I was relaxing around the abode when my attention was drawn to the front door. Twiggy was just beginning her famous St. Louis bark, so I knew someone was approaching the house. Grabbing my Ring app, I took a look and was astonished to see what looked like a rhinoceros standing in the driveway. I made no move to open the door since I wasn’t sure what the rhinoceros was doing there. Just as I was getting ready to phone the police, the doorbell rang. Now you have to understand, the doorbell is just below a sign that says, “Please don’t ring the doorbell.” Twiggy is now apoplectic and is convinced that the aliens have landed and need to be barked to a more rural area like St Louis. Checking the app again, I see the person is dressed like a FedEx delivery employee. I ask what they want through the speaker, and the response is to the effect that the package requires a signature.
I sigh and pick up Twiggy, who now resembles the Tasmanian Devil in Warner Brother cartoons. I open the door and see the package and a clipboard. I quickly sign the clipboard and take the package while there is still some semblance of a shirt on my back. After I shut the door, I ask through the speaker about the rhinoceros, and the delivery person tells me it takes your pet to work day at FedEx. “How cute,” I respond. I put Twiggy on the floor and contemplate the package. Twiggy finally stops barking, and I see that the rhinoceros and the delivery person are gone. I open the package and find a motherload of lifesaver candies and a note. The note reads.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ode.” Find a one- or two-syllable word that rhymes with “ode,” or use the word “ode.” Have fun!
If you would like to have, fun visit Linda Hill’s blog and find out how easy it is. Here is the link.
https://lindaghill.com/2021/08/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-21-2021/
Ode by John W. Howell © 2021
“And now you tell me Billy Joe McAlister’s jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge.”
“Okay, what’s up.”
“Nothing.”
“You were singing Ode to Billy Joe.”
“Yeah, I needed you to say that so I could score on the prompt.”
“Billy Joe is the prompt?”
“No, dummkopf. It’s ‘ode.’ We get to use the word or a one or two-syllable word that rhymes.”
“Oh well then. That is easy. One syllable is ‘mowed.'”
“Okay, that’s good. How about ‘owed’?”
“Yeah, that works. Try ‘shload.'”
“‘Shload’? What the heck is ‘shload’?”
It’s a combo of two words. Means a big load.”
“I get the load part. What is the sh…..Okay, I get it.”
“How about two syllables?”
“‘Bifold’?”
“Seems to work. I have one. ‘Ice cold'”
“That’s two words, not two syllables.”
“Well, still seems to be right. Like Ice cold beer.”
“Why do we always get to a pub ending here?”
“That’s where you are wrong.”
“How so.”
“I have a cooler right here.”
“I shoulda knowed.”
“That doesn’t work.”
“For me, it does. Pop one of those. Our job is done here.”
“And the beer flowed.”
“Stop.”
Fiction Favorites 
I love the intro! What a scene!! 😀 😀 😀
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Thanks Liz. It was a bit noisy for sure. 😁
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Twiggy’s bark is high-pitched?
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No it gets into the brain like an auger. You want to confess to anything.
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Ah. There is a certain pitch that children’s screaming gets that does that same auger-like drilling into my brain.
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I know that sound.
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I don’t get the delivery option. Surely it’d be a load cheaper for Linda to upload it and for you to download. Of course, it depends on the payload the carrier has for your postcode. Stopping now, before the workload makes the diode in my brain implode. Aaaargh. Too late!
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I see how it is. I hope there was no permanent overload. 😊
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Could be – my legs are bowed now!
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😁
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I hope you’re saving all those intros to the prompt! Who wakes up one day and thinks of a FedEx driver bringing his pet to work? Sorry dear friend, but I liked the intro better than the story. (Jeez – I hope this comment doesn’t affect my brunch on the bus tomorrow!!)
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You are okay, GP. I liked the intro better too. 🤣
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I’m jealous, John. My prompts just come in gMail 😦
Great job with the prompt. That song will be stuck in my head for a while. Maybe I’ll look for that cooler and wash is out.
Have a great weekend.
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Good idea on the cooler. Yes gmail is not as exciting for sure.
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Great job, John! I loved the intro! Happy Saturday!
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Thank you, Jill. 😁
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Happy Saturday to you *sung to the tune of Jennifer Juniper by Donavan
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[…] Cheryl. Give the ol… David a John Howell’s Special and I will have my […]
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Shload. Gotta remember that one.
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Hahahaha. It comes in handy. 😁
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A rhinoceros! Really? Very funny image. I guess we are both of an age where a lobe in our brains needs to recode.
That is my best effort with the “ode” prompt. Now, I will visit Linda Hill’s site.
Thank you, John, for a fun mind teaser this Saturday morning.
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Thank you, Karen. Reload is a good one. 😁
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This poked at me in a nice way, definitely brought a smile. Good goad. 🙂
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Hahaha. I’m glad. Great to travel the smile road. 😊
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Twiggy is the best – always alert to any danger or an opportunity to strut her stuff. A wonderful intro with a fun story to follow. Have a great weekend, John, free of any doorbell-ringing delivery man. 😃
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Have a great weekend as well, Gwen. Thanks for the lovely comment. 😊
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Well done, John. A very enjoyable read.
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Thank you, Maggie. 😊
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You are welcome.
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😊
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`I’m not sure what’s objectionable about Shopload, I’m sure I use it all the time.
Hugs
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Yes indeed. Mine is shitload. (but of course you knew that) 🤣
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I love the word “shload.” I knew what it meant right away and it’s a great way to swear and not swear at the same time. Nice one, John!
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Yes it is a good one for sure. 😁 Thanks, Mary
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I am glad that the rhinoceros did not react to the door bell like Twiggy. Though the visual of the FedEx guy with the package under one arm and the pet rhino clipboard dangling from its horn all tucked under the other arm is one I will cherish all day. Ahh it is beer o’clock. Gotta go. If only I could remember the first three bars of Ode to a Cold One…
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🎼A cold one calls my name
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I wonder what the upkeep is on a rhino? The dude is probably working overtime . . a LOT of overtime. There’s another ode in there somewhere, huh?
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Just think of the grass (non smokable) bill. Who Ha. Thanks, Marc. Now get on vacation.
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I’m outta here! See you on the flip side, Boss. 😉
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😊
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Another great delivery 🙂 I haven’t had a lifesaver in years. Good song too.
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Hahaha. Thanks, Denise.
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Haha, “no dummkopf, it’s ode” brought the giggles. Happy Saturday John!
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I’m glad, Jill.
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The intro was fun, but I liked your response, too. I can totally picture the banter at the counter in the pub. : )
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Thank you, Cathleen.
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Haha to “shload”—seems like that word is coming back in style these days with all of the craziness in the world.
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You are so right. Thanks, Pete
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The FedEx delivery guy with the rhino had me chuckling out loud, John. Great use of the prompt. Love the shload! 🙂
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Thank you, Jan. 😊
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“Knowed?” Yep, that needs a little massaging. Loved this, John, and loved “shload” too! 🙂
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Thanks, Lauren. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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I think you should get extra credit this time. Maybe an extra lug nut for the Bentley.
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Seems like a great idea. Those lug nuts are no cheap. Thanks, Craig.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for sharing, Michael.
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Gosh! What an intro. Lol I never would have believed before, that Twiggy would acting like a Tasmanian devil. :-)) Thanks for sharing your participation on the SoCS too, John! xx Michael
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Thank you, Michael.
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A rhino on bring your pet to work day. Of course! And Twiggy as the TD. Of course! John, I don’t know when I’ve laughed so hard. Your openers are the best!
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Thank you, Jennie. I’m liking doing them.
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And I’m liking reading them! I think I can speak for your followers. 🙂 Thank goodness you are liking doing them. I feel a party coming on…
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Hahahaha. Thanks
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You’re welcome!
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Well done with the prompt, John. Twiggy the Tasmanian devil would be a site to behold.
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Just let the UPS driver near the house and there it is.
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