday. Nick (husband) won’t drink alone, so he has to be teetotal too! I stopped drinking because I just went off it several years ago. Odd, but that’s how it was.
That is very kind of your husband to teetotal while he is with you! At least you can be boring together. Haha! I’m just kidding.
What a humorous post! ❤ I'm sure it was the best flag he could ever have 😛 I wouldn't mind to eat it if I were him. Give me more of this flag please Millie 😀
Well, I’m glad Mr Grumpy finally found something he would eat. Top marks to the waiter!
Thank you, Ali. I’ve tried to feed Mr Grumpy for 45 years now, and it’s still jolly hard. I could do with a permanent Fabio around! 🙂
A wonderful solution to a infernally common problem ~ I am also totally teetotal and I survive on a fish or fowl only diet. Margaret will drink a glass of white wine at home occasionally and enjoys red meat when we dine out ~ Congratulations on adapting your lifestyle Millia and for this great fun story ~ 🙂
I’m glad someone understands that it’s all about adapting. I eat mostly what Nick eats because I thrive on lots of vegetables. I’ve cut out a lot of cheese, though, and, like you, eat fish or fowl. It has become a way of life and I just go mad on the big Sunday roasts and fancy baking when we’re invaded by our tribe! Thanks for sharing that, John. 🙂
Millie – this was well crafted! I enjoyed you bit of flash…Thank you for your continuing participation in the MFtS challenge! Be well…. ^..^
Thank you, Babs. I’ll look forward to next week’s prompt. 🙂
🙂
I just want to punch pretentious Fabio right in the head. (It’s not there in the writing, don’t worry.) Odd personal reaction..the fingertip-flick thang? Or gut reaction to anyone named “Fabio?”
I’ll pass the message on. Perhaps he’ll change his name to Mario … or Ronaldo?
This made me smile. Shows you how good a waiter could be when selling his product. (Love the comment on vegetarian eating!)
Yes, I think all the best waiters are exceptionally good salesmen! Being a vegetarian is quite easy for most people. It’s just that my husband is so fussy over a lot of the foods that vegetarians fall back on. It’s a good job i like salad! 🙂
Salad is healthy we do not really need all those heavy food anyway.
Definitely. I eat lots of fruit, vegetables and salad. I haven’t had pizza for many years, either. I’m into healthy food and do take care what I eat. I’m just dead boring, I know! 🙂
You sound like me. I just put everything together and one two three ready to eat no long recipes to follow and lots of extra things going with it!
Loved the story Millie and the ending is the best! I like the humor.
Thanks, Tony! I’m glad you liked my little story. 🙂
I had a good chuckle reading the story and all the comments. Vegetarian food is surely healthy but sometimes tends to be boring.
I’m glad the story made you laugh, Norma. But this is honestly, how things are when I go for meals with my husband. Wonderful as he is in other ways, he’s a nightmare in a restaurant. I sometimes think I should take a packed lunch along for him! We’ve walked out of a few restaurants in the past because he couldn’t find anything he liked on the menu. Now that is really embarrassing. Thank you for the lovely comment. 🙂
I understand that embarrassing feeling. I go shopping with him and he is more choosey than me. So we end up walking from one store to another for at least three to four hours. Although we have walked out of restaurants when he doesn’t like the service or the food on menu. Now I’ve got used to it. I look at his face and I know and move towards the door. 🙂
How nice to have found a kindred spirit! We can commiserate together, Norma. 🙂 I’ve suffered my other half’s fads for 45 years in October. 🙂
He is really a good person inspite of all his demanding attitude. It’s still going to be a long walk with him and I enjoy my every step with him. 🙂
Again, I know exactly what you’re saying. Life isn’t just about tastes in food, after all. If that were true, I’d never have survived this long. 🙂
I am sorry but the picture make me hungry!
Wow! sweet ending. I love the flag eating part – hahaha. A peace-flag!
Thank you, Joycelin! I’m glad it gave you a laugh.
Mmm that margarita sounds delicious! Great line at the end too 🙂
We shouldn’t read these pizza stories on an empty stomach, should we? Haha. Glad you found the last line amusing, too. Thanks, Az. 🙂