Feeling better so I thought I would ease in with a prompt from Keith Channing. 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
“Okay, that’s it. This shovel marks the line of demarcation.”
“Demarcation? What the heck are you talking about?”
“I’ve had it with your yellow plastic. I’ve had it with your empire building.”
“Reggie, what’s come over you? We have a job to do.”
“Maybe you have a job to do, but I am now throwing off the yoke of oppression and declaring this land to be free of big business and big pharma.”
“I think I’m beginning to see the problem. You stopped taking your medication didn’t you?”
“That has nothing o do with it. This land is my land and from now on it shall be called, Borkville.”
“For heaven’s sake. Let’s get back to work. The owner wants a garden here, and it is up to us to build one.”
“In Borkville this will be the common house. We will all live here in harmony.”
“Reggie. Tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“You’ve been watching the History Channel, right?”
“Yeah so?”
“And you are at the part where Columbus discovers America, right?”
“Well yeah.”
“And he plants the flag of Spain and claims all the land in the name of Queen Isabella?”
“Yeah, so cool.”
“Guess what?”
“What?”
“Never happened.”
“Huh?”
“Fake news.”
“Fake news?”
“America was discovered by the McDonald brothers.”
“Seriously?”
“Yup. They needed a place to expand their hamburger business, so they went there.”
“Seriously?”
“So you can stop your little charade about claiming land. It just doesn’t happen.”
“This is disappointing, to say the least. I feel so mislead. One question.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think the McDonald Brothers would mind if I claimed this land in their name?”
“Well, that depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether or not Harrods grants them permission to accept. Back to work shall we?”
Fiction Favorites 
Wait. The History channel is back to showing actual history shows?
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Only the history of ancient aliens. 🙂
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Ha ha ha
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It always comes back to them.
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Kardashian history maybe.
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And WWII. I’m always seeing stuff about that war.
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Yeah. A lot of that.
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The McDonald brothers? LOL! Now I know you are feeling better. So good to have you back! Seems like the brave or the desperate traveled the world in search of something better. So, in my way of thinking, hope is what founded America. 🙂
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I have to agree. There has to be a point of hope in the world. I wish there was better visability into the immagration policies and not simply a focus on the wall.
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Yup…I’d say you’re feeling better. Great job, John!
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Thank you, Jill. 🙂
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“Enough hemming and hawing over this, we bury the rascal HERE!!”
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Ha ha ha. Excellent!!! Thanks, GP
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Thanks.
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😀
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Brilliant! Well worth waiting for, too. Welcome back, John.
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Thank you, Keith. Wonderful words. 😀
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All those years in elementary school memorizing “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” wasted. I knew they were lying to me.
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Of course they were. 😀
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Good morning, John,
I’m glad you’re feeling better.
Take care,
Pit
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Thanks, Pit. Long road.
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That garden can wait until spring. The History Channel can suck an afternoon up in no time.
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Welcome back. I wonder if Columbus ordered everything super sized when he got here.
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I think that was Ferrigamo. 😀
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Anchor over there and we’ll bring your order out.
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Ha ha ha.
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Glad to see you’re feeling better, John. I thoroughly enjoyed this Fake News historical account!
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I’m glad , John. Thanks. 😀
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I thought Columbus claimed the New World for Burger King. 🙂
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Yeah, I may have my facts a little fuzzy. I think you are right. Thanks, Greg. 😀
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Glad you’re feeling better, my friend! Nothing like a bit of writing to make one feel instantly better!
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So true, Debbie.
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You didn’t ‘ease back in’ – YOU STORMED BACK IN! Heck, I keep changing my FAVS! Now, it’s this one! Who knew!! ♥
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This is hysterical, John. Thanks for the laugh. 🙂
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Thank you, Diana.
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Glad you are feeling better. I can tell by that fabulous story. One of your best!
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Thank you, Mae.
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You are too funny! The anesthesia did not affect your writing mojo. From my experience, in a month you will feel normal again. If that is something to look forward to. Normal, that is. 🙂
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Thank you, Mary. I do look forward to normal.
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Boss,
You are BACK! And better than Ezra!
I love your take on eminent domain, and especially so since you decided to throw burgers into the equations.
So very glad to hear that you are feeling good. And very happy to see you back here!
Peace and good health my friend
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We’ll see if I can sustain. Not out of the woods yet.
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You go at your own pace. It was just a nice surprise, to find your post today.
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😀
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Glad you are feeling better! The McDonald brothers…I love it! Columbus is fake news had me laughing so hard! Great one John:)
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I’m so glaad, Denise. 😀
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For those of us who enjoy the History Channel, this was especially hilarious. Thanks, John!
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Glad yu liked it, Jennie.
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😀
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Looks like your creative cogs are still in full swing, John. I hope the McDonald brothers get to see this…wherever they may now be.
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Thanks Hugh, I hope so too. 🙂
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Hahahaha! McDonald’s are pretty much everywhere so, yeah it seems possible! Funny read this morning John. I’m glad you’re feeling better. Hope it continues, and you’re up and about soon!
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Thanks, Deborah.
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😊
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Loved this, John, and happy you’re feeling better! 🙂
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Thank you, Lauren.
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Well, John, your brain seems to be working just fine. Great piece of flash fiction.
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Thank you, Robbie.
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[…] The Line by John W. Howell © 2018 […]
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