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 own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here – pingbacks don’t seem to be working, and I haven’t yet figured out why.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or website, next Monday.
Here is the photo.
Now What? By John W. Howell © 2016
“So tell me again what the mechanic said.”
“Why? I’ve told you ten times.”
“I just can’t believe he would give you that advice.”
“Why not. He’s the mechanic.”
“I know but it seems a little dumb to me is all.’
“Dumb? What do you mean dumb?”
“I have never heard of such a thing is all I’M saying.”
“Well, maybe there are new procedures for roadside repairs.”
“I can’t believe roadside repairs have changed over the years. You come out, try to fix the problem and then if you can’t you tow the vehicle into the shop.”
“Yeah so don’t forget we are in a strange part of the country. These people probably have their ways of doing things.”
“Tell me again what the mechanic said to you. mary and I were over at the field looking at the beautiful flowers and didn’t hear anything.”
“Fine. This is the last time, though.”
“Okay, just tell me.”
“The mechanic came out here. He looked at the motor.”
“Yes?”
“He said we needed a repair that could only be done at the shop.”
“So far sounds normal.”
“He then backed his wrecker up to the car.”
“Yeah we saw that.”
“He then pulled out the motor and said he would be back shortly.”
“And you let him do this?”
“I had no choice the motor was out and hanging from his wrecker.”
“When did he say he would be back?”
“Shortly.”
“It’s been four hours.”
“Well maybe shortly means something else here.”
“Call him.”
“I can’t.”
“You can’t? Why not?”
“My phone is in the wrecker.”
“Damnation.”
“Yup.”
Fiction Favorites 
Looks like you’ve been hood-winked. (that gag wouldn’t work over here; “bonnet-winked” doesn’t have the same ring to it)
LikeLiked by 1 person
American English does have it’s moments. Thanks. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You may laugh – it could so easily happen. That simple breakdown incident resulted in the car being in the workshop for more than three months, and costing us something north of nineteen hundred euros – about US$2,200.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can believe it. Vans are reasonable to buy bur a bear to repair (hmmm)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh-oh! Good thing the seats are still in the van, because it sounds like they’ll need to sit down before the guy comes back. 🙂
My first thought looking at the picture was “I hope none of them are standing in a nest of fire ants.” (Yes… Unfortunate instance of one of the broken down old cars I had in younger days, and standing in the grass to look under the hood. I was standing in more than grass…)
Have a terrific Tuesday, my friend. Mega hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Man those fire ants. Folks up North have no idea until they have a couple hundred on the feet. Thanks Teagan. Hugs.
LikeLike
I feel better about my recent AAA renewal. Nice job, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good protection Jill. Thanks.
LikeLike
Weird. The picture doesn’t look like it’s in New Jersey.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the Freeway gangs who used to strip cars that had broken down. Are they still there?
LikeLike
Wouldn’t be surprised if they are. Living in New York, I don’t know as much about NJ as people think. Remember those kinds of people in Florida though. The cars weren’t always broken down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes pretty funny.
LikeLike
Why bother with the whole car. Let’s hope they don’t need heart surgery in that town.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one Dan. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I wonder if AAA does that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe in Zaire
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t believe anyone would take someone’s car here without the driver hopping into the van with the wrecker. I’ve been wrong before, though. 😀
😀 😀
I can imagine this in a strange location to the driver. What rotten, rotten luck.
Hilarious, so long as it doesn’t happen to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Me either. Thanks Tess.
LikeLike
(laughing) John, you’re a master at this! This hollers SCAM! Such a naive threesome! have a great day! 💛 Elizabeth
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can yo believe the three. Ha ha ha
LikeLike
Suppose it’s scary out there at night? Thanks for the giggle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well the guy has a couple of women to protect his so what’s to be afraid of there?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apparently nothing, lucky dude
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So this is a case of the transmission being lost in translation. Say that ten times fast, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
On the third glass. Never happen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like the Count in Sesame Street. “One glass of Chardonnay! Bwahahaha! Two! Two glasses of Chardonnay! Bwahahaha! Three! Three glasses of Chardonnay! . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re no over indulger but you might be a carrier.
LikeLike
Time to walk a few million miles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. ha ha ha.
LikeLike
Unless they wanna wait for a car, of course. Like I might do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
One car every three weeks.
LikeLike
Still that might be better than venturing forth and getting eaten by raccoons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anything is better than that
LikeLike
Practically anything.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost anything
LikeLike
They must be in Florida. When I lived up north, we called them tow trucks. In Florida, they’re called wreckers…with good reason.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they are in Zaire
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Now what? by John W. Howell © 2016 […]
LikeLike