PROMPT : CALORIES
Cassie wrinkled her nose. “How many calories?” She repeated. “Good grief, Sam, no wonder you can’t lose any weight.”
Sam threw her a withering look. “For your information,” she said, huffily. “I’m not trying to lose weight. I just—I felt like treating myself today.”
“Uh-huh,” Cassie perked a brow at the giant plate of creamy pasta with hints of vegetables. “Right. Comfort food.”
“It’s not—it’s not,” Sam stammered. “Shut up, would you? You’re not my mother, I didn’t call you out here to be lectured on my eating habits!”
“Of course not,” Cassie deadpanned. “You called me out for something you have yet to tell me, because you can’t work up the nerve.” She stabbed her fork through the caesar chicken salad. “It’s fine. You have until I’m done to make up your mind, then I have to get back to work.”
“Grandma’s dead,” Sam blurted out.
Cassie stared at her. The fork fell from her hand, clattering against the fine restaurant china.
Sam cringed.
Silence reigned for several minutes, then Cassie took a deep breath. She picked up her fork and resumed picking at her salad bowl.
Sam swallowed.
After a moment, she reached over and pulled the salad bowl away, shoving her own plate of pasta to her twin’s side.
“Mom told you to tell me?” Cassie’s voice wobbled.
Sam snorted. “Grandpa. Made me promise to take you out for lunch. Said you wouldn’t be able to handle a phone call.”
Fat tears dribbled down Cassie’s face. She stabbed her fork at the plate of pasta and swallowed three bites in quick succession. “He was right.”
(c) S. Harricharan