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.
I Spy by John W. Howell © 2020
“Harold, come here.”
“What m’love?”
“Look out the window over there. Just beyond the trees.”
“What am I looking for?”
“Don’t you see above the trees what looks like some kind of antenna?”
“Oh, now I do. Would you look at that? Them government people are checking on us.”
“Checking on us? Whatever for?”
“I think they are checking to see if we are maintaining the shelter in place rules.”
“Couldn’t it be they are looking at someone else?”
“Bertie. Think about it. What other houses are there around us? We are the only one here.”
“What do we do then?”
‘Well, we are sheltering in place according to the rules.”
“I just don’t like being watched. I mean a couple of over the hill pensioners like us. Don’t they have anything better to do?”
“I see your point. It is a matter of personal freedom. It’s bad enough being cooped up here without some snooper team checking up. I’m going to get something.”
“Don’t you lower yourself to go down there and talk to them, Herold.”
“I have no intention of talking.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I have something here in the closet.”
“What is that thing?”
“This, my dear, is an MK153 shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon.”
“Goodness, where did you get that thing.”
“Amazon prime.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Take out that snooper thingy.”
“Won’t you get into trouble?”
“A gray-haired old fart like me. What are they going to do? Shoot me?”
“Maybe. Might shoot me too.”
“You know I never thought of that. Okay, maybe we try to ignore that thing.”
“Nah. Take it out. Harold.”
Fiction Favorites 
But how does Harold know they’re not listening to every word he says? That’s a powerful-looking antenna they have there!
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Good point, Keith! Harold should have thought of that.
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Poor Harold. He’s not thinking straight now anyway.
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😀
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😊
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If the antenna goes down quickly we will know they are listening. Either way the objective is accomplished. (notwithstanding the jail time,)
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So…what happened? 🙂 Happy Tuesday, John!
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He lauunched the rocket, blew off the antenna and was promply arrested. He is now doing time in an undesclosed location. 😁
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Yeah! That’s what I was hoping for! 🙂
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Hahahaha. you kill me. 😁
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🙂
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She might want to go grocery shopping while he handles things.
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A great idea, Charles. Thanks.
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Ya know, anything is possible these days. Good one, John. 🙂
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Thank you, Gwen. I had to laugh when I wrote this. (Strange sense of humor)
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Well…yah…but I laughed too! I love the last line. 😀
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Mk153 via Amazon… 😂👍 great story!
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😂 Thank you, VR.
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As soon as I read, “I have something here in the closet,” I knew it was a gun!
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This thing is a rocket launcher so look out. Thanks, Liz.
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Like it ‘Big Time’! ♥♥♥
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Thank you, Billy Ray. 😁
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🙂
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If we’re going to go, let’s go in a blaze of glory.
Well Done John.
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Thank you, Dan. I’m thinking the same thing. 😁
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Yup, take it out, Harold!
Frankly I wanted to climb that stupid pole and take a peek myself!
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Hahaha. pretty thin pole. Use a net. 😁 Thanks, GP.
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Amazon Prime?!?! OMG, John, I almost spewed coffee on my keyboard when I hit that part. Loved the ending too. This hit all the right marks for me today. Hysterical!
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Thank you , Mae. It looks like we have the same humor vein. I’m so glad you got a laugh. 😁
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Hilarious! What a great way to start the day – thank you!
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Thank you for letting me know you liked it. 😀
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You bet, take it out, Harold.
Oh, and by the way, MK 152’s are all out of stock on Amazon Prime. Must be a lot of Harolds.
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Hahahaha. I suppose there are. Thanks, Greg.
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Amazon Prime to the rescue! Loved this, John. Thanks for another chuckle. We can never have too many! 🙂
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I know, Jan. Thank you.
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You can get something like that on Amazon Prime?? Who’d’a thought! Nicely done, John — I needed a chuckle this morning, and you didn’t disappoint me!
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I’m glad to be of service, Debbie. 😁
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Darn Bertie seemed to be such a sweet old lady.
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She and Jane Fonda are close friends.
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Keith made a good point! I bet if they are/were listening they are feeling sorry for poor Harold about now. 😀
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That will be until the rocket comes screaming toward that antenna.
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Lol!! True!😂😂😂
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😁
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😂
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Hmmm… IF they are listening, they will either: 1) take it down, 2) knock on Harold’s door 3) send him a message that hey, it’s not about him at all – they’re following the habits of the xxx animal 😉
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What animal?
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I dunno… that’s why I put xxx – for you to fill in the blank! Hey… Texas? Let’s say armadillo 😉
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Hahaha. Armadillio it is.
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😉
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😊
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If they are listening they are ready for him…lol.
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Believe me the MK153 doesn’t care. It takes care of business anyway.
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I want to adopt Bertie and Harold! My kinda folks. 😄
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I think this speaks to the general angst many of us are currently feeling as we are on the verge of a “grand opening”. . .
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For sure. Too bad you can’t just fire a rocket at something to get it out of your system
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Unless you’re the Secretary of Defense . . .
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True.
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Just what I needed today. Amazon Prime, who would have thought?
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And it’s returnable. You only have to pay for what you shoot.
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Ha!
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“Amazon Prime” – bwahahahaha!!!
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😁
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To this UK resident’s ears and given our ongoing disbelief in the apparent laxness of the US’s gun laws, this is entirely believable, esp. the bit about Amazon Prime! Nicely pitched though John
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Hahaha. Thanks, Geoff.
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Not too far from the truth, (about the spy part) me thinks 🙂
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That would be a twist, Mark. Hmmmm
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Yeah! Take it out Harold and next week John will tell us what happened to you.
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Hahahaha. Good one, Robbie.
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Go for it, Harold! Well done, John.
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Yes Harold. Take out that antenna. 😈
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Yes!
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*Smoke clears. SWAT unit headed toward Harold’s house.*
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Haha! 😀
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And, Happy Birthday!
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Aw Thank you. 😁
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You are welcome, John!
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[…] I Spy by John W. Howell © 2020 […]
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