The alarm came from somewhere far away and entered my consciousness like a bolt from a crossbow. I’m trying hard to turn it off before another bolt out of the blue finds its mark. Silence is golden, and the only sound now is the cracking of my knees as I make motions to begin the day.
Getting to the coffee reminded me of someone crossing the arctic ice in their bare feet. It’s hell to get old, is the thought of the morning. But, the aroma of the brewing cup brought a new thought, it’s great to be alive.
A few sips and the memory bell rang its Westminster chime. The tune accompanied a lyric, ‘Is the box still on the driveway from last week?’ Rushing to the front door for a look, I was crestfallen. (I still don’t know where my crest is) To help my dubious fortune, the box is still there. Now, you may wonder why it took a week to discover the status of the box? You see, in the age of COVID, I have become a virus recluse. “No use going to the front of the house if I’m not going anywhere” is my motto.
I carefully opened the door and walked out to the box. To give you an idea of its size, it was a perfect cube that came up to my shoulder. So that makes it about five feet cubed. While I was looking for clues on who I could call to get rid of it, I felt a tap on my backside. Turning around, I came face to face with a coyote. One that was standing on his hind legs and holding out a card. I took the card and glanced at it. ‘Wile E. Coyote Esq.’ was the only thing printed on it. The card was embossed and had a high cotton content level, but I digress.
“Pleased to meet you,” I said. “When are you going to take possession of this box?”
He looked at me. I looked at him. He made a rotation gesture with his hand. I didn’t catch his meaning until he pointed at the card. I flipped it over, and on the back was written. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “fortune.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
If you want to ‘enjoy,’ visit Linda’s post and read how easy it is. Here is the link.
https://lindaghill.com/2022/02/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-12-2022/
Fortune by John W. Howell ©2022
“Here, we took all that time and still don’t know what’s in the box.”
“Well, it takes a while to give all the information.”
“Like the freaking card is made of cotton?”
“High cotton content.”
“Whatever. What was the bit about your crest?”
“That word always makes me wonder. So I looked it up one time, and its origins may be that when roosters don’t feel well, their crest folds over.”
“No one cares. We want to know what is in that box.”
“I would love to tell you, but I don’t know. Maybe a fortune teller could help you out.”
“So you bring in that stupid cartoon coyote?”
“Always good for a laugh.”
“You a stand-up comic now?”
“No, but humor is one element of a story.”
“And the other is telling us what is in the box.”
“Okay, it is dynamite.”
“Really?”
“No. I don’t know.”
“Why’d you say dynamite?”
“To get you to think of something else.”
“Like what.”
“Your turn to buy.”
“Not till I know what’s in the box.”
“I’ll buy then.”
“Forget the box. Let’s go.”
“You are so easy it scares me.”
“Smart, though. My brains are my fortune.”
“A small fortune indeed.”
Fiction Favorites 
‘…cracking of my knees’…love it.
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😊
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“Cracking of my knees” caught my ear as well. My knees tend to crunch.
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For me, it’s my elbows. Some of the other stuff is just not worth trying to move 😂
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😀
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oooh, boy! Small fortune, eh? 🤪😂
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🤣
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My hip and back does the cracking.😩Good one, John! Happy Saturday!
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Happy Saturday to you, Jill. *Sung to the tune of Eternal Flame by the Bangles.
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We just listened to that on my iPod last night while working the jigsaw puzzle. 🙂
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Great minds think alike
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That’s some box – 125 cu ft. Sounds lika job for a forklift truck to me. You could fit a fortune in there – even in singles dollars.
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Yes indeed. How about a Sherman tank from IKEA?
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Don’t tell me – two person job and all you need are a cross head screwdriver and a quarter inch Allen key. You’re likely to find a few important pieces missing when you try to build it, too.
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Best do it in the front yard though. Might be hard to get out the doorway otherwise.
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😁
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Ha ha ha! A Sherman tank from Ikea!!
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Peppered with humor throughout. The ‘high cotton content’ was my favorite detail.
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Thank you, Maggie.😊
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You are welcome, as always.
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😊
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I learned something today, John. I did not know where crestfallen originated. Great dialogue! I’m still chuckling!
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Thank you, Jan. Always fun to do the research. I didn’t know where crestfallen came from either. 😁
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I, for one, DO care about where words come from.
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Loved your post, John. My dad used to say, “It’s hell getting old, but it’s better than the alternative.” Then he’d chuckle. BTW, he lived until he was 97. You’ve got many years ahead of you, cracking knees and all. 😁
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Thank you, Gwen. As a walking testimony to big pharma, I agree with you. 😊
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Pretty cool, the way you slid the prompt into your continuing story. I’d say that shows a bit more than a small fortune in brainpower. Maybe it’s not your knees cracking first thing, perhaps it’s brain synapses coming to life. 🙂
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That sounds like a better sound than knees cracking. Thanks, Tim. 😁
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Dynamite could solve the problem though.
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Ha ha ha. Or a fancy rocket.
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Will we ever find out, does Wylie even know? Life is full of questions, we are all orphans to fortune 💜💜
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I love the statement “orphans to fortune.” Thanks, Willow. 😁
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It’s nothing special just off the top of my head 🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I want to know what’s in the box, John. You should look. Maybe it’s full of an elixir that would help you and a host of other people with the “it’s hell getting old” feeling.
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An elixir already exists. Its name is margarita. Thanks, Mary.
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Nooooo…margaritas make me sick. Perhaps I should drink more brandy or beer.
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This post was so much fun! I LOVED it!!! Such inspired drollery.
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Ouch. That comment at the end might have left a mark, John. You mentioned crossbows, maybe the box contains a huge slingshot. Hold onto your pajama bottoms if you decide to try it.
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Still waiting on the edge of my seat to find out what in the cube 🙂
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Maybe your crest is at the tavern.
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I think I left it on the hall tree.
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So what’s in the box, John? Inquiring minds want to know. 🙂 Loved this!
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I wish I knew. We have to wait and see.
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Good one, John! I don’t know why I remember this, but Wile E. Coyote often was on the wrong end of dynamite.
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Yes he was. Thanks, Pete.
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“Like the freaking card is made of cotton?” That did it. I laughed so loud that Hubby yelled, “Are you okay?” “It’s just John.” “John who?” “Texas John.” “Texas John? Is there something you’re not telling me?” “No, no. You know. Wile E. Coyote and the box. In the ice.” Silence… I couldn’t stop laughing.
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Good to laugh, Jennie.
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Thanks, John. 😅
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Drats! Lol. I’ll be back 😂. I’m so enjoying this story.
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Thanks, Jill.
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I too, need to know the contents of the box. LOL
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We all do Lauren. Maye next week now that Wile E. Coyote has shown up. 😁
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Here I was thinking, all that intro and he’s forgotten to use the prompt word! But no, you would never. And I also learned a new meaning behind an expression. Thanks for that! I’m patient. I have come to realise that Saturday has replaced Wednesday story… or a version thereof in shorter stories. I, quite honestly, love it!
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Yes it is hard to go through a week not telling a story. Tis way I get two kicks at the can. Thanks, Dale. Glad you love it. 🤗
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And I caught on to what you were doing right quick, just so you know 😉 And muchly do love it! 🤗
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Thank you, Dale. You are tough to pull wool over. 😁
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That’s why you keep me around 😉
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Just one reason
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😉
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The telling of the story is an art. Read the crowd. Is it best to start with the familiar to draw them in ? Or will that only bore them ? Or end the story dancing with danger ? I will speak well of you should you per chance be drawn too near the flame. Happy Saturday John.
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Thank you, John. I will call if I get too close to the flame. 😊
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Ha! A great beginning, John, I loved it. I almost missed the story though in my intrigue over the introduction. Happy Valentine’s Day.
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Thank you, Robbie. Happy Valentine’s Day to you as well.
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I’m impressed by the high cotton content of this post!
So many fab cotton quotes to remember.
“Why I’m so dry I’m spitting up cotton” – Baby Doll by Tennessee Williams
OR… a hint to join you and Small Fortune.
I just gotta know what’s in the box. If it’s not dynamite, then …… 💥
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All in good time my pretty. 😁
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