When the lid popped open on the chest, admittingly, my first thought was to run behind the magnolia tree. But, of course, the better part of Valor made me freeze in position. Also, having seen several Sci-Fi shows, I knew not to approach the chest too quickly. How many people have you seen incinerated by some kind of death ray all because they rushed to an opening in a spacecraft?
Mrs. Howell didn’t raise no dummy, so taking my time to slowly inch up to the chest. As I got closer, there was no noise coming from the inside. This led me to believe that this chest did not come from a different planet in all probability. If it had, I’m sure there would be some kind of disturbance by now. Gaining confidence, I approached the chest and appeared over the edge.
“Sign here,” came a voice from behind me. My reaction was to immediately fall into the chest, which by now was the size of a hot tub. Then, quickly standing, I faced the voice. It was the USPS delivery person asking me to sign something on a clipboard. “What’s this?”
“Special delivery. Sign here.” After signing, the delivery person handed me an envelope and left.
Looking around the chest, it appeared empty, so I ripped open the envelope. I’m sure by now you have guessed it was from Linda Hill. There were two messages inside. The first read: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “tree.” Use the word “tree” or write about a tree. Any kind of tree. Enjoy! The second was a bit more cryptic. It read: Watch your feet.
If you want to join in and enjoy, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2021/12/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-11-2021/
I think next week we are going to discover what is in the chest.
Tree by John W. Howell © 2021
“Next week?”
“Yup.”
“Why not just do it this week?”
“Ran out of time.”
“You drive me up a tree.”
“Bear chasing you?”
“Very funny. You are supposed to be doing prompts, and here you are fooling around with some dumb chest.”
“There are some out there who would have a good chuckle over that statement.”
“Yeah, I remember them from last week. So what kind of tree are you going to talk about?”
“Hadn’t thought about it. Maybe a hall tree.”
“Hall tree? Never heard of it.”
“It’s a place to hang hats and coats.”
“In what life?”
“Okay, so they are a little bit dated. There is one at the pub, though.”
“Hold on. Did you just sneak in the word pub not expecting me to say something like, ‘You had me at the word pub?'”
“I figured one cast, and you would bite.”
“So, let’s go look at the hall tree.”
“It’ll cost you.”
“What’s new? Let’s go.”
Fiction Favorites 
Thanks for this beautiful writing
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Thank you, Kimberly.😊
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Hmmm. Watch your feet? You having landed in something that you described as ‘the size of a hot tub’ and that, the way these things have a nasty habit of going, may well have turned out to be an actual, literal hot tub, albeit one temporarily deprived of the medium that confers on it the attribute ‘hot’, can you be sure the second message wasn’t, in reality, ‘wash your feet’?
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Ha ha!
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You know when I think about it the fact that the note was in cursive it ell could have been “wash.” Too bad I tore the note up and ate it. We’ll just have to see what happens next Saturday. (I loved this) 🤣
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Thanks, John. I shall look forward to next Saturday with bated breath.
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Hahahaha
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You had me at hall tree. (I’m a little bit dated.)
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Hahahaha. Me too.
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😀
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Excellent.
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Thank you, Rabirius.
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How come all your prompts from our Linda come in such an exciting way and mine just arrive by email 😏💜💜
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You have a stable brain that’s why. We are a bit confused over here. 🤣
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I am totally confused 😛
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😁
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Hahaha!
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It’s not fair !
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So close. I think you’re working on the literary record for not revealing the contents of a chest, John. Good job, though. Enjoy the trip to the pub, you earned it.
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Thank you , Dan. I’ll see you there. 😁
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I remember the hall tree! Good one, John. Happy Saturday!
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We just sold one at a garage sale. Thanks, Jill. Happy Saturday to you *Sung to the tune of Already Gone by the Eagles.
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I was just listening to some Eagles…and that song the other day! 🙂
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Kismet. 😁
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For sure! 🙂
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😊
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This is great, John. Made me smile. I remember hall trees but we just called them coat stands. 🙂
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I’m glad John explained what a hall tree was. They’re called hat stands where I come from.
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So much for romance.
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🤓
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Don’t tell John, but I think that makes more sense!
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Hahaha. I didn’t see hat stand in the prompt.
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You and Keith would get along.
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Pub solves everything.
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Yup.
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I was a little lost in the dark when I realized I had not read last werk’s SoCS from you. I rushed back to see what had transpired. Now I am caught up and relieved to know your cliffhanger saved me from missing out on the reveal! I always wanted a hall tree, but no space for it in our house. Great job on the prompt as usual.
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Thank you, Maggie. Glad you are caught up.
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😁 Me, too.
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As much as I like “hall trees”, I’ve only known them as coat racks with a bench. This was a fun journey, John. And, as a plus, I learned something new. Have a great weekend and stay warm. It’s in the teens here! ❄ 😊 ❄
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Yes, I saw on the map that you were in the frosty area. Stay warm. Thanks, Gwen.
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At least you did not beat around the bush. You dealt with the tree and headed straight for the pub!
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Yes. I call it beeline Saturday
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“Name a tree that rhymes with happy,”
“Pub?”
Close enough.
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Yup. Thanks, Marc 😁
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Great one, John. But now I’m stuck up here on this branch that’s swaying in the wind. Well, at least I can see down in the chest from up here. 🙂
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Hahaha. You stay warm up there.
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I had to laugh at that “It’ll cost you.”
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Thanks, GP.
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Oh man! We were SO close to finding out what was inside the chest. Love the line, “Mrs. Howell didn’t raise no dummy…” I remember hall trees. They came in handy. Great post, John!
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Thank you, Jan. 😁
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I have a hall tree in my house 😉
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Yay. I’m glad you do. 😁
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😉
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Next week? Guess I’ll be back but I would’ve come back anyway 😂. Can’t wait!
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Thanks, Jill. 😁
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I like Hall Trees. Wish I had one. Now, stop thinking about the…ahem… chest and have a cold one. 🙂
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I will do just that, Diana.
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Well done, John! Any excuse to end at the pub.
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That is the objective. Thanks, Pete.
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I like hall trees. Mom still has one. They never need water.
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Yup. No leaves to rake up either.
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This was good John. I liked how tree went to hall tree to the pub. At last we’ll get to see what’s in the chest!
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One can only hope we do.
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Fingers crossed!
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😊
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I remember hall trees and liked them! I guess I’m dated. 🙂 Cheers for a happy Monday, John!
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They were fun. I had one many years ago.
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Really enjoyed this one.
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I’m glad. Thanks for letting me know, Ray
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Well played! I think he’s getting his drink paid for. I’m looking forward to next week. Will we find out what’s in the chest? Time will tell! Have a great week, John.
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I think we will. Thanks, Deborah.
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Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for sharing my post, Michael.
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😊 Always with a great pleasure, John! xx
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:-)) Pure fun! Thanks, John! xx Michael
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Glad you liked it. 😁
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😊
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