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.
The Job by John W. Howell © 2021
“Would you look at that.”
“What the mess?”
“No, the dog.”
“What about him.”
“He’s sound asleep there.”
“Yeah, so what?”
“I hired him to empty all those boxes.”
“Well obviously he is not doing the job you hired him to do.”
“That’s obvious.”
“How much are you paying him?”
“$14.00 an hour.”
“Doesn’t seem like you are getting your money’s worth.”
“No kidding. What should I do?”
“Why don’t you hire him to sleep? I think you can get him at a cheaper rate.”
“I guess it’s my fault in the end.”
“Why’s that?”
“I should never have hired a dog to do a man’s work.”
“You open to being a little more broad minded?”
“What do you mean?”
“You said ‘man’s work.'”
“Yeah,so what?”
“Could a woman do the same work?”
“Sure.”
“You still paying $14.00 an hour?”
“I would like to, yes.”
“You just found the dog’s replacement. When can I start?”
“How about now?”
“Can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Need a nap.”
“Off the clock?”
“What are you paying the dog?”
“haven’t decided yet.”
“When you do I’ll nap at the same price. See ya.”
Fiction Favorites 
smart haha… ah, what a perfect job!! 😂
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Thank you, VR. On the border of absurdist. 😁
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Yes 👏👋😁
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😁 You are a good teacher.
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Lol! It’s hard to find good help these days!😉
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For sure. Thanks, Jill. 😊
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Ha ha! I’d love to get paid $14 an hour to nap.
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It would be a sweet job for sure. Thanks, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John. 🙂
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He lost that one pretty badly.
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Yes indeed. 😁
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So funny. 😁 I love the last line! Have a great day, John.
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Thank you, Gwen. Have a great one yourself. 😊
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Good job,John. I’ll sleep for 10% less than the dog.
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Hahaha. I think I have a bidding war ready to start. Thanks, Dan. The dog just went 5% under you.
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Pretty soon I’ll be paying you 😏
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🤣
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I’d get love to make $14/hr to nap, but I feel like I haven’t napped since my son was a baby (and that was almost 23 years ago), so I guess I wouldn’t be qualified to apply for the job. The dog looks like he has it down, though. Fun take on the prompt, John.
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We could hire you as an intern and pay you half of the going rate for napping. Then when you get experience, you can go to the full-time rate. 😁
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Good negotiating skills, too! I’ll have to dig out my T-shirt – “iRetired – there’s a nap for that.”
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I like it. Could use one of those too. Thanks, Keith.
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And that’s a smart woman, LOL!
Lots of fun today, John!
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Thank you, Mae. 😁
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You never fail to get a giggle or a snort and giggle or outright laugh.
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Let’s hope someday I’ll get all of them. Thanks, Dale. Loved your comment. 🤗
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Haha! You have, over the course of the years. Sometimes, all for the same 😉
Glad you did. 🤗 😘
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😁
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Paid to do nothing. Gee that never happens…
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I would love to get paid to nap! Good one, John:)
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Would be a great job for sure.
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Sounds like a good job … where do I apply?? Thanks for a giggle, John!
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You are already in the candidate pool.
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Getting paid to sleep- my kind of job, lol
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Mine too. 😁
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Great John!
I thought the dog would be thinking, “Gee, I thought the treats were here somewhere, umpf!!
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Yes a good one.
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Good help is hard to find. At least he didn’t shred it all.
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That is true, Craig. Thanks
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Getting paid to sleep? Sounds like a Congressional gig to me . . .
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🤣
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Lots of people want that job. Very creative, John!
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It’s a good job for sure
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One of your best yet, John. I’m laughing out loud. Those boxes are never going to get unpacked. 🙂
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Not in this lifetime anyway. Thanks, Jan
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LOL!! I’d take that job…of napping! 😂
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Already have 5,283 applicants. We’ll put you in there.
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LOL!! 🤣🤣🤣
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🤣
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What a great job! Thanks for the chuckles, John!
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My pleasure, Lauren.
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It looks like the dog did part of the job, John, before he got tuckered out. That’s what happens to my husband too. Lol. Better hire a woman to finish up. 😀
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Hahahaha. Good one, Diana.
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Haha!
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I saw through my half closed blinds.
The bastards, the absolute fucking bastards. Who would do that to a dog? A bloody Golden Labrador as well, the most docile, the friendliest of beasts.
Darla is small, stooped, a genetic gift from her long fled father. The kindest of girls, thoughtful, considerate, friendly, even to those not deserving of her charm but in this moment she is wrath and hate.
Darla called the Labrador; May, as may brought the spring into her world. May is cold and still.
Darla is burning with hate as she sees the jump cables coiled by the case she left for May and her to go on holiday for the first time.The intruder must have used them upon May.
Quietly Darla reconnects the terminals to the battery she bought to provide light and heat for May and her when out in the wilds. Darla brushes the two uncovered wires together, she elicits a spark. The sharp intake of breath uttered in her surprise draws the “Bastard” who rushing in from the hall is met by a small stooped girl holding two bare wires trying to recharge a battery. Big and strong, she small and stooped, rushes into the bare wires.
240 volts is not that strong, rarely a killer but that kind of shock would halt a grizzly Bear.
“Bastard” woke with Darla straddling him holding two live wires aloft. I closed my blinds frightened of what I may see.
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What a story. Thanks for sharing it, Ray.
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[…] The Job by John W. Howell © 2021 […]
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