“Would you like fries with that?” Michael heard the waitress ask customers.
He decided it must be a greeting people used in restaurants.
Their meal was arriving. A large tray was piled with their order of burgers and milkshakes.
As the waitress neared, someone pushed a chair back after spilling a coffee.
She tripped.
Our order went flying, landing on me. I stood dripping with milkshake and covered in burgers. The waitress was apologetic as she tried to clean me off.
Michael looked up, “Daddy, would you like fries with that?”
The restaurant burst into laughter with me laughing loudest.
Kids, you’ve got to love them.
Ross's Writing Blog 
Anita Terry
November 29, 2011 at 04:37
I loved this! What a clever and fun take on the prompt! Way to go, son!!
Ross Mannell
November 29, 2011 at 06:07
Thanks for the comment.
I left open whether the child’s comment was innocent or a comment of mischief. It would depend on his age but my preference would be for a younger innocent who earnestly thought the comment the correct one for the situation. 🙂
cj schlottman
November 29, 2011 at 05:48
Great little story you have there! Love the twist at the end.
Namaste……….cj
Ross Mannell
November 29, 2011 at 06:09
Thanks for the comment.
I was looking for an unusual application of the prompt. The innocence of a child in this situation appealed to me. 🙂
Mrs Todd and 3/4T
November 29, 2011 at 08:10
Hi Mr Mannell
We loved your story about “Would you like fries with that?” We all laughed…a lot!
When we talked about your story we found that some of us had similar stories to yours. Milkshakes and ice creams are especially tricky to manage when you are little.
We liked your blog.
Bye
From Mrs Todd and 3/4T
PS Would you like fries with that?
Ross Mannell
November 29, 2011 at 18:01
Thanks for the comment Class 3/4T and Mrs Todd.
Saturday Centus (USA) and the 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups (UK) are writing activities for adults to have fun writing. As this one of my blogs has been set up as suitable for school students to read, I normally write short stories with fun in mind, although some carry a more serious theme.
Did you all know there is a writing challenge for students running in the UK?
I am one of the people who helps Mrs Skinner (the person who runs to challenge) write comments. There are often over 150 entries and growing. Entries may mostly be from the UK, but I have commented on stories from the USA and Africa as well.
The challenge is called the 100 Word Challenge, or #100WC for short. Normally you have just 100 words to write a story based on a prompt. The prompt can be a picture, a phrase or a group of words. When the prompt is words, you have to use the words and up to 100 words of your own. It is just like the stories I write on this blog.
Are you interested in writing and entry in the #100WC?
Have a look at this blog address to see the challenge which has just ended….
http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/100-word-challenge-week11/
You can see an entry and what it’s about. Each challenge ends at midnight Tuesday UK time so that’s about the time you start school Wednesday. A new prompt will be up by the time you read this so the address will probably be…
http://www.theheadsoffice.co.uk/100-word-challenge-week12/
There aren’t any prizes because this is a writing challenge for fun but each week, Mrs Skinner selects three stories for the showcase. To enter, you would need to write your story on your class blog, copy the address of your story (not just the whole class blog) and post it to a link on the #100WC site. 🙂
Matthew (6D HIGHLAWN)
November 30, 2011 at 06:47
Hi Ross, I’m from Mrs.Duxbury’s tribe you know http://www.6d.highlawnprimary. I was cautious about how on some people’s comments on our blog were in blue and was clickable. Since you comment on our work I think it’s time to pay you with respect to comment on your blog.
Firstly lets just say, this brought a massive smile to my face after I finished reading this 100wc. It was funny and cool at the same time.
Secondly, I would like to say that you used the prompt rather good because it was humorous at the same time as awesome.
I have never seen a resteraunt drop anything onto someone although I have dropped a plate in Spain once (by accident) It would be funny if I did. I have seen a couple sit down at pizza hut and then go for there salad and when they got back they found someone else sitting in there seats!
It brought back memories of when I last had my favourite chips. The piece of writing that you did caught my attention and made me want to read on. I think it’s quite a descriptive piece of writing and kind of punchy too!
Have you ever seen anyone who works in a resteraunt drop anything over a customer?
Keep commenting on our work and you may get some comments on your blog.
From your blogging friend,
Matthew
Ross Mannell
November 30, 2011 at 23:22
Hi Matthew, thanks for leaving a comment.
You are right to be cautious when someone leaves a link on a site. There are people out there who do the wrong thing.
When commenting, the website I list is this story blog so if a person clicks on my name they are sent here. In you class’s case, I could have linked the the volcano blog I set up this year but I only use the story blog. There are never bad words or topics in my stories so it’s a safe one to visit where I write very short stories for the 100 Word Challenge for Grown Ups (like your 100 Word Challenge) and Saturday Centus (based in USA).
Thanks again for visiting the blog. 🙂
Ross Mannell
November 30, 2011 at 23:27
Hi again Matthew,
I forgot to add, yes, I have seen this sort of thing happen in a restaurant but it wasn’t so cheery as the person was upset and there was no one to ask if he wanted fries. 🙂
Karen S.
December 1, 2011 at 09:21
Oh wow, go go go! Great use of this tasty fries prompt!
Ross Mannell
December 1, 2011 at 09:38
Thanks for the comment.
It seems to have appealed to a number of people including classes this time. It seems slapstick and one liners still work. 🙂
Jenny Matlock
December 6, 2011 at 07:14
What a clever and funny use of this prompt! I love stories about little kids!
This really made me smile!
Thanks for linking up!
Ross Mannell
December 6, 2011 at 07:52
Thanks for the comment.
Too many years dealing with the innocent comments of little children helping to make light of moments guided me on this one. 🙂