Victor sat at the table in front of the small television in the work’s canteen, whilst Alan and Sid queued up at the hot food counter for the day’s special, fish and chips.
Victor wasn’t happy as he’d left his packed lunch on the telephone table by the door on his way out to work that morning, and he’d been banned, by his wife Linda, from eating any of the canteen food.
He was debating getting a yogurt from the chilled desserts counter, to put him on, when Alan and Sid joined him at the table.
Victor’s stomach rumbled as he smelled the rich deliciousness of the salt and vinegar on the golden crispy batter on the fish, saw the steam rising from the succulent crinkle-cut chips, and imagined the flavour of the mushy peas served on the side of their plates.
‘Not eating, Vic?’ Sid asked as he put a fork full of the fluffy white fish into his mouth.
‘He’s on a diet.’ Al answered for Vic, before spilling some of his mushy peas down his chin.
‘Do you mind if I turn the TV volume up?’ Hattie from accounts asked, frowning towards Alan. ‘It’s that programme about day-to-day life working in a company canteen.’
‘Do you like this kind of thing?’ Victor asked as he eyed up a chip on Sid’s plate.
‘Oh, yes,’ Hattie replied, looking at the screen, ‘reality TV really takes you out of yourself.’
Victor looked at the yogurts again.

Posted for The Unicorn Challenge. This magical challenge, hosted by Jenne Gray and C E Ayr, asks that we write up to 250 words using a photo they supply as a prompt.


Would you like to leave a comment?