First Flash Fiction: Smoke and Embers: A BBQ Reconciliation

Last fall, I discovered flash fiction and it make me even more excited about all the wonderful possibilities of writing. It's short story of 1000 words or less where the writer still tries to convey character and plot development. Talk about challenging and tight writing. I realized how "wordy" I am as an author and had to cut out quite a lot of them. 

Up until this point, only my newsletter subscribers have had the chance to see my flash fiction work. However, I'm excited to share my first short story with all the readers of my blog, even though it makes me feel a bit more vulnerable, as now my entire blog audience will have access to it (but no pressure at all!). If you're interested in being among the first to read more of my flash fiction and fictional stories, you can sign up for my newsletter here. 

Smoke and Embers: A BBQ Reconciliation by Emilee Hill 

Ruby Beck two-stepped her way around the edge of the wooden dance floor in her mint green knee-high cowgirl boots. Nothing ever changed in this small sleepy town of Copper Creek Haven where she spent summers with her grandfather learning how to make finger-licking good BBQ. The Fall Harvest dance and BBQ competition were the town’s most celebrated events.

At the opposite corner of the room, she saw him. Elliot King. The man she’d been secretly carrying a torch for the past 20 years. Heart racing and knees knocking, her feet refused to move as if they were permanently glued to the floor. Elliot had seen her and was maneuvering through the maze of dancing couples to get to her.

He was by her side, crushing her in a bear hug, slightly lifting her off the ground. Breathless, she returned his embrace. He felt solid beneath her hands.

“Ruby! It’s great to see you!”

“Hi,” she stammered. So much for sounding like a confident woman.

“Care to dance?” Elliot held out his hand.

“Sure, but aren’t you afraid we’ll start World War III?” she asked, referring to their grandfathers’ decades long feud over the BBQ competition.

Their battle began when Ruby’s grandfather William accused Elliot’s grandfather Harvey of stealing his secret recipe and publishing it in the local newspaper. The lasting rivalry had trickled down to their children and grandchildren. Becks and Kings didn’t usually associate with one another.

“I’ll take my chances.” He winked at her and smoothly guided her onto the floor. “We’ll give this town something to talk about.” Double twirling, he dipped her in the middle of the dance floor as the final notes of the song ended.

Another song started and Elliot made no move to release her. “That was only half a dance. You owe me a few more dances,” he teased, referring to the time she stood him up at the same dance when they were just 18.

“I have no idea what you are referring to.” Ruby feigned an innocent expression, her flushed cheeks giving her away. She could never let Elliot know the reason she didn’t attend the dance was because it was the summer she realized she was in love with him and didn’t know what to do with her feelings or how to deal with her grandfather.

As they swayed to the music, Ruby couldn’t help but steal a glance at Elliot. His eyes twinkled in the dimly lit room, and he smelled faintly of the same cologne he used to wear in high school. She couldn’t resist the urge to bring up the one thing that had always connected them- the BBQ competition.

Ruby made the choice to steer the conversation in that direction while she was still in Elliot’s arms. “You know, Elliot, it’s been forever since we discussed the BBQ contest,” she remarked, leaning in.

“My grandpa Harvey adamantly denies having anything to do with selling your grandfather’s recipe to the paper.”

“Hmmm…And you believe him?”

“My grandfather’s character has always been one of honesty and helping his community. This town knows everything about everyone. Give me one other example of when my grandfather was ever involved in anything lacking integrity.”

Ruby sighed, “Maybe it’s time we put an end to it.”

Elliot raised his eyebrows and with a look of surprise said, “How do you propose we do that?”

“Well, everything we learned about BBQ was from our grandfathers…What if we swap sous chefs on the paperwork? I’ll be your grandpa Harvey’s assistant and you’ll be my grandpa Will’s.”

Elliot grinned; his gaze fixed on Ruby. “That just might work. Imagine the reaction of the citizens of Copper Creek Haven seeing the Becks and the Kings working together rather than against each other.”

“They’d probably think they were in an episode of The Twilight Zone,” Ruby chuckled.

Elliot and Ruby finished hatching the plan to end the decades-long contention between their families. It took some convincing from both Ruby and Elliot to persuade their grandfathers that this was a good idea, but they did, and Ruby and Elliot were positioned on opposite sides of the BBQ competition area. They exchanged a nervous glance before getting to work.

While the contest was still fierce, William and Harvey exchanged a nod of respect, silently acknowledging the significance of the day, and seemed to have a glint of pride in their eyes as they battled with their grandchildren.

And when the winner was finally announced, it was William Beck who emerged victorious with Elliot’s help. Ruby couldn’t help but smile and have hope fill her heart as she watched her grandfather and Elliot shake hands in victory.

When the competition was over, Ruby walked over to Elliot. She knew this was a moment she couldn’t let pass by. "Elliot, would you like to take a walk?” Shyness crept into her voice as the question left her mouth.

“That would be great.” He cupped her elbow and steered her towards the downtown square with country ballads playing on the speakers leading outside.

“Thanks for helping my grandfather win the competition.”

“It was a lot of fun.”

“Elliot, I…I…” It was now or never. “I’ve been in love with you since I was 18,” she blurted. So much for subtlety.

“What a coincidence, Ruby Beck. I’ve been in love with you since then too.”  Tenderly caressing her face, he slowly leaned in for a soft and gentle kiss that had the slight tang of BBQ in it. A kiss she’d been dreaming of for most of her life, and the wait had been so worth it.