January 2 – “Magnify”. Many thanks to Barbara for today’s prompt, as we take a moment or two each day this month to reflect on words that come from the community. And thanks to Linda G Hill for getting us organized!

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Joseph stared at his beautifully plated entrée, the seasonal speciality at the high-end restaurant his wife had begged to visit to celebrate her birthday.

He’d expected and budgeted for what he knew would be a high-priced meal, assumed the food would be the chef-architect’s finest designs. He’d hoped for flavor and texture that would knock his socks off, even if he couldn’t quite identify what was placed before him by the wait-person with the Inspector Clouseau accent.

The first course, some kind of jellied cold soup with live crustaceans trying to scramble out of the bowl had been challenging, but he ate with enthusiasm, avoiding the snapping claws. It hadn’t been half bad, from the few bites he’d managed before said waiter swept the bowl from under his poised spoon.

They waited at the table for the entrée, discussed the soup, and tried to reconstruct what the waiter had said about the entrée. They speculated on what the dessert might be and sipped their macrobiotic nectars in sparkling water during the 20 minutes it took for two younger waitrons to arrive at their table.

Their waiter led the way, signaling the assistants to place a single silver-domed treat before each of the diners. With a snap of their waiter’s sparkling white server towel, the silver domes were simultaneously lifted.

Joseph stared at the beautifully plated entrée. A frothy green mush was centered on a plate the size of a bar coaster, a ptarmigan leg poised upright and just to the left. The fluorescent gold sauce drizzled across and around the leg. It smelled…mysterious. He looked across the table and his wife had been served the same. Looking up a bit higher, he gazed at her face, glowing in ecstasy, a tremulous smile curving her lips. He ignored his growling stomach and focused on how beautiful she was to him right then.

Waving away the assistants, the waiter cleared his throat, and Joseph looked up at him. With a flourish, the man produced two magnifying glasses in gold and presented one to each. With a twirl, he nodded to the wife, winked at Joseph, and exited with maximum grace.

© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2026)

To read others’ responses or join in yourself, please visit:  https://lindaghill.com/2026/01/02/daily-prompt-jusjojan-the-2nd-2026/