January 30, 2023, prompt: Write a story about the dishes in 99 words (no more, no less). It can be an every-single-day activity, a precious collection, or any other interpretation of dishes as objects or activities. Who is stuck with the dishes and why? Go where the prompt leads! Click here for details.
The Bread Plate – by Hugh W. Roberts
While daydreaming, admiring the dishes on the table, Madeline watched the dapper servers rush by holding trays of plates covered with metal domes. Nobody would miss a small bread plate if she secretly hid one in her purse, would they?
She’d add a dinner service like this, without the name, to her upcoming wedding gift list.
An unexpected rattling of the dishes, cutlery and glasses made as they shuddered broke her daydream.
“What’s causing everything to clatter, Madeline?” asked her mother.
“I don’t know, Ma-ma,” Madeline replied, wondering if the word ‘Titanic’ would easily rub off her bread plate.
Written for the 99-word flash fiction challenge hosted by Charli Mills at the Carrot Ranch.
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Enjoyed this piece of flash fiction? Then you’ll love ‘More Glimpses.’
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32 short stories and flash fiction pieces take the reader to the edge of their imagination.
More Glimpses
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Fantastically written! I really liked the twist of them being on the Titanic.
Thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed the twist at the end .
A very clever twist as usual Hugh. I paid to see a virtual tour of Titanic artifacts last year. I heard about the online Titanic tour and always was fascinated with the ship. They showed the grand staircase, a stateroom and a huge room filled with artifacts, among them dishes, glassware and silverware that had been salvaged from the wreck from the ocean floor (or maybe a purse).
The virtual tour sounds amazing, Linda.
There is a Titanic museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I should make an effort and go and visit it. The bread plate in my story may well be there.
Yes it was amazing Hugh. I have never seen the movie “Titanic” – it is being released again this year for the 25th anniversary. I would like to finally see it. I did see “A Night to Remember” in B&W years ago. I hope you get to Ireland to see the Titanic museum. Yes, look for that missing bread plate. :)
Another cleverly twisted tale.
Thank you.
Oh that is a great twist, Hugh!! That bread plate is likely at the bottom of the ocean still!
Or it could have made it to a lifeboat in a purse, Terri.
Was Madeline one of the lucky ones to escape with the bread plate?
Only one of them survived that night.
I see …
Probably won’t be room on the lifeboats for bread plates!
Even in a small purse? We’ll never know.
Excellent twist! I hope she was able to finish her voyage (even if it’s via a rowboat).
Thank you. Even if she did not make it, she would have started a new voyage.
So she was right… nobody would care in the end.
True. This shows how much of a waste of time worrying can be.
Your words fit perfectly my quote post of last Friday.
Great story Hugh. Reminded me of days/evenings out with my gran … she was always slipping tumblers and glasses in her bag … or getting us to do it for her 🫣 I’m glad to say it’s not a family habit I continued with
Lol, what a great story about your gran, Brenda. I think my nan was the same.
Maybe it was something about that generation
A good twist to the story, Hugh. I wonder if she ever got to eat off that plate again.
Or did she ever put it in her purse, Davy? If she did, and survived, just imagine how much that plate would be worth today.
I’d imagine it would buy a few dinner sets, Hugh.
A good one.
Thanks.
Love it, Hugh. I expected something sinister again. :)
And you got it, Liesbet. Time for me to shock you all with a happy ending.
Oh! Ouch ! 💜
Little does she knew what the future had in store!
Nor do any of us.
That is so true