In Keith’s words.
“Using this photo 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.
Magic by John W. Howell © 2020
“You aren’t going to do that now, are you?”
“No one is looking, so why not?”
“Just seems like a risk is all.”
“Okay, now that I’m halfway there, tell me about your view of the risk.”
“First off, you are not sure where you’re going to land.”
“Yeah, that’s true. I can’t see anything right now.”
“So come on back and let’s talk about it.”
“Good idea. So I’m back.”
“What makes you decide to up and dematerialize for no apparent reason. You know how dangerous it is. What if we are discovered?”
“Oh, come on. Aren’t you being a little dramatic?”
“Talk about dramatic. What if someone had seen you half here? They would have a fit. You should see yourself with one leg.”
“I’ve seen you plenty of times. It doesn’t bother me.”
“You dope. That’s because we are the same species. We are not humans.”
“Speaking of that. Did you ever see one of them without garments? Talk about a fit.”
“No, and I don’t want to. Besides that is off the subject. You know very well the rules of dematerialization require absolute privacy before engagement.”
“Look around. It’s just you and me and those young ones over there.”
“My point exactly. The young ones can see you.”
“What do they know?”
“Enough to tell their parents.”
“And we just deny the whole thing.”
“That may work, but right now, I’m tired of this discussion.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I think I’m going to resume my own appearance and go home.”
“Wait, I’ll come with you.”
“Suit yourself. I just think it’s time.”
“You homesick?”
“Maybe. I think when you started to dematerialize for no reason, it reminded me of how much I miss being able to do that whenever I want.”
“So what form are you.”
“Oh, that’s right, you never met the real me.”
“No. Just the human-like you.”
“Here I am.”
“A toad? You’re a toad?”
“Disappointed?”
“Well, I never expected a toad.”
“Show me you.”
“Here.”
“You are a toad as well.”
“I know, right?”
“OMG, this is amazing.”
“Maybe we were meant for each other.”
“Hold on there toady. Let’s take it slow.”
“Can I buy you a fly.”
“I would love that.”
Fiction Favorites 
“Buy you a fly?” What a sweet toad. Another hilarious story, John. LOL Hope your day is full of chuckles; you’ve started my day with them. 😀
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I’m so glad, Gwen. A laugh a day keeps COVID away. (That really sounded lame after all) 😁
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Too funny. BTW, today…and others, I haven’t been able to make the “like” button work on your site. So, just know I like your response. 😀
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Shut down your browser and then retart it. Usually helps to reload it.
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Brilliant, John. I hadn’t considered the possibility of dematerialisation.
My immediate reaction to your story was to propose a series called ‘Bufo the vampire slayer’. As the Bufo genus is restricted to Europe, northern Africa and Asia, however, it wouldn’t be well known in the Americas and, somehow, ‘Anaxyrus the vampire slayer’ just doesn’t work.
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Hahahaha. dematerialization was the first thing that came to mind. (i have little experience with vampire stuff so I never thought of that direction. Toads I know.) Thanks for the comment. 😁
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LOL! Boy, sometimes your creativity never ceases to amaze me, John. This was hilarious!
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Thank you, Jill. I’m so glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know. 🤗
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Very clever! (And funny.)
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Thank you, Liz. Glad you liked it. 😊
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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I agree with Liz, you were very clever here, John. I figured something had to be wrong, he had a lifeguard shirt on, but only one leg – that is not conducive for adequate paddling out to save someone.
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Might put him in a bad situation for sure. Thanks, GP. (better a toad) 😊
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Exactly! 🙂
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Love that pick-up line, RIBBIT 😂
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Hahaha. Thank you, Chris. 😁 I never used that one myself. Well, given my success rate maybe I did. 😂
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😂😂😂
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When I looked at the picture, I never got the sense of alien toads. Somehow, I missed the obvious.
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I think you had to be there. Thanks, Craig. 😁
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I would use the word ‘brilliant’ but someone already did. Wow! How on earth did you come up with that from the photo? I’m fascinated by the mind of John Howell! Well-done! A TOAD! Wow!
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Thank you so much, Jan. Most of these prompts evolve when I start writing them. This one kind of hit me when I first saw the photo. It started with trying to explain the photo and then moved on to a relationship that might have a chance at a happy ending. (If the guy doesn’t move too quickly.) Your comment made my day. 🤗
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hahaha. Loved that!
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Thank you, Pamela. 😁
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Really enjoyed this one.
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Thank you, Charles. I’m glad you did. 😁
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I needed a good chuckle this morning, and you didn’t disappoint — thanks, John! I never would’ve thought of dematerializing toads!
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Well you know on a hot day you gotta grab whatever comes along. Thanks, Debbie.
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This is absolutely great John. Suspense, intrigue, drama, and wonderful humor. Alien toads. With the ability to dematerialize! I’m in love with this tale, and think you should expand it straight into a full length novel!! 😀 Well, I’D buy it, anyway! 😀
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Thanks, Marcia.
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Well, you little Toad! Who knew, indeed! I’m so happy you wanted to be like me! Let’s go find a ‘stool’ and talk about this… Yuck, yuck!
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There you go. Well on your way to tadpoles
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It sounds like kismet among toads, LOL.
Another entertaining story, John!
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Thank you, Mae.
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Funny John with a bit of toad love. They do seem to like chlorine pools.
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Yes silly toads.
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Some of your lines make me LOL, John. “What makes you decide to up and dematerialize for no apparent reason” is one of them. 🙂
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I like that one too. Thank you, Robert.
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I wondered if you had favorite lines. 🙂
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I do. When one comes I enjoy it very much. Sometimes others don’t catch them but that does not take away from my enjoyment.For example I describe Twiggy’s (French Bulldog) barking like this. “She can bark him to St Louis.”
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LOL. I agree with you, that’s a great line about Twiggy.
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Thank you, Rob. 😊
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Is there such a thing as, ‘toad stool’? I must have fell short!
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‘Fallen’ short!!!
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Or smething like that.
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Sure there is. Gotta be short to sit on it though. 😁
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Haha! You have such a knack for giving us a crook in our neck with your spins!
This was great.
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Thank you , Dale. Here tale this analgesic balm. It’ll help. 😁
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Hahaha! This was great, John. Who knew they’d both be toads. Off to the fly bar.
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😂 I like the idea of a fly bar.
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Haha! 😀
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LOL! I wasn’t expecting aliens! I wonder…do they hop off to the sunset together? 😀
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They actually can do whatever they want. They can materalize in a number of forms. Thanks, Deborah.
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😄
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now is it only me who wonders what happens if they kiss? Does one or both become princesses or another gender non binary royal?
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Toads are often confused with frogs. In the toad world, a kiss is just a kiss. A sigh is just a sigh as time goes by.
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Ah, maybe it’s a transatlantic thing. We have royalty popping out of ugly reptiles all the time
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Hahahaha. Yes you do. 😊
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Hahaha, this one tickled me. 🤗
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Thankyou for letting me know, Jessica. 😁
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Hate to say it but, I toad you so . . .
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Hahahah. Good one. 😊
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I was feeling froggy
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😁
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[…] Magic by John W. Howell © 2020 […]
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