“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 on 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 time.”
The photo
Twilight Zone-ish by John W. Howell © 2021
“Excuse me, you, there.”
“Who there?”
“You at 38,000 feet on a 270 heading.”
“Yeah, what do you want?”
“This airspace is mine.”
“Says who?”
“Air traffic control.”
“No way. They told me this is my space.”
“I’m right behind you, and had I been asleep, I would have run up your pipes.”
“Well, you can back off and go find another space.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Why?”
“When someone tells me this is mine, I’m not going to give it up to some trespasser.”
“Oh yeah. I’m calling ATC right now.”
“What frequency?”
“Why?”
“I want to be there, so you don’t fudge the truth like you always do.”
“Is this Jimmy?”
“Yes, Bobby, it is.”
“What the hell. Just because we are twins doesn’t give you the right to follow me wherever I go. The frequency is 122.25.
“Just make the call. I’ll be there.”
“Control Delta 1776.”
“Go ahead 1776.”
“Hey, hold on. I’m Delta 1776.”
“Keep quiet, Jimmy. Sorry about that Control. Requesting assigned altitude.”
“Roger Delta 1776, you are assigned 38,000 feet.”
“Thank you, Control. 1776 out. Did you hear that, Jimmy?”
“We got a problem.”
“What is it?”
“You and I are both flying Delta 1776 but in different airplanes.”
“No, you have made a mistake. I am 1776. You are something else.”
“Why didn’t the Controller say something about two planes?”
“Hmmm. That’s a good question. Of course, since we are IFR, he would have reported you being so close.”
“I think we have finally gone our own directions.”
“What do you mean?”
“Different but parallel planes of existence. Let me call Control. Control Delta 1776.”
“Go ahead 1776.”
“Could you verify my assigned altitude, and are there any planes in my vicinity?”
“Roger 1776. Your assigned altitude is 38,000 feet. You have one flight ten miles to your stern at 36,000 feet.”
“Thank you, Control. See what did I tell you? We both have this altitude but in different times or spaces.”
“How come we can talk then?”
“I don’t know. I wonder if someone put something in my coffee?”
“Don’t be silly. How can we explain this situation?”
“Remember when we were kids, and we would take each other’s places to fool the adult?”
“Yes.”
“I think this is payback.”
“I don’t like it.”
“I guess now we can feel what those folks felt.”
“Well, okay if that’s all it is. Excuse me, I have to prepare for a landing.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Where you going?”
“SFO.”
“I’ll see you there.”
“Let’s hope so.”
Fiction Favorites 
I know this is a flash fiction piece (and an enjoyable one), but I can totally see this as a novel. The dynamic between two competitive twins and a porous quantum field letting them shift in and out of each other’s presence when no one else can detect them? That’s gold, John. You could work magic with that.
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Thank you, Staci. I have your thoughts in my notebook. (I should have said great thoughts) 😁
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I don’t know if anyone ever told me I had great thoughts. Thanks! 😊 But you did all the hard work on this one. I just blurted out my desire to hear more about the characters you created.
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Thanks. I need to start thinking of better names than Jimmy and Bobby. 🤣
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At the story studio where I used to work, there was a writer who named everyone Stan and Brianna. Funny how some names stick with us.
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I like that. In truth I didn’t want to confuse the story with complex characters.
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This is spooky. Quantum Interference at 38,000 feet or a merging of dimensions?
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Yeah. Isn’t it wonderful.
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Indeed.
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I’ve got an eerie feeling about that landing. Do thy merge into one plane? Is one of them already dead? What about the passengers? I think we need to hear more from these two, John.
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Hahaha. Many questions, Dan. Maybe someday we’ll have answers. Thanks for the comment. 😁
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Very Twilight Zone-ish . . .
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Yes indeed. 😁
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Good job, John. I agree with Staci!
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Thank you, Jill. 😁
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This would be a good Twilight Zone episode. Also, this makes me think humans should never have flying cars.
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Good point about the flying cars. Might get very confusing.
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And plenty of accidents.
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Can you imagine?
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I’m with Charles and Liz — this would make a great Twilight Zone episode, John. Lots of possibilities. Great job on the prompt! 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. Nice words for sure. 😁
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Great take-off on the visual prompt, John. 🙂
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Thank you, Tim. I see what you did there.
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🙂
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😁
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Ooh, very Twilightish indeed. I LOVED this, John. And I completely agree with Staci. You could do so much with this. Something to consider after the sequel to Enteral Road.
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Thank you, Mae. I have to say you are the reason I’m doing this #$@*&% sequel in the first place. I must say it is slow but steady progress. We are all on the sinking Titanic now.
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ROTFL!!!
I’ll claim that push for the sequel LOL. And ooooh–the Titanic? I can’t wait to see the finished book, John. Onward!
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Thank you, Mae.
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Meet Bobby, successful airline pilot, and since the death of his twin, a recovering alcoholic. He’s done well for himself. Nice family. House in San Diego. Summer cabin at Tahoe. It took years to get over the death of his brother, Jimmy, but they’re about to have a reunion in the friendly skies above the Twilight Zone.
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I love this. Thanks, Craig.
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Lol, John! I don’t even know how to respond to this except to say it is absolutely brilliant! Only you could think of this Twilight Zone scenario! Love it!
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Thank you, Jan. I think that’s where I spend most of my time.
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Only you would come up with something like this with an image like that! You are so wonderfully imaginative! Love it.
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Thank you, Dear Dale. 😁
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You know it, lovely John 🙂
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😁
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Yikes, could be a disaster in the making! Very creative, John, and like Staci, I’d like to hear more about these pilots.
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Yes it would make a good story for sure.
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I kind of want to know what happens when the planes land, John. 🙂 Your imagination never sways from brilliance! Love this perfect pairing with Keith’s photo.
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Thank you, Lauren. They merge back to one.
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😃
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😊I know you like happy endings is why I say that.
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We had a set of identical twins in school. The only way to tell them apart was in their interests; one was into sports and the other more studious. I can easily see where their connection would be stronger than earthly boundaries.
This would make an excellent storyline, John. You should go for it 🙂
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Thank you, Jacquie. If I ever finish the Eternal Road sequel.
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Very good, John. I never could have gotten that specific.
haha, my simple answer was – “MY PLANE IS FASTER THAN YOUR PLANE! NA-NA-NA-A-NANA!”
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sounds okay too, GP. At least it is quicker to read.
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So many possibilities with this one, John. I once taught identical twins and never could tell them apart. Thankfully, they were older, so they didn’t dress the same, and they seldom messed with me.
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You are lucky. Thanks, Pete.
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That’s really creepy. What if identical twins did work in parallel universes. It means we straddle two planes. I’ve always worried about gaps. You can fall into ga……
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I think sometimes we do fall into gaps. How else can you explain the misplaced car keys. 😁
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Indeed. And biros…
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😁
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When you can summon the Rod Serling’s sharp suit from the cosmic closet, you have done your Voodoo (Not to mention, you deserve a frosty bottle of it) as only you do.
Here’s to crossing paths in less risky situations.
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Thank you, Pilgrim. I wish Rod was around to make a few comments on the world today. (He would probably not believe there was an actual Twilight Zone.) 😁
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He wouldn’t believe what we’ve done with the place.
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I know. I can see someone taking his cigarette away. “WTF,” he would say.
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Very Outer Limits or Twilight Zone centric today, John. I hope they both make the landing. 😀
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I’m sure they will. Thanks, Deborah
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LOL, because we are twins. Very cute!
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Thank you, Luanne
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{Smile} But who’s on first? Great flash fiction, John!
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Thank you, Monika.
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[…] Twilight Zone-ish by John W. Howell © 2021 […]
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