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 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
Delivery by John W. Howell © 2022
“Sign here, mate”
“What am I signing?”
“The deed to your house. Whatya think”
“I don’t know”
“It’s for the delivery”
“Delivery? What delivery?”
“Oh, come on. You ordered the 2000 piece life-size puzzle.”
“I think there must be some mistake.”
“Is this 323 Rural Route 22?”
“Well, yes but I don’t recall an order.”
“Look, Mac. Just sign and then take it up with Amazon.”
“What does signing this mean?”
“That I delivered it.”
“It doesn’t mean I ordered it, right?”
“I’m no lawyer, Mac. All I know is the fine print says by signing this delivery receipt you verify it was in fact delivered.”
“Okay, I can verify that after I have a look.”
“Aw geez. I have a hundred deliveries today.”
“I’ll just be a minute. I’ll just look out the window . . . OMG it’s laying all over the yard.”
“Yeah, you paid for an unpacking service.”
“And there is snow on top.”
“Took me two hours to unpack. Started snowing. Here’s the place to sign.”
“Very well. There are you satisfied now?”
“Thanks. I’ll be on my way. Good luck with the puzzle.”
“I don’t see any artwork on any of the pieces.”
“I think it’s one of those modern ones where you have to figure out how it goes by the shapes.”
“It looks like they’re all rectangles.”
“Yeah, makes it a little tougher.”
“You wouldn’t want to just load it all up and take it back would you?”
“Love to help you out but you see, I’m deliveries. There’s others who do pick up. I do have an idea though.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Get yourself a piece of cardboard.”
“Yes?”
“And a sharpie.”
“Okay.”
“Make a sign. ‘kindling for sale.’ You’ll make a killing.”
“I think I’ll call Amazon and see where this stuff came from.”
“That works too. See ya.”
Fiction Favorites 
Ha ha. I’m getting visions of a jigsaw puzzle made up of three cubic yards of rectangular blocks. I wonder how it would compare with the 3D jigsaw of the Taj Mahal that we brought back from Agra with us. At least I had a picture to work with.
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Yes you did have a picture. This poor guy has no help. 😁
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I agree with Keith. This looks like the jigsaw puzzle I recently started. Good one, John!
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I thought of you when I wrote this. Thanks, Jill.
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I think our hapless homeowner will have better results with the cardboard and Sharpie than trying to get any answers out of Amazon.
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Might be true, Liz. I wonder who ordered this mess in the first place.
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A mistaken delivery intended for Wile E. Coyote, maybe?
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Good answer. 😁
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Thanks!
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I almost stopped at ‘puzzle’ when I started laughing and spilled my coffee. Wonderful post, John.
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Thanks, Steve. I hope it was at a lower temperature. 😁
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Fortunately, it was only my fingers and they can use the heat.
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I hear you on that. 🤣
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Been very cold here. Today and tomorrow will be much nicer, might be in 30s, then heavy snow Thur. 🙀
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We have sleet coming and four days below freezing. Notice how the weather has changed since they started using those bows and arrows?
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Sleet/freezing sounds like a lousy combo. I’m sure the mutts will have something to say about it…🙀
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They will for sure.
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👍
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Separate them into groups and sell them as Giant Jenga sets.
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Now you are talking. Good for yard games. 😁
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Only you would come up with a giant puzzle!
Amazon does have a great return policy but I fear you’d have to repackage it… Might be best to take the delivery guy’s advice… Too funny,
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Could throw in a hatchet too. Thanks, Dale. 😁
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Now there’s a plan! 😉
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It will be easy to make big pieces of wood into little pieces of wood.
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That’s for sure. Excellent for starting fires… I could use a bundle. Would you be so kind?
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Can arrange an airdrop from ACME wood delivery service. Can’t guarantee the exact spot of landing. I would wear a big soup pot for a hat until it’s done. 😁
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That would be great but… ummm… that is a problem 😉
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It is not an anvil after all.
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This is true. It could create quite the wide mess. I guess I shall have to pass… think of the neighbours and all that 😉
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You are so kind. 😁
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Brilliant, John. Only you could have come up with this story. Have some fun today or at least some chocolate. You deserve both. Bravo! 😁
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Oooo, chocolate. I have to hunt some up. Thank you, Gwen for the idea and the lovely words. 😊
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Buy some hot dogs, use the cardboard to light it up.
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OMG. That would be some fire for sure. Thanks, Craig. Need ten-foot hot dog and marshmallow poles. 😁
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I did that 3-D puzzle Keith was talking about – good pastime.
Love your story – good old Amazon, eh?!
All I came up with was, “Okay, you can dig me out, Carl. I found your car keys!”
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Ha ha ha. Good one, GP. I wanted to go with a simple “gesundheit,” but I thought it might be a little obscure.
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Oh – that would have been great!!
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Ha ha ha Maybe some day.
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LOL! It always begins and ends with Amazon. Love this one, John!
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Thank you, Mae. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😁 Yes it does begin and end with Amazon. The Producer just told me she tried to find miso paste at our local market. (Whole Foods and Trader Joes are a big drive away) She finally ordered it from Amazon. Go figure. 😁
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I end up doing the same thing lots of time. Just had two Amazon deliveries last night and have another two coming today. Scary how much I rely on them!
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So easy to do. Next day and there it is.
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🙂
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It’s going to be tough finding the corner on that one. Good job, John.
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I know Right? 🤣
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Pieces be with you… now pray for a fire ring. One ring to burn them all…
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Just call in an airstrike.
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Acme airstrike has been notified. Something about an anvil annihilator…
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Yeah, that’s their new experimental ground support craft. All is good as long as the power is on. After that, look out for the spreading shadow.
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Oh my! Yep. I agree. Kindling and as Craig said, a few hot dogs and he will be in business. Good one, John!
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Thank you, Jan. 😁
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Now that’s a puzzle!
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Yes it is. Thanks, Denise.
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Wow. A puzzling situation. 🙂
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Yes, Indeed. 😁
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Baffling Blocks! Who would dare such a delivery?
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I wonder. We have no idea. Thanks, Billy Ray.
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I often feel like this as the children use us as their interim depot. Some stuff they order online is huge!!
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We are the same resource. Still don’t understand why.
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Nope, it is our blessing and curse..
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Mostly blessing thank heavens
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Great creativity, John. Like your other readers, I laughed out loud about the “puzzle” delivery. What a dilemma, and a perfect short story to the photo.
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Thank you, Pamela. I’m glad you lked it.
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Wait…it’s all edge pieces! 🙂
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I know right? What do you do with those?
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Make a linear puzzle, one piece wide and a mile long? 😅
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Good one, Jennie. 😁
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Thanks, John.
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Good grief! Talk about customer service. Do you happen to know what really took place here? Looks like a minor explosion of some sort.
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I don’t know what happened. I suspect Keith ordered some wood to burn instead of logs.
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I’d definitely opt for the kindling route. Fun story, John.
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Thank you, Staci. 😁
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Too funny. 🙂
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That’s a lot of frosted pieces.
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That is true. 😁
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[…] Delivery by John W. Howell © 2022 […]
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