A quiet Saturday morning with the sounds of birds adding to the peaceful feeling. Inhaling the aroma of freshly brewed coffee as it is being made adds to the overall feeling of contentment. The temperature is below the blast furnace level, so an excellent opportunity exists to sit on the patio and enjoy the morning.
Twiggy and Lucy decide to come with me to the outside. They are busy reading their nose e-mails, and I’m occupied with mine. A fairly loud noise interrupts us all. Lucy and Twiggy do the instinctual reaction to warn the noise that the suburbs of St Louis are closer than they think. To be barked to St. Louis is a treat no intruder should miss.
The noise repeats, and this time the location is determined to be from the front yard. If this is another Warner Brothers character, I’m going to demand a royalty, I think, as I amble to the front door. After the disarm and unlock process, I’m standing on the front porch face to face with a mule.
Not knowing how the thing got there, I look around for a note. I’m assuming this is another delivery of the prompt from Linda Hill. I go around the back of the mule, and for whatever reason, I lift its tale. “Watch it, buster.” The words seem to come from a loudspeaker somewhere. Moving around to the front, I say maybe the dumbest thing that has ever been said under the circumstances. “Who said that?” Were the words.
“You must have seen movies in your day and know you are in the presence of Francis the Talking Mule.” I look around, thinking that maybe there is a camera somewhere. “Just pay attention, buster.” I look the mule in the eye and puff my cheeks. “Who you calling, buster?”
“The one who needs a prompt I have in my pocket.” The mule drops an envelope on the walk and ambles down the driveway. Not knowing where the envelope came from, I was reluctant to pick it up. Finally gathering the courage, I did a two-finger pick up and opened it. Of course, there was a note from Linda Hill which said:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “βamble.” Add letters to the beginning of “-amble” to make another word or use it as is in your post. Enjoy!
If you want to enjoy, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link.
https://lindaghill.com/2022/07/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2-2022/
Amble by John W.Howell Β© 2022
“Francis the flipping Talking Mule?”
“Yes. A problem?”
“How many years back was Francis the Talking Mule?”
“The 50s.”
“You getting senile in your old age?”
“No, why?”
“To bring up that character. Must have been popular when you were a kid.”
“In fact, Francis was popular when I was a kid.”
“I knew it. Senile.”
“Quit that. Just a memory is all.”
“It is a break from those Warner Brothers characters.”
“So, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“Francis the Talking Mule.”
“You better clean your driveway.”
“I’m serious.”
“That was a preamble to the advice to forget about Francis.”
“Fine, done. Any more advice.”
“Need to sit with a cold one and think.”
“You are buying, so let’s go.”
“My car is in the shop. Can you drive?”
“Better yet, let’s catch Francis the Talking Γber.”
“Very funny. Just call the real one. I think I’m going to be overserved.”
If you’ll excuse my ramble, I’m surprised Twiggy and Lucy didn’t take a gamble and scramble the rest of the neighbourhood dogs to help see off the offending (and possibly offensive) equine.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That would have been a mayhem preamble
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great introduction as always, I also the chat before you guy end up going to the pub! I think I might have a slight recognition of Francis the Talking mule …who did he star with? π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Donald O’Connor was the sidekick.
LikeLike
I shall have to look him up π€£
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he made about four or so movies with Francis. You Tube has a couple full length.
LikeLike
Thank you John ππππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
I got a . . . kick out of this one, Sheriff..;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad yu did. Thanks Marc. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Have a great Fourth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You as well, Marc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLike
Ha ha ha! This is hilarious, so silly!! I love the bit about the suburbs of St. Louis–and Franicis the Talking Mule/Γber.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m glad you liked it, Liz. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember Francis, John. Not senile, a strong active memory of simpler times. Are we at the pub yet?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes we are there. Thanks, Dan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Thanks for the Saturday morning giggles. This was hilarious, John. Happy Saturday sung to the tune of Tweedle Dee by Georgia Gibbs.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Do I remember that song, Jill. Thank you. Happy Saturday to you * sung to the tune of Rockin’ Robin by Bobby Day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You do go out of your way to do the prompt AND the creative intros!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, GP. As they say,”I try” π
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy 4th to you as well.
LikeLike
John,
You wonβt believe this (okay, maybe you will).
Dan and I were just talking about Frances this week. Good memories. But many moons ago. Certainly glad to have them π
Have a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I would believe it. π Dan suggested it on 6-25
LikeLike
I am glad the sight and sound of a talking mule did not scramble your thoughts so much as to have you run into a bramble. Because the addition of Brer rabbit would really have set the girls off ! I hope Francis does not return with unwanted advise on being overserved. Happy Fourth John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope Francis doesn’t return period.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the glorious part of editorial control.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking it’s not senility at all if you remember a character from the fifties. Quite the opposite, in fact. Ya still got your noggin on tight!
Ambling must be done before the three digits hit, am I right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes three digits is close to the final amble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be for me, anyway!
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t stand the high heat… then again, I think it’s the high humidity with the high heat that sucks the life out of me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that double whammy does it for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That it does! Today a lovely wind pushed the air around and removed that stickiness.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our wind gives us the net effect of a blow torch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh. I’ll pass, thank you very much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree.
LikeLike
Good one, John. Thanks for the smiles. I’m pretty sure Chill Willis is smiling, too. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope so, Tim. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha! I immediately thought of Francis. Course I only ever saw him in reruns! I love your gamble with your preamble about the amble. Brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pamela. Fun to play with for sure. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
At least Francis wasnβt terribly stubborn and delivered the prompt quickly, although a bit suspiciously. I appreciated the two-finger pick up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seemed like the right thing to do I never heard of a mule with a pocket so I was a bit nervous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Understandably so, John. π
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I forgot about Francis the talking mule π Another great delivery and I would gave worried where that envelope had been too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, very mysterious how it just dropped out.
LikeLike
That was a fun variation from the Warner Bros characters. π Good one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jan. π
LikeLike
I enjoyed this! I was a kid in the 80s, so I don’t remember the talking mule. But, we used to watch reruns of Mr. Ed the Talking Horse. Those were fun. Thanks for the memories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look up Francis on You Tube. I think you would like it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Probably reruns in my era, but I remember Francis.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes you are too young to remember. (That’s a good thing.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Off, I remember the Francis name but not the show. I do fondly remember βMr. Ed, the Talking Horseβ.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You can go to You Tube and take a look at the full length movies
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was terrific, John, and I needed the giggles. Happy early 4th of July! ππ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lauren. Happy 4th to you.
LikeLike
Well, I can say with certainly that I don’t know Francis the talking mule, John. A most entertaining post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You Tube has a number of the movies Thank you, Robbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Iβll see if I can find one β€οΈ
LikeLike
This was a ’10’ on the laugh-o-meter, John. I loved Francis!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad, Jennie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not going to peramble about the bush…. I don’t know who Francis the talking mule is.
So, has Daffy been by? What about the Martian dude?
I hope they are not boycotting the stream of unconsciousness! π
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes you are way too young to know Francis the Talking mule. I don’t think they are boycotting I think other characters want a chance. Thanks Resa. Here’s a clip on the Talking mule. https://youtu.be/cX_tE0M3ZCI
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John!!!
Gonna watch me some Francis mule!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ten year old retro visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was very fun & sweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it. There are full movies on You Tube in case you want to be ten years old again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! Thank you, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
π
LikeLike
[…] 5. Stream of Saturday Conscious https://johnwhowell.com/2022/07/02/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-amble/ […]
LikeLike
Thank you for the link, Traci.
LikeLike