The “The Fiction Class” is a novel about a fiction writing teacher, her life, and her class. Included at the ends of each chapter about her classes are the assignments. Here’s my take on assignment 2 – to write about a person in history having a meal.
ASSIGNMENT TWO by Pam Lindberg
Benjamin Franklin sat at the large table in the formal dining room in his home in Philadelphia. As a boy, he was one of so many children. Mealtime was a race, a competition, to get as much food as possible. Now, in his adult life, a more prosperous life, sitting alone at the table, mealtime was more enjoyable. An event that was served to him. It was leisurely, indulgent.
He enjoyed his indulgences. And they were many. As he was served his first beer of the evening, he pondered his fortunate circumstances.
As ambassador to the world he had great freedom to travel many nations and partake in each of their cultures. He often indulged himself in the food, wine, and women during his travels.
A great advocate of self study and self improvement, Mr. Franklin seemed stuck in his ability to consume in all the physical pleasures afforded to him.
He sipped his ale. Ah, he thought to himself, The brew master has out done himself with this one.
As a fan of the turkey an advocate, really rallying for it to be the national bird, he often felt somewhat guilty when satisfying his hunger on a turkey dinner. He so love turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing all smothered in gravy. Fresh vegetables were not a favorite but on occasion he enjoyed a carrot pulled freshly from the ground. Corn was another exception. He could eat corn on the cob every day. Save those couple of veggies, Ben was more of a meat eater.
As he consumed the meal he patted his ample belly. His physical stature was certainly a sign of his prosperity. He sighed with contentment, looking forward to a lively discussion with his contemporaries after his meal. He often met menfolk at the local pub for debate and exchange of ideas. Ben truly believed in Free Speech and the exchange of ideas. Many of his own inventions were the result of synergy, the outcome of a little too much to drink in combination with wild conjecture about could be. The what if parts of the evening were what he looked forward to most of all.
At the end of the night he was almost always accompanied by a lady friend. Bens charismatic way was like a babe magnet. He had a twinkle in his eye, a spring in his step and a sense of humor that not many females could resist. He was a master at getting the ladies to smile and, in fact, belly laugh out loud.
Wiping his lips with a cloth napkin he turned his attention to finishing the last of his meal before venturing out to sate his desires of the mind and flesh.