The Candle and the Smoke Detector

Grateful the big and little things

Diane had been planning the candlelit dinner for a week. She dusted off the fancy tablecloth with the lace trim, polished the good forks, and even ironed the cloth napkins, though she was certain Frank wouldn’t notice.

She placed a single tall candle in the center of the table. It was ivory but unscented. She lit it with a match and stepped back, admiring the dancing flicker.

Frank arrived precisely at six, holding a bag of dinner rolls.

“Smells good,” he said, sniffing. “Did you make meatloaf?”

“No,” Diane said. “It’s eggplant parmesan.”

Frank blinked.

“I’ll try not to complain,” he said.

They sat. Diane poured water into the glasses and tried to ignore the shadow his baseball cap cast across the candlelight.

“Do you have to wear the hat?” she asked.

He reached up and touched the brim.

“Sorry, I forgot it was on.”

She raised her eyebrows.

“I’ll take it off,” he said, setting it on the chair beside him. His hair stood up in all directions.

They ate in silence for a few minutes. The candle gave the room a soft glow that made the old wallpaper look romantic. Diane reached for the salad bowl. The flame flickered.

Then, without warning, the smoke detector screamed.

Frank flinched so hard he dropped his fork.

“What’d you do?” he asked.

“It’s the candle!” Diane stood on a chair and waved her napkin under the detector. “It always does this. I forgot it’s directly under it.”

Frank stood and opened the window. A breeze rushed in and blew the flame sideways.

“I think it’s dying down,” he said.

The detector gave a final chirp and went silent.

They sat again. Diane stared at her salad. Frank picked up his fork and turned it like a baton.

“I think,” he said, “this dinner is trying to sabotage us.”

Diane snorted.

“Maybe next time I’ll just light a flashlight and call it romantic.”

Frank grinned and said, “And maybe next time I’ll surprise you with flowers and chocolates and no hat.”

“That’s sweet of you, Frank,” she said. “I’m just grateful there’ll be a next time.”