Here is what is going on in Keith’s own words. “Using this photo (below) 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 – but pingbacks don’t often work.
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

Customer Care by John W. Howell ©2016
“Hello, Triple-A? Yes, I have a problem. I’m broken down in front of Nehru park for children. I think I need a tow truck.”
“My car? No, it’s not a car. It’s a Vespa. A Vespa. V-E-S-P-A.”
“Sure like a motor scooter. Anyway, I can’t get it to start.”
“What do you mean how do I know it won’t start?. It won’t start.”
“Process? I put the key in the slot that is for the key. I turn the key. I touch the starter button and nothing happens.”
“I don’t know any other process. I need you to come and take it to a repair place.”
“How heavy is it? Now how would I know how heavy?”
“Pick it up? If I could pick it up, I could carry it to a repair place myself.”
“I’m not rude. I think you are silly.”
“Yes, Let me talk to a supervisor.”
“Hello, I need a tow to a repair place.”
“No, it’s not a car.”
“V-E-S-P-A.”
“That is what the other person asked. I don’t know how heavy. Please don’t ask me to pick it up.”
“I think you are rude. I hope I will be getting a survey because you folks are really going to get—”
“Hello. Hello?”






















Just no respect for Vespas. Even autocorrect seems to deny that they exist.
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Vespas have a cult-like following for sure.
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Don’t see them around here though. More of a European thing I guess.
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Yup. Also, Florida for some reason.
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Florida is a really strange place.
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For sure.
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Love morning chuckles… I had never heard of Vespas before this post. My focus was on the sign…who knew there were Lions Clubs in India?
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I know right? I decided to leave that out of the story. Thanks, Gwen.:-)
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This sounded like my recent phone call to Time Warner Cable. Nice, John!
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Arrrrggggg. My most unfavorite place to call. Thanks, Jill. 😀
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Ours too!
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Maybe now that they are called Spectrum things will change. Ha ha hahaha. 😀
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Dream on!
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I know right?
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Whew! I thought it was a petting zoo with lions.
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Ha ha ha. I thought of that very thing when I first saw the photo. Of course it changed when I started to write it. 🙂
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Hahaha… Great one, John. It feels awfully real. Have a terrific Tuesday. Mega hugs
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I think I have talked to those guys before. My latest was Microsoft. Thanks, Teagan. Hugs 🙂
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Good take, John. Sounds like French customer service!
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Keith.
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I had a Vespa in the 60s. Not the most reliable of machines
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True.
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LOL. I don’t know how you come up with these so easily, John, but keep the entertainment coming!
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Thank you Mae Clair. It may be a warped mind. 😀
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Entertaining as always!
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Thanks, Jan. 😀
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Well done, good sir! I know that from now on I’ll giggle every time I see a V-E-S-P-A!
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Thank you , John. 😀 I tend to chuckle myself.
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Poor guy. I’m sure the local equivalent of the ‘Hells’ Angels’ would have happily dismantled the V.E.S.P.A and handed it to the repair shop piece by piece. You just can’t get good help these days.
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That is funny Soooz. I saw a bunch put a Volkswagen on someone’s front porch once. 😀
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Was anybody in it at the time?
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No it was nighttime and the owner was in bed. Heh heh heh.
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Ah, poor fella. Just goes to show customer service can be iffy no matter where you are!
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I thought the fact he was in India to be ironic. He actually had someone on the line from Iowa. 😀
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Good one!!
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Ha ha ha.
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Tell them it’s a small car with two wheels for some reason. They’ll be right out.
My thinking was…that was the scariest zoo ever. Not very inviting.
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I would say so on the zoo.
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See what you get for having a smart mouth? I wonder if the office is local or maybe in Africa?
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It is in Iowa.
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Always entertaining, John! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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