As you may know, I have become enamored by the talent of Keith Channing. He has a weekly prompt named Kreative Kue, which runs on Mondays. Here are the instructions from Keith for the prompt. “Using this photo as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr before 6pm on Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated.”
His advice. “Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your blog or website, next Monday.” Here is the photo.
The Line by John W. Howell © 2015
“Wow, I don’t believe I actually won something.”
“Well you did, and it looks nice on you.”
“I thought this was going to be your usual church service.”
“Well, it didn’t turn out that way.”
“You know usual like the old stuff kneel, pray, ask forgiveness, get communion, be forgiven, give thanks.”
“I know right. There you were with your hands ready to receive the host and plop the priest drops a hat on your head.”
“Yeah, then he says something about go forth and sin no more.”
“What was the last thing he said?”
“Ping someone else.”
“Ping? That’s what it says on your hat.”
“It does? I’ve been afraid to look. What does ping someone else mean?”
“The guy behind you has a polo pony on his.”
“I heard the priest say ‘ride someone else.”‘
“Oh, you did not. You’re just saying that.”
“What about the rest? No hats.”
“There is one, but that’s it.”
“So what does it mean?”
“You are special?”
“Yeah right.”
“Okay. You got a free hat.”
“I wonder if anyone else wore this one before.”
“Ew. Take it off.”
”
Fiction Favorites 
Very good John and having been to a Church similar to that I can relate to the harrowed look some of them have…..being a tourist can be very tiring…
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Yes. “Hurry up, look quick, let’s go.”
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Thanks, John. Excellent treatment of the prompt (I was wondering about the ‘ping’, too). I can see I’m going to have to up my game again.
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Thanks Keith. It was a good prompt.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
John W. Howell responding to a challenge with an intriguing photograph.. Just a thought John, but do you think this guy borrowed the hat from his wife and the back had the letters Shop on it! Great piece of Flash fiction..
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Ha ha ha. Could very well be. Thanks for the reblog and comment.
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Pleasure John.. hugs
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“Ew… take it off”… John, I’ll probably laugh about that for the rest of the morning. A few feet away from my office building there is a boutique… with lots of hats. Though I’m shy about wearing them, I love hats. I try not to be obvious as I look in the window when I walk past, wanting to at least try on one of those lovely hats. — But i don’t, because all my coworkers have probably tried them on!!! LOL. That’s why I can’t stop laughing. Terrific story for this Tuesday. Mega hugs!
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I have the same thought when I think about trying on a hat. My question is “Who wore this last?” I haven’t bought a hat in eons.Thanks Teagan.
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Eh, put it in the wash with some baking soda and it’ll be fine.
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Did you say caustic soda?
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Lets leave Mountain Dew and it’s war crime level effects on the human body out of this. 😛
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Ha ha ha
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John, you are a master of dialog.
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Thanks. Still working on it. Used to be my weakest link.
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I would keep it, I think. Just because.
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After all it has the word PING on it.
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I think Ping is the Church’s version of Twitter.. No tweeting, just pinging…
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Ha ha ha. I thought it might have been a Bingo term.
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Too funny, John!
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Thanks. My goal to to have everyone snort at least once.
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[…] The Line by John W. Howell © 2015 […]
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Thanks for the ping Keith.
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