beautiful burgers

BEAUTIFUL BURGERS      Gwen Leane
I looked at the burger mountain.  The saliva glands were doing overtime. I swallowed but dribble ran out the corners of my mouth.
Tomato sauce, rich and red, oozed down over the bread roll. Lettuce leaves curled around the burger’s edges like ruffled lace.  Beetroot, dark red discs. The perfume tickled my nose, teasing my taste buds. I could hardly wait to add a rasher of bacon looking like crinkled ribbons, and a slice of melted cheese dripping down and mingling with the sauce, add sliced onion and Bingo! A savoury masterpiece…
I opened my mouth to take a bite, ‘Hello Tubby, I see you still love burgers,’ the gravelly voice of Mitch Andrews stopped my hand mid-flight.
I cursed under my breath, the enjoyment of my burger now sour. Everything was spoiled. Mitch had always taken delight in teasing me about being chubby.
‘You!’ I snorted.  ‘Trust you to spoil my fun.’
‘Fun? I wanted to ask you to come hiking up the Bluff on Sunday with me. I enjoy a hike as you know.’
   Mitch, every once in a while conducted a Save Mavis project.  He would lose heart before I lost weight.
‘You would have to catch me eating my first burger in months. I’m not your Save Mavis project anymore. I’m finished with you.’ I took a longing look at the burger and thought what a waste.  I needed to make a statement so I jumped up from the chair and flounced out of the café.
Mitch followed me, ‘Hang on, Mavis, I wanted to ask you to marry me.  I love that you have slimmed down and have a model’s body. I have no need to save you, you have saved yourself.  You’re wonderful.’
I stopped dead. My head swiveled. ‘Yes,’ I shouted, ‘let’s celebrate with a big fat greasy burger.’ I rushed into his arms before he could change his mind.
 
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