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.combefore 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.
First Time by John W. Howell © 2021
“Okay, everyone, the pilot says we are near the jump zone. Any questions before we go out the doorway? Yes, Higgens.”
“Well, sir, I thought we would see the ground before jumping.”
“Normally that’s true, Higgens. This cloud deck is over most of the land, so we’ll just jump through it.”
“And we are sure the land is down there?”
“Yes, we are sure.”
“How do we know?”
“Look, Higgens, I don’t have all day. This plane has all-weather radar. The pilot can see through the clouds.”
“So there is no city with tall buildings below?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“I would hate to be caught on one of those gargoyles on a building.”
“There are no tall buildings.”
“Swamps?”
“No.”
“Thank you, sir. Just had to be certain. Oh, one more thing. How do we know we aren’t flying upside down and the ground is above us?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Stranger things have happened.”
“I am sure. Any other questions? Yes, Higgens.”
“How far up are we?”
“Ten thousand feet.”
“Plenty of room.”
“So unless there are any more questions, everyone stand. Hook up and keep your eye out for the green light.”
“Sir?”
“Yes, Higgens.”
“I have to use the restroom.”
“By all means. Please step to the front of the line. I know you are in a hurry so if you don’t mind, you’ll be first. Hook up.”
“But.”
“Ah green light. Bye, Higgens.”
Fiction Favorites 
At least Higgins was given a parachute. Get the sense that the others considered giving him a backpack full of laundry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. I think the head guy was thinking that too.
LikeLike
LOL! That´s a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Darlene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just don’t look down . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very practical, Liz.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
Interesting take, John. Once again, you’ve outdone me on inventiveness. BTW: A skydiver was once asked why he would want to jump out of a perfectly good plane. His reply? Show me a perfectly good plane and I won’t jump out of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a darned good point, Keith. Murphy’s law covers the reliability of mechanical devices.(fail in direct proportion to the need to keep running) At least with a lawnmower you aren’t falling at the rate of 32 feet per second.
LikeLiked by 1 person
By the same token, John, I lost count of the number of times I hit one of my trees with my Snapper ride-on in France. Slightest bit of damp on the grass and the damned thing had all the cornering ability of one of Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class cruise ships.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In college I worked for a nursery. I was mowing a huge lawn the ended at a lake. That day for some reason the mower (big Locke 3 reel walk behind) started slipping sideways and went over a retained lip and sank in the lake. The boss was less than happy. That thing weighed hundreds of pounds and there was no way to bring any equipment on the lawn to hoist it out. Finally six guys managed to get it out. I made it a point not to do anything wrong for the rest of the season.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel for you. I had a motorised scythe mower (I think that’s what it was called – I knew it as a motofaucheuse) that I used to hack away at the nettles and brambles that regularly overran the banks of our run-off pond. I came close to losing it over the side on a number of occasions!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sooo. Did Higgens go “Wheeee” or wee? 😂🤣😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
All the way home, I’m sure. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOLOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
God one, John. I’m sure everything came out ok for Higgens.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it did, Dan. He wasn’t the one who went through the barn roof.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😏
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Close your eyes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And cover your ears.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Higgins! I think I would be with him though, trying any means possible to avoid that jump.
Fun story, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mae. Me too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buahahaha!
The nearest restroom is ten thousand feet down and to the right.
And yanno, that is a question I would have asked. Are we absolutely CERTAIN there is land below those clouds?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right? You could also look at it as 10,000 feet of restroom. Thanks, Marc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! That IS more like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
When I was a kid, I’d think about how much fun it would be to dive into the clouds. Now I’m with Higgins. 😊 Great dialogue, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. 😁
LikeLike
I always thought I’d skydive someday, but now it would probably be through a character. Good one John, that’s one way to find a barhroom lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Denise. It is a sure way I’m thinking.
LikeLike
So happy for Higgins! Relief is so satisfying! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right.
LikeLike
Oh my!! I’m laughing out loud at this one. Poor Higgins. Sure hope all ended well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. He fell into a pond which covered up his other indiscretion.
LikeLike
Something tells me after that first step he no longer needed the restroom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he had the whole wide world at his disposal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bathroom at 10,000 feet – that should be the title! haha And here I was thinking of going out for a walk on the whipped cream highway. (Oh dear, I do think I’m ready for the gentlemen in white coats and the lollipop guild!!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. I think you are moving toward the romantic in you. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Whoa! I didn’t think I had any of that left!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look deep into the heart. You have a big one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, now look what you went and did – me blushing. You can’t tell anybody!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your secret is safe with me. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with Higgins, no gargoyles up my parachute, thank you very much! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. Thanks, Jacquie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many answers and so little time. Poor Higgins. He will be remembered first after this jump.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thin so. His nickname will be yellow stream.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great one, John. I don’t think I could jump into clouds. And poor Higgens. He thought he had a good last stall tactic…
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least he won’t be worring about a restroom now. Thanks, Barbara.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Poor Higgins. Guess he learned pretty fast that it doesn’t pay to stall by demanding a bathroom break. Hmm, wonder if I could transfer that knowledge to Monkey?? Nah, probably not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nah. Monkey just needs to get older.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s trying … just not fast enough to suit his mama!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. I can imagine. The key to puppy training is mama training.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
OMG! I have a feeling Higgins won’t need a restroom once he touches ground. 🙂 Great one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. Hopefully he will land in some water as a cover. Thanks, Lauren.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with Higgins. How do you know what’s down there? It could be fake land.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those clouds could be cement too. Thanks, Goeff.
LikeLike
I can honestly say I don’t blame Higgins one bit! If I can’t see, I ain’t jumping!
Something tells me Higgins will be humid before he lands….
Too funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you will be right. Hopefully there is a nice pond that he can drop into.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buahaha! Then he won’t be embarrassed should….
LikeLike
Poor Higgins!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right. Hope he lands in a pond. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] First Time by John W. Howell © 2021 […]
LikeLike
My thought is that Higgens no longer needed the restroom when he landed. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nope and hopefully he landed in a pond.
LikeLiked by 1 person