Traffic is frustrating. I’ve had a bad day at work. It’s been a miserable day according to the news, social injustice and senseless violence everywhere. Stress tightens my brow, back, shoulders, my clenched jaw. I push the button to turn the car radio off, inanely telling it to ‘shut up!’ I want to get home, make myself a healthy meal. Self-care, I remind myself, is so important when you’re stressed. I pull into a bakery parking lot. “I’ll take the carrot cake” I tell the surly clerk. In no mood to cook, I take my sweet vegetarian meal home.
Written for this week’s 99 word fast fiction prompt at Carrot Ranch: using the words carrot cake.
March 15: Flash Fiction Challenge
Barrier Island Blues 
Sometimes we just need that sugar hit too. It’s got carrots in it, must be healthy, right?
I felt a little ambivalent about writing this one, intending humor while perhaps it could be seen as supporting disordered eating… but I opted for humor. My neighbors took me seriously and said they were coming over for cake, missing the ‘fiction’ part. Now I have an excuse to bring home some carrot cake and invite them over!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Carrots, so of course it’s healthy. No need to feel guilty at all 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL. If only it was that healthy. Many a time I have tried to fool myself and chosen the carrot cake. But some days need cake.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Once when we were camping we had been in the canoe all day and were exhausted. I told my two children – who were accustomed to healthy meals – that we were having donuts for dinner – with V-8 for health. They have never forgotten – 2 decades and counting- their best dinner ever.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Ha, ha! That’s a great family dinner story!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. Unhealthy always tastes so good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicole, your flash unfolded with much credibility. I think we’ve all been there on those occasions, willing to justify what feels comforting to the sting of a frustrating day.
LikeLike
Thank you, Charli.
LikeLiked by 1 person