We finally reach the destination to meet with the boss. Being left alone with duct tape wrist binders, a black cloth bag over my head, and no coffee has me a bit rattled. Trying hard to pick up any sounds that could give me a hint of my whereabouts proves fruitless. There are no sensory clues as to my location other than the air feels quite cold.
My mind immediately takes me to one of those gangster movies where some of the action takes place in a meat packing plant. Hopefully, my position is not in the center of a vast refrigerator filled with aging beef. If it is, the prognosis for a happy ending to this saga will dim considerably.
The pain of caffeine withdrawal reaches a crescendo, and the certainty that one eye is bleeding brings me to hope an interrogation, once started, will be over soon. A confession for a cup of coffee sounds like a good deal at this moment.
A loud metal-to-metal sound of a bolt being thrown open grabs my attention. Echoing steps approach with the authority of one who knows exactly what they are doing. The steps cease, and the warm, exotic scent of another being washes over me. A fist grabs the top of the bag and rips it off along with a few strands of my hair. (What few are up there)
Blinking away the dark, the image of Jessica Rabbit comes into focus. Her pointer finger is on my chest. “I have two messages for you. The first is from Linda Hill. She wants you to know Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘left alone.’ Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”
My words leave my mouth too quickly. “And the second?”
Jessica smiles, and it is evident that the second message will be served up in the manner of an offer that can’t be refused.
If you want to see how others handle the ‘left alone’ prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/06/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-3-2023/
Left Alone by John W. Howell © 2023
“So you leave us hanging again.”
“Well, I have a word count objective.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t think people need to spend all day reading my posts.”
“Okay, but sometimes we could use a little more.”
“And for that, I’m grateful.”
“What is this obsession with the Jessica Rabbit character?”
“It’s not an obsession. I just think she is a fascinating character.”
“Listen to yourself. Left alone, I think you would write a whole book about her.”
“Nonsense. She wants her statue back, and that’s it.”
“So she’s the boss?”
“Looks that way.”
I’m having a hard time with the segway to the VooDoo Ranger.”
“Yeah, I didn’t give you much of a lead-in. Just text Uber and we’ll call it a day.”
“Oh, I already did that. The car is over there.”
“Hold on. Is that a Yugo?”
“If so, it is a collector’s item.”
“Where do you find these drivers?”
“Well, this one is my Uncle Joe.”
“Figures. Any of your relatives have decent cars?”
“Cousin Ralphie has an Edsel.”
Fiction Favorites 
A Yugo! I haven’t seen one of those in forever. We had a Pinto once upon a time, otherwise known as death on four wheels. We didn’t realize we were living on the edge.
Happy Voodoo Day!
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I couldn’t resist bringing in a car that was introduced in 1985. It also took kudos as the worst car ever made. Thanks also Marc for the Voo Doo wish. 😊
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I need to look into Yugos in my area now. Not to buy of course, I’d rather skydive. But yeah . . now I have to know.
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Ha ha ha. See if you can find one that is used for skydiving
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I’ll buy it just to give the thing one last solo flight.
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😁
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My dad bought Pintos until Ford stopped making them. After that, the family car was never the same . . .
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I guess maybe the family car went into upgrade status.
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It was some kind of Datsun, so I’m not sure about the upgrade status.
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Those were good times!
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They sure are! Cars don’t have personality anymore.
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😊
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None! It’s sad.
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😊
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You know it Boss 😉
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So, it’s Not an obsession you have with Jessica? Hah
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No, no it’s not. 😁
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Never knew what a Yugo looked like. Doesn’t look as exciting as I pictured.
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Was butt ugly. 😊
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As long as you’re not behind the wheel after a few VooDoos, we’re good, John. The Edsel was just misunderstood. Good luck with that statue.
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Thank you, Dan. Uber forever
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At least the taxi from Roger Rabbit didn’t show up. He was a maniac.
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Drat. Should have done that.
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A bag over your head and no coffee? *gasp!* Is this Linda’s SoCS or the latest horror movie?
I had to go back and read your post from last week since I wondered how you ended up in the grasp of Jessica Rabbit. I hope you get this resolved, John, without further injury to your caffeine sensibilities.
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Thank you, Mary. Sorry you had to go back. Thanks for doing so though. 😁
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Jessica being the boss sounds appropriate to me. 🙂 I can almost picture her driving an Edsel. I remember when the Edsel was introduced. An Oldsmobile sucking a sour lemon?
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Among other descriptions on the Edsel. Thanks, Tim.
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That description of an Edsel came from my 6th grade teacher. 🙂
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😁
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The last line was perfect! Edsel. 😅 Okay, you might be a bit obsessed with Jessica, but it sure is a great story!
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Thank you so much, Jennie. 😁
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You are welcome, John. 🙂
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Yugo. I hope Jessica’s boss gets the statue back and you get out of that predicament.
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Thank yu, Deborah. I hope to get out of it soon too. I need a cup of joe.
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😀
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😁
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I had to go back and read the last few SoCS episodes but I think I am caught up now. Jessica Rabbit might be a daunting adversary with her wily ways. I would be careful.
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Good advice, Maggie. I will be careful. Send coffee.
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It’s on the way, cleverly packaged a mix of Disney/Spielberg gift wrap.
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Terrific, Maggie. Thank you.
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The tension was building, and then…I like that Jessica Rabbit is the boss. Great turn of events. And I haven’t seen an Edsel in years. Those were some ugly tanks. Happy Saturday, John!
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Thank you, Jan. I like the term ‘ugly tanks’ Happy Saturday as well. 😊
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A Yugo… My goodness, I climbed through my memory archives to get a glimpse of that car. No one in my extended family had one, but I remember the chatter. Have a great weekend, John. It’s sunny and warm here. Perfect for gardening. 🌞
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I hope you are able to get into the garden. Nothing adds to the flavor of scotch like good hard dirt busting. 😁
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🤣
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😊
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This reads so well, John. Gosh, had me shaking in my slippers this morning. 😭 😆 Honestly, a great bit of hanging off my chair reading.
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I’m glad you liked it Audrey. Thanks for telling me so.
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Ha ha ha!! A Yugo and an Edsel in the same post! Maybe next time you could work in a Pacer and a Gremlin.
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That sounds fun, Liz.
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How about a Studebaker with a bad muffler and holes in the floorboard? (A friend of my mother’s had such a vehicle. She had to drive with all the windows down so as not to asphyxiate herself or her passengers.)
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I had a 55 Ford with the same problem. I had a pair of shoes on the floor in the rear and they caught fire from the heat of the exhaust.
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Yikes! The backseat of a VW bug I had caught on fire once. That was exciting.
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Car fills with smoke from the rubber soles and idiot driver still doesn’t get it.
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Oh my word! I was a wee bit concerned and a whole lot flummoxed! You will figure this out, you are after all the author…
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You give me too much credit. I have to contend with the characters too.
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Nothing wrong with being obsessed with something quite sexy 😉 As for the Yugo – man, they were uuuuugly!
Now, don’t tell the Producer, but maybe Jessica has plans of a well, um… yanno kinda sort 😉
Cheers tonight!
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Cheers to you tonight.
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Cheers!
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😊
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VooDoo Ranger never requires a segway! Good one, John. Happy Saturday eve!
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Happy Saturday to you, Jill *sung to the tune of Addicted to Love by Robert Palmer.
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Love this John!
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Thank you, Holly. I’m glad you liked it.
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Very much 😊
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🤗
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🤗
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😀 A great way to answer and introduce the prompt. Not sure I’d want my hair ripped out after being in a bag.
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Not a pleasant thing for sure. Thanks, Chel.
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Awww –
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
As they’re virtual coffees, I thought you could use a few.
Again, my disappointment with emojis – no Jessica Rabbit.
There isn’t even a Betty Rubble!!!!!
🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻🍺🍻 At least there’s beer! …(and a cheer to see what happens next week!)
⨷⨷⨷⨷
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Yes, at least there is beer.
🍺🐂 🍺🐂 🍺🐂 🍺🐂
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Beer should be a tastier drink. It’s so …. beery.
It would take VooDoo to get me to like it!
🐂🐂 🧟♀️🍺🐂🐂
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VooDoo Ranger is Ale and will put hair on your chest. You wouldn’t like it I’m sure. Has that iron horseshoe bitter hop taste. (which I love) 💀⚔️ 💀⚔️ 💀⚔️ 💀⚔️
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Oh my! Voodoo Ranger brings out the heavy metal OXen in you!! 💋
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Bad boy ⭕️❌en
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LOL!
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I had to go back a month for context. 🤣
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🤣 I’m good at that!
I can’t help it! My 2 blogs are on different email addresses, completely remote from each other. have to log in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out…….
🐂🐂🐂🐂
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Aw. 🐂🐂🐂🐂
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Oh dear, John, I am sorry to hear you’ve lost a few precious strands of hair. My husband now gets a discount at the hairdresser because she says its not fair to charge him full price. I thought it was quite funny – Terence, not so much.
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I used to spend more on haircuts but now go to chain places for around $8.00. Give Terence my sympathy. I’m reminded of the time I went into a McDonalds and ordered a coffee. The counter clerk said, “one senior coffee coming up.” The times of our lives. I din’t argue cause it was 35¢ instead of 75¢
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I say take it – you have earned it.
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🤣
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Can’t wait to hear Jessica’s second request, John:)
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Ha ha ha. You are the only one to mention it.
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A bag over your head, wrists bound, no coffee, then Ouch, to the hair being yanked out! Yikes, John! This was a nail-biter! 🙂
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I hope you liked it, Lauren
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Of course, John! Your writing is awesome!
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Aww, you make me blush
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😉
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😊
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