Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Blanket

~ John W. Howell

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

The long wait is over. The Columbian soothin’ syrup fills the mug, and the aroma of those poor masticated beans covers the air like a blanket. Should we feel sorry for the beans? They were ripped off their bush home and forced into bags, held deep in the hold of a ship, only to emerge in a strange country. They were then run through the most brutal grinder, doused with boing water, and disposed of with the moniker “dregs.” The first sip of my coffee tells me to be thankful, not sorry.

The clock is set for Saturday, November 15. The location is St. Louis, and the time is one hour. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves in the courthouse.

We hear the jury read guilty verdicts for nine members of the St. Louis-based “Egan’s Rats” gang of bank robbers who were convicted of robbery of a mail truck and each sentenced to 25 years incarceration in a federal prison. Over five years between 1919 and 1924, Egan’s Rats, founded by Willie Egan and later led by Dint Colbeck, stole almost $4.5 million worth of cash and property, including the heist of $2.4 million from an armored mail truck on April 2, 1923. The convictions ended the organization, which had employed over 300 people over 35 years.

As the judge leaves the bench, our alarm goes off, and we flop back on the couch. A text comes in from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “blanket.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Lnda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/11/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-16-2024/

Blanket by John W. Howell © 2024

“That was an obscure blanket of history.”

“Yes, it was. Very interesting, though.”

“I guess running a criminal enterprise for 35 years has to be a record.”

“Oh, I don’t know. The US Congress has been at it for 248 years.”

“Well, catching them must have been some fine sleuthing.”

“I would say so. Speaking of sleuthing.”

“Uber is over there.”

Photo by Dan Antion

“A custom pick-up.”

“Yeah, she’s a beaut.”

“Looks like we can all fit.”

“That is a bonus for sure.”

“Shotgun.”

“Of course. I’m paying, and you call shotgun.”

“Okay, I’ll take the middle.”

“Good decision.”

68 thoughts on “Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Blanket”

  22. Interesting gangland history. Thanks, John!

    My step father’s great, great (not sure of the # of greats) uncle, Frank McCowan, rode with the Dalton gang in the late 1800’s. According to my step dad.

    Anyway, they may have had blankets. Probably had blankets. Who doesn’t have a blanket?

    This is not a blanket comment, although there are blankets in it.

    🐂 🐂 🐂

    Git along little dogies!

    Liked by 1 person

  28. I’m laughing out loud and Hubby asks what’s so funny. Telling him that Congress has been running a criminal enterprise for 248 years (and the Egan’s Rats backstory) was a hilarious moment – wish you had been there. I do feel sorry for the coffee beans…sort of.

    Like

Comments are closed.