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.”
The Photo
The Gift by John W. Howell © 2020
“I’m telling you, Pradeep. I’m sitting on a bench listening to the whole thing.”
“Can you talk?”
“They are right behind me. Maybe I should take you off speaker.”
“Good idea.”
“Okay, you are off. Like I said, you won’t believe it.”
“So you are at the Taj. Tell me again what the two said.”
“The guy came up to the meadow stairs with this girl. They were holding hands. He said to her, ‘Are you ready for your surprise.”‘
“Yeah, then what?”
“Here’s the funny part. He told her that he had bought the taj as a surprise.”
“Oh, Man. Who would believe that?”
“Not you and I, but she is still jumping up and down with delight.”
“How dumb can some of these people be. How old is she?”
“I’d say over twenty-one.”
“So, she should know better.”
“I think she looks like she went to university.”
“All the more reason. I hope the guy is happy with one not too bright.”
“Hold on, Pradeep. The couple is coming over here.”
“Excuse us, sir. I see you have a phone.”
“Yes, yes, I do.”
“Would you mind taking our photo and then sending it to my fiancee’s e-mail?”
“I would be happy to do that. Pradeep hold on a little more. This is getting better and better. Alright, you two. I have the Taj behind you, and you look delighted. There. Now, where should I send it?”
“Send it to hrh.palace.saudiaarabia.gov.sa.”
“Okay, miss it is sent.”
“Thank you so much. We won’t forget this. Goodbye.”
“Pradeep? Pradeep, you still there?”
“You would fall into a dung heap and come out smelling like saffron, you know that?”
Fiction Favorites 
LOL! Okay, I didn’t see that last line coming, John. Great job! 🙂
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Thank you, Jill. My hope is to take you by surprise. 😊
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You usually do, John! 🙂
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Oh, Goodie. 😂
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I can hear that sinister laugh! 🙂
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Yes,it was there. 😁
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Nice twist.
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Great twist, John. Love it.
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Thank you, Keith.
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Great story! I love how it takes us directly into the picture.
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Thank you, LIz. That was my hope.
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Can’t put one in today, John. You and I had the same idea!! Great job!
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Great minds think alike. Of course there is a saying that fools seldom differ. 😁
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hahaha – can we tell the difference?
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Probably not. 😁
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Nicely don, John. I liked that twist 🙂
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Thank you, Dan. Had to put one in there. (Tiny made me)
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Haha – I hear that a good author listens to his characters.
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Hahaha Especially if one is Tiny.
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LOL! You are so clever, John. Never saw that coming!
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Thank you, Mae. I appreciate your comment.
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Lol! That would definitely be a surprise! 🙂 Great use of the photo prompt, John!
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[…] our bar, we avoid mixing. I drink beer, and David maintains a high degree of separation between his John Howell’s Bourbon, and the ice and seltzer. That’s too bad, because in that setting, the alcohol really is a […]
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So I gather he COULD afford the thing?! Excellent, and what a nice gift for his gal!!
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Yeah he could. It would be a fun gift for sure. Of course, you would have to put up with a bunch of tourests.
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LOVE your twist!!!
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Thank you, Marc.
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De nachos
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hahahaha
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😉
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Hah! Love it!
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Thank you, Dale.
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Clever, clever… 🙂
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Thankee, Thankee.
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I want to be a fly in your brain when it looks at a photo and comes up with a great story like this one.
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You would be a pretty lonely fly. At times that place is like an empty attic. Thanks, Jennie.
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Haha! 😀
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A great job, John.
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[…] The Gift by John W. Howell © 2019 […]
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