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.
Ring by John W. Howell © 2021
“What was that?”
“That flash, you mean?”
“Yes, that flash you, idiot. What else would I be talking about?”
“The bear trap on your right leg.”
“Ouch. I didn’t even notice that. What the hell?”
“I think we have been made.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m standing in tar and can’t move my feet. Unless you feel like chewing off your leg, I don’t think you can go anywhere either.”
“What kind of person sets these kinds of traps?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Who does this stuff?”
“In all the years I’ve known you, that is about the dumbest question you have ever asked.”
“Why is it dumb? Who goes around setting a bear trap that an innocent person would step in?”
“You just said the magic word.”
“What word?”
“Innocent.”
“How did we deserve this? You tell me.”
“How many porches have we raided?”
“Um. Don’t know.”
“Well, it is hundreds. Don’t you think we may have done this one before?”
“How do I know? They all look the same.”
“So now it is the end of the line.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Do you not hear the siren approaching?”
“I thought it was my tinnitus acting up.”
“Our porch pirate days are coming to an end.”
“Aw, don’t say that. We have had so much fun.”
“At the expense of others.”
“That was the fun part.”
“You are incorrigible.”
“My best trait.”
Fiction Favorites 
Hahaha.
Bear traps and tar pits – that’s what I call solid home security!
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I think these folks were a little tired of having their Amazon deliveries disappear. 😁
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I can see that, John. Perhaps that’s how Elvis started out – caught in a trap! 😀
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Hahaha. Keith. “can’t get out.”
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lol the owners probably recorded the conversation too… 😂
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I’m sure they did. These tow are lucky there was no landmine out there. 😂
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True 😂😅😱
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🤣
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Baretta once said not to do the crime if you can’t do the time, and I think the guy was spot on with that assessment . . .
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I think these tow will learn that lesson. Thanks, Marc.
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I think I heard a similar recording at the day job. LOL! Funny, John! 🙂
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Ha ha ha, Jill. I’ll bet you have. 😊
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Porch Pirates need to lean into the term. Peg-legs, flags, and cannons should be mandatory. Maybe a parrot too.
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Arrrgggg matey. I think you are one to something. Run up the Jolly roger and board the porch. 😁
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Thought you were saying to run up a Jolly Rancher.
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Very clever, John. The neighborhood probably mobilized after this catch and drove future porch pirates away. I loved this story.😃
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Who is going to clean up the tar though? Well that’s a thought for another day.
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You didn’t need to go to all that trouble. You just needed Lucy and Twiggy on guard duty.
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Sadly after the inital bark – a – thon it would be all licks and ear scratches. Thanks, Staci.
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Yeah, I have a dog like that, too. Good thing this was fiction.
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Yes indeed. 😁
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The temptation is strong to build such defenses. Good job with the prompt, John. Now cart those two mooks off to the hoosegow.
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Thanks, Dan. It took the cops a whole to open the bear trap. The shoes are still in the tar. 😂
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hahah
“Great! Picture day and I’m having a bad hair day!”
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Thanks GP. Bad hair on a door bell camera is not a good thing. 😂
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No sympathy for these two. At least the porch wasn’t mined.
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I think the homeowners would go that step if the tar and bear trap didn’t work.
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I wasn’t expecting porch pirates! I take it that vistors will use the back door of the home.
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I would say they earned their comeuppance after all that porch piracy.
Maybe the cops are bringing feathers to go with the tar! 😉
Creative as always, John!
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I like the feather idea, Mae. Thanks.
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All good things must come to an end. The way your brain works, frightens me… 😉
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Hahaha. I don’t mean to frighten you. There is a little bit of normal in there too. 🤪
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Hahaha! Just enough to keep you from the straightjacket 😉
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Yes. Never had the pleasure. 😂
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LOL!!
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Haha, tinnitus, good one, John!
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Thank you, Lauren.
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That’s a painful way to get caught!…lol
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Yes it is. A land mine would be worst though.
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Very true
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😊
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“I thought it was my tinnitus acting up.” 😂 Laugh out loud funny as always, John.
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Thank you, Soooz
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Lol, John! Bear traps and tar pits might be a good deterrent to porch pirates. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
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I think so, Jan. Thank you 😁
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Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?
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Very bad boys, Thanks, Pete 😁
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You have a gift. Loved it!
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Thank you, Audrey.
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You’ve been thinking about this, for ahwile, haven’t you? 🙂
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Hahaha.
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That was good, John. Tinnitus? Haha!
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[…] Ring by John W. Howell © 2021 […]
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