A push of the button is the wake-up call for the magic elixir machine. A snappy click of its heals (so to speak) and the bean grinder sound let me know that my salvation fluid is on its way. Sure enough, the twin spouts let go of the steaming liquid that fills my mug and tops it off with a delicious dollop of crema.
A sip brings all my senses back to reality. The caffeine ramps the brain into full alert. And a flashing neon sign of a thought keeps trying to grab my attention. Oh yes. The sign says “URN” in big letters. Stepping over, Twiggy, asleep in the living room is the only barricade to the security control panel.
The security shutdown procedure has started. The tower machine guns are deactivated, the moat screen rolled, the concertina wire retracted, the boiling oil set to standby, the claymore mines detached, The trebuchet reset, the iron gate opened, and the locks and bolts thrown.
Out on the porch is the dreaded urn. There have been many reader warnings about rubbing the urn, and my heart is beating loudly at the thought. As I approach the urn, a drone overhead catches my attention. Hanging from a string is an envelope. The envelope falls, and my hand snatches it from the air. The drone accelerates and disappears into the sky. Inside the envelope is a note from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “run.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
If you would like to see how others have worked on this prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/09/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-16-2023/
I’m taking the advice in the note. See John run.
Run by John W. Howell © 2023
“So we don’t get to see what’s in the urn?”
“No, not yet.”
“Why?”
“I think it is going to be something horrible.”
“Wait a minute, you are the writer here. Don’t you know what’s inside?”
“Not a clue.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“These stories are a work in progress.”
“Yeah, and in the meantime, your readers want to pull out their hair.”
“That’s a little dramatic.”
“Just wait for the comments.”
“I thought the prompt is perfect. Run is what I want to do.”
“You know the saying about making your own bed.”
“Yeh.”
“So take that to the bank.”
“Sounds like a mixed metaphor to me.”
“Whatever. I think it’s time for a VooDoo Ranger.”
“Can’s wait to see the Uber vehicle.”
“We aren’t taking Uber.”
“No? You just having one?”
“I rented a mule.”
“What?”
“There he is.”
“You gotta be kidding.”
“He runs on hay. Very cost-effective.”
“He’s too small for both of us.”
“I know. You are walking beside us.”
“Figures. It’s going to take hours to get to the pub.”
“What else do we have to do?”
“Good point. Lead on.”
Fiction Favorites 
I see what you did there John: clicking its heals (because that’s what it does to your brain) rather than its heels. Nice one.
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Thank you, Keith. 😁
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I haven’t heard Mule Skinner Blues for a donkey’s age!!
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We used to sing along with it in college. Fueled by beer no doubt.
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or dandelion wine!
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😳 Oh my.
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How do you come up with these things, John. Mule Skinner Blues? Really? That was a hit before WWII!!!
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Call me an old soul, GP. We used to sing along with this one by The Fendermen in college. (A few beers helped with the lyrics too)
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🤣🤣
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🤣
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What could possibly go wrong with rubbing a mysterious urn?
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I can’t see a downside either.
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Oh my…this was good! 😂
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Thank you, Jill. So glad you liked it. Happy Saturday to you *sung to the tune of Crying by Roy Orbison.
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Good job with the prompt and I don’t think I’ve heard that song since Hee Haw went off the air 🙂
I think you should rub that urn, though. Whatever is inside might not be happy to be stuck in there. You don’t want to make it angry.
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I’m not in any rush. No tellin’ what is in there. Thanks, Dan
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I guess you could always “run” beside the mule.
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True enough. 😁
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Pro tip: Don’t run behind him.
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Yes. Great tip. Especially with white athletic shoes.
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Good one, John! I haven’t heard Mule Skinner for so long. It will probably take even longer to get home from the pub. 🙂
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Yes it will. A long walk and drunk mule.
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😀
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😁
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Your security system never fails to make me laugh, but then this song…😆
Have you read any James Lee Burke? I love his books. Your writings remind me so much of his work.
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I have not read James Lee Burke. I’ll have to look him up. Thanks, Lois. I’m glad the security system gives you a laugh.
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What a kick to hear Muleskinner Blues again! As for the urn try rubbing it and maybe a Genie will appear to transport you to the pub!
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There is always the positive side. Thanks, Noelle.
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“Muleskinner Blues” – Love it!
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Me too. Used to sing along in college.
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Good one, John 🙂 I’m glad you avoided rubbing that urn.
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At all costs.
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I hadn’t heard “Mule Skinner Blues” in years. What a hoot!
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I think you may still be walking, John, but when you get there have some tea from the Urn for me 🫖☕️
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Thanks Robbie.
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Urn and run have the same letters, so you should get extra points. I won’t be pulling my hair out, but the nail biting has already started. 🙂
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I should get extra points. Never thought of that, Jennie. Let’s just say no good can come from rubbing that urn.
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Well, that’s a big clue for next week. I’m rooting for your extra points!
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😁
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I love Saturday disarmament and the coffee brewing.
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I’m so glad you do. Thanks for letting me know.
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Very clever sir! Using urn & run like that. I like how you don’t know yet … not a clue = creativity abound ❤
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Thank you, Jill. Gad you liked it.
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It’s always fun to see what the Uber ride is going to be each week. This one is hilarious and I love Muleskinner Blues. I think Dolly Parton did a fabulous job of singing it. Great use of the prompt, John.
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She did a great job with it. Thanks, Jan
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So, you’re going to make us readers earn their turn to see into the durn urn.
Gonna let us burn, eh?
Well, John, yer one stern fern.
No wonder you get to walk by the mule!
That’s an odd song. Kinda fun!
⚱️ᴂ⚱️ᴂ⚱️ᴂ⚱️ᴂ
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Love the song, Resa. We may all burn with the urn. ⚱️X 🏺X⚱️X 🏺X
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Yes… hey.. how come you have 2 types of urns?
There’s some kind of emoji inequality going on in the world!
🐂⚱️X 🏺X🐂
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Well you have stuff I don’t have too so I agree. Not fair. 🐂⚱️X 🏺X🐂 🌹
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All things considered, I think I would still take the mule over an EV.
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At least you can find a charging station for the mule.
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Right!
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😁
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