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Barbecue, by Sue Clayton

27/2/2021

12 Comments

 
FOOD
Homeless and starving my stomach growls at the smell of roasting beef. I resent the queue of meat tragics heaping fried onions onto sizzling steaks and sausages, folded into slices of buttered bread, condiments on the side.

A woman sways unsteadily over to the barbecue, grabs the mustard, Semillon Blanc in one hand, slice of bread in the other. She collides with the meat tray. It hits the ground.

Dirt covered steak and sausages sit on top of the garbage bin, lid askew. I’m not proud and my mouth drools, tail wagging, as I tuck into the best meal ever.
12 Comments
Susan Reid
27/2/2021 01:54:07 pm

Very touching.

Reply
Peggy Gerber
27/2/2021 02:41:07 pm

A surprise ending and a reminder that animals suffer too from homelessness.

Reply
Pamela Kennedy
27/2/2021 05:07:16 pm

Aw! Such a super sweet tale!

Reply
Jim link
27/2/2021 05:21:02 pm

A tail-waging tale!
Nice

Jim

Reply
Jennifer Duncan
27/2/2021 05:55:56 pm

Lucky dog! My son just told me that a raccoon was dipping into doughnuts delivered seconds before to his front door. Lots of opportunistic animals out there.

Reply
Marjan sierhuis
27/2/2021 06:12:42 pm

A delicious story, Sue.

Reply
Sandra James
27/2/2021 09:19:49 pm

I love it, Sue, and as Peggy commented, a great reminder that there are also homeless dogs. It occurred to me that everyone who reads your story will imagine a different breed of dog based on their own experiences! I see a Mini-Dachshund :)

Reply
Mary Wallace
28/2/2021 12:37:11 am

Sweet tale Sue. Happy to think the meat platter was put to good use.

Reply
Krystyna
28/2/2021 07:10:35 am

Ah,,, glad the doggie found something to ease its hunger. Beautifully told, Sue.

Reply
Swapan k Banerjee
28/2/2021 03:58:22 pm

'lid askew' - so expressive and exact, Sue.

Reply
Sue Clayton
1/3/2021 03:51:44 am

Thanks everyone. This doggie would've slept well with his full tummy; hopefully in the best shelter ever.

Reply
Padmini Krishnan
1/3/2021 10:14:18 am

Probably the dog needed it more than the intoxicated people on the barbecue. I imagined a foxhound:)

Reply



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