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 next Monday.”
The photo.
The Night by John W. Howell © 2019
“Hey, you.”
“W-who me?”
“Yes, you. What do you think you are doing?”
“Um. Just looking for something to munch on.”
“You know you’re not supposed to be running around.”
“Who says so?”
“Clement Clark Moore. That’s who.”
“Who the heck is Clement Clark Moore?”
“The author of the poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” Known more by the first line “Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
“Yeah, so what does that have to do with me?”
“The next lines have something to do with you.”
“So what are they?”
“And all through the house.”
“So, far, nothing.”
“Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.”
“Still don’t get it.”
“What do you think you are?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are you a creature?”
“I never thought about it.”
“Well, I can tell you. You are a mouse.”
“That’s not what my mama told me.”
“I can’t wait to hear.”
“A beautiful boy.”
“That’s just mother talk. You are a mouse, and you shouldn’t be stirring.”
“I don’t even have a spoon.”
“Not that kind of stirring you dummkopf. Moving around, stirring.”
“Okay, I get it. Just let me find a bit of cheese, and I’ll quit.”
“If that’s all you need here, take some of mine.”
“Wow. That is so nice of you.”
“It is Christmas Eve, after all.”
“You look pretty big for a mouse.”
“That’s ’cause I’m not a mouse.”
“What are you then?”
“A cat.”
“Never heard of it.”
“Look it up and count your lucky stars.”
“Great cheese. Merry Christmas to us all.”
Fiction Favorites 
Perfect! Merry Christmas Eve, John! ❤
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Merry Christmas eve, Jill *Sung to the tune of Blue Christmas by Elvis. 🎄
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I couldn’t come up with a holiday line for this. mine turned out to be, “Nobody told me about coming up to a crossroad on this route.”
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Hahaha.
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Clement Clark Moore would be honored, John.
Well done.
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Thank you, Hook. Makes me pleased to hear that for sure. 😀
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Brilliant, John. Have a great Christmas.
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Thank you, Keith. Have a great Christmas as well. 🎄
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hahah . Lovely! And a Merry Christmas to all!
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😊
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I love the ending! Actually, I loved the whole thing.
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Ha hahaha. Thanks, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John. And I really did love the whole thing. 🙂
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😊
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🙂
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Nice twist, John. And a wonderful holiday message. I hope you have a very nice Christmas.
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Thank you, Dan. I hope you have a very nice Christmas as well.
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But if no creature is stirring then isn’t the cat breaking the rules too?
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He is laying in wait.
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Best Christmas story ever. I’ll have whatever you’re drinking.
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Three fingers of Willett bourbon
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Sounds good.
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Yup.
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We’re talking three of Tiny’s fingers, right?
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Of course. 😀
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Luckiest. Mouse. Ever.
Thank you for the jolly good cheer, Boss. 🙂
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Yes he is lucky. Thanks, Marc.
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🙂
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Brilliant!! Loved this story, John. I’m still amazed!! Merry Christmas!
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Thank you, Gwen.
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Sounds like my cats…lol. Merry Christmas John!
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I;m with Gwen! Lovely touch! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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’MeleKalikiMaka’
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’MeleKalikiMaka’
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You did a much better job with the prompt than I would have. (There would have been shrieking and calls for an exterminator.)
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Hahahaha.
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🙂
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Ha ha! I always know I’m up for a treat seeing you posted! 🙂
I’ll leave you with a retort from a friend of mine, a mother of preschooler twins, who when she told them they had to stay quietly in bed and quoted from the book she’d just read them that they shouldn’t because “not even a mouse” … they exchanged a quick twins-communication-glance and responded, “but Mama, it don’t say no twins.” 😉
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No it does not. Thanks, Na’ama for the cute story.
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🙂
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Tee-hee! This is wonderful, John.
Oddly, my cats have all liked cheese… Merry Christmas to you and yours. Hugs!
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Merry Christmas, Teagan. Hugs.
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Lol, the cat had some holiday spirit 🙂
Merry Christmas, John!
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Merry Christmas, Jacquie.
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Perfect for Christmas! I’m glad the cat was feeling benevolent! Merry Christmas, John!
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Merry Christmas, Jan. Thank you.
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Awesome story, John! I love the fact that the cat gave the mouse a free pass and even shared a bit of cheese … true Christmas spirit!
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Yes true spirit. Merry Christmas, Jill.
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Two thumbs up!
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Thanks, Mark.
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