Lunch by Venn Diagram (Otherwise Untitled)
#134 of Short Stories
A group of friends negotiate where to go out for food.
~ The badger's stomach grumbled loudly as she looked up from her phone. "Okay. So, I don't see anything that's obviously great for all of us, so I'll start listing the places that might work?", tapping at her screen a bit, "Say something if there's a problem with a place."
~ The badger's social circle nodded with strained patience, the ritual as familiar as it was frustrating. The badger began her list, with the first reply provoked almost immediately.
~ "I think that place only really serves food that's, like, spicy for birds to even eat.", concerned the coyote.
~ The litany ticked another notch.
~ The Synth of the group admitted, "I don't think that place serves mineral wafers; I'd have nothing to eat..."
~ The slog resumed.
~ The rabbit coughed politely and simply glared at the badger's mention of a steakhouse.
~ The last entry.
~ Silence.
~ Each having had their turn, the entire group looked to the basilisk as though expecting some protest.
~ The basilisk raised his hands, "Hey. My grandma's recipes talk about what tread of tire to burn for cooking over. I'm okay with anything."