Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Lid

Stream of Consciousness

Being a lovely Saturday morning, I decided to motor to the local Starbucks for an overpriced coffee and blueberry scone. Arriving at the drive-through, I quickly calculated and figured I would be in line for thirty minutes. Heaving a big sigh, I pulled around to the parking area, grabbed my mask, and headed inside.

There was another line, but it was moving quickly. When my turn came, I ordered a Grande with room for cream and a blueberry scone. “All out of blueberry scones.” I thought a cheeky reply from the mixed purple and green-haired barista. I said to make it a plain scone then and was informed that it was also sold out. “What do you have?” She/her told me that they have everything else. By now, I had lost the desire for a scone and decided I would just get the coffee.

“John,” someone called. My coffee was sitting on the counter, and beside it was a blueberry scone. Not wanting to challenge fate, I took both and went to the service counter. I pulled the lid from the coffee and added some half and half. I sensed the shadow of a big guy pulling up behind me, so I made quick work of the stirring and turned to leave.

“You have my scone,” he said. His voice was so low and quiet I didn’t fully understand what he said. “My scone.” He surprised me with a louder voice. I suddenly understood that to continue to not understand might earn me a knuckle sandwich. I told him I was sorry and handed him the scone. He smiled and asked if I was John, who did a blog. I told him I was and he gave me an envelope. It seems he followed me to Starbucks for the purpose of delivery. He told me his name was Dog, the Prompt Deliverer.

I opened the envelope and read Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “lid.” Use it in the literal sense, use it in the metaphorical sense, use it any way you’d like. Have fun! While I was reading, Dog walked out the front door.\

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/2021/10/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-october-9-2021/

Lid by John W. Howell © 2021

‘Put a lid on it.”

“Huh?”

“I want to use today’s prompt metaphorically.”

“Who you telling to put a lid on it and why.”

“I was rehearsing for my meeting with the POA.”

“Uh oh. What did you do?”

“Nothing. Well, I put up a sign protesting the dues increase.”

“And they told you to take it down?”

“They took it down.”

“Can they do that?”

“Yes.”

“So, what’s the point.”

Not sure. I just want to air my grievance.”

“Then what?”

“I’ll pay the dues.”

“But you will have been able to tell them they need to put a lid on more increases.”

“Not exactly. By ‘put a lid on it,’ I mean for them to shut the hell up.”

“Oh. I think it’s going to be a short meeting.”

“Maybe a visit to the pub might be more productive.”

“You think?”

“Let’s go.”

 

76 comments

    1. Thank you for sharing, Michael.

      Liked by 2 people

  1. Wonderful entertaining, John! Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your weekend! xx Michael

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Michael. You as well.

      Liked by 2 people

  2. […] “Um, that was for John Howell, so…” […]

    Liked by 1 person

  3. In this situation, I see no other choice but to hit the pub. Good one, John! Happy Saturday!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thanks, Jill. Happy Saturday to you * sung to the tune of Take a Chance by ABBA

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Good thing you hadn’t nibbled on Dog’s scone, John. I’d hate to read about you being taken out of Starbucks in a wheelchair. Nice job with the prompt. There are many people who could use the advice – “put a lid on it/“. I hope you have a nice weekend, coffee, muffins, etc. If the pastries are slim pickins’ head for the bar. Order some stuffed mushrooms.

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Thanks, Dan. I’ll see you there shortly. Love stuffed mushrooms. 😋

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Dog the Prompt Deliverer??? He needs to put a lid on that dreadful bleached mullet, as in wear a hat.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hahaha. You got the visual. Thanks, Liz. 😁

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You’re welcome, John. (The visual was horrifying.)

        Liked by 3 people

  6. Nice one. You don’t hear ‘put a lid on it’ as much as you used to. Maybe it should make a comeback.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I think so too. Thanks, Charles.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Good thing he was a dog, not a weasel. You wouldn’t want your prompt delivered by a mustelid, would you?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Most bounty hunter types are weasels so maybe there is no choice. Thanks, Keith.

      Liked by 2 people

  8. A visit to the pub is always beneficial! As a former bartender, I’ve heard many a world problem solved over a cocktail!! 🧐🤣

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Yes indeed. I was a bar tender as well. I worked in a place in Illinois part-time on Saturdays and Sundays for extra money. This was a rural town and about as wild a place as you could find. As a hint, there was a .357 in a holster behind the bar.

      Liked by 2 people

  9. Gwen M. Plano · ·

    No blueberry scone? That IS a bummer. I loved your dialogue, John. Challenging the HOA can be a bit dangerous, at least without a supportive crowd echoing your concerns. You solved that dilemma perfectly. 😃 Have a great weekend.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Gwen. Have a great weekend too.

      Liked by 2 people

  10. Ha! I visited a local coffee shop last month with the intent to order a chai latte and something to eat. When I walked up to the counter, the bakery case was empty and there was a sign that said the kitchen was closed. No blueberry muffins or avocado toast. So, I left and went elsewhere. Thank goodness the prompt deliverer guy wasn’t there looking for his scone because he would have ripped the place apart in frustration.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Good for you on going somewhere else. Yeah Dog the Prompt Deliverer doesn’t take scone rustling lightly.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Well it could have been worse. You could have been served a summons instead of a reminder. Dog does that too in his spare time. Perhaps the lack of scones is a good omen. Perhaps it is a sign to put a lid on the second coffee and proceed to three fingers. Noon be damned. Are blue berries a suitable substitute for cherries ?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Cherries???? Near Willett??? No way

      Liked by 2 people

  12. I have no idea how you do it but each week tops the last which is already pretty awesome. Dog the prompt deliverer will go down in #SoCS history I tell ya what! Thanks for the laugh. You made my day John!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Jill. 😁

      Liked by 2 people

  13. That was just mean to put a blueberry scone next to your coffee like that. I’m thinking the pub is the place to go… Plus, it is Saturday! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    1. That was mean. Oh well the beer is good.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. At least 😉

        Liked by 3 people

  14. I’ll drink to that! LOL!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hahaha. Thanks, Susie.

      Liked by 2 people

  15. You definitely need to eat something if you are going to hit the pub! Lol

    Liked by 3 people

    1. So true but there is always pork rinds and pickled eggs once I get there.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. ah, pork rinds…chicharones!

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Viva los chicharones.

        Liked by 2 people

  16. Have to be careful with that line around here. It stands for Limited Improvement District and means higher local taxes. I’m sure the powers would love to be told to put a lid on it.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hahaha. We have told our tax guys to put a lid on it several times.

      Liked by 2 people

  17. Love the Starbucks scene, John! Dog, the Prompt Deliverer cheated you out of a perfectly good Blueberry scone. 🙂 Great use of the prompt, and I agree. I think you’d be better off going to the pub.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hahaha. Thanks, Jan.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. You win the prize for best SoCS intro. I laughed out loud. Sorry about the scone. I always go for the cinnamon roll – no one else likes them so there is no competitIon.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Good strategy, Maggie.

      Liked by 2 people

  19. I actually got so caught up in your intro I forgot it was SOCS. I got a surprise when the knuckle sandwich guy turned out to be a delivery man. This sounds like a BOTS (based on a true story) – the bit about the sign I mean [smile].

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I never did have any trouble with the POA so this was all fiction. Thanks, Robbie.

      Liked by 2 people

  20. You’d think Dog could have split the scone with you…

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I di too, John. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Lololololol!!
    Do they serve wine at your beer bar?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Of course. Big ole glasses.

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Can you get scones at the beer bar?

    Liked by 3 people

    1. No. Pretzels maybe.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes, those pretzels make you thirsty 😉

        Liked by 2 people

  23. Too bad about the blueberry scone, John.

    Liked by 2 people

  24. D.L. Finn, Author · ·

    You almost got your scone 🙂 Another fun challenge!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Denise. 😊

      Liked by 2 people

  25. Your Starbucks in The US sound more exciting than ours….let’s give it a miss and visit the pub… Quickly before Dog blows his Iid 💜

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I went into a starbucks in Edinburgh and was totally disappointed. It was very weak coffee

      Liked by 1 person

      1. No not as good as in the states!!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Gotta wonder why?

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Possibly the staff are not as good, maybe not the same ethic. Because our really good coffee shops are independents, they are more popular here than chains .

        Liked by 2 people

      4. I believe that. Starbucks was the first to crack the code on rich, full bodied coffee.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I love quirky quaint places. Starbucks are all the same, please believe me that is not a criticism 💜

        Liked by 1 person

      6. You can criticize Starbucks all you want. I dislike the place. I have my own espresso maker and have no need to go back to the snotty, arrogant help there.

        Like

      7. Excellent me too 💜💜

        Liked by 2 people

  26. Great job on the prompt, John, but sorry about that blueberry scone. Although, the pub sounds like a good solution.

    Liked by 2 people

  27. A visit to the pub is never NOT productive.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. You are so right. 😁

      Liked by 2 people