A quiet Saturday with no sound other than the death rattle of the coffee maker working on my soul-enhancing cup of the steaming stuff. Looking forward to non-activity that could render me into a condition best described as bored, I take a sip of the Columbian liquid alternative to Bolivian marching powder.
Thinking the paper would be an excellent addition to the bucolic scene created, I open the control board panel and begin the security disengage process. I flip the switches labeled: hot oil, concertina wire, claymore mines, Gatlin guns, iron gate, moat animals, deadbolts, remote crossbows, and locks. Checking the four cameras and seeing no motion or figure, the front door power switch is hit, and the door flies open. All these activities used to be done by hand; now, it is a matter of remote control.
The paper waits on the porch, but if it is a booby trap, the remote robot is sent to retrieve it. As the robot arm is extended to pick up the paper, a flash from my phone signals an alert. Looking up confirms a drone has entered the house. My goodness is a thought that races across the brain. Legs turn to rubber as it seems like my impenetrable inner sanctum has been breached by a dangerous-looking thing with four propellers.
Lucy, the consummate watchdog, jumps from the couch and knocks the thing to the floor. Twiggy immediately stops barking long enough to throw her full force onto the item. The result is a long sigh from the drone and a blinking red light. Thinking the light means imminent detonation, I smash the thing with the coal shovel kept handy for such occasions. (You don’t have to believe that part). The light stops blinking and in the pieces is a rolled-up message.
The unrolled message is from Linda Hill. It says, Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “board/bored.” Use one, or use them both for bonus points. Enjoy! P.S. You owe me $400.00 for the drone.
If you want to join in, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Others are responding to the prompt there too. Here’s the link https://lindaghill.com/2022/08/26/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-27-2022/
Board/Bored by John W. Howell © 2022
“I hope you weren’t trying to bore us on purpose.”
“Come on. Have a heart.”
“Okay, but I was expecting some kind of cartoon character.”
“Do you know what this feature is called?”
“Yeah, Stream of Consciousness.”
“So today’s stream produced a drone.”
“Couldn’t miss that.”
“Why are you yawning?”
“Oh, excuse me. I guess the excitement of a drone was just too much for me.”
“You are an idiot, you know that?”
“At least I don’t write about drones.”
“You don’t write at all.”
“My point exactly.”
“I don’t get it.”
“I don’t write so I can be an objective reviewer of your work. I’m a representative of all readers.”
“Okay, so you didn’t like the drone.”
“I have to say you did cover the prompt. You fit bored and board in perfectly.”
“Well, that is one good thing.”
“Like the pub.”
“I was wondering how you were going to work that in.”
“Slick, huh?”
“So slick you’ve earned the right to buy.”
“Yeah. Happy to do it. Maybe wash this bitter taste out of my mouth.”
“Please.”
“Yes, that was a bit overdone. A beer will taste good, though.”
“Since when, doesn’t it?”
“Good point. Let’s go.”
“Should I delete the post?”
“Naw, as you say, it’s a Steam of Consciousness from an unconscious streamer.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Let’s go already. We have much to forget and so little time.”
Fiction Favorites 
I love it … I am sure you have a case for false entry there ..I wouldn’t pay up the $400.00 if I were you 😀😀💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to resist. Thanks, Willow. 😊
LikeLike
Excellent 👌
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
I’ll be your legal representation !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Done. Here’s a Pound retainer. 💶
LikeLike
Thank you!! 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Nice job with the prompt, John. I missed the cartoon characters, but I was fine with Lucy and Twiggy to the rescue. And, for the record, who doesn’t keep a coal shovel handy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Thanks, Dan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought the drone was a good touch, too bad it’ll cost you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Willow came up with a unlawful entry concept that may save me the $400. Thanks, GP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s good to have friends!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. She’s going to represent me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one, John! Happy Saturday sung to the tune of Running Bear by Johnny Preston. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
OMG. I haven’t heard that song for eons. Happy Saturday to you *sung to the tune of Cathy’s Clown by the Everly Brothers. (released the same year as Running Bear)
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mother and I love it. We hear it often on Sirius. Love the Everly Brothers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember I was dating someone who loved the Everly Brothers. I thought they were okay but not crazy about them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! I love the bit about the coal shovel! Who doesn’t keep one in the house at the ready for drone intruders?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone should have one for sure. I wonder if they still make them. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have no idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. It was rhetorical but I looked it up and Ames still makes them and they are $63.00. So now we know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now, we know! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
YUP
LikeLiked by 1 person
John,
That was fantastic. I absolutely love the disarming of your house. You seem to add a layer of protection each time. The shovel is a great addition. Do you have the directions or sequencing posted so the Producer can get out in an emergency ?
I certainly didn’t think your dogs would spring into action too.
Amazing !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes there is an instruction sheet on the inside of the control board cover. 😁
LikeLike
Is it in wife and in dog ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wife , Dog ,and Writer.
LikeLike
There is a stupid overlay over the WP button…
…that makes it hard to comment, because I have to fill in my details all the time.
To make it brief, I really like your post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. After you write your comment try hitting “change” at the bottom of the comment section then hit the WP logo.
LikeLike
I wasn’t bored at all, John. Although, I think you could stretch beyond cartoons and elicit the fictional wonders of Star Trek characters. Or Star Wars. Or Vikings. So much to work with there… 😉
LikeLike
Excellent idea, Mary. 😁
LikeLike
You can’t escape these Saturday challenges, no matter how hard you try. And I’m glad for it. I also culled a favorite quote out of this week’s post . . .
“We have much to forget and so little time . .”
That is Shakespeare right there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It also comes to mind when Lady Aster commented to Winston Churchill that she believes he has drunk enough alcohol to fill the room up to the molding about five feet below the ceiling. Winston looked up and then said, “So much more to do and so little time.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Buahahaha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She also said “If you were my husband I would give you hemlock.” He replied, “If you were my wife madam I would surely drink it.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember that one, hahaha!
LikeLike
Haha! Well done, John. The girls did quite a number on the drone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Had to stop them from carrying it off. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! 😅
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lucy and Twiggy are your writing partners for sure. Loved this episode! 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. Glad you did.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done. Funny how the coal shovel is the part you tell us to not believe.
LikeLike
I like that last line. Much to forget and so little time…
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to have a coal shovel, but it never made the move with us. No fireplace here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a big one used to shovel coal into a furnace
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now I feel unprotected from drone attacks. Better stock up on buckshot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would get triple ought.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah! Your partner in crime is getting fussy. Best you get him to pay two weeks in a row…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That might be a good idea. He’s like an old lady anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! Too funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
I might have done the same thing to a blinking drone 🙂 Good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha.
LikeLike
Ha ha ha! That did not leave me stiff. But how can you ever expect us to not believe you carry a coal shovel? With everything that you shovel…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Red Herring I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have a similar security system, John, and if I forget to turn the think off in the morning before walking down the passage in a half coma, it goes off, and a bunch of armed men arrive at the gate. I liked the drone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well my system would have me drop in a hail of bullets if I did that. Those Gatling guns know no mercy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh the fantastic visual images I got from this piece. The ending was a zinger, we all have much to forget … at least around here we do. Thanks John for sharing your gift with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jill
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once again, Lucy and Twiggy are the heroes!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Darlene
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another fabulous Saturday post! And Lucy and Twiggy to the rescue, thank goodness. Otherwise that thing might have knocked over your expensive Ming vase. 🙂 Great use of the prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jan
LikeLike
LOL. No, do not delete the post! You crack me up, John. The “delivery” of the prompt was as good as the SoC. Hugs on the wing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Teagan. Hugs.
LikeLike
Step away from that delete button…that’s better…click publish…job well done. Still waiting for my first drone delivery, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Should be coming by air.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
At least you didn’t drone on about the drone.
Although, now I’ll have to go through a Saturday cartoon character detox.
Also, yes, I didn’t buy the part about the coal shovel. Everything else was perfectly believable, though.
🎼 Beautiful Streamer, 🎶 Stream unto me 🎶 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Loved your song, Resa. Remember one day at a time on the cartoon character stepped program.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just going through the shakes right now!!
Awful!
Hmm, perhaps turning the AC up is a good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah 70 degrees would give anyone the shakes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, the cats looked hot!
We wouldn’t want them to be uncomfortable?
What? You need your pillow fluffed?
Be right there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Bring some tuna while you are coming, Ma.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They prefer trout, Dad!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooops. Here take a Rainbow 🐡
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooo, nice emoji! Thank you! The cats thank you, too.Oh, they say hi to L&T!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Will do.
LikeLiked by 1 person