This week at the Carrot Ranch, Charli Mills challenged writers to In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about snacking. It can feature crunchy snacks or creamy one. Who is snacking on what and why? How can you make this a story? Go where the prompt leads!
In my response, I’ve concentrated more on the crunch than the snack. It should have been creamy, but that’s how life goes sometimes.
Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right and, just when you think it’s turned a corner, something else pops up to surprise you? This is about one of those days. I hope you enjoy it.
Crunch Time
“I really need this today,” she said.
“Bad day?” asked the waiter, placing the coffee on the table.
“Yeah,” she sighed.
“Coffee’ll fix it,” he said. “I made it myself.”
She smiled, thinking of all the I-made-it-myself gifts received over the years.
With eyes closed, she scooped the delicious chocolatey froth into her mouth.
Then her eyes popped. There shouldn’t be anything crunchy in a cappuccino. She pushed the crunchy bit out on her tongue.
A fly! She spurted the remaining contents of her mouth over the table as a student and parent passed.
“Are you okay?” they asked.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your feedback. Please share your thoughts.
Well done, Norah! Just when you think things can’t get worse…
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Exactly, Jennie. 🙂
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🙂
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Oh dear. Yes, I remember that well! LOL Great flash! 🙂
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Thanks, Robin. I think I remember it a little too well. 🙂
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I guess next time she’ll drink her coffee with her eyes open 🙂
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I didn’t have cappuccino for years after and still rarely do. I’m very mindful of any crunchy bits now. 🙂
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I did not know this was based on a true story! I can imagine you are a bit more careful these days…
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I sure am, Jim. 🙂
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Haha. I was hoping the crunchy she felt when sipping the froth was perhaps chocolate chips or something wonderful like that. A fly! Really fun and great 99 word story. I think I’ll use this prompt for my writing students sometime. Snacks mean many different things to different people. Me? Give me a chocolate chip cookie anytime.
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As long as the chips are chocolate, that’s fine by me too. I especially like macadamia and white chocolate cookies. Thanks for reading, Pam.
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I somehow knew this was a nonfiction based story, lol. Gross! Poor you. 🙂 x
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Yes! And I was there when it happened! 🙂
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🙂
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You were! I wondered if you’d read and recognise the story in a different setting. There’s really no mistaking it, though, is there. 🙂
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It wasn’t pleasant at the time, Debby. I’m pleased I got some mileage out of it though. 🙂
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No kidding! 🙂
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Yikes! Well done, Norah…
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Thank you, Bette.
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Perfect timing … but I thought you liked insects.
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I do – but not so much in my coffee. 🙂
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Ew, even just the thought of it.
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I know!
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Oh no, Norah, that is a horrible thing to happen. I got a flying insect in one of my ears once and that was bad enough. It kept fluttering and completely freaked me out.
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I know what you mean about flying things in your ears. It is very uncomfortable, Robbie. The fly I got in my coffee definitely wasn’t flying – not when I was finished with it anyway. That part of the story was true. 🙂
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I thought it might be, Norah. Horrible.
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It wasn’t pleasant, Robbie. 🙂
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a fly in the ointment always sinks the day … well written Norah!
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Thanks for summing it up so perfectly, Kate.
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my pleasure Norah!
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Yikes – this was a fun twist – and sometimes late September can be “fly season” here in our area so this was more probable than some folks realize – 🙂
and your writing really let us feel the surprise – after the froth — and…
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The fly part was real, sadly. I didn’t have another cappuccino for years after that and still tend to have flat white instead. I’m pleased it surprised.
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Oh yikes! And it is not something easily forgotten
And don’t want to get too much into the details
– but in 1990 – I had someone spit in my coffee and I believe it was racially charged – I was passing through a rural town down south (US) and got a coffee to go and Norah! Part way through the “loogey” surfaced – ugh!
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Eeew! That’s awful, Yvette. There was a similar scene in a Seinfeld episode and I always think how we are really at the mercy of those who prepare our food and wait on us. I desperately try to not think about it when eating out. I’d never eat out again. Did you ever drink coffee again?
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Yes I recovered – funny what a short memory we have! Another time – in 2001ish I got really sick after eating fast food – and later I realized the guy was acting weird – so the lesson learned there is to never eat or consume if we ever get a “check inside” – if that makes sense – and a few times we have left restaurants or pulled away from a drive through – over many years – and then really only dined at places that we trusted
— but in general – people are way too trusting of who they allow to handle their food – and when folks are rude to their servers – really??
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Yeah, it’s a risk we take for convenience or enjoyment, isn’t it. I guess most of the time it turns out okay. But I do agree with you about people being rude – one never knows!
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Yes – we never know – and I guess it helps to ha e cameras everywhere these days – more accountability
And thanks for a fiction based on a true event
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Thanks for the conversation. It’s fun to swap stories.
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Yes and even fun to cover “yucky” topics like bugs or spit in our food – haha
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When we must! 🙂
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Exactly 😊
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Ahhhh, Norah the mistress of surprises…but a fly?
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That part was based on a true story – put me off cappuccino for years – but the rest is fiction, but could be real. 🙂
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I’m having one of those weeks! Perhaps the waiter was a former student, the class clown? Funny and unexpected, Norah.
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Could have been. I don’t think the fly was intentional on his part though. I’m sorry I focussed more on the crunch than the snack. I enjoyed your crunchy chips and got distracted.
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,”Sweet Stepper*
A friend taught me dark chocolate is healthy. The girls name is “sweet stepper” . Most children want to get into their mommy’s purse to get treats, or take the trash our without asking, do favors . This girl loved to stay around her dad when she wanted gas after learning to drive, or special things, she knew he loved to give. Sweet Stepper fixed him and her brothers biscuits and gravy, eggs, whatever was available before they went to work and school. Treating her sweet was the name of the friendship game.
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Ha! Not a good day at all! Good flash though Norah; of course a student family would witness the spewing to make matters worse.
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That’s it exactly. Thank you. 🙂
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