This week’s photo prompt (below) from Keith Channing in his own words. “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 next 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 – for reasons I have yet to fathom, pingbacks don’t seem to be working.
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 web site, next Monday.”
The photo.
Work by John W. Howell
“You could give me a hand you know.”
“Well, that’s just it. Sucking is not in my classification.”
“Wait? What do you mean not in your classification.”
“Just what I said, man. I’m a certified holder. There is nothing in my job classification that says I need to do anything but hold.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ve been working together for five years, and you never said anything about a job classification.”
“I just found out.”
“Huh? Wadda you mean?”
“I was with Jerry the union steward on another job, and he told I couldn’t suck enough.”
“You sure he was talking about a job classification and not the quality of your work?”
“Why that no good so and so was talking about the quality of my work.”
“Ah. Well, you don’t have to listen to him. Come give me a hand.”
“I’d love to, but I now feel unqualified.”
Oh, come on. You can suck with the best of them.”
“You say the nicest things. Thanks.”
Fiction Favorites 
Thanks, John. I have to agree – work sucks.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Keith.
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
A lovely little piece of flash fiction from John Howell.. that had be laughing my head off.. I have a photo of my father up a ladder doing some electrical work and my mother at the bottom holding a screwdriver and smiling for the camera! Head over and show your appreciation by reblogging of clicking a few share links.. thanks
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Thank you of the reblog , Sally and the story of your parents. That photo must have been a hoot.
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It pretty much summed my mother up John.. she was a character…xx
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🙂
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What popped into my head was more of a caption for the picture…
“It’s about time I got him to clean up after his friends!”
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Ha ha ha. Good one GP. 😀
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I’m really wondering what is going on in that picture. The standing guy looks like he’s playing lookout.
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I was wondering the same and almost went to a new method for home incursion as the story. 🙂
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Only thing I can think of is a septic tank, but that wouldn’t be under a patio. At least I hope it wouldn’t be.
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I would hope not as well.
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Your story made me smile 🙂
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Now, you just made my day. Thanks MamaMickTerry. 🙂
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Maybe the bloke taking the picture should give them a hand…they look clueless.
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Good point, Jill. I didn’t think of that aspect. Could have been funny. 🙂
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Yours was funny! 🙂
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🙂
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I love it. Those Union reps can’t be trusted.
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Yes indeed. 🙂
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You say, I mean type, the greatest things too, John.
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Thanks, Hook. Sometimes I wish I could do a voice to print thingy. 🙂
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When work sucks, I guess it’s important to get help 🙂
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Thanks, Dan. I could not have said it better.
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HaHa, great interpretation, John! Don’t you love it when people pull stunts like this? I guess “going the extra mile” is a foreign concept nowadays.
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I think do, Debbie. Thanks for the visit.
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Thanks for another laugh-out-loud chuckle, John! That’s a great line – a certified holder, not a sucker. 🙂
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Thank you for the chuckle, Jan
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That must have been a blow to his self esteem.
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Yes. I could have gone in a hundred different directions but decided to keep it above board.
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