Funk-N-Fiction

Today, author Meka James is starting our Halloween Flash Fiction event with a “tale as old as time” – but definitely not the Disney version!!

Best Served
by Meka James

I stood back and surveyed my table setting. Normally I didn’t get into Halloween, but it was the first one in my new house and I was committed to celebrating each holiday to christen the space…and christen it I would. Because this house needed to be a home. Excited energy coursed under my skin at the thought of all my careful planning and preparations finally coming to fruition. I’d cycled through several different emotions since learning everything, before settling on a relaxed giddiness.

I was ready. I was calm. I was at peace.

I heard keys in the lock. It was time.

I made my way to the foyer, checking my reflection again in the large mirror. I’d resisted the piece, unsure it was something I’d wanted even with my bestie’s insistence it was a statement item and would stand out. I came home one day to find it here, he’d bought it.

I pushed the memory aside and focused on my reflection. I’d spent hours figuring out how to best bring my idea to life.They tried to give some push back when I’d said we were to dress up, but I’d insisted because I wanted us to really get into the spirit of the night. Once she was on board, he grumbled less and also agreed.

My black floor length dress had long slits up to the thigh on either side and a low neckline which showed more cleavage than I normally would. I felt sexy and powerful. The special effect makeup on my face and body resembled burnt skin. Black lipstick, and a dark black ash eyeshadow that was heavy and carried across the bridge of my nose completed my look. The hours spent watching tutorials had been worth it because I looked damn good.

“Happy Halloween,” I said as they entered.

My fiance and my best friend were all smiles and appeared to be mid-conversation but they stopped when they saw me. The shock on their faces brought a smile to mine. Detailed makeup aside, I’d always shy away from wearing something so revealing.

I did a little spin. “What do you think?”

She recovered first. “Wow, Kendra, this is so unexpected. You did this yourself?”

“Yes.”

“You look great.” She smiled as she spoke while smoothing down the front of her own outfit.

“What are you even supposed to be? Sexy zombie?” he asked with the dismissive laugh he was so good at delivering.

“You don’t like it?” I stared at him directly, waiting for him to critique. To make me small. To nitpick, to make me second guess.

“No, it’s just very bold and a little…”

“He just didn’t think you’d go so gory.” My best friend finished for him.

I cut my eyes to her. “It is all hallows eve, isn’t that what the night is for?” I did an appraisal of their costumes: Fred and Daphne.“And I clearly missed the memo on having matching outfits.”

They looked at each other, and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. “Kendra, don’t make a deal out of this. She was having a hard time figuring out what to wear and asked if I’d decided. I hadn’t and since we work near each other we met up at the local costume shop on lunch break one day. There’s no need to make a big deal out of it.”

“Was I? I think it’s cute that y’all are a matching pair. But come on in, I have everything ready.”

“Man, you really have gotten into the Halloween spirit.”

I smiled at her appreciation. “It’s something about owning my own home that made me want to decorate for every holiday.”

“Are you going to do this every year?” he asked, the edge in his tone clear.

I whipped around to face him. “Maybe, but it’s my house. Am I not allowed to decorate?”

“Isn’t it a bit of a hassle to put the stuff up every year and then take it back down?”

“You don’t have to do it.”

He stopped short and stared at me. Challenging him wasn’t something I did. I acquiesced. Or did.

“I was just saying.”

“Just saying what?”

“Hey, we’re here for a good time, and Kendra’s right. I mean, she did all the work.” She placed a placating hand on his arm as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “We should enjoy her efforts, not give her a hard time.”

“Exactly. Thanks, friend.” I gave her a brief smile before turning back to him. “And it’s not like you had to lift a finger.”

“What’s with the attitude?”

“There’s no attitude.” I held his gaze and he was the first to look away. “I’ve been very excited to host our little dinner.”

When we entered the dining room, I spread my arms wide, proud to show off my table. The dinner set I’d found was on theme, but my favorite was the onyx candelabra in the center holding six blood red candles.“What do you think? Oh, wait.”

I quickly grabbed the fire clicker from the drawer on the sideboard and when the flames flickered to life it was as if that was the signal everything was ready to begin.

“I have a charcuterie board for you to enjoy. And I’ve already decanted a wine. A nice Chianti.”

“We’re not having liver and fava beans are we?” she joked.

I shook my head and genuinely laughed at the shared memory. We’d watched that movie countless times over the years, and could recite parts of it word for word.

“Huh? I don’t get it.”

“It’s a line from a movie,” I answered.

“Oh, well, glad it’s not liver and whatever beans. It does smell good in here.”

I smiled at him wide. “I’m glad you think so. I made all of your favorites. Prime rib with the homemade sauerkraut. Pan seared asparagus with a lemon reduction sauce and creamy truffle mashed potatoes.”

He returned my grin. “You did?”

I walked up to him, wrapping my arms around his neck in a slow embrace, ignoring the way he stiffened a little bit under my touch, before he relaxed and slid his arms around my waist. “Yes, I told you, tonight is very important.”

I stretched up and placed a soft kiss on his lips, ignoring again the way stiffened and almost started to push me away, but stopped himself. When I stepped away, the look on her face was a quick flash of tight jealousy before she replaced it with the fake relaxed grin.

“I can’t wait. I’m just excited to celebrate with my two favorite people.”

“I bet you can’t.”

I maintained eye contact with her until she fidgeted and looked away. A little win that pleased me. Confidence surged through me in a way that it never had. It was like a switch had been flipped–whether it was on or off couldn’t tell, but either way, there was no going back.

I turned to fill two of the wine goblets. “Enjoy the hor dourves and wine. I’m gonna go fix our plates.”

Once in the kitchen I balled my hands into fists and took a few breaths. I could hear them whispering, probably trying to figure out “what was wrong with me” or “did I suspect anything”, but none of what they said mattered.

I moved slowly, giving them time to worry. “Time to eat,” I announced when I reentered.

“Damn, Kendra, this looks delicious,” he said.

“Let’s make a toast.” I glanced at my empty glass. “Oh, I don’t seem to have any wine.” My attention went to their full goblets.

“Oh, my bad. I’m sorry. I should-”

I held my hand up to stop his stammering. “I’m sure it was just a minor oversight as you played attentive host to my dear friend. Besides, you probably would have given me the red.”

“You both like reds,” he defended.

He would think that because it was one of the many little things that had been pushed to the “not a big deal” section whenever we’d all be together, and a bottle was ordered.

“No.”

I pushed away from the table, retrieved the bottle of Chardonnay from the wine cooler and poured myself a generous portion, humming softly as I did, noticing how they both shot nervous glances towards each other.

The red was special for them anyway.

“Now, a toast.” I held up my glass and they each did the same. “To finding strength in letting the right people in your life and exorcising the demons in disguise. Bon appetit.”

“Here, here! Two-faced people are the worst,” she said, with a little too much enthusiasm as she clinked glasses.

They both took generous sips of their wine after the toast then started to dig into their meals. “How is everything?”

“Very delicious,” he answered before shoving another bite of the prime rib into his mouth.

“Glad to hear.”

They noticed my untouched plate. “Are you not eating?” she asked.

“Oh, I am. I just wanted to make sure you both enjoyed it.”

He started chewing a little bit slower. “What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange tonight.”

I tilted my head as I cut into my own thick piece of prime rib. “Have I?” I placed it in my mouth and began chewing. “Maybe it’s nerves because I wanted tonight to go so well.”

He shook his head. “Nah, it’s more than that. It’s like you’re up to something. That gitup, your attitude.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re sounding very ungrateful. I spent days decorating. Hours today cooking. And my ‘gitup’ is simply a costume I’m very proud of.” I drank some of my Chardonnay before I looked to my friend for help. “What about you? We’ve known each other for what twelve years, you also think I’m up to something?”

She picked up her wine and took another generous sip before frowning at him. “Stop bullying my friend.” She snapped, defending me like she used to so many times before. “Good food, your favorites, and you bitchin’.” She was in full indignant mode. Almost believable.

He held his hands up. “My bad.” Not an apology. Never that.

“I should get the music going.” I grabbed my phone and with a few button pushes eerie music started playing through the Bluetooth speakers. “I didn’t explain my costume.”

“I thought you were a zombie or something,” he said.

“My mother always told me that the most dangerous thing you could do was put your love, and more importantly, your complete trust, in a man.” My gaze flicked to her, “or in my case, also a so-called best friend.”

The music slowly morphed into sounds of a woman’s moans, and her eyes went wide, and she snapped her head to me. “Kendra…”

The moans turned to pleas begging him to go harder. I stared at her across the table as she had the nerve to let her eyes fill with tears.

“Kendra, what the hell?” I blinked slowly, turning to face him.

“What? It’s Halloween. Scary things are what we should be listening to. And I admit, y’all had me for a while. I was a fool. But I also don’t suffer injustices lightly. There’s a reason for the saying: beware a woman scorned.”

“Turn it off!” He yelled. Just then, she grabbed at her neck as she started coughing. His attention went to her. “Baby, are you okay?”

I didn’t react to his slip up, and he didn’t seem to notice either as he rushed to her side. She coughed more and when she pulled her hand away it was covered in blood.

“What the hell?” He couldn’t fully react before he too started coughing as the sounds of their love making continued to fill the room.

She’d fallen out of her chair and was now convulsing on the floor as he looked on in horror. He dropped to one knee and gripped the table. I cut into my prime rib, savoring the bite as he glared at me as if I was somehow wrong for catching them. Not only catching them, but daring to not just take the betrayal.

I pointed my fork at him. “You, you weren’t really worth my tears.” I turned towards her, she was fading faster. “But you, years of friendship. Secrets and insecurities shared.”

The sound changed to them laughing afterwards about how I was so gullible and would never find out. All while they were laid up in my house. In my bed.

“Saging the space wasn’t enough to right the wrong. A woman scorned demands proper compensation. This was the only way for my house to be a home again.”