My Dinner Date by Melissa Carter

The setting: the interior of Le Mirror, an upscale restaurant in the trendy downtown district.

"Carter, party of 1!” calls the Maitre’ d.

“Why thank you, kind Sir, where shall I sit?”

“Please Ms. Carter, you the guest of honor, will be sitting at the head of the table flanked on either side by Your Inner Pain and Regret.”

"And who sits opposite me, kind Sir?”

“Why, the ghost of your former love, Madam, of course”

"And what will be served on this special occasion?”

“We have prepared a special course for you tonight, Melissa”, says the maitre’d rubbing his hands enthusiastically. “Cocktails will be Cabernet d’ Despair and a vintage bouquet of Hopelessness."

“ Lovely. What will the main course be, my fine mannered friend?”

“Oh, Ms. Carter, you are charming and clever", clearly sucking up for a good tip. "We have for you tonight, for your approval, the finest of sautéed Tragedy followed by seared Crisis and Unmanageability. To cleanse your palette, we will follow with sorbet of Jarring Change and then the magnificent finale, roasted Permanent Damage to the Soul with Peppered Pain Turned Inward”

“Lovely! My favorite! I could not have asked for a more stupendous arrangement of delicacies, my good man”

“It is an honor to serve you, Ms. Carter. Please, do sit down. May I get you a box of tissues so that you may begin your wallowing, brooding, stewing and pathetic self-pity, Madam?”

“Please, thank you”, I continue:

“Aah, it is so wonderful to be here again. And so lovely to see you again, Tragedy and Crisis”

“We’ve missed you, Melissa”, said Tragedy and Crisis in angelic unison, each looking like a goddess in Greek toga.

“May I ask please, what will dessert be?”

“Why, Recovery and Remembrance, Madam, what else?”

“In raspberry sauce?”

“What else?”

“Mmmm. Now you’re talkin’ Momma’s language!”

And so the feast began, with all of Melissa’s friends returning once again to greet and welcome her back to her-self. The night carried on with laughter and tears, a final toast to bitterness and finally her friends bid the young lady adieu as she waved goodbye and headed for the mountaintop.