Dinner Party
Felicity stared at the fare engulfing the top of the large Georgian Dinner table. So many dishes. So much of her life taken away just to prepare the four-course meal for the guests she knew were unenthusiastic and unexcited. Their faces gazing down at the food disdainfully as if it wasn’t even edible.
“Gerald darling” she addressed her perfectly attired for the occasion husband, sitting at the opposite end of the table.
“Felicity” he replied. His voice hoarse and rough, throat poisoned by a life of cigars and Brandy. A tone that grated and put her teeth on edge.
“What is it now woman, you wanted this bloody Dinner Party and you know I was dead against it. Bloody third this month. I wouldn’t mind but I barely have time to get my tuxedo cleaned before you’re planning another.”
“Gerald please, you know I like my little soirees, it’s the only way I get to socialise with those from the town. Please shut up and eat, you are embarrassing all the other guests.”
She turned to John seated to her left. The table seated six and she had made sure he was seated close to her as she had always had a ‘thing’ for him. Even though his trade was mere window cleaner.
After staring at him for a while she turned back to Gerald.
“John really doesn’t like the way you talk to me, I’m not some below stairs serving girl you know.”
“John has his own wife to fawn over him dearest, he doesn’t need you to speak for him either, besides, myself and him have never seen eye to eye on any subject so he needs to mind his own business”. came the terse reply.
John’s eyes widened as Gerald said this. Gerald looked quickly away.
“Well, his wife I am afraid is a total slut. Cheap and nasty. She is here only because of my friendship with John. I wouldn’t have invited her, but sadly for her they come as a package.”
Felicity, as had Gerald with John, avoided eye contact with Louise, John’s wife as they said this.
“Felicity please, you’ve made Louise cry” He tossed a silk handkerchief over to where Louise sat.
“My apologies for my wife Louise, she is not quite herself this evening, I’m sure her words were meant in jest.”
“Steven, Fay.” Gerald addressed the two other guests at the party. “I do hope you are both having an enjoyable time. Please ignore any petty bickering between my wife and myself, we have had an incredibly stressful day.”
Before either could answer Felicity stood up from the table and raised her glass in the fashion of a toast. “To friends!” she blurted out triumphantly.
“Thank you all for coming, I do apologise if the wine was not to your liking though, but it was an unfortunate necessity to keep you all ‘tipsy’ so to speak.”
“Get on with it, Felicity” intoned Gerald.
Felicity looked around the table, each guest expertly tied to their chair and duct taped over the mouth.
She reached under the table and with obvious practised precision swung the axe over her shoulder.
Her guest’s eyes widened as she did so.
“Shall I carve dearest” she said to her bored, seen it all before husband.
END