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.
Warning by John W. Howell © 2021
“What’s up?”
“I need you to get into the tower and report what you see.”
“Report what I see? Is there anything special out there?”
“You must be kidding me.”
“Why?”
“Does the red sky look normal to you?”
“Red sky at night, sailors delight.”
“We are not on the sea, you idiot. Something is going on, and I need to report it up the chain if it’s significant.”
“Well, okay then. No use getting your tutu twisted. I’m going.”
“Call me on the radio when you get there.”
“Roger Dodger. You old codger.”
“None of your tricks either.”
*
“Hey, captain, come in.”
“I read you. corporal. You there?”
“You said to call when I got in the tower.”
“Yes, yes. What do you see?”
“Well, there is a big old desert out there.”
“I know that. What about the red.”
“It is actually more of an orangeish red.”
“WHO CARES ABOUT THE COLOR. WHAT IS CAUSING IT?”
“Sheesh. Let me scan the area. Uh-huh. Yup. That’s it.
“Okay, enough. What is it?”
“It is a dust cloud.”
“Okay, what is causing it?”
“As far as I can tell, I think it is a stampede.”
“A stampede? Cows?”
“No.”
“Horses then?”
“You won’t believe this.”
“Try me.”
“Gophers.”
“Gophers?”
“Headed this way.”
“What the hell?”
“I told you not to use that Gopher Gas.”
“How else would we get rid of them?”
“Negotiation maybe. There must be a million of them.”
“What are we going to do?”
“We? I’m the one who said we should be kinder. I think they are going to want to talk to you. You should know, some of my best friends are Gophers.”
“Well, that’s just swell.”
“The dust makes a beautiful sunset. Maybe you should come up here.”
“And be with a Gopher lover. No thanks.”
“Suit yourself. Those little feet are going to add up.”
“What do you mean?”
“When they run over you.”
“You are really strange. You know that?”
“Coming from someone who hates Gophers.”
“I don’t hate Gophers; I just see no need to live with them.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. Over and out.”
Fiction Favorites 
I was ready for camels, maybe even goats – but gophers? Those little guys could dig a man’s grave underneath him then drop him into it before he had any idea what was happening!
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We had them when we lived on the coast. Very annoying. Thanks, Keith. 😊
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PS. I’ve never seen a gopher I didn’t take a shine to.
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They can be cute for sure.
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PPS. I’ve never seen a gopher.
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Hahahaha 🤣
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That has to be terrifying. Just thousands of large toothed rodents barreling down on you.
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With revenge in mind. 😁
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Ha ha ha! Nobody expects a gopher stampede!!
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Gotta wonder what started it?
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I can’t begin to imagine what would cause a gopher stampede. Now, if it were woodchuck, it’s likely the stampede would be caused by the ripening of garden produce.
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Hahaha. I think someone yelled “peanut.”
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😀
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Go gophers! Great job on the prompt, John.
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Thank you, Dan. 😁
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LOL! Good one, John! “Roger Dodger. You old codger.” LOL!
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Thanks, Jill.
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A fun — and potentially frightening! — story. Look out for all those gophers!
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Get on a chair or something. Thanks, Dave.
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Never assault nature.
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So true. Thanks, Craig.
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“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. Over and out.” OMG. John, your endings are always on point. You really should write a collection of shorts.
Nicely done.
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Thank you, Staci. Been thinking hard on what I should write so thank you for the suggestion.
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Way to go, John! You do know how to take us by surprise!!
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Thank you, GP. I love doing that. 😁
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Gnaw the gopher apocalypses. No one will ever go in the corn maze again ! Honey get out the John Deere and we will plow them under…
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Wait. You do know that corn makes a delightful beverage don’t you?
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Perfect accompaniment to my morning coffee, John. I love the way your mind works,
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Gophers?!?!? OMG, John. Just the image of a gopher stampede has me silly laughing. Loved it!
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Well done, John. The idea of a stampede of gophers brings a rather twisted grin to my face. What the heck, twisted isn’t all bad. 🙂
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A gopher stampede?? Golly, thanks, John, for giving me something new to worry about! That’s one I’d never considered. The thought of those tiny feet stomping all over is the stuff of science fiction.
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Good one, John! We had gophers the last two years and they were persistent. But now they’ve moved on, or so it seems. I can just envision a gopher stampede. 🙂
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This was hilarious, John, as always! Growing up on a farm, I’ve got plenty of gopher stories, but a stampede — that’s Biblical for sure. Have a delightful day, my friend. I know I will with the image of these rodents rushing towards the imaginary city. 😂
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Nature’s revenge! Too funny, John!
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Good one, John 🙂 I can picture this stampede.
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I’m rooting for the gophers! (Yep, I went there. *laugh*)
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Hahaha. Somebody had to go there. Go Gophers.
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Oh my goodness!
I have a gopher who thinks it owns the place. I’ll be sitting on the deck, reading a book and all of a sudden I hear what sounds like an elephant running across. Needless to say, it’s a tad “plump” and did not learn to run on its toes…
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Hahaha. That sounds pretty funny, Dale.
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Thumpity, thump, thump! 😉
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😁
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😀
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Gophers aren’t so bad. I hear they will bring coffee orders, custom!
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We need to harness that power.
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I’m not fussy. I’ll drink it black if need be.
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Yes indeed.
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Sounds like my backyard. I’ve got a ton of gophers creating chaos. Good job, John!
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They can be disruptive for sure. Thanks, Pete
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For further advice, please watch Caddy Shack.
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Good idea. Thanks, Mark
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This was so funny, John!
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Pick up your feet Jennie. They are headed your way.
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Haha! 😳
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Death by gophers. Doesn’t sound pleasant.:-) Good response to the prompt!
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Great response to the prompt, John! I’ll be remembering some of your lines and laughing for a long while (favorite: “No use getting your tutu twisted.” Snort.).
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Thank you, Maria. 😁
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What a great little story, John! A comical surprise! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
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Thank you, Mar.
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[…] Warning by John W. Howell © 2021 […]
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