Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Close Up/Close-up”

~ John W. Howell

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

A fresh cup of coffee from Her Majesty The Coffee Queen and the day can begin. It is refreshing to have a close-up and personal relationship with such royalty. After a couple of sips, thoughts turn to the clock. Opening the cabinet door and reaching for the clock means we will be taking a trip. Time to close up the doors and get to it. The clock is set to January 13, 1923. The location is Washington, D.C., and the time is two hours.

No sooner than the plunger is pulled, and we are there. The first stop is Warren Harding’s cabinet meeting, which has been happening for some time. The subject under discussion is whether or not the Post Master of the Grand Canyon is allowed to keep his dog. It seems there is a law against doing so, but the Post Master has appealed to keep him there. The decision reached is to let the President decide. With that, the cabinet meeting is adjourned.

Moving to the House of Representatives, we arrive just in time to hear Representative Upshaw of Georgia, who is attempting to make Washington dry, present evidence to Acting Prohibition Commissioner Jones in which he charged that there was an “official House bootlegger” who had a monopoly in plying his trade in the House office building. Just as the bootlegger is to be named, the alarm goes off, and the living room couch is the landing zone. It looks like 100 years haven’t changed a thing in Washington. My text tone says Linda Hill has sent me one. Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 13th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “close up/close-up.” Use the verbal phrase “close up” and/or the noun/adjective “close-up” somewhere in your post, or write a post in the spirit of the phrase. Have fun!

If you want to see how others handle this prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/01/12/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2024-daily-prompt-jan-13th/

Close Up/Close-up by John W. Howell © 2023

“Well, you got the prompt in.”

“You didn’t like the story?”

“Is it true?”

“All of it. Talk about a waste of time.”

“Sounds like not much happening around Washington ninety-nine years ago.”

“Meanwhile, Hitler is parading around showing off his 5000 brownshirts in protest of the French occupying the Ruir in Germany.”

“Okay, but who knew? Why did you go to 1923? You usually do one hundred years.”

“I made a mistake. It was like filling out a check in the new year and putting last year on it.”

“Yeah, I’ve done that. I hope you didn’t make any more mistakes while you were there.”

“Nope. Kept my hands in my pocket.”

“Good for you. You should get a reward.”

“Paid for by me?”

“Of course.”

“You call Uber?”

“Yup, and he is here.”

“Where?”

Over there.”

“That’s the Halloween bus from Views of the Neighborhood.”

“I know. I loaned it to the Uber driver for a price break.”

“Well, at least it has cold VooDoo Ranger on board.”

“A close-up look will point out a killer sound system.”

“Time to close up the dialogue and get on board.”

“Pubster, here we come.”

86 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Close Up/Close-up””

  2. We’re always saying that D.C. never gets anything done – yet we keep electing those idiots.
    But you can’t beat a ride with a good sound system!

    Liked by 3 people

  8. Good one John, and informative to me. A law prohibiting a Postmaster from having a dog? And trying to get Washington dry during the Prohibition Era? That reinforces my opinion of our lawmakers.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. I need resolution, did they let him keep his dog there?
    I like that old double decker and the color…green is my favorite color. It’s faded and rusted very nicely en mon avis.

    I don’t write too many checks these days, but did prewrite 2024 on a couple of them just so I don’t make that mistake! Full disclosure…I typed 2023 first. 🤷‍♀️😂

    Liked by 1 person

  15. The more things don’t change… I know that’s not how it goes but jeez louise. I think he should have been allowed to keep his dog. Prohibition against booze back then, against too many things to count today and NOT enough for others (read guns…)
    Happy Saturday, dear Sir. We toast you ce soir!

    Liked by 1 person

  21. I remember the bus and love it. 😊 I’ve grown numb about officials accomplishing anything – but I’d take a ride in the bus any day.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. Yes, it seems that bus has seen better daze, except for the sound system…perhaps.
    I know our gov’t works different than yours, but it’s just as paralyzed and idiotic.
    The City of Toronto has banned …. are you ready… TOBOGGANING. Okay only on 45 hills. That’s 1 more than I thought we had.

    I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeHowell!
    👩‍🦰𝖃 👩🏼‍🦱𝖃 👩‍🦳𝖃 👱🏻‍♀️𝖃

    Liked by 1 person

      1. After hockey and sleeping, yes, it’s a national sport. Things are out of whack in the world. Canada’s out of whack is unique… bit of a joke, eh!
        ❦ 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X ❦

        Liked by 1 person

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