Today, I randomly opened Circumstances of Childhood to page 177 and pointed to the page with my eyes closed. Under my finger is the word ‘recognized.’ Our prompt.
Recognized by John W. Howell © 2024
“Why the clown mask. You going to a party?”
“I don’t want to be recognized.”
“By whom?”
“That guy standing by the tree.”
“Who is he?”
“I have no idea, but he’s been there for a while.”
“What makes you think he has any interest in you?”
“Just a feeling.”
“You think he won’t notice the clown mask?”
“At least he won’t know it’s me.”
“Have you been into the marijuana again? You sound paranoid.”
“No, I haven’t. Just look at the guy, though.”
“Okay, what am I looking for?”
“Notice the hat.”
“Yeah. What about it?”
“Says John Deere.”
“So?”
“Check the jacket.”
“Yeah.”
“Down filled.”
“Okay.”
“Now look at that shotgun.”
“I didn’t see that before. Yikes, I know what you mean. ”
“Yeah, it’s hunting season, and that is a hunter.”
“From one pheasant to another, let me tell you something.”
“What?”
“That clown mask won’t fool him for a minute.”
“I guess you are right. My tail feathers are a dead giveaway. I think I’ll just stay in today.”
“Good decision. Me too.”
Fiction Favorites 
Good call stay home… you’re a dead giveaway. Ha 😂
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Good advice. 😁
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I’d think twice about shooting any animal wearing a clown mask. Creepy.
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Ha ha ha. I do too.
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I’m with Charles. If I was that hunter, I’d run fast and far from a pheasant wearing a clown mask 😁 Then again, if the hunter were Elmer Fudd 🤔
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I guess I would run too. Thanks, Marie.
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Good idea to lay low for a few weeks. Besides, the clown mask would cause me to shoot first and check species later.
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I think the clown mask was a huge mistake for him to try in retrospect. Thanks, Dan
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I was looking for the line, “Quit clowning around.” Great line like that and nowhere to be found. 😆🤡
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Aw. If only I had thought of that I would have score big. As it is, meh.
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Oh, no. Not meh at all. I was thinking of Elmer Fudd. The pheasant? BIG score!
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Funny, I was thinking of Elmer Fudd too!
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Great minds, GP!
Are you in the impact area of Milton? Dan and I were talking about you yesterday–all good stuff!
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We’re in the tropical storm warning area, winds up to 65mph expected. We’re keeping an eye on it and will finish hunkering down this morning.
Thank you for thinking of us, Lois. Give my best to Dan!
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Thanks for the information, GP.
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Hmmm.
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Yes, it’s smart for pheasants to avoid the hunters if they can. When a hunter has a pointer with him it’s hard to avoid him.
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A pointer is tough to avoid unless you have some smelly cheese.Of course where is a pheasant going to get smelly cheese?
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Ha! Ha! Yep. Those tail feathers give you away every time. Good one, John.
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Like waving a red flag. Thanks, Jan.
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Argh! You fooled me again! Love the pheasant in clown mask disguise.
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I live to fool you, Liz. I hope you know that. 😁
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Yes, I do believe the light has dawned. 😁
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Ah good.
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Staying home sounds like a great idea!
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The best idea. Thanks, Denise.
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haha, but he didn’t have to be a pheasant to be wary of the shotgun, John! Love the story!
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Yes that is true, GP.
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Sounds like the mask is a good first start to a successful costume to avoid that lurking hunter. If he stutters, you may be ok, otherwise, I’d look for some pants.
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Ha ha ha. Love that comment.
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Wise old bird! I’d kind of like to have seen him trying to wrestle into that clown mask, though.
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Would have been worth some laughs. Thanks, Debbie.
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Oh, that is a surprising feathery fun finish! An unrecognizable one! 😁
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Well you know those Pheasants. Hard to fool.
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ha! Yes, unlike fowl who are easy to fool. 🐓
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KFC is loaded with them.
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😱
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😁
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Poor pheasants….’tis the season. Great dialogue, John – and the feathers are “a dead giveaway.” Bravo! 🪶🪶🪶🪶
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Thank you, Gwen. I pictured the pheasant in a clown mask and raincoat. The feathers stuck out the back. Dead give-a-way. 😁
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TOO funny!
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Thanks, Noelle.
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Say this aloud three times for your own protection. Don’t mess it up or it might not work: I’m not a pheasant plucker, I’m a pheasant plucker’s son, but I’ll pluck pheasants ‘till the pheasant plucking’s done.
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Ha ha ha. Read this after a glass of wine. Fail.
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Yes it would seem like an excellent day to call off from work and just stay under the covers. Because the alternative . . . nope.
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I didn’t expect that. That was funny. I’ve hunted pheasants (not with Dick Cheney) but I was not dressed like that. But I guess if you want to look professional.
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Yes looking good while hunting is important. Thanks, Thomas.
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Haha! I’ve always thought the company slogan “Nothing runs like a Deere” was brilliant.
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I think it is pretty brilliant too. Thanks, Pete.
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Great job on the prompt, and funny!
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😁
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