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.
Rhino Saw Us By John W.Howell © 2020
“Don’t make a sound.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not nuts you know.”
“I wonder what he wants?”
“See that horn. You can take a guess.”
“Aren’t Rhino’s grass eaters?”
“Yeah, but tell him that.”
“I think he is lost.”
“Oh, come on. He wants to run us through and then stomp us into molecules.”
“Why do you suppose he picked us?”
“How do I know. I’m guessing he saw us and decided we needed to be taught a lesson.”
“Boy, that breath is something else.”
“Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to stand here and wait for him to make the decision. I’m taking action.”
“The last words said by a brave one and recorded by the steadfast and cowardly sidekick.”
“You gonna just wait for him to make a move?”
“Maybe he’ll forget.”
“Ha. He’s a cousin to the Elephant. Those brutes never forget.”
“Okay, then. You go, and I’ll be right behind you.”
“Wait. I just had a thought.”
“What is it.”
“We are tick birds, right.”
“Last time I checked.”
“I think he needs a going over.”
“Why didn’t he just say so?”
“You speak, Rhino?”
“No, of course not. You?”
“No. Just jump up on top of him, and let’s see what happens.”
“Look, he likes us.”
“Man, look at all the goodies.”
“This is heaven for sure. Look at him when I scratch right here.”
“It doesn’t get any better than this. Look up synergy in the dictionary, and you’ll see our picture.”
“You are just using hyperbole, right?”
“Most definitely. There’s no picture.”
“You had me concerned.”
“Eat your ticks, and enjoy yourself.”
“I could say the same.”
“So noted.”
Fiction Favorites 
Good take, John, thanks.
Backstory: four of us and the driver were stopped in the Ngorongoro crater next to the Serengeti, about twenty yards from a couple of black rhinos – probably mother and child (cue another Paul Simon song?). The driver was explaining to us just how dangerous these animals can be – like a tin opener in the side of a Land Rover – when he started sounding his horn to get the beast’s attention. I ducked down and got this shot with a disturbingly short telephoto lens as we drove off, the driver laughing his socks off (not that he was wearing any, but you get my drift).
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Great story, Keith. When I saw the photo I wanted to title the piece “Way too Close.” 😁
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Just what I thought at the time! 😰
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😂
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LOL Nice one, John 👍😂
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Thank you, Chris. 😊
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“Eat your ticks,” what a line! 😀 I definitely would not want to face a rhino. Other than a few close encounters with bears, my wildlife experience is limited to those creatures who seem to enjoy our yard. Thank you for the great story!
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I’m with you, Gwen. I do not have any desire to get up front and personal with anything bigger than a dog. 😁
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Loved this one. Always enjoy the twists you put on these.
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Thank you, Charles. 😊
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“You speak, Rhino?” LOL! I bet you could, John. Great job with this story!
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Thank you, Jill. 😁
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Yum!
Great job with the prompt, John.
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Thank you, Dan. 🦏
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haha, eat your own ticks, I now have a new way to tell people to mind their own business! They won’t know what the heck I’m talking about, but who cares, eh?
I thought he he was saying, “Wear a mask? Make me!”
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That is a good one, GP. Could be a T-shirt too. Thanks. I don’t know if you remember the phrase, “Eat my grits.” The tick thing was a play off that. 😊
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Sure I know the expression. Anyone who watched “Alice” at Mel’s Diner knows that was Flo’s favorite saying!!
I like the T-shirt idea! 😎
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😁
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Tick birds! I didn’t see that one coming. 😀
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Thank you, Liz. Hope you got a laugh. 😁
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Indeed I did!
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😊
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I’m with Liz. I never saw that one coming! Great fun, John! And now I know if I’m ever threatened by a rhino while on a safari, the secret is to act like a tick bird. Yeah, sure, ticks are an acquired taste, but hey. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. 😀 Thanks for the laugh this morning!
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Thank you, Marcia. 😁
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You come up with the damndest twists. Mad respect for your imagination.
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Never heard of tick birds — did you make that up, John?! It’s always nice to read Keith’s backstory on these photos. This rhino is way too close for comfort!
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No. I do write fiction but base it in facts. Check out http://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/wild-kingdom/about-animals/rhino-nights-facts/
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I didn’t know that — you learn something new every day … if you’re wise, ha!
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😁
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hahaha. You had me going!
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Always fun to do.
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A gourmet feast for the tick birds! I never expected that. Fun as always, John!
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Thank you, Mae.
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I always wondered what those birds were doing…ticks ick. Good one John:)
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I know right?
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So that is what the phrase means – to find out what makes someone tick… closely linked to curiosity killed the cat.
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Which is linked to “You tick me off.”
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Hahaha! Only YOU would come up with Tick birds! Synergy indeed!
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Thank you, Dale.
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I never want to be close enough to know what a rhino’s breath is like, lol
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I’m with you, Jacquie.
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Ha Ha! Tick birds! I swear, John, your imagination is a mysterious phenomenon. 🙂 Love it!
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Thank you, Jan. 😁
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Sure rhinos eat trees, bushes and grass, but when you’re a rhino . . you’re allowed to change your mind.
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So true.
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Does lucifer drink Willetts???
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He actually invented it.
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Please, tell me you are not L……!!!
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Haha, very cute 🙂
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Thank you.
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Some posts should not be read at 3:00 a.m.!!!
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No posts should be read at 3:00 a.m.
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You’re probably right, but it’s nice and quiet at that hour …
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Should be the sound of snoring.
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Heck, I wake myself up doing that!
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😂
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This is a great story, John. I’ll take a rhino over a hippo any day.
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If I were a tick bird I woud agree. Otherwise I’m going to stay right here where we are 99.9% rhino and hippo free.
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This was good, John!
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Thank you, Jennie. 😊
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[…] Rhino Saw Us by John W. Howell © 2020 […]
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