Prompt

I had to struggle to concentrate on the rest of my shopping list after overhearing this snippet of conversation in the supermarket:

         Woman:  D’you fancy salad tonight?

         Man:         Don’t mind.

         Woman:   I could put it on a plate for you.

My imagination had a wonderful time throwing up all sorts of questions and convoluted storylines …

Does she usually make him eat straight off the table to save washing-up?

Is he a health freak who likes to nibble his lettuce while it’s still growing in the garden?

Perhaps he’s a messy eater so she normally serves his food in a big bowl, but her snooty sister is coming round tonight and she desperately wants to make a good impression.

Did something traumatic happen the last time he had salad on a plate? Is he afraid of repeating the experience?

Maybe he works at night and takes sandwiches to eat at 2am, but she longs to send him off with a ‘proper’ meal, carefully arranged on a china plate. If he agrees, what will his workmates think? How will he carry it to work? Suppose he cycles there?        

So many stories from so few words, but I mustn’t start another one until I’ve finished some of my current ‘works in progress’. If you’re looking for an idea for a story or poem, please help yourself to this prompt. I'd love to know what you can make from it!