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.
The Sign by John W. Howell © 2021
“Okay, I see them. What is this?”
“You won’t believe it.”
“Try me.”
“It’s a photo of two full moons.”
“I get that. Why the photo of two full moons.”
“Well, it is actually a photo on one moon but taken at different times.”
“You want me to say they are lovely? Okay, they are lovely.”
“No, that’s not what I want you to say. I want you to look closely at the two moons. I took the photos so you could compare.”
“Very well. One is a little lighter, and I notice it has rotated so that the impressions are in a different place in relation to the axis.”
“Very good. Anything else?”
“Well, there is some kind of hairy thing on the lighter moon.”
“Exactly. What do you think it is?”
“I have no idea. Do you?”
“It’s a signal.”
“A signal? What kind of signal.”
“It says 73 Question mark. Look right here in the manual is the answer.”
“I can’t look over there. What does it say in the manual?”
Okay, I’ll quote. “When the sign 73 question mark is shown, rose leaves are ready to eat.”
“You’re kidding. Rose leaves are ready to eat. That’s great news.”
“I know, right. You want to see for yourself.”
“Put that damn manual away, and let’s get to the roses. But, wait, how far are they?”
“Pretty big treck. Across the wide green space and then over the mulch barrier to the bush.”
“How long will it take?”
“If we start now and go straight through, we can be there by tomorrow night. I would suggest we travel at night, though.”
“How long will that take?”
“It will be two days.”
“Do we have that kind of time, and why by night?”
“Yes, the 73 season is at least two weeks long. We need to travel by night cause that confounded Robin is still patrolling the yard. He sleeps at night.”
“Well, okay then. Let’s wait until nightfall.”
“Since we are green, we don’t have to worry about being spotted in the day.”
“Good point. It is so nice being a caterpillar.”
“Till the pupa stage.”
“Let’s not talk about that now. Let’s revel in the 73 question mark season while we can.”
Fiction Favorites 
I wouldn’t worry about the robin – the bluetits’ young have just hatched and there’s more than a dozen of them!
Great take, John. I didn’t spot the pattern there.
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Thanks, Keith. About the pattern. Since I don’t have the background I have to take a very close look at anything unusual. I know it was a tree branch but that’s not a very big story. 😁
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Thanks, John. I created the photo as a possible component for a cover image before settling on the one that you see every Sunday now.
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Thanks, Keith.
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for the share, Michael.
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You are welcome, John! Its always a great pleasure too. xx Michael
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😊
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Love it! Very thought provoking! Have a nice day, John! xx Michael
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You as well, Michael. 😁
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Dear John,
great! Well, don’t worry about Mr. Robin. He is friendly and will cause no problem even if you would go at day time.
Wishing you a great day
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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A juicy fat caterpillar may not be so lucky. Thanks, Klausbernd. 😁
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Nice one, John! Your creative juices certainly were flowing.😉
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Thank you, Jill. That was a post op post so I’m glad it came out okay. 🙄
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Ingenious once again, John.
I was thinking – “Hey there Shiny Moon, one slip of gravity and you will be toast!”
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I like that. I had a real problem initially with two moons. 😁
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Okay, you know me and full moons. Had to check this out. Great story, John.
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Hahaha, I thought about you as I wrote it. Thanks, Joan. 😊
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We all see the world differently. This is great, John.
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Thank you, Dan. 😁
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And, to GP, a big enough slip and we’re all toast 😏
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So true, Dan
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I was thinking maybe anthropomormized aphids, but catapillers are more appealing.
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Aphids would have been cool too. Thanks, Liz. 😊
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You’re welcome, John. Perhaps aphids for another adventure . . .
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Yes, let’s revisit them.
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Ah, the trials and tribulations of caterpillars. Very clever, John.
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Thank you, Staci. 😊
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Not an easy life being a caterpillar, but at least they have a manual. At first glance, I thought that strange mark on the moon was the shadow of dueling mosquitoes.
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It looked like that. I was trying to make a spider out of it too. Just didn’t come together.
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Caterpillars! I wasn’t sure what kind of creature I was going to encounter before the end. Good one, John and Happy 73 Season, LOL!
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Thank you, Mae. The story came out of a big ole caterpillar on The Producer’s rose bush. She is totally against insecticides, but not adverse to giving the caterpillar a boost to eternal life.
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LOL! 🙂
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Season 73…Now that sounds like the name of a farm-to-table restaurant for caterpillars. Good one, John. You made me chuckle. 🙂
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Next time I’ll shoot for a belly laugh or better tea through the nose. 😁
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I did not know that caterpillars did anything except eat. Eat, eat, eat. Just what is this reading manual and looking up. Can’t you see I am eating ! Okay and we dodge bird beaks. Evil bird beaks…
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The manual also cover how to camouflage oneself for sitting on a lilly.
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Actually it is rare very rare to find caterpillars on daylily plants let alone the flower. The single day nature of the bloom could be a defense against them. Still by all means read the manual. Except I am busy ea… being eaten.
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Hahaha.
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I shut my eyes and was sure I was listening to the girls try and reason something out., Good Story.
Hugs
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Thank you, David. 😊
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Outstanding, John. You really went the extra mile to get 73? out of the photo.
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Thank you, Craig. I had to find something given the two moon situation.
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Excellent creativity, John! I didn’t see that ending coming!
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If you see it coming then I haven’t done my job. 😁 Thank you, Lauren.
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Haha! Right! 🙂
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😊
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Damn, this was clever, John!
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Why thank you, Hook.
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Thoroughly enjoyed the post, John. Still chuckling over the ending. Bravo! 😁
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Thank you, Gwen, I’m gald you got a few chuckles out of it. 😁
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Lol, I couldn’t figure out where you were going with this at first. Great story!
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You knew it was headed to no place normal.😊
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I always love a good caterpillar story, John! Those rose leaves are tasty!
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I’ll bet they are. Thanks, Denise.
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Caterpillars are so pleasant, but I had no idea they were this deep as well.
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these two have advanced degrees so they are a little unusual.
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I’d say
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😊
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I wonder who wrote that manual? It really bugs me I don’t know…
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It was a commitee project sponsored by the office of critical resources. It was intended to be used to weaponize the caterpillar but then the progressive left sponsored legislation that forbade such descreate discrimination. The rest, as they say, is history.
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now we know the caterpillars secrets :))) 😬😬☝️
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At least some of their secrets. Thanks, VR. 😂
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True… bcz if we really knew we’d figure out how to become immortals :)) or become butterflies 🦋
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Good to be a butterfly.
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💜💜💜
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Well, except for the pupa part.
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Season 73 seems to be THE season. I think they best not take chances… they could look mighty juicy to a hungry robin.
Your imagination knows no bounds!
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Thank you, Dale. 😁
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🙂
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LOL!! I didn’t see caterpillars coming or the 73 question mark. Great imaginative story, John!
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Thank you, Deborah. 😊
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😀
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What an interesting interpretation! I’d have never come up with that. I do like the idea of caterpillars keeping tabs on signs in nature though.
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Yes, they are have a good handle on what’s going on.
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So zany. I knew something was up when the trek would take days. You have a great imagination, John.
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Thank you, Diana.
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A manual for caterpillars. That’s good, John.
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I think they need one. Thanks, Jennie. 😊
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You’re welcome, John.
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Hahahaha! Good one, John!
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Thank you, Resa.
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[…] The Sign by John W. Howell © 2021 […]
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