Trying to concentrate on a paragraph revision of the revision that was just revised, it came to me that my mind was preoccupied with that chest sticking out of the turf in the backyard. Leaving the keyboard, I wandered over to the window just to check and make sure the chest was still there. Reaching in my pocket, I pulled the shiny key and was surprised at how warm it felt. Looking into my palm, the slight glow of the key caused me to drop it.
Picking it back up, it left what could be described as a burn mark on the floor. Making a mental note to figure out how to explain that, I headed to the yard. Approaching the chest caused the key to vibrate, confirming my original suspicion that it and the chest belong together.
Putting the key into the obvious place on the chest caused a spark, much like putting a screwdriver into an electrical outlet. Who does that? You ask. Now you know why my banned activities include electrical work. Anyway, after the spark, turning the key in the lock did not produce any results. After several revolutions, it was clear something else was needed. While scratching my head to figure out the problem, a guy in a blue uniform came up behind me. “Special delivery,” he said. The surprise caused me to jerk the key from the lock. The chest lid popped open. “Sign here,” said the guy. I did, and he handed me an envelope and left.
Wondering who would send me a special delivery letter, I ripped it open. Here is what it said. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “rev.” Use “rev” or find a word that contains it. Have fun!” It was signed “Linda.”
If you would like to have fun visit Linda Hill’s blog and read how. Here is the link. /https://lindaghill.com/2021/12/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-4-2021/
Rev by John W. Howell © 2021
“So, what was in the chest?”
“Don’t know.”
“Wait a minute. What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I didn’t look.”
“For heaven’s sake. You are like cliffhanger central.”
“I think you said something like that last week.”
“Well. It’s true. We all sit here listening to your goofy monologues, and then you leave us out on a limb.”
“We only have so much time, and I had to get the prompt in there.”
“Yeah, what’s up with ‘rev’ anyway.”
“Really revs your engine, right?”
“Let’s review why.”
“Okay. I like what you did there.”
“Revolting is more the descriptor.”
“To each his own. You could reverse what you said.”
“Revitalize, you mean?”
“I can imagine your words reverberating in the halls of logic.”
“Huh?”
“You know. Your way to get revenge.”
“I’m lost, as are most of your readers.”
“Revolution is the path to clarity.”
“For me, it might be a revolver.”
“Reveal why?”
“To shoot myself in the face.”
“But that would revoke your pub privileges.”
“Thank goodness we got here. You have to buy.”
“Why?”
“So that I can revert back to a trusting human being.”
“Done.”
Fiction Favorites 
Words cannot describe my relief on learning that the chest sticking out of the turf in the backyard is the kind in which things are stored and into which a key can be inserted, rather than one in which a heart beats (or not!)
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yes. The story would definately take a different turn if that were a chest piece of a body. 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
But we don’t know what’s inside… there could be a beating heart!
LikeLiked by 2 people
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
😇
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’ve covered the expanse of revs with this post. Great job, John. Enjoy the weekend with your household and hopefully bask in the sun. 🌞
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hoping for sun today. Of course wishing you the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do believe you yu somehow fit the most ‘rev’s’ in this story!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Yea sometimes I can’t help myself. Thanks, GP. 😁
LikeLiked by 3 people
This was a tough one, but you nailed it. Good one, John! Happy Saturday!😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jill. Happy Saturday to you *sung to the tune of Winner Tales All by ABBA
LikeLiked by 2 people
The prompt doers friend is a saint. Goes through this every Saturday and doesn’t run off screaming into the wilderness. 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
He is the paragon of a good friend. Of course there is usually a beer reward at the end. Thanks, Charles.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beer rewards work. Original saints probably drank that more than water anyway.
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s true I think.
LikeLike
[…] “A glass of bourbon, a snifter of seltzer and a glass of ice. A.K.A a John Howell’s Special.” […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the mention, Dan. 😁
LikeLike
I’m with your buddy, John…what’s in the chest? Never mind, I suppose we’ll find out in good time, three, maybe four more Saturdays. This was another good one. The snappy dialog does rev my engine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dan. Not sure it is three or four but I will admit youseem to have me nailed. 😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve learned not to expect immediate results.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
… The tongue twister beginning “revision of the revision that was just revised“ hooked me and from there it went straight up. Another classic John Howell. I look forward to these every Saturday. Thanks for sharing your gift with us. Have a good one!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw, thank you, Jill. A terrific comment. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have an abiding reverence of your skill set, Boss.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw thank you, Pilgrim. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another mind-bending display of word play!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Liz. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very nice, and I also thought of a human chest at the beginning. Glad we cleared that up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. Readers have a way of moving the story ahead. Thanks, Craig.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sure did rev this up. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Tim. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I revel in my Saturday morning readings, wondering just what you will reveal in your story.
Happy Saturday, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thak you , Dale. Very nice words indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes siree!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
You revised my thinking as always 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is always good, Willow. 😊
LikeLike
It is isn’t it 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trust is re-established at least until the arrival of next week’s word. And the beer is better than anything more permanent. Happy Saturday John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Trust till next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What’s in the chest?! You should get the bonus points for using so many Rev’s. Great game play, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Deborah. 😁
LikeLike
The power of your words is astonishing! Impressive! Some great lines in this one. brchitwood
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Billy Ray 😁
LikeLike
Dr. Seuess has nothing on you, John Howell. This one is a tongue-twister!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The tongue does get in the way. Thanks, Jan
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done, John! I’m okay with not knowing what was in the chest 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Marie. 🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
I found this SOC a bit irreverent. Or, do I mean very funny?
So, when I began reading, I thought the chest sticking out of the ground was like… a chest… you know breasts sticking out of the ground. What mind, but then I’m no reverend.
So, now that this is over, think I’ll go water all of my plants. My plants and are as verdant as can be.
Wishing you happiness, forever!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes normally I’m thinking of breasts but this time it was a container. Besides it would be a bit odd to discuss how the key would come into play. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one. Irreverent are us. Thanks, Resa
LikeLike
You always pull through, John, no matter how challenging! And I love “cliffhanger central.” 🙂
Have a good Sunday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lauren. I hope you have a super Sunday as well. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good, John. You certainly did justice to the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Robbie. You are so kind to say so. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely cliffhanger central! Well done, and fingers crossed next week REVeals what’s in the chest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, that is a tall request but we’ll see where it goes. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
A tall request? I will be glued to see where this goes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person