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.
Right Side by John W. Howell © 2020
“Man, this is like pea soup.”
“Are you sure we should be continuing to be on the road?”
“Oh, my goodness, yes. We are perfectly safe. I have the auto-drive set. It will warn us of any approaching traffic.”
“It’s not the traffic that worries me so much.”
“What is it then?”
“The curves that bypass a forest.”
“Don’t worry, the auto-drive can detect those as well.”
“It must be a miracle invention.”
“Thank you.”
“What?”
“It is my invention.”
“Your invention?”
“Yes, this is the first prototype, and as you can see, it is functioning beautifully.”
“You. mean you and I are guinea pigs for this thing?”
“Harsh words, but yes.”
“What’s that noise?”
“It is a Klaxton horn announcing we are approaching traffic.”
“I see the car. Shouldn’t we pull over?”
“No, you see, the car is ahead of us.”
“Why is he getting bigger? He seems to be heading right for us.”
“Very strange. It looks like he is in the wrong lane.”
“In the UK, he is in the right lane.”
“Oops.”
“What do you mean ‘oops?'”
“I forgot we moved to England. I set the auto-drive for France. How in the heck did I do that?”
“Never mind that. Time to get over.”
“I need to disengage the auto-drive.”
“Try the steering wheel.”
“Brillant. We missed him.”
“Now find a rest stop.”
Fiction Favorites 
Eek! Yes, I think they definitely need a rest stop!
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Hahahaha. Thanks, Jill. 😁
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Oops!
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Profound, Liz. Oops indeed.
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😀
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The first rule of complex systems: always make sure the initial test flight is in critical conditions.
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Good rule, Greg. 😁
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Good one, John!!
“uh Myrtle, I don’t think these new contacts are working – I can’t see a thing.”
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Hahahaha. Thanks, GP.
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Thanks, John. I actually did have a pair of contacts that made the road look foggy – so this one was easy!!
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I was going to say that maybe they are in backwards.
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And perhaps a change of underwear…
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That too. Thanks, Dan.
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I’m with Dan. I’d call a cab from the rest stop.
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Hahahaha. Good idea. Thanks, Craig.
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Don’t think I’d ever be comfortable in a self-driving car. Even on a clear day.
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I’m with you, Charles
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Great story, John. Thanks for the morning chuckle.
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You are welcome, Maggie.
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The photo prompt reminds me of the many times I drove in “pea soup” thick fog in Southern California. Your story reaffirms that I will not want a self-driving car. Enjoyed the read.
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I agree, Karen. 😁
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Hah! I had a sneaking suspicion they were in the wrong lane! Methinks the rest stop will be fore multiple reasons… 😉 Well done, sir!
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Multiple. 😁
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😀
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😁
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That would be a great device in fog, if set right 🙂
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I think so too. Thanks, Denise.
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Whew! Yes, a rest stop and maybe clean underwear! Good one, John!
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Yes it’s true. Thanks, Jan
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I’d definitely need a rest stop after that experience. Well done, John.
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Hahahaha. Yes indeed. Thanks, Gwen
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I laughed out loud at the closing line. Bravo, John!
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Thank you, Robert.
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I think next time, they should Uber it.
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Hahahah. Great idea. Maybe a Uber self propelled.
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Yes, definitely that. LOL
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😁
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That last line! Hahaha. Might be too late!
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Hahaha. Thanks, Luanne.
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Good take, John. Even if self-driving cars do catch on, I don’t ever expect to be able to afford one.
Background: This should have been a three-and-a-half hour drive from Agra to Delhi’s international airport. We left Agra just before five am (we should have left at four, but the driver had problems). The journey took almost five hours – dense fog all the way. We were following a bus for some miles – big enough to see without needing to be too close – but lost him at a toll both. After that, it was guesswork all the way!
We caught our flight on time, but it was a drive we won’t forget for a while.
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I can feel the stiff neck form here. Thanks for the background, Keith.
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Haha!
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well I must say I admire the sangfroid of the passenger… if it were me and we realised we’d been stuck on the right or wrong side of the road there might be the odd WHAT THE ACTUAL F….? before belaboured my driver around the head with any handy tungsten implement…
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Hahaha. Yes, these are reserved Swiss I’m guessing.
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Those damn Brits…lol… to be honest I have do desire to drive in an all electric self drive car..firstly I love driving myself.. and secondly I am lethal around electrical appliances and they can stop suddenly.. great story John..hugsx
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hahaha. You better stay with petrol then. No candle burning on the console though. Thanks, Sally.
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Ooooh! That was a close one, John.
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Yes it was. Thank you, Robbie.
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Haha – small details make a difference! I’d be a disaster on English roads, even with your detector, adjusted!
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I think we all would have problems, Barbara.
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I think after a short rest, the passenger will see the merit of the Auto Drive. :0 Just needs a little fine tuning is all.
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Yes. The rest will be key. Thanks, Mark.
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[…] Right Side by John W. Howell © 2020 […]
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