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 “—amble.” 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 © 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 Über.”
“Very funny. Just call the real one. I think I’m going to be overserved.”
Fiction Favorites 
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.
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That would have been a mayhem preamble
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😁
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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? 💜
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Donald O’Connor was the sidekick.
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I shall have to look him up 🤣
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I think he made about four or so movies with Francis. You Tube has a couple full length.
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Thank you John 😉💜💜💜
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I got a . . . kick out of this one, Sheriff..;)
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I’m so glad yu did. Thanks Marc. 😁
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Have a great Fourth.
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You as well, Marc.
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🙂
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Ha ha ha! This is hilarious, so silly!! I love the bit about the suburbs of St. Louis–and Franicis the Talking Mule/Über.
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I’m glad you liked it, Liz. 😁
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I remember Francis, John. Not senile, a strong active memory of simpler times. Are we at the pub yet?
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Yes we are there. Thanks, Dan.
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LOL! Thanks for the Saturday morning giggles. This was hilarious, John. Happy Saturday sung to the tune of Tweedle Dee by Georgia Gibbs.
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Do I remember that song, Jill. Thank you. Happy Saturday to you * sung to the tune of Rockin’ Robin by Bobby Day.
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You do go out of your way to do the prompt AND the creative intros!!
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Thank you, GP. As they say,”I try” 😁
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Happy 4th to you as well.
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John,
You won’t 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 😀
Have a good one.
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I think I would believe it. 😁 Dan suggested it on 6-25
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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.
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I hope Francis doesn’t return period.
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That is the glorious part of editorial control.
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Yes indeed.
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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?
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Yes three digits is close to the final amble.
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It would be for me, anyway!
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😂
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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!
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I think that double whammy does it for sure.
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That it does! Today a lovely wind pushed the air around and removed that stickiness.
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Our wind gives us the net effect of a blow torch.
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Ugh. I’ll pass, thank you very much!
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I agree.
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Good one, John. Thanks for the smiles. I’m pretty sure Chill Willis is smiling, too. 🙂
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I hope so, Tim. Thank you.
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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!
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Thank you, Pamela. Fun to play with for sure. 😊
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At least Francis wasn’t terribly stubborn and delivered the prompt quickly, although a bit suspiciously. I appreciated the two-finger pick up.
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It seemed like the right thing to do I never heard of a mule with a pocket so I was a bit nervous.
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Understandably so, John. 😊
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😊
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I forgot about Francis the talking mule 🙂 Another great delivery and I would gave worried where that envelope had been too.
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Yes, very mysterious how it just dropped out.
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That was a fun variation from the Warner Bros characters. 🙂 Good one, John!
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Thank you, Jan. 😁
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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!
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Look up Francis on You Tube. I think you would like it.
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Probably reruns in my era, but I remember Francis.
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Yes you are too young to remember. (That’s a good thing.)
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Off, I remember the Francis name but not the show. I do fondly remember ‘Mr. Ed, the Talking Horse’.
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You can go to You Tube and take a look at the full length movies
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This was terrific, John, and I needed the giggles. Happy early 4th of July! 😁🎆
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Thank you, Lauren. Happy 4th to you.
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Well, I can say with certainly that I don’t know Francis the talking mule, John. A most entertaining post.
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You Tube has a number of the movies Thank you, Robbie.
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I’ll see if I can find one ❤️
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This was a ’10’ on the laugh-o-meter, John. I loved Francis!
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I’m so glad, Jennie.
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😀
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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! 🙄
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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
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Thanks John!!!
Gonna watch me some Francis mule!
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Ten year old retro visit.
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That was very fun & sweet!
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Glad you liked it. There are full movies on You Tube in case you want to be ten years old again.
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Lol! Thank you, John!
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😊
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[…] 5. Stream of Saturday Conscious https://johnwhowell.com/2022/07/02/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-amble/ […]
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Thank you for the link, Traci.
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