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 Post by John W. Howell © 2020
“So, what is it?”
“Appears to be a dog.”
“Well, that’s crazy. No one sends a dog through the post.”
“It looks like that’s exactly what happened.”
“Get the poor fellow a drink. He must be thirsty.”
“Water?”
“No, you idiot. Get him a big glass of whiskey. Maybe what he doesn’t finish you can have.”
“A woman after my own heart.”
“Of course, water.”
“Yes, I’m going.”
“Oh, poor puppy. I can’t imagine who would do this to you.”
“Look on the return address.”
“Huh?”
“Here’s the water. I put it in a bowl. I said, look at the return address. That will tell us who sent this beautiful puppy.”
“Don’t start with a ‘beautiful puppy.’ This dog’s not staying.”
“Aw, look at his eyes. Look how much he appreciates the water.”
“My foot is down.”
“He seems to be a pure-bred Jack Russell too.”
“So, where did he come from?”
“Let me see. Ah, yes, here it is. The return address is—Wait a minute. This box says it was mailed from London. That would be impossible.”
“So, what does the return address say?”
“It is from the Reliable Battery Company in London.”
“Why would they mail a dog?”
“I think we have been tricked. Look here the mailing address has been ripped off. This box was placed on our porch by someone local. Someone who used a box that they received batteries in. This poor thing is unwanted.”
“I have to wonder about the length of time that it took to figure that out.”
“Okay, so I thought it came in the post. What about the dog.”
“I’ll give it some of last night’s meat. Then it has to go.”
“Where?”
“To the vet. We need to get a check-up and some real dog food.”
“Then, we are keeping him?”
“Just until the real owner shows up.”
“That could be a while.”
“I’m counting on that.”
“You are not such a tough old bird, you know.”
“Don’t tell the greengrocer. I have him fooled.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“Or I’ll blacken your eye.”
“That’s my girl.”
Fiction Favorites 
Brilliant, John.
How could you not keep him? Look at those eyes.
Two thoughts:
1. Jerome K Jerome, in Three Men in a Boat wrote that “Fox-terriers are born with about four times as much original sin in them as other dogs are…”
2. Jerome K Jerome never met Trevor!
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Hahahaha. Good one, Keith.
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The dog-in-the-box is your dog Trevor?
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Sweet, isn’t he? That was before he became old and cranky!
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Like his Papa. 😁
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You know me too well, Sir. 😷
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hahaha. 😷
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Great job, John! No doubt, you would welcome that cute little one into your home. Twiggy and Lucy would love it!
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I’m sure we would love him too. 😁
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A nice and happy ending.
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Decided to have a happy ending sine it made me feel good too.
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So what that unwanted thing with batteries drinks: water or whiskey? 😛
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Confusing yes? Hahahaha. 😁
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👍👍👍 great story! I think one day you should make flash/comic strips/stories book 📖👍👍
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That would be fun too. I do enjoy flash fiction for sure. Thank you VR. 😊
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🕺✌️💫 yep, plus its much easier to make the book, when you have so much material to pick up
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So true. Brings to mind if I could do it without the photos since they are so expensive to publish. I’ll have to look into that.
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Mmm, yes, I don’t know about books with photos, but you have to check …
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😊
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Ahhh, sweet eyes and kindly adoptive parents, who could ask for more? Well done, John. 🙂
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There is no more than that for sure. Thank you, Gwen.
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Who are these wonderful people? (I have 17 more cats to get rid of,…ooops, make that 24).
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They live in outside of London. Might be hard to find. 😁
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Great job, John. Of course you’d have to keep him.
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Yes. There is no other way. Thanks, Dan
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No one could resist those eyes! Of course, he stays. And I love the twist, as always, John! 🙂
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Thank you, Jan. I decided to make it a feel good twist. Thanks for the visit and comment. 😁
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Looks a little sketchy to me. Almost like he’s daring you to try taking his box away.
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Being a Jack Russel he could be called a Jack in the box.
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Of course they had to keep him — just look at that face!!!
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I know right? Thanks, Debbie.
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They knew the right porch to leave him on 🙂
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They sure did.
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Aww… I’m such a pushover for fur babies and their big brown eyes. Loved your take on this prompt, John.
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Thank you, Soooz.
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Delightful in all ways!
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Thank you, Billy Ray
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You are a master of dialogue, John! And that pup is sure cute 😉
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Thank you, Marie.
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Another fun, creative story! I would LOVE to see a book featuring the adventures of Lucy and Twiggy.
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It would be fun.
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How can you not keep him? A gift, left on your doorstep!
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So true. 😁 Thanks, Dale
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🙂
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I like the idea of the dog arriving in the mail. I’m glad he found a home.
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Thank you, Rob
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I’d say they just adopted a puppy. Well done, John.
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Yup they did. Thanks, Mark.
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Definitely a keeper!
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Thank you, Jennie.
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Hahaha! Sounds like me!
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It does. 😁
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Haha!
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Awwww … who could do such a thing? Yo quiero el perrito!!!
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[…] The Post by John W. Howell © 2020 […]
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