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.
Old Bean by John W. Howell © 2020
“Please tell me you will be my running mate this fall.”
“Running mate? You know I don’t like exercise.”
“That’s rich Old Shoe. What I mean is for class president.”
“I don’t want to be president.”
“You are making this tough Old Boot. I want you to be on the ticket with me as I run.”
“The ticket? We talking a ride here?”
“No Old Sock. We are talking about me as president and you as vice-president.”
“I don’t know anything about vice.”
“It is not vice that we will be dealing with, Old Block. Vice means assistant.”
“Assistant president? What do I have to do?
“Nothing Old Chap. Just smile and look pretty.”
“Do I get paid?”
“No Old Boy. There is no payment.”
“Well, since it is you, Old Bean, I’ll do it.”
“I don’t know how I became so lucky to have you as a friend.”
“You bought me a gobstopper remember?”
“Ah, yes. The best five cents I ever spent.”
“You told me it was twenty-five cents, Old Cow.”
“What difference does it make? We’re pals to the end.”
“You owe me twenty cents to make that a reality.”
“How about four more gobstoppers?”
“Since I’m a politician now, bribery will get you everywhere. Four it is.”
“Since you are a politician, I’m glad it is just four.”
“You good for five?”
“Whatever you say.”
“Man, I love this power.”
Fiction Favorites 
Great take, John although, the way the ‘Old’ names were going, I’m rather glad it stopped when it did. Who knows what appellations could follow?
The scary thing is that the photograph is less than a year shorty of its seventieth birthday!
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I know what you mean, Old Sod! 😉 The photo is of you and your brother?
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It is, Liz; I was the little one. Mind you, that was sixty-nine years ago!
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I thought there was a family resemblance there!
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Ooops. I think Liz took us there. 🤣
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Oops, I think I did. 😀
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😂
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I could tell. A wonderful photo.
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Well done, John. You’ve used an innocent photo to capture the age of our candidates and the nature of politics. 🙂
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Kind of twisting innocence wouldn’t you say? Thanks, Gwen. 😁
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Nicely done, John! I love that you mentioned gobstoppers…they’ve always been a favorite of mine. 🙂 Great photo, too!
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Thank you, Jill 😊
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Didn’t realize there were so many ‘old’ nicknames. Such a versatile adjective.
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I know right? Thanks, Charles
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I love this!!
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Thanks to you and the ticket to ride, I now have THAT song stuck in my mind!!
Keith’s brother has such a sly smile, I had to think … “Keep smilin’ bro, cuz as soon as mum takes the picture…..”
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That is a good, GP. 😀
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Well done, John. Probably how most lasting political alliances began.
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I think you are right, Dan
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Great use of the prompt, John. I love all the ‘old’ names but the ending is priceless!
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Thank you, Jan. I’m glad you liked it.
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I think you had a lot of fun with this one. 🙂
Loved seeing all those takes on “old” and did not see the ending coming. Very timely, clever, and fun!
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Thank you, Mae. I do have fun with. these prompts. I’m glad you liked it.
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Haha! Well done Old – wait… I can’t call you anything without it sounding mean! So I won’t 🙂
This was a fun one. How quickly one becomes a crook when one enters politics!
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Old fart would be appropiate. Politics and crooked are synonyms. Thanks, Dale.
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I contemplated using it but then I just didn’t want to call YOU that! 🙂
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Hahaha. Well at 79 I certainly qualify.
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Maybe age-wise but definitely NOT mentality-wise – you are FAR from that!
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Aw. You are a dear. ❤️
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💖
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😊
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Aw, what little sweeties! You know, there’s probably a lot of truth in their conversation, too, John. I mean, as long as some of our politicians have been “in public service,” I’ll bet more than a few started just this young!
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Hahahaha. I think you are right, Bebbie. Thanks.
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I don’t know where it came from, but I yield: you are so good at these that you could give Hallmark a run for its money! (Aw, well, maybe when you’re retirement age!) Great one, John… 🙂 PLUS 3 RED HEARTS!
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Thank you for the RED hearts, Billy Ray. I’m glad you liked it.
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I feel like we have a few of these in our system now….lol.
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Yes we do. 😁
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Boy, once that politician hat popped on, bribery came fast! 🙂 Great job to the prompt, John!
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Same hat size, Lauren. Thank you.
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😊
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Did you somehow procure the minutes of a Biden meeting for this post, Boss?
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Hahaha. Yes indeed.
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🙂
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Power does tend to go to ones head, doesn’t it? Enjoyed this, John 🙂
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Yes it does. What do they say, “Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutey.” 😁
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Ah, art imitating life 🙂
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I like the idea of life imitating art too. Thanks, Jessica.
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You’ve got my vote, John. 🙂
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Hahaha. Thaks, Mark.
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Good one, John … made me laugh!
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Excellent, Jill.
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LOL! You had me remembering the ” 5 will get you 10″ scene from the Bank Dick with WC Fields!
They sure were a couple of dapper young lads, weren’t they?
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They were dapper for sure. Keith (the little kid) is still dapper.
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All too true, John. well done!
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😊
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[…] Old Bean by John W. Howell © 2020 […]
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