Meal starter, maybe

Samantha had just sat down at her favorite restaurant and was eagerly skimming through the menu, trying to decide what to order. As she pondered, she noticed a crossword puzzle lying on the table next to her. Being a puzzle-lover, she picked it up and started perusing the clues.

One clue caught her eye: “Meal starter, maybe.” She furrowed her brow, trying to think of a word that fit the letters already filled in. She considered options such as “salad,” “bread,” and “appetizer,” but none quite fit.

Just then, her waitress arrived with a warm bowl of soup. Samantha suddenly realized the answer to the crossword clue: “SOUP!” Of course, soup was the perfect meal starter – it was warm, comforting, and always hit the spot on a chilly day.

As she savored the creamy tomato soup, Samantha couldn’t help but smile at the unexpected way she had stumbled upon the crossword answer. From now on, she thought, she might have to start trying to solve puzzles with a bowl of soup by her side!