PHOTO PROMPT ©Jill Wisoff
Laura stared at the city lights imagining the party people guzzling champagne and caviar. She was of this city too; they were the lights of her youth’s dreams, so why was she serving stolid stew of the cheapest cuts every night?
“Buck,” she called to a man with a helping of her stew hanging from his moustache, “Is this it then?”
Buck was nonplussed, “Good food, good company. What more is there?”
‘Hell!’ she thought. She flipped the closed sign round on the door. “Lock up when you’re finished.”
“Where you going?”
“To find company who know how to eat.”
Written for Friday Fictioneers – a 100 words story based on a photo prompt. Hosted by Rochelle. Read the other entries here.
Michael Wynn 
I liked the moustache-dangle of stew
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Thanks Neil
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He wasn’t as good a company as he thought he was, obviously 🙂
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He had no ambition for anything better but couldn’t see she might
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The bright lights of the big city can be deceiving, I wonder if she won’t end up missing Buck and his simple ways.
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So far the bright lights haven’t provided for her, she sees this as her last chance for the high life, she has to make something happen
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Ha! I hope she finds a tastier stew 🙂
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I think she’s had a lifetime of stew, she off in search of haute cuisine
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What a revolting sight that must have been!
Welcome to Keith’s Ramblings!
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Thanks Keith
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Dear Michael,
The stew dangling from the moustache made me want to run, too. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle.
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Blech… nothing I hate more than seeing food in a ‘stache or beard… which is why I stay away from men with beards!
I would have been out of there waaaaay before her!
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Yeah she finally couldn’t take it any more. Food in beards makes me retch.
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So very gross. Then they want to kiss you? Blech!
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😂
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Yup, sounds like she needs to go and find a new life! Vividly described, Michael.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks Susan
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I can’t stand champagne and caviar, give me a good out stew anyway, sadly the green often looks greener in other peoples garden, but she needs to be wary, it may be all moss and no grass. I enjoyed the images you created with this story.
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Thanks Mike, I think she feels she has to give it a go but you’re right, be careful what you hope for
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I wonder how soon Laura will miss Buck? He has three things in his favour; he compliments Laura; he compliments the food she serves; and he’s sufficiently trustworthy to be left to lock up. OK, so his personal hygiene leaves something to be desired.
It sounds like the city lights are going to deceive Laura once again.
I enjoyed this story, Michael.
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Thanks Penny. Yes sometimes be thankful for the simple life even if it doesn’t seem perfect at the time
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While the stew in the beard is gross, I still think that Buck has it right where it really counts.
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He’s harmless but I think she has ambitions for more and he’s not enough, at the moment to keep her there
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Good for her! I don’t blame her for leaving.
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I think she thinks she should have left a lot earlier, this may be her last chance to make something happen for her
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That stew hanging off the moustache. . .
This one is close to home. My husband had his 75th birthday this week. I offered him a variety of special menus, but he just wanted my good beef stew. Huh.
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You can’t beat a good stew, her problem I think, is having to cook and serve it up day in day out
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Nothing less attractive than arrogance. Great job.
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Thank-you
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Go Laura! Get outa there. Your moustache reference made me feel queasy and affirmed your story is really well written. Clever stuff.
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Thank-you, glad it made you feel queasy, if you see what I mean. 🙂
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Just this once, queasy is good – erm excuse me, I have to go now …
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Maybe if he just cleans up his ‘stache he’d be alright. I think his values are spot on. Good food, good company.
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His values are simple and true but she can’t see that yet. Maybe she’ll be back when she gets disappointed by the bright lights
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Laura’s sense of having had enough is so clear. I hope she finds what she’s looking for.
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Thanks Sarah Ann
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It sounds like “who knows how to eat” may have a double meaning here of better food and company.
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Yeah she’s looking for a fuller life and people who can show her how to get it. Hopefully she’ll find the right people
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Sounds like she’s tired! A night off might help
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I think she’s wondering where the time went and why the good life has so far passed her by
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