In Keith’s words.
“Using this photo (below) 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.”
You can visit Keith’s post. Here’s the link. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2024/01/01/kreative-kue-413/
The photo.
Chores by John W. Howell © 2023
“Uncle Trevor. What are you doing up there?”
“Just doing my chores, son.”
“Chores?”
“Yup. Mom told Me I should be more useful around the house.”
“I hate to mention this, but we’re dogs.”
“Oh, I know fully well what we are. That doesn’t stop Mom from wanting a little help.”
“What about the upright white-haired one?”
“Dad? Come on, he’s busy with his writing and art.”
“So it is up to you to help out?”
“That’s right. I wouldn’t plan on overstaying your welcome either ’cause you might be in the same pickle.”
“Yeah, I’m leaving tomorrow. Let me ask you a question.”
“Shoot.”
“How are you going to put away the dishes? You have no thumbs.”
“Put away the dishes?”
“That’s what you are doing, right?”
“Oh, heck no.”
“What then.”
“I just chased a gopher into the open dishwasher, and I’m trying to get it out.”
“A gopher? How did one of those get in the house?”
“Through a hole in the screen.”
“And you saw it come in?”
“Not exactly. I had it in my mouth and came through the door. I wanted to show Mom how handy I was.”
“You said there was a hole.”
“Not before I came through.”
“She’s going to love this.”
“Sush. I see him.”
Fiction Favorites 
That’s an interesting take on the prompt, John. I just had to look up gopher – it’s not something we see in Europe. The nearest I’ve seen to that is a Prairie Dog – and that was in a zoo!
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Originally I had a mouse, but decided a dog wouldn’t go for a mouse. So, I Americanized the photo and the gopher was featured. The epilogue to the story is when the owner shows up to empty the dishwasher and Trevor is not able to capture the gopher. I can see standing on a chair and a lot of yelling for help.
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Trevor’s favourite quarry (apart from small birds which, despite his very best efforts, he never managed to catch) was common lizards – 3″ body and 3″ tail. He did occasionally try to hunt mice and rats, but I think he’d rather leave that to the cats, which he would chase and collect yet another swipe across the nose!
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Those swipes on the nose seem to carry no learning
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LOL! That was a great story to go with the amazing photo. Those gophers are sneaky little things. If we had a dishwasher that would be Dot trying to get the last of the turkey bits!
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Ha ha ha. Lucy was a big grazer in the dishwasher. Twiggy is too short. Thanks Darlene.
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I’ve seen enough Looney Tunes and Caddyshack to know that you don’t mess with gophers. Poor dog.
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For sure. Thanks, Charles.
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Oh, Trevor, you’re in big trouble now.
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Can you imagine? 😁
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Heh, heh . . .
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Mom just might not go pher this one….
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You are getting better. 😁
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So much so that two fingers is starting to sound like a survivable possibility. To quote the fab 4 it has been a long cold lonely winter and throw in Shakespeare to cover the discontent… who knew two fingers could thin the blood that much… or should I blame it on the blood ?
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I think the blood is to blame. Now wonder you became ill. The dose is Three fingers.
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I wish. With the blood thinner anything over two and I am over thinned. At this point I am moving back towards two with a gradual approach. Still positive word moving back towards. Yesterday was a step and and a sip in the right direction…
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Excellent.
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BAHAHAHAHA!! That’s funny. Thanks for my first laugh of the day, John.
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Always happy to be the one, Deborah. Thanks for letting me know.
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Things will get out of hand.
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Will give meaning to the word mayhem . Thanks, Craig.
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haha, you have a unique gift to be funny this early in the morning, John!
I was thinking that it’s about time Rover remembered that Tuesday was his day to do the dishes.
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Good one GP. I started the story with a similar idea on a chore list but it just evolved to where it ended up. 😁
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This is great, John. I’d hate to see that dishwasher after Trevor makes his move on the gopher. Thanks for starting this day with a laugh.
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Thanks, Dan. I’m glad you liked it. 😊
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LOL. I thought maybe he was doing the prewash on the plates. Getting rid of the gopher is something I’d definitely want help with. Now to fix the screen. 🙂
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The poor screen 😁
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My Maggie loved helping me with the dishes. I got where I just let her lick away. Very cute story, John, gopher and all! 😄
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Thank you, Gwen. I’m glad you liked it. Lucy was our washer grazer. Twiggy is too short. 😁
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I love stories from the dog’s perspective. Sally Cronin did that so well with her dog, Sam. I think you have the voice for this!
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Thank you, Jacqui. Nice to have you visit.
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LOL This was funny! I loved it. 😀
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So glad, Kymber.
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haha! The ending I did not expect!
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I am committed to giving you endings that you won’t expect. Thanks, Lois.
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Thanks for the smiles, John. 😊 A dog will go through the screen sometimes, going after some animal on the front porch. It must be a four-legged gopher, since a two-legged one wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher. 😁
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Two legged ones are almost extinct anyway. Thanks, Tim
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A gopher in the dishwasher is definitely worth a look under any circumstances.🙂
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Imagine the surprise if Trevor can’t find it. 1. The gopher in the wash cycle 2. The owner upon opening the door.
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🤣
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😊
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Hee,hee…and here I thought the help was more along the lines of a pre-rinse.
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That was Lucy in a nutshell. She loved to give the dishes a once over. I had to be careful in keeping food that was bad for dogs off the plates. Now and then if things were sparce I’d give her a peanut butter smear.
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HHAHAHAHAH!!!
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Glad you liked it, Pam.
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Methinks someone is going to be in trouble, LOL.
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Methinks you are so right, Mae.
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Love it! hahahahaha
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So glad you did. Thanks for letting me know.
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Hahaha!!!
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Glad you got a laugh, Jennie
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Me, too!
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😊
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*snort* Sometimes your dialogues remind me of Abbott and Costello … remember those two? I loved watching their “Who’s on first” act 🙂
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I do remember those two. Thanks, Marie.
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Bahahaha. Love the cascade of punch lines!
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Bahahaha! I love this cascade of pinch lines!
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Punch.
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Got it. 😊
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Thank you, Luanne
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How foolish of me to think he was helping to clean the dishes… Methinks there will be heck to pay…
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Me thinks you are so right. Especially when a frightened gopher jumps out at the mistress.
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Oh boy! Mistress would NOT be pleased!!
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No indeed.
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😎
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You are a delight, John. Thanks for these smiles. Hugs.
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Glad you like it, Teagan
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I have a dishwasher I never use and now? I feel pretty good about that fact.
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Yes you never know what will jump out of there.
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Eeesh!
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Run, Pilgrim, run. 🤣
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Gone!
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How sweet and wholesome. 🥹❤️ Mommy’s little helper.
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Indeed
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