In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keith@channing.info 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 – 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.
The market by John W. Howell © 2018
“Why are you on top of that box?”
“Are you kidding? Do you know how many shoplifters are out there?”
“What good does it do to stand up there?”
“I can look over the crowd and spot them before they can rob us.”
“Sounds good in theory. How is it working so far?”
“Right now there is a pickpocket checking out a guy’s wallet.”
“Where?”
“See that’s the problem with you a slouched in that chair. You can’t see anything. He’s over to the left. he looks like a shark ready to have a meal.”
“That guy in the olive colored jacket?”
“Yes, the one with the mustache.”
“That is a police officer, you idiot.”
“He sure doesn’t look like one.”
“He is undercover looking for thieves.”
“I guess you have to look like one to catch one.”
“Yeah, he is even carrying a baby so as not to stand out. Now come down from there before you hurt yourself.”
“Where would you get a baby?”
“Are you serious.? Quit with the questions and get down.”
“Wait there is a guy with a backpack.”
“All the way across the aisle. I don’t think he is a threat.”
“By the way. Do you see that set of stairs on top of Omar’s tent over there.”
“I see them. So what?”
“I think I’m going to ask Omar if I can borrow them.”
“What for?”
“To make it easier to climb up on my box.”
“You and that box ought to run away with each other. You know that?”
Fiction Favorites 
Great, John. Nice detail observation. I’d better set about doing mine now.
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I tried to post the link and also to send you an e-mail but nothing worked. I think France was shut down.
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Nice job, John. I wonder where he got that baby?
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Dan suggests a baby rental stall. 😀
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With those 2 guys looking at the girl, I think I’d just put a caption like, “How long did you say the wait was to be seated at the outdoor cafe?!!”
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Ha ha ha. I like that one. Or “where did you say the front of the line is?”
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Even better!!
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😀
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A man and his box, a love and crime-fighting story.
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Don’t forget the stair. Whoops that would be a triangle. 😀
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And those never end well.
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No they don’t
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Must be hard to sell something from up there. Do you suppose there were people at a booth who were renting babies?
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Ha ha ha. I would not be surprised. I wish I had thought of that, Dan.
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Counting people for a million man march?
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Better. Thanks, Craig.
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All things considered, standing on a box seems a good idea as the scene is overwhelming. Good writing, John. 🙂
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Thank you, Gwen. 😀
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I’d rather be on the box than down in that crowd any day.
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Roar of the greasepaint, smell of the crowd. I’m with you.
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Hahahahaha!
This loss prevention system resembles that of the Target Corporation. Just . . saying . . . .
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Ha ha ha. Perfect.
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Great job using so many elements in that photo. And I kind of have to agree with Teri. I don’t do well in large crowds. I’ll take the box too.
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I think we authors hate crowds. I don’t know what it is but I’m the same way.
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And he’s going to have to climb down *off* his box to catch the shoplifters, giving them more time to escape. Guess he didn’t think it through too carefully!
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That is the challenge with my characters. They tend to get caught up in a concept that may or may not work. Thanks, Debbie.
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ROFLMAO! ❤
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As usual, your creativity left me laughing out loud. I had to make the picture bigger to find the stairs at Omar’s tent. 🙂
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Ha ha ha. I hope it didn’t take too much time. 😀
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Where does one borrow a baby to go undercover:) I would much prefer be above it all watching and waiting…
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I think it has been suggested that you go to the Rent a Baby stall.
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You’ve convinced me! The baby is looking at another guy’s wallet… Wow! Baby technology has come a long way! Then, could be the undercover cop is using a robotic baby! Chiwawa!
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Yes. Would be handy.
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Great interpretation, John – I liked the stairway ending!
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Thank you, John
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You’ll never run out of ideas, John. You were born to write. Good one!
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Any random person in the image – to any other… “Those floodlights cost more than my house.”
And I enjoyed yours too 🙂 (the baby was mine – £2 an hour for ‘undercover cops’. A bargain 😉
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The answer from the random person, “Tell me. I live in that one over there.” Thanks ROS. I knew there was a rental stall for baby. 😀
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