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 keithchanning@gmail.com 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.
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.
Camouflage by John W. Howell © 2018
“Sush, someones coming.”
“I don’t hear anyone.”
“I have this super sense of hearing. Trust me. Stop chewing that gum.”
“How did you know I had gum in my mouth. I barely chewed it.”
“I could hear your molars coming together. If I can hear them so can they.”
“Okay, then. I’ll spit it out.”
“No don’t. The sound of you spitting can carry for miles.”
“For you maybe. How many people do you think have your hearing sensitivity.”
“You want to take a chance there is one?”
“You make a good point. I’ll not chew.”
“Thank you very much. Can you hold your breath?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Now you are going too far.”
“Sush. Your blabbing is going to get us killed.”
“You really think those folks are going to kill us?”
“Do you know what they do to others like us?”
“No, I can’t say I do.”
“I have heard sometimes they cut off your skin while you are alive.”
“My God. That is horrible.”
“Also they put you in hot water after cutting you in half.”
“In half. That’s barbaric.”
“One guy told me, and he swears it’s true that he witnessed a group being drawn and quartered.”
“Okay, I’ll stop breathing. How close are they?”
“I can hear their young ones screaming as they run ahead.”
“Why do they do that?”
“I don’t know I think they use their young to draw fire in case of an ambush.”
“So how close?”
“A few hundred feet. They are also carrying baskets.”
“Baskets what the hell for?”
“Prisoners. Those they don’t kill and eat immediately they take as prisoners to torture and kill later.”
“I think I’m going to cry.”
“They could miss us if we keep quiet. Who knows, they may be more into those poor apples in the next forest. If so we will be spared.”
“Where are they now?”
“I think they are going for the apples.”
“Thank God. We pears live another day.”
“Yeah, they are hitting the apples. I can hear them screaming. We dodged the bullet today. Long live the pears.”
“Long live the pears.”
“Sush. Whisper. The hairless apes could still find us.”
Fiction Favorites 
Excellent, John! 🙂
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Thank you, Keith.
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I’ll never look at a pear tree again and not think of this exchange. Excellent dialogue, John. 😀
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Thank you, Gwen
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Now, that was ingenious!!
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Thank you, GP. You have made me smile today.
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Okay, this is one of my top favorites! Nice job, John!
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I think you have some affection for pears. i’m glad you liked it, Jill. 😀
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This is one of your best one, John! You had me going right up until the end (I think it was the gum that threw me off). Now I’m going to feel bad when I eat a peach. Well, I’ll feel good for the pears, but…
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I get it. As one gets passed the other gets poached. (like lesson maybe)
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Pears get their revenge though. Ripe for any an instant and then a pain to eat.
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Ha ha ha. So true. Nothing like a squishy, mealey pear. Yaaaaaa
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hahah Brilliant!
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Thank you, Pamela. 😀
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LOL… I’ve written from the POV of animals, inanimate objects, and ghosts… but never food. John, you still reign supreme. Have a terrific Tuesday. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs and have a marvelous Monday (is that even possible?)
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John,
I was totally gotten with this! Hahaha!
Clever and funny. Which is why I love ‘hanging’ witcha!
Peace and pears
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Aw. Thank you, Marc. I love hangin’ witchchew.
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Back atcha!
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Funny twist. Is it bad I want to eat a pear now…lol
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Go ahead. Just don’t let the Pear Political Punch Party find out.
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I was worried there for a while. You outdid yourself, John. Excellent!
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You have to be brave to read my stuff. Thank you, Jennie.
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Haha! You’re welcome, and one of the best. 🙂
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😀
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You are so clever! I was expecting some type of animals, but when you got to all the ways of “killing” you had me scratching my head. So well done!
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Thank you, Mae. Considering your talent this is a humbling compliment. 😀
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Aww. *blush!* thanks 🙂
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😀
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Nicely done, good sir!!
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Thank you, John
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😀
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😀
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Never in a million years would I have looked at that photo and imagined the pears talking. Brilliant, John!
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Thank you, Jan. It evolved that way.
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Yikes! Makes me almost sad to chomp into a fresh pear. I hope they don’t suffer too much.
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I think they are okay with a straight chomp. It’s all the other ways that gives them the willies.
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Kind of a fruity story.
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Ha haha. Yes it was.
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Ha! Nice dialogue! I may never eat fruit again without thinking of this story.
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Please ask the fruit if its okay to eat it. They like that 😀
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LOL!
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😀
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Like others mentioned, John, you had me going. It never dawned on me that the pears were in dialogue, so very clever, once again!
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Thank you, Lauren. i guess I have had a few conversations with pears.
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[…] Camouflage by John W. Howell © 2018 […]
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Thank you, Keith.
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