With Anchovies: A Novella — John Lutz

A Short Story by John Lutz about an unfortunate little fish and an unfortunate allergic reaction.

Excerpt

This guy, Joey Longo, laid a deluxe pizza box on the table and slipped into the booth to sit down across from Ham-ish. He drummed his thick fingers on the low, flat box and said, "Lemme get right to the point."

Hamish, who was on his second lite beer and had thought he'd finally get to eat when the pizza was placed on the table, said, "Please do." The spicy aroma rising from the box was making him even hungrier.

Except for one thing. Anchovies. He was certain he smelled anchovies, and if they were on the pizza he was sure he'd ordered with pepperoni and cheese only, he wouldn't be able to eat supper for a long time. Anchovies were for Hamish something of an allergy. He responded to them the way some people responded to penicillin or bee venom. He was almost swelling up and itching now, just catching a whiff of the unfortunate little fish.