I was minding my own business today when a courier rode up and asked my name. Thinking maybe it was a process server, I told him, John Doe. He mumbled something about the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, so I owned up to my name. Sure enough, it was an envelope from Linda Hill. I couldn’t wait to tear into it, and here’s what was written on the paper inside. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “to your left.” When you sit down to write your post, look to your left. What is the thing closest to you? Write about the memories that thing induces. Enjoy!
When I sat down to write my post, Twiggy’s eel toy was the nearest thing to me laying on the floor. Here is a photo of it.
Eel by John W.Howell ©2021
“You are not serious.”
“Why? What’s wrong with talking about an eel?”
“That is a dog toy, for heaven’s sake. How much history could it have?”
“Plenty.”
“Yeah, right. Why didn’t you sit down next to a 25-year-old bottle of bourbon? Now that would be history.”
“Cause I drank it 25 years ago.”
“So, what is the history about the eel?”
“Twiggy likes to play tug o’ war with it. She’ll bring it to me and want to play.”
“Oh, snore.”
“Come on. It’s cute.”
“How long has she had this eel?”
“Since she was eight weeks old?”
“So over two years.”
“Yup. An antique in dog toys.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Dog toys don’t always last. This eel has been terrific.”
“Why was it out laying on the floor.”
“So that it will be ready to play.”
“You don’t mind having dog toys laying all around the place?”
“It is very thin. Doesn’t get in the way.”
“What about appearances?”
“What do you mean?”
“People will think you are a slob.”
“I wouldn’t want to dissuade them.”
“Why doesn’t that bother you?”
“Love me, love my dogs.”
“You sound like a nut case.”
“I have twenty bucks dedicated to nothing but beer.”
“Einstein.”
Fiction Favorites 
Amazing that the toy has lasted this long. You bring up an interesting point about appearances too. People really do try to hide the effects of pets and children in a household. I don’t understand why since guests know they’re in the house and neither group is known for neatness.
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I guess people want others to believe they are neaterthan average. 😁
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All about appearances. 🤪
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True.
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You’re right about two years being antique for dog dogs, particuarly of the tug-o-war variety.
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This one seems to be eternal. Thanks, Liz.
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Perhaps Twiggy and Lucy could pick up a little extra cash doing Eel Toy endorsements?
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That is a good idea, Liz.
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😀
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haha, people can be persuaded so easily!
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Beer is a powerful motivator. Thanks, GP.
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“Cause I drank it 25 years ago.” – Best answer ever. Well, next to “love me love my dogs” and “I got twenty dollars for beer.”
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Hahaha. Thanks, Dan
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LOL! You’re in rare form this morning, John. Happy Saturday!
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Thank you Jill. Happy Saturday to you *sung to the tune of You’ll Have to Finally Decide by the Loving Spoonfull.
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long live the eel. now about that genius. did you know that is genius ?
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Nope had no idea. Woke up on morning and there was genius staring me in the face.
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Twiggy can brighten anyone’s day, well … maybe not the UPS guy. But for the reading world, she brings lots of chuckles. And who could resist a smile when finding her flat eel? Love today’s post, John. 😃
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Thank you, Gwen. The eel is her favorite I think. It gets round treatment everyday.
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Wow. Two years is ancient! Zeke was not a toy kinda dog. The few he had way back when were made of plastic. What’s plastic made of? Oil. What does oil do once it’s gone through a dog’s digestive system? Turns to tar. Oh, sorry, Mick, here’s a scraper, gotta go to work! (I know, mean of me, but it was true…)
Keeping up appearances is too exhausting for me. Bless this mess.
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Yes, agreed. Love me love my mess.
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‘Lady Gray’ has a chargeable ‘bass’ with which to play – but she doesn’t go near it…all she wants is ‘Temptations’ and to be very lazy…she’s actually in the the right environment…
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I’ve seen those bass. So they don’t temp sa they appear. 😁
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I understand completely. My living room looks like a field of bones. (Nylabones)
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Lovely to step on too.
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Dangerous on this hard surface flooring.
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You could do an old two reeler a la Laurel and Hardy with one of those slips
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That is a long time for a dog toy to survive! Ours barely make a day:)
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We have the same problem, Denise. Hahaha.
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As a lifelong dog owner, I’d be happy with any toy that lasted two months, let alone two years. We’re on a first name basis with everyone in Petco.
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I understand, Pete. For the most part, we have the same experience. This toy is super strong.
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Directly to my left is a wrought Iron, wall mounted candle sconce, the design is Celtic arched at the top with swirling patterns of intertwining herons,snakes and Celtic knots above two curved dishes, which hold two large cream candles. Sadly those candles, wide still at the base have burned often as I sit writing on dark winters nights and so have become squat and ruffled only a couple of inches above the dishes. There is a matching set further back into the room and just in front of the window but I cannot see them from where I sit facing the screen.
I often sit here on dark winter’s nights on my black fake leather computer chair facing my black desk and black keyboard writing dark tales with only the candles in the sconces to see by. The flickering light, the wind howling and the north Atlantic ocean thundering in distance. I rarely turn to see the roughly chalked pentacle on the floor behind me or the salt heaped at each pinnacle, I am not sure that I wish to see what is taking shape in the centre. Rather, I stand, forcing myself to ignore the rude and demented noises behind me and walk to each of the candle sconces blowing each out, the smoke, paraffin and stench from the circle rancid. Closing the door to the nice I walk the short hallway to my bedroom and there weep.
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I would have to turn around to see what’s going on. 😁
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Lol, John. Another good one. There is nothing better than a two-year-old antique dog toy. 🙂
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Thanks, Jan.
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I like that “love me love my dogs”, I’m like that about my cats. Sorry, about the cat hair [grin].
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When we had cats, people would say they were allergic. I would say, “Best to go somewhere else then.”
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Hehe!
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Very cute, John, and dog toys like that eel don’t last with my T-Rex of a chewer. 🙂
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I know. Twiggy normally pulls certain toys apart but not eel.
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🤣
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I loved your Twiggy’s eel story. I dog sat for a friend and found a great toy hidden away in a box where the dog food was kept. I got it out and Velma went crazy for it. I thought great I’ve found her favourite toy. An hour later I realised why it was hidden and not out in the open she was none stop wanting me to play tug of war with her with it and it was noisy!
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Yes, playing tug of war with a dog is an endless game for sure. I have learned to outlast Twiggy. Thanks for sharing, Charlotte.
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I bet if you still had that bottle of bourbon, drank it, and then looked at that eel toy, it would have been dancing for you. 🙂
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No doubt afer a bottle it would.
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