Flash Fiction: The Date
Plastic Flowers and Roast Beef
The thing about random words is that, once you pick them, you’re stuck.
Which is how I found myself writing about plastic flowers, the “smell that brings it all back,” a librarian, and a dentist.
Where do you even start with that?
“Oh, thank you, love! I’ll put them in water!”
Joey laughed. “They’re plastic, ma!”
“No they…” She looked closer. Grabbed her reading glasses from the kitchen counter where they sat by the bills. Finally, she took a sniff. “Huh!”
What’s there to do with a fake bouquet? Ana grabbed a vase anyway, filled it with water and set them inside.
“Those are pretty,” said Maya as she entered the kitchen. “Morning, ma. Hey, Joey. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“I’ve got a dental appointment in town,” he said.
Maya’s eyes twinkled at that. “You staying the weekend?”
“Yep.”
Ana shook her head. “I don’t get why you don’t just see the dentist where you live. Don’t they have good dentists in the city?”
“I just never bothered to change it. And anyway, it’s just twice a year. And I get to come home and see you!” The words were innocent, but Joey’s blush bloomed.
“Ah!” Ana said. “You like Dr. Lewis.” The blush deepened. Maya smirked.
“Right this way, Mr. Dunville.” Joey sat down in the dentist’s chair and rubbed his hands on his jeans. He’d dressed in his best — a newish, dark pair, along with a pink polo his sister always complimented. Said it looked good with his dark complexion.
X-rays done, Joey shifted in his seat and smiled at the dental assistant. “Just one minute and I’ll get Dr. Lewis here.”
Dr. Lewis arrived in her no-nonsense way. She said hello, looked at the digital film, stuck a few implements in his mouth, and smiled. “Looking good,” she grinned. “Anything bothering you?”
“No, all good,” he said.
“And how’s the family?”
“They’re good,” he smiled. “Ma’s still at home, and Maya’s fine too. She’s got that job at the library…and I think she’s seeing someone seriously now, though she hasn’t talked about it. I’ve just heard from ma.”
Dr Lewis’ grin deepened. “Well, that’s good to hear. Any plans for the weekend? I heard you moved out to the city!”
Joey couldn’t help it. He blushed. “Yes, I have. But…hey, listen…Marla — can I call you that?” At her nod, he continued. “Listen, I know this might be coming out of nowhere, but, actually…” He slowed, took a breath, then restarted. “Marla, would you like to come have dinner at my place — well, my ma’s place on Saturday?”
That earned him a confused look. And a response in the affirmative. “Uh, sure,” she half muttered. “I’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you my address — ” he started to say, but she shook her head.
“I know where your mom lives. 6 pm, right?”
“Hah, yeah. Crazy how you remember that from school. Yep, same time as always. 6 pm.”
“See you Saturday, then?” she asked. He nodded and grinned.
Joey paced the floor of the kitchen. “Let me help you with that, ma!” He took the roast out of the oven and placed it on the dining room table.
Next, he took the mashed potatoes, followed by a pitcher of ice water, glasses and silverware.
He rearranged the plastic flowers. Checked his hair in the hallway mirror. His nerves jangled. The doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Maya shouted from upstairs. Joey’s heart beat out of his chest. He took a calming breath as the tornado that was his sister swooshed past him to the front door.
The door creaked slightly as it opened.
“Hello, dentist!” Said Maya.
“Hello, librarian,” said Marla.
Joey took one last fortifying breath and turned towards the door. The smile died on his lips as the two women flew into each other’s arms and kissed.
A cloud of shame and humiliation engulfed him. He turned away. It might have been a few seconds, or a few minutes. Of that he wasn’t sure. But when the smell of roast beef floated towards him, he let it all go. He sat down at the table and laughed.