“Barbecue”

Author’s Note: This is a Take Ten to Write story and has not been proofread for errors. If I feel inspired or if there’s interest in the story, I’ll post a revised, edited, and extended version at a later date. Happy reading!

Prompt: “Hot dogs and hamburgers.” — suggested by Mary

“I need more hamburgers!” Amy calls, waving at me over the heads of the crowd.

“Hamburgers!” I shout down the line to Trevor.

He nods in acknowledgement and begins flipping the patties like crazy. Within seconds, he’s sending Noah down to zigzag through the crowd to me, holding a plate of freshly cooked hamburgers.

“Remind me whose idea it was to host a parents-only barbecue with free babysitting included?” he mutters.

I chuckle and pat my husband on the back. “Yours, actually. Remember?”

He thinks for a moment before sighing. “Oh yeah, you’re right. I was drunk when I suggested it, wasn’t I?”

“Very,” I nod.

“Well then that makes sense,” he says. He kisses my cheek as he hands me the burgers. “I’ll probably be back very soon.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I tell him, sending him off with a wink.

I grab my tongs and start placing burgers onto plates.

“You’ve got a nice place here,” Nancy drawls.

I stifle a sigh and look up at her. “Hi, Nancy. Glad you could make it.”

“Small, but nice,” she continues, running a manicured fingernail over the edge of the paper plate. “I admire how committed you and your husband are to saving money, even if it is to the detriment of your guests.”

“Thanks for coming,” I grumble as she moves on to the condiment station.

Noah reappears beside me. “Nancy McColligan?” he whispers into my ear.

“Yep.”

He rubs my back. “At least she didn’t bring her husband. Ever since he told Corey that he’ll never be a professional baseball player, I’ve hated his guts. I mean come on, that’s just not something you tell someone else’s son!”

Final Comments: Not much happened in this one…

Overall Rating: 😐