In Keith’s words. “Using this photo 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 next Monday.”
The photo.
Captain Tom by John W. Howell © 2019
“Captain Tom this is Houston.”
“Go ahead Houston.”
“Is this Captain Tom?”
“Excuse me but are you new to the team?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“Do you know how many of us are here?”
“Where?”
“In outer space.”
“Well, I’m quite sure we are not alone if that’s what you mean.”
“Okay let me start over. You called for Captain Tom. I answered. You then asked if I were Captain Tom.”
“Yes so?”
“Who the heck do you think I am?”
“No need to be prickly. I was just following protocol.”
“I’m sitting in this cramped capsule which as far as I know is the only cramped capsule orbiting the Earth right now. You called me and then have the cheek to ask if I am Captain Tom.”
“I’m beginning to see your point. You are on a mission, and the only one on that mission, and I called you.”
“What does that tell you?”
“Since we are on the same frequency I would guess that you are Captain Tom.”
“So why did you ask? I know I’m making a mountain out of a hillock but with nothing else to do and it being so damn cold, I am curious.”
“That is an interesting saying you have there.”
“Which one.”
“Mountain out of a hillock.”
“Yeah, so?”
“The saying we have is “mountain out of a molehill.”‘
“For heaven’s sake. What’s the difference?”
“Also you mention the cold.”
“Yes, I did. It is freezing up here.”
“What have you done with Captain Tom?”
“Here we go again.”
“It would not be cold unless the integrity of the capsule has been compromised.”
“If that were to happen you would see it on the telemetry.”
“Unless someone knows how to intercept the signal. Now before I hit the abort button tell me what you did with Captain Tom.”
“I ate him.”
“What?”
“He was just too tempting. Like a sardine in a can. In case you wonder, he was delicious. Go ahead and abort. I’ll just be waiting up here for the next one. TTFN.”
“TTFN? Your call sign?”
“No. Ta Ta For Now. Zoraggeue out.”
Fiction Favorites 
At least the alien was kind of polite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes sir I was….I mean yes sir he was.
LikeLike
I’d need something more tempting than a sardine in a can!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear you, Jill. Me too. Maybe some Chianti and fava beans.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great movie! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was. Scared me to death.
LikeLike
I looked under my bed for a week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. I avoided moths for a year.
LikeLike
They still give me the creeps!🦋🦋🦋🦋
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, talk about timing, John, I’m going up in a B-17 Fortress later today!! I don’t think I’ll be high enough to have this view though!
Poor old Captain Tom!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you enjoy the flight. Sounds terrific. (I’m jealous) 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait – about 4 more hours to go!! The count down is on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gotta give us a report.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had two cameras going, but at the moment I’m having trouble getting the pictures out of one of them. Thank goodness I had 2 !!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can’t wait for the report.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m having trouble getting the videos onto the blog, so I’ll have to stick with the stills.
LikeLike
Hmmm. Interesting. Any relation to Major Tom?
I enjoyed the twist (of lemon – always goes well with sardines). 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha haha. Thanks Keith.
LikeLike
What a grumpy alien. He floats above beautiful clouds, free of the usual hassles, and decides to eat the captain? That’s just not right. Houston has got to do something. Hillarious, John. 😀 Have a great day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. 👽
LikeLike
Good to know that Tom was delicious. I wonder if they added that to his Good Conduct Medal? Nice job with the prompt, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brave, clean, reverent, and delicious. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent for a cold day in Kentucky! Good stuff, John! ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Billy Ray
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chilled Captain in a can. Maybe old Zoraggeue deserves a show on The Food Network.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That could be a way for Houston to talk him down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beat Bobby Flay could become Eat Bobby Flay.
LikeLike
John, when I looked at the photo my first thought was “what can he possibly do with that?”
HA! Your creative mind knows no bound. Good one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mae. You are the best.😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was fun, John. What’s an alien to do faced with such an unexpected treat?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
He ate him??? “Houston, I think we have a problem!” Good one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes we might have a problem. Thanks, Jan
LikeLiked by 1 person
I suppose Captain Tom might be a branded human dish in whatever world the alien inhabits, like Col Sanders. I mean he comes in a can, is kept cold and apparently delicious. Not really the alien’s fault in failing to realise the Captain was on a mission not a menu…
LikeLike
So true Geoff. IO think they will want to hire you as a PR person.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol, I didn’t see THAT coming 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you never see tham coming. Thanks, Jacquie. Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahahahaha, that was hilarious!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eeek!! Something went awfully wrong with this space mission. And it doesn’t sound as if aborting will make things better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope. Maybe worse. Thanks, Debbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bahahahaha! This is one of the best short stories I’ve read in ages! Cracked. Me. Up! Hope you don’t mind, but I’ve got to share this one…
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Jessica Bakkers and commented:
One of the greatest short stories I’ve read in a long time. Enjoy John Howell’s space themed romp, er, prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jessica.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Boss,
Buahahaha!
I figured Zoraggeue out when he missed the perfect opportunity to make a Bowie joke. It was . . umm, a major faux pas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. Ha haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now you got me listening to Bowie.
Thank you. No really, thank you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay . . .;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cold and hungry. I’ll pass on meeting this Alien.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you Denise. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Very good tale, John. It reminded me of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator where the aliens wanted to eat the people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know that story. Have to find it.
LikeLike
Wow.
That turned dark really fast.
Well done, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It did. Kinda crept up on us.
LikeLike
A great twist at the end. I enjoyed this one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Captain Tom by John W. Howell © 2019 […]
LikeLike