Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Iron (y)”

~ John W. Howell

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

Out of coffee beans was the message on the machine. Time to switch from Columbian to French Roast. Filling the reservoir brought a tweak of excitement in anticipation of a new dark roast flavor. Sure enough, when the process is activated, the machine seems to be in a similar frame of mind. No hesitation, and within seconds, the 10 ounces of life-saving Elixer was delivered into the cup.

With a shaking hand, the cup reaches the mouth for the first sip of the unique blend. Slowly the brain picks up the cues of deep taste, aroma, and mind-altering chemical rush. Yes, indeed, this is heaven on Earth.

Sitting with the coffee and laptop and just starting to go through the day’s mail, there was a crash sound that seems like what a falling bus would sound like if it landed in the backyard. Why that sound is familiar is a piece of irony and a story for another time.

Getting up from my comfort and hazarding a look into the backyard, there was no surprise in seeing a big yellow iron bus buried up to the hubcaps in the turf. A sigh escaped my lips since it appears that an investigation would be necessary. “First finish the coffee” was an order from the brain department. A second or two after returning to my seat, the doorbell rings.

What the hell good is it to put a sign on the doorbell not to ring it when every Tom, Dick, and Harry ignores the sign? Theseare the thoughts as I pull Twiggy and Lucy from the ceiling. The front door requires a disarming procedure which takes a few minutes. The door finally gives way, and a stranger asks. “Have you seen a bus anywhere around here?”

“Elmer Fudd?” The question shoots out of my mouth before the brain can catch it. The answer is a surprise. The character declines to admit he is Elmer Fudd but hands me an envelope and tips his hunting hat. “That Waskely Wabbit took my bus, and if you see it or him, tell him he is on the menu for tonight.”

Rather than get involved, I thanked Elmer for the envelope and slowly shut the door. The bus will have to wait while the envelope receives full attention. No surprise, it is from Linda Hill with a message inside. The message reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “iron(y).” Use “iron,” use “irony,” or use both. Use them any way you’d like. Bonus points if you use both. Have fun!

If you would like to have fun, just go to Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2022/06/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-4-2022/

Iron(y) by John W. Howell © 2022

“So you burned up all our time with that silly story.”

“Had to be told.”

“Iron bus in the backyard.”

“Funny visual, wouldn’t you say.”

“Good thing there is no fact-checker on this blog.”

“It’s fiction, remember.”

“Yeah, but a falling bus.”

“The irony here is how do you get a bus out of your backyard?”

“Let’s not even go there. so the prompt is iron?”

“Iron and irony. Got em both. Bonus cha-ching.”

“Which reminds me.”

“Of what.”

“Iron City beer. Ever hear of it?”

“Of course. The producer is from Pittsburgh.”

“Think we can get some?”

“The pub master can certainly tell us.”

“The irony is we need someone to tell us if the beer is available.”

“Rather than what?”

“Sitting drinking it.”

“Good point. Let’s go.”

75 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Iron (y)””

  1. Our bean-to-cup machine ran out of Colombia’s finest yesterday, mid-grind. No message, just a change in tone coming out of the mill from a graunch to a scream. Took me ages to find a new bag of beans. Doesn’t affect me; I use an Italian ground blend that I feed straight into the hopper. Had to refill the bean reservoir though – the loss of brownie points could be disastrous. Just an aside. Carry on.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Now there’s a great use of half the prompt, John. I have a six-pack of Iron City. If we were closer, I’d bring it to the bar. Good luck getting that bus out. Is that the one you need for tomorrow?

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I wanted to comment on the coffee beans, but TW’s comment made me laugh and I wished I could top him.
    off topic – have you noticed that Texas has been picking up on the hurricanes that look like they’ll FL, so it takes a cyclone from the other direction to sneak into our backdoor and get us!! Is that irony?

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Ha Ha! I like this one. Hubby was at the airport one day and over the intercom, he heard, “Paging E. Fudd. E.Fudd, if you are in the airport please come to the reception desk.” He waited but no one stood up and went to the desk. But he did hear a few muffled giggles and no one made eye contact with anyone!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. A falling bus in the backyard?? Your creative energies have no limit, John. I can’t imagine anyone matching this post. Well done!! 🤣🤣🤣

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I was wondering how Elmer was holding up, what with the move towards all things impossible in the way of foods we once went caveman over.

    Glad you got things . . . ironed out. 😉

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Entertaining as always, John. Thank goodness it’s fiction or Twiggy and Lucy would have a time exploring an iron bus buried up to the axle in your turf. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Coffee first – always. That way we can actually deal with doorbells ringing (despite signs) and buses dropping from the sky into our backyards. Somehow, things always look better after that first cup. Happy Saturday, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Glad you got your coffee in before dealing with Elmer. That bus must have been quite a sight. I can only image Bugs is nearby.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. HaHaHa! Oh there’s an easy way to get rid of Elmer Fudd’s school bus in your backyard… Use an eraser. You make me smile, you make me chuckle and you make me laugh out loud! No irony there.

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Terrific use of the prompt. Sounds like a second cuppa of paradise should be strongly considered for the hero of your story. P.S. I share your dread of the doorbell being activated. It’s always chaos with the 4-legged security system at my house too.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Your post seems to proves there are illiterates apparently everywhere. The “the rules don’t apply to me cohort seems to be growing by the day. 🙄 You have my deepest empathy. I know how maddening it is when dealing with the clueless.

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Too bad you had to peel Lucy and Twiggy off the ceiling. 😂 So that Waskely Wabbit stole an iron bus? There’s more to the story. Elmer Fudd needs to spill the beans.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. LOL!!!

    So, irony has nothing to do with ironing?
    Huh!
    You do realize that in Victorian days, irons were made of iron?
    There’s got to be a connection!

    Like

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