Keith Channing will be taking some time off, so I will again feature a finger-point prompt. The way it works is I open a book to a random page and then, without looking, point to the page. The word or phrase closest to my pointing finger is it.
Today I opened the sequel to Eternal Road, The Last Drive, and my finger was closest to the phrase “This Ain’t No Game Lady” on page 151. So that is the prompt today. I hope you like the story.
This Ain’t No Game, Lady by John W. Howell © 2023
“Excuse me, sir?”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Can you tell me the way to San Jose?”
“Huh?”
“I got lost on the LA freeway.”
“How did you find me?”
“Good question. There was a bunch of traffic slamming on their brakes, and then the next thing I knew, I’m sitting in your gas station.”
“Why do you need to go to San Jose?”
“I have lots of friends there. Can you help me?”
“Well, the first thing you must understand is this is Ames, Iowa.”
“I really did take a detour then. How far to San Jose then?”
“Let me put San Jose, California, in my phone, and I’ll tell you.”
“Phone? What do you mean, phone?”
“This iPhone here will lay out a map and give the distance.”
“Let me see that.”
“Sure, look over my shoulder. See here. It says San Jose is 1,863 miles from here.”
“I’ve never seen a phone like that before.”
“Wait a minute. A young woman like you must have had five of em by now.”
“I’m serious.”
“That car of yours is brand new, isn’t it?”
“Yes. My daddy bought it for graduation. What does that have to do with anything?”
“That there is a Pontiac GTO convertible.”
“Yes, it is.”
“With a 6.4L 389 cubic inch V8 and M-20 4 speed manual transmission with the Hurst shifter.”
“Well, it is a standard transmission. I don’t know about the rest.”
“What year is it?”
“The car?”
“No, it’s a 1965. The year today?”
“1965. August 10th, 1965.”
“What if I told you it is August 10th, 2023.”
“What kind of game are you playing?”
This ain’t no game, lady. I think you are in serious trouble.”
“Trouble? What do you mean?”
“It doesn’t seem odd to you that you were in Los Angles, and all of a sudden, you show up in Ames 58 years later?”
“I guess to you, it might seem odd. But, to me, it is part of the job.”
“Job? What job?”
“You want to drive my car?”
“What’s going on here?”
“I don’t want to frighten you, but you need to come with me.”
“With you? Where?”
“I knew these disguises wouldn’t work. But no, the boss said it would be easier on the travelers. Look, my last name is Reaper. Some call me Grim, but I prefer Gerri.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Never joke. Do you want to drive or walk? Like you said, ‘This ain’t no game.’ Here take the keys. We’re late.”
Fiction Favorites 
OOPS 😱😱😱
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha ha . Thanks, Chris. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing my post, Michael.
LikeLike
You found a very intriguing part, John. Best wishes, Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michael. Glad you liked it. 😁
LikeLike
Definitely a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
LikeLiked by 2 people
🤣
LikeLike
That’s a dramatic wrong turn, and one with consequences. Great use of the prompt, John. 😮
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. 😊
LikeLike
Uh-Oh, that was definitely a wrong turn!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, GP. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, never saw that coming and I loved it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Craig. I knew you would like and get it. I think you were the muse on this one.😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take, and I love that car!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Noelle. I love it too. Only $89,000 dollars
LikeLike
Maybe I’ll buy two! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
This isn’t Kansas anymore Toto
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one.
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Man, it does not pay to talk to strangers! Run the other way!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quickly I might add. Thanks, Maggie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very late it would appear. And in this instance the ‘smart’ phone is of absolutely no help. There ain’t no app for that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like it for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That took a turn I wasn’t expecting. Great work, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Staci. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Entertaining, well done, dear John 👍
Stay well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, dear F4. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is running away an option?!!! Yikes! That was a good story, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ah. No, running away is not an option. I would take her up on driving that car.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
Nice one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jill.
LikeLike
Actually it sounds like he’s late… as in the late… love a story with DEATH as a character
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you are right. He’s already gone. This DEATH is a knockout too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one, John! She’d better have a ton of money to drive that GTO from Ames to San Jose in 2023.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If you look on Google that puppy costs $85,000 restored. I’ll bet it gets no more than 10 miles to the gallon so we are talking 180 gallons at $3.50 (premium) That’s $630. 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh ho. Not the person you want to run into.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not if you just bought green bananas.
LikeLike
Don’t get in the car! Oh, something tells me he has no choice, eh?
Brilliant story, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think no choice but hey, she’s a knockout and the car’s a classic so ……
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was worried about that. There is that…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes there is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe GPS navigation should not only tell you where to turn, but what year your turning in? Good one, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great idea, Bruce.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear. Great twist, John — sure didn’t see that one coming!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes me happy, Debbie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha! I did not see that coming! Even with all the hints you laid down, I did not see it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like bread crumbs. Sometimes hard to think of the loaf. Thanks, Pam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one, John. But my brother lives in Ames. Maybe next time I visit I’ll suggest we meet in Chicago.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. She’ll find you no matter where you are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, no! This ain’t your Beach Boys’ little GTO!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
A bit of The Last Drive peeking through the story, John, but a Pontiac instead of an Olds. I think you need to be careful if you’re ever invited to ride in a cool vintage car. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I would do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I truly do not know how you come up with these, John, but this is absolutely brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes a fabulous prompt John. I’m glad you brought it back. Loved the results too. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Teagan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice twist at the end, John! Also, great title 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Marie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And just like that–I’m back in their world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yuppers
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like it!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terrific fun John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like it, Teagan. Thanks for letting me know. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry to double comment. Internet was extremely slow today and I didn’t think the first one took.
LikeLiked by 1 person
No problem. I always love your comments.
LikeLike
Absolutely
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁
LikeLike
I would settle for my last drive to be in a car like that… great ending John..hugsx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes indeed. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
My BFF in ’66 lived out in the country, so her dad wanted her to have a car (she’d been driving cars and tractors on the farm since she was a kid.) She was an only child, so her GTO was souped up, and even had pin-striping. Great memories cruising in that car. Great post, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gret car. You can buy a mint condition GTO for $85,000
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person