In Keith’s words. “Using this photo as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before Sunday evening UK time. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”
The photo.
Sundown by John W. Howell © 2022
“Aye captain. You called?”
“I did Mr. Smyth.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Have you seen any trawls?”
“Excuse me, Sir. Trawls?”
“We have been up and down this coastline all day and not one trawl.”
“I don’t understand, Sir. What are trawls?”
“You’re kidding me, of course.”
“No Sir. I don’t know what you mean by a trawl.”
“This is your first trip, right?”
“Yes, Sir. I joined the crew last Monday.”
“And no one filled you in that we were fishing for trawls?”
“That’s correct. You’re the first to mention them.”
“That’s odd. Oh well, as you were.”
“Can I ask?”
“Sure.”
“What are they?”
“I have no idea.”
“But you said we were fishing for them.”
“We must be.”
“Why’s that?”
“What kind of boat is this?”
“A trawler. . . Oh for heaven’s sake.”
“Yup. Gotcha.”
“No such thing, right?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“So there is a thing called a trawls.”
“I have no idea.”
“Got me again, right?”
“Yup. Maybe you should go below. Don’t tell the crew.”
“I think they already know.”
“Could be.”
“You do this with the new guy.”
“Every time.”
“Trawler humor?”
“And not much to do.”
Bahahaha!
Whatever gets you through the day. Go with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point. Thanks, Pilgrim. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I reckon a Trawl is just a Troll with a southern drawl. Though why you’d be fishing for them beats the hell out of me. 😀 Nice one, John.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Keith. I really liked that photo. Reminded me of some time spent in Alabama on Dauphin Island. Those trawler were almost in the living room.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hanks, John. As I recall, the photo was taken looking north across Dubai Creek sometime between 1977 and 1979. It’s changed a bit since then!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say it has.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In the tradition of the left-handed monkey wrench. Well done!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha ha. You are the best, Liz.😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, shucks . . . 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too funny, John, even had to look up trawl, because I thought I must be wrong. Then I realized you just were having fun. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. On my stuff you have to wait for it. Usually the silliness shows up at the end. Thanks, Gwen. Yu gace me quite a smile this morning. 😁
LikeLike
😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLike
Ya gotta pass the time some way, eh? You’re the one with the funny bone, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could see the old salt having fun with the new crew member. Thanks, GP
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hazing the new guy. Always fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see the captain with a cup of coffee and a pipe doing his thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A totally believable skit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Charles.
LikeLike
What is the best size net when trawlsing for humor ? Oh and the lookout reported one about 10 minutes ago. It was near the horizon off the leeward side. It was being pursued by a flock of snipes… mercilessly I might add.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There ought to be some controls on those pesky snipes. 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one, John. 🙂 I can picture the captain enjoying hazing the newbee, too. Fishing for verbs?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Thanks, Tim.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe he was an English teacher before he captained the trawler?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think he started summers during school breaks and then retired. He is actually a professor of English from Harvard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I worked on a ship, I’d appreciate a captain with that sense of humor… even at my expense. Fun story, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Staci. I thnk I would like the guy too. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the new guy was destined to go through this initiation. Sounds to me like this isn’t the first newbie the captain has “welcomed aboard.”⚓
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are right, Bruce. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicely done, John. A sense of humor (on both sides) makes a new guy relax. Pretty picture, too — the water looks like caramel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Might be oil floating on top. (just kidding)😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laughing out loud at this one. It reminds me of snipe hunting. 🙂 Good one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing that, Jan. Snipe hunting was always fun.
LikeLike
That was fun to see a captin with some humor!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it was. Thanks, Denise.
LikeLike
HaHaHa! Too much time and too few trawls.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. Thanks, Pamela.
LikeLiked by 1 person
*snort*
LikeLike
When the trawlers aren’t biting whatcha gonna do? 🤣🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is a good point. What are you going to do?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Patterned my way through this one, John. Very nice. ♡
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Audrey
LikeLike
Messing with the new guy seems to come with the territory.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does. Thanks, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Next he’ll have him searching for a Kraken, lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
A snipe hunt at sea. Good job, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Dan
LikeLiked by 1 person
I grew up in AK where trawling was a thing. My dad came from OK, and in his accent, I heard “trolling,” so for YEARS I thought “trawling” was “trolling.”:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see how that would be confusing. Thanks, Priscilla,
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope the new recruit has been offered counselling and there’s a safe space for him to… oh, sorry this is a John Howell story.. Forget what I said…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, that would never happen.
LikeLike
Haha! The newbie gets the ‘treatment’.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As is the custom. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person