"The Menu" - short story

Dennis skimmed through the menu and quickly made his selection. Prime New York Strip Steak with sides of Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Sautéed Mushrooms. No need for a starter with a heavy meal like that, but what wine would be appropriate? A Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon or a Pinot Noir? Admittedly, he could hardly distinguish one red from another, but from experience, he knew the right wine would make his steak dinner all the more enjoyable.

Bianca—that was his companion's name. Let's recap how they had met, he thought, as she concentrated on her menu. A blind date set up by mutual friends. He had been hesitant at first, but they insisted. He needed to get back in the game, they said, but he was still raw from his breakup with Mona.

Bianca. As she perused the menu, he smiled. She had an alluring face, green eyes, and shoulder-length blond hair. Quite attractive, actually. He knew absolutely nothing about her; that would soon change. His friends assured him she wasn't a vegetarian; that was why he booked a table at this upscale steakhouse, with its somewhat snobbish upholstered chairs, white linen tablecloths, and smartly uniformed staff. Seeing the overpriced entrées on the menu, he hoped the meal would be worth the expense.

Bianca's eyes went wide as she flipped through the menu pages. "Let me see…" she said.

Read the rest of the story at Umbrella Factory Magazine. You can read the story in one of three ways:

1) On the Umbrella Factory website

2) On this website, it's a little easier: 

3) Download the PDF and read offline.

"The Menu" is on page 14 of Issue 58.