Ricardo, the new busboy, watched table eight with trepidation. Who wastes good food and lets it get cold while they talk and talk? Knives and forks, hands and gestures rose and fell but no-one tasted a bite. Maybe the quiet blonde had. Her lipstick appeared smudged. Which one of the three was her date? She must be starving.
One customer flashed jewel-studded fingers.
“Yes, sir…”
“You can clear the table now.”
“I’ll get your waiter.”
~ * ~
The word limit for Busboy is 75 words. I used all 75. Check out http://mommasmoneymatters.com/flash-fiction/ for the rules and join us.
April 23, 2013 at 8:09 pm
Since my mantra (or one of them) is “eat eat” I want to know why no one ate their food. An intriguing mystery and this is a new one that I hadn’t seen before. Always like seeing new approaches that get me interested.
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April 29, 2013 at 9:10 pm
Me too, Paulette, ‘eat, eat’ and I’ll not pass up good food either. Ever. My downfall.
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April 23, 2013 at 9:12 pm
Loved this. Great characterization of the busboy – I could see him without having a description. Left me intrigued.
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April 29, 2013 at 9:08 pm
Nice to see you Len, and thank you. Glad you can see the busboy. Do I get lucky sometimes, or what?
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April 23, 2013 at 10:27 pm
I wanted them to eat!
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April 29, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Imagine not cleaning the plates? I could never ignore food. Ha ha.
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April 24, 2013 at 2:34 am
Oh my people probably do that too. If I was busboy I’d pour it in their laps!
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April 29, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Hi, Gilly. I want to shove their face in the wasted food. What is more important than a nice meal. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.
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April 24, 2013 at 3:18 am
Hmmm… Interesting.
Brings to mind that scene in The Matrix…
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April 29, 2013 at 8:59 pm
Oh, Ghia. You’re so on the ball when it comes to movies and music. Glad you think this interesting.
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April 24, 2013 at 11:31 am
Intriguing. I wanted to read more!!
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April 29, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Thank, Cee. Glad you are intrigued. Nice to see you.
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April 24, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Very funny! And very good! Wonderful, Tess! 🙂
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April 29, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Sometimes funny things make me cry, like wasteful people. Thanks, Gigi.
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April 25, 2013 at 4:37 am
You would be a good short story writer about odd people you come across – you’re a great observer!
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April 29, 2013 at 8:54 pm
Thank you, Rose. Nice of you to think so.
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April 25, 2013 at 6:15 am
Well told in few words. I was raised as part of the “clean plate club” so the fact they’re wasting all that food is really bothering me. Very intriguing and sets up lots of potential scenarios.
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April 29, 2013 at 8:53 pm
I can’t understand people who order and then don’t eat their meals. What an terrible waste. Some order a piece of pie, for example, take one forkful and pass on the plate. Ugh.
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April 25, 2013 at 6:40 am
This is a great one Tess. Wonderfully done.
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April 29, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Thanks, Valentine. I was stumped at first.
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April 27, 2013 at 5:19 pm
Must have been one hell of a conversation!
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April 29, 2013 at 8:50 pm
Yeah, I wonder why they needed the ‘exposure’ or may they needed an alibi maybe? Or maybe something else.
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April 28, 2013 at 7:04 pm
very descriptive in such limited words, I like it 🙂
…and I hate it when people left food untouched, in my language it’s called mubazir. we should always eat an already served food.
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April 29, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Thank you, Novroz. I appreciate your dropping by to comment.
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June 8, 2013 at 8:10 pm
My guess is she was the non-participating alibi. Great flash!
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June 10, 2013 at 6:52 pm
Yep, you would be right, Red. You sure are busy tonight. Thanks for the visits.
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