Copyright Rochelle Wisoff-Fields
“I’ll have the ghost pepper pie,” I said.
The waitress’s expression was that of a cop approaching a rooftop jumper. The words Are you sure? crouched unsaid on her lips.
I glanced out at the bleak Alberta winterscape. The meteorologists were rejoicing at the mid-February heatwave as the mercury rocketed up to -20.
“I just need a little heat in my life,” I whispered.
Twenty minutes later, my mouth was ablaze and sweat poured off me like a monsoon. I closed my eyes and imagined Cancun.
The manager noticed. The next week, they were advertising Mexican vacations, $4.99 a slice.
The Green-Walled Tower 
February 14th, 2020 at 12:47 am
You went to Alberta??! Even people from Alberta don’t go to Alberta! 😳 Although I hear that they’re going to open a new oil-shale/tar-sands tour and spa soon. 😦
February 16th, 2020 at 4:39 am
That’s funny. You’re right. He just put Alberta on the map.
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:25 pm
I have been to Alberta, but not in the winter. I have friends up there though. I could see a nice tar-sand massage might get more tourists up there to Fort McMurray. 🙂
February 23rd, 2020 at 1:58 am
Tar-sand massages!!! Great tourist promo idea! I’d suggest it to Justin Trudeau, but he’s busy virtue-signalling, and getting his career handed to him by some grumpy old Indians. 😯
February 14th, 2020 at 3:06 am
I like the idea of edible holidays
February 14th, 2020 at 7:37 am
Dear David,
Love it. I can almost liken it to my private trips to the tropics on Hot Flash airlines. Good one.
Shalom,
Rochelle
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:24 pm
Haha, thanks Rochelle. I’m still sporadic on submitting stories, but thanks for always reading them when I do.
February 14th, 2020 at 10:43 am
“Are you sure” is the appropriate response! Glad it worked out for him.
February 14th, 2020 at 8:43 pm
A manager with good marketing antennae. Good story!
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Thanks! Of course, I wonder why they were serving it in the first place. 🙂
February 23rd, 2020 at 10:53 am
🙂
February 15th, 2020 at 1:15 pm
What a fantastic take on the prompt, David!
Alberta does have it rough, doesn’t it? Glad I’m in Quebec!
February 16th, 2020 at 4:38 am
It was a good one, right? 🙂
February 16th, 2020 at 9:30 am
It was.
February 16th, 2020 at 11:49 am
🙂
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:23 pm
Quebec doesn’t always have it that easy either. It can get down to -40 or so there, although I guess it depends where in the province you are.
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:26 pm
I just so happen to live in La Belle Province and honestly, the -40 doesn’t happen too often near the Montreal area. They probably do up in Hudson’s Bay, however.
February 15th, 2020 at 1:44 pm
Hot Pepper Pie – not my choice. I like my peppers mild.
February 15th, 2020 at 6:02 pm
[…] Hot Pepper Vacation […]
February 16th, 2020 at 4:37 am
I just need a little heat in my life…my favorite line. i wish you’d write more FFs. You’re so good at flash fiction David. I’m never not impressed nor happily entertained. 🙂
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:21 pm
I really appreciate that. I find that I have to write them on Wednesday the same day the prompt comes out or I just don’t get around to it, even if I have a good idea. Thank you for reading.
February 23rd, 2020 at 3:38 am
You can do them maybe, while you’re away. If you have downtime on a Wednesday. 🙂
February 17th, 2020 at 8:25 pm
Are ghost peppers a thing? Too hot for me….even at -20F. I love your word crafting: “crouched unspoken on her lips”! Cleverly done.
February 22nd, 2020 at 10:15 pm
Thanks, Dad. Yes, they are a thing, one of the spiciest peppers out there, although it seems like at that level, it’s just pain and no flavor. Not sure the attraction.
June 27th, 2020 at 2:21 pm
Brian Stewart and David Stewart, I love the spicy foods. Having said that, if I overdo it, which is not very often, it becomes all too obvious.