I opened a nice cold bottle of VooDoo Ranger and poured it into my chilled glass. I whistled for Twiggy and Lucy to follow me to the back patio. We all got comfy on the chaise and kicked back to enjoy the sun and the conversation of the birds. I took a sip of my brew, and something caught my eye in the deep robin’s egg blue sky. A Cessna 172 just came into sight after passing the tree line. I thought the plane was pretty low but didn’t believe there was any cause for concern since the Lakeway airport was less than a mile away.
My mind told me the plane was on a downwind leg of an approach even though he should have been about 500 feet higher. Feeling the draw of the cold, bubbly, hoppy beverage, I brought my glass to my lips while keeping an eye on the plane. To my surprise, just as the craft got overhead, the pilot’s door opened slightly, and a bright red object was jettisoned. Like many Warner Brothers cartoons, the object got bigger and bigger as its trajectory brought it closer and closer to the Earth. It became apparent the red sphere was going to impact the three of us on the chaise. I shouted to the pups to head for cover, and like all good dogs, they obeyed without question.
It was too late for me, and the sphere enveloped the upper half of my body. All I could see was red and felt the wetness that could only have been my life’s fluid splattered the length and breadth of the patio. Trying to breathe was difficult until I pulled the membrane away from my mouth. It was then I discovered I had been hit with a large water balloon. Stuck to my forehead was a soggy piece of paper with the following message. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “pin.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
If you would like to have, fun visit Linda Hill’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2021/09/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-4-2021/
Yes, Twiggy and Lucy were fine. Yes, my VooDoo Ranger needed to be replaced. Yes, there was the name ACME Balloon Works on the remnants of the balloon. No, I didn’t get the tail number of the plane.
Pin by John W. Howell © 2021
“So again, you take up half the morning with your prologue.”
“Is that what it was?”
“Well, anyway, what are you going to do with ‘pin?'”
“I thought I would talk about college romance.”
“Huh?”
“You know where boy meets girl and gives her his fraternity pin as a show of his commitment.”
“You sure they still do that?”
“No, but it was an idea. Could be a terrific story.”
“Or maybe like a pin in the eye.”
“Come on. I thought it was unique.”
“If you can pin a date, maybe this could be a nostalgia piece.”
“Didn’t you mean pinpoint a date.”
“Yeah, sure, but that wouldn’t let me use the word ‘pin.'”
“I see. You don’t want me to pin the title of spoilsport on you.”
“Yes indeed. We are really in the swing now, but don’t pin your hopes on scoring bonus points.”
“I didn’t hear anything about bonus points.”
“Yeah, forget it.”
“How about we go to the bowling alley?”
“We don’t bowl.”
“They have beer, and hundreds of things that start with a ‘p.'”
“People?”
“I wonder if the plural of pin counts?”
“Oh, I get it. Each alley has a pin times ten.”
“You are a genius.”
“Which means you are buying.”
“Gladly. I have saved my pin money.”
“We can stop now.”
“The ball is headed for the pin. This could be a hole in one.”
“We can do without the golf tournament impersonation. Whispering Joe Wilson, right?”
“That was bowling. I was thinking of Chris Schkenel.”
“Pin the tail on the donkey.”
“You said it. Not me. Let’s go before they pin us as idiots.”
“Too late.”
Fiction Favorites 
Dear John,
we really like your kind of absurd stories. It’s fun to read them. It’s a stream of consciousnes like in the end of “Ulysses” but more reductionist, well, like Hemingway writing “Finnegan’s Wake” 😉
Thanks for sharing
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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You are too kind in comparing me to classical greats. I’m just glad you enjoy the stories since I really enjoy writing them. Have a lovely weekend, Fab Four of Cley. 🤗
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Love the drop off for the prompt!
It’s of my oPINion that Linda was just trying to get your PIN number.
Nope, think we’d better stick with your story!!!!
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*Slaps forhead* I shoulda thought of pin number. Good one GP.
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Nicely played! (Big, silly grin plastered all over my face!!)
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So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know. 😁
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You’re welcome, John. 😀
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😁
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Great job, John! Obviously fiction since Lucy and Twiggy obeyed.😉Happy Saturday!
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Hahaha. You caught that, Jill. Yes, fiction for sure. Happy Saturday to you. *sung to the tune of Arizona by Mark Lindsey
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I had to Google that one!😉
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I’ll bet. 😊
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Huh. Wonder if that fraternity pin thing still happens. Don’t remember seeing it when I was in college. Maybe shirts were given.
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Yeah I wonder too. It was big when I was there but of course that was 40 years before you. 😁
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Well done, John. I guess I’ve been following a long time. I can clearly picture you, soaked to the skin on the chaise while Lucy and Twiggy are in the yard looking on.
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You have the picture completely, Dan. 😁 Go Mountaineers
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Excellent.
I’m still smiling while…
…and will probably do so for another minute.
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A minute is all I could hope for. Thanks for giving me that, Rabirus. 😊
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It’s impossible to pin down the trajectory of your Saturday challenge posts, Boss. You are the maestro of madness when it comes to these, tell you what.
Condolences on the loss of your Voodoo . . .
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Thanks, Pilgrim. At 9% ABV, a VooDoo loss is a big one. Got a replacement though. Thanks for the compliment. 😁
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It’s always good to be prepared Boss. 😉
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Darned right. Thanks, Pilgrim.
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Great intro, John. Linda sure is tough on the delivery. I think you covered all the bases in your stream. Good job!
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Thank you, Maggie. Yes Linda does make life hard. 🤣
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Nice story 😊
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Thank you, Willow.
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A real pleasure
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Delightful as always John. I was on the back patio with you.
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Sorry you got so wet. Thanks, Jill.
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😂
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Oh my, what a brilliant mind you have, John.
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*Blush* What a terrific thing to say, Robbie. Especially given your brilliance. 🤗
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Too bad you didn’t have a pin before the water balloon landed.
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Would have helped for sure, Thanks, Craig.
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You did well with this prompt! Of course your prologues are now becoming quite famous.
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Thank you, Jennie.It is one time of the week I get to write some silly stuff. 😁
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And I (we) love it!
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Aw. You are so sweet to say that. 😊
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Best intro yet, John. I can just envision the three of you ducking for cover, and of course, the girls obeyed. 🙂 Great job as always! Cheers!
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Yes, they took off while I sat there thinking I was done for. Thank you, Lauren.
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Belated “well done”, John. I enjoyed the chuckles and the images. 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. 😁
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Wow, that was quite a dramatic prologue, John. I was worried for a minute. Great use of ‘pin.’ You left me grinning. 🙂
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Thank you, Jan I’m glad you liked it. 😁
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What a great story John….. I think you have a good case for getting that pesky piolet cautioned for disturbing your peace!! 💜💜💜💜
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Yes he’s not supposedto be dropping water balloons on unsuspecting folks. Thanks, Willow.
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No he’s not who does he think he is💜
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Probably Terry Thomas in It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
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Yes very likely… Twirling his moustache, hand chuckling 😃
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😁
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Scary delievery this time, but good use of pin!
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Thank y😊u, Denise.
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I loved the prologue! Very witty, and great use of the word pin. I think you covered every saying for it. I still carry pin money…some habits are hard to break. 😀
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I wonder how much pins cost? Doesn’t seem like a lot of money.
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Yanno… I thought of you when I saw Voodoo Ranger in the fridges of DE 😉 I don’t believe I’ve seen it here, which doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist in some joint.
And your intros are getting more and more farfetched. Which is great coz that means that imagination of yours is on (pin)point 😉
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Thank you, Dale. You should have tried some VooDoo Ranger.
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I shoulda! Next time! 🙂
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Sure.
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I will.
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😊
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