The attraction of his Beanee Weenees

Summary

A young man attempts to woo a girl with Beanee Weenees in a vacant parking lot, unaware of her growing disdain for the dish, as he plans to propose on their one-year anniversary.

Abstract

The narrative unfolds in an empty Food Lion parking lot, where a 15-year-old Buick serves as the setting for a peculiar courtship ritual. A young man, the owner of the Buick, consistently brings Beanee Weenees to share with his love interest, a tradition that began after she innocently mentioned her liking for the dish. Their routine involves 30 minutes of hand-holding and conversation about the future, with the girl feigning enjoyment of the meal. The story reaches a climax on the anniversary of their first meeting, with the young man carrying the weight of an engagement ring in his pocket, hopeful that his gesture will be well-received after she has eaten her Beanee Weenees.

Opinions

The girl initially enjoyed Beanee Weenees but has grown tired of the repetitive meal choice.
The young man is oblivious to the girl's true feelings about the food, believing it to be a special part of their relationship.
The story suggests that the young man is preparing to propose marriage to the girl, indicating a serious commitment despite the quirky context of their meetings.
The setting of an empty parking lot and the choice of Beanee Weenees as a romantic gesture add a touch of irony and humor to the narrative.
The editor's note provides context for the story, framing it as a piece of flash fiction inspired by a writing prompt from a Pen to Paper Live session.

Finding love in an empty parking lot

The car door creaked and groaned as a 15-year-old Buick tends to do when he opened and closed the door. From the yellow plastic bag, he pulled forth a dented cup of Beanee Weanies. He smiled as if he was handing her a handful of sapphires.

Sure, she likes the taste of hot dog chunks and gravy and beans. Her mistake was in telling him. Since that first time they agreed to meet in the back corner of the vacant Food Lion parking lot, it’s always been Beanee Weenees. For 30 minutes, they’ll sit in the Buick and hold hands. She’ll slurp and listen as he talks of tomorrow.

She’s so tired of Beanee Weenees.

Today is exactly one year after their first lunch date. The box holding the ring holding the quarter carat feels heavy in his pocket. When, he wonders. He decides definitely after she’s had her Beanee Weenees.

Editor’s Note: “The attraction of his Beanee Weenees” is an example of flash fiction stemming from a writing prompt during the most recent Pen to Paper Live session hosted by the Charlotte Lit organization. You can register here. We were given an example of flash fiction and encouraged to write from what inspires us.

Flash Fiction

The attraction of his Beanee Weenees

Finding love in an empty parking lot