This morning is cappuccino morning. The machine receives its command, and the grinding, whirring sounds bring joy to the heart. There it is—a beautiful 8 oz cup of frothy goodness. One sip and a wipe of the foam mustache prepare one for the clock. The clock is set for April 11, 1925. The location is Moscow, and the duration is half a day. A pull of the plunger has us standing watching two ceremonies.
The Metropolitan (Bishop) Peter of Krutitsy (Pyotr Fyodorovich Polyansky) was installed as the new Patriarch of Moscow and leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, on the same day as the funeral for his predecessor, Patriarch Tikhon of Moscow. Tikhon’s funeral in Moscow was the last major public Russian Orthodox Church event and the last major religious event in the Soviet Union for over 60 years. Peter, identified in Tikhon’s will as one of three potential successors, was selected by the council of 59 bishops because “the first two were already in prison.” Peter himself was confined to prison in December 1925 by the Bolsheviks and eventually executed on October 10th, 1937.
Our stay in Moscow is beginning to draw some attention, and the alarm saves us from getting into a jam with the NKVD secret police. We are back on the couch with a text message from Linda Hill. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “jam.’” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/04/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-12-2025/
Jam by John W. Howell © 2025
“Wow, you got out of there at the right time.”
“I should say. In the Bolshevik era, being different wasn’t very good.”
“Well, at least you didn’t get into a jam. What would happen if you were arrested while you ate on a time jaunt/”
“When the alarm goes off, I would disappear.”
“What if they took the clock from you?”
“It would be hard for them to turn off the alarm so it would still go off, and I would still disappear.”
“You make this stuff up as you go along?”
“Yeah, of course. I write fiction, remember.”
“I keep forgetting.”
“Maybe a Voo Doo Ranger will help you remember.”
“Now, there is a down-to-earth suggestion.”
“Give Uber a call.”
“Already did. He’s over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Hey, wait a minute. That’s a meat wagon.”
“Oh, come on. We three will fit in the front.”
“But why a meat truck?”
“He’s making a delivery right by the pub and not charging much.”
“What’s the catch?”
“We have to help with the side of beef at the grocery.”
“How much of a side of beef?”
“Only 250 pounds.”
“Only?”
“Divide that by three, and it’s not so much. Here, put on this white coat and hair net.”
“Gloves?”
“Oh, yeah, they are in the truck.”
“How do I get myself into these messes.”
“You’re a fiction writer, remember. Let’s go.”
Fiction Favorites 
You got yourself in a jam and then you wiggled your way out of a jam. Just like . . . the Boss. As for that Uber, this story gets meatier all the time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha ha. Love this comment, Pilgrim. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m here all Sunday! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t forget to tip your server.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLike
It’s sure good you left, John. The NKVD might have arrested you for unknown reasons.
Delivering all of that beef would work. 83 pounds is heavy to me now.
Voo Doo Ranger helps one’s memory?
LikeLiked by 2 people
VooDoo Ranger helps with everything. A couple of those, and you can lift twice the 83 pounds. Thanks, Tim
LikeLiked by 2 people
Both informative and utterly unpredictable, John. Nice!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Pat. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😁🤓🥳
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
White coat, hairnet and glove….a mental image to hold onto.😆
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha ha. Not my best outfit or look. Thanks, Lois.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very inventive and clever, John. A meat wagon. I do have an image in my head of you in a white coat, hairnet and gloves, but each of you would struggle with that amount of meat – 83 plus pounds each? I hope Tiny is the driver!
LikeLiked by 2 people
A good idea about Tiny, except his social skills wouldn’t allow him to drive for Uber.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never know where you’re going with your stories. Didn’t expect that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Smetimes they take a different turn. Thanks for putting up with me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a pleasure! I always enjoy your stories 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like a decent trade to me about carrying the side of beef. Afterward, the pint at the pub will be even more welcoming 🌞
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you should go along with us, Dave.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to get out of there in time, John. I hate thinking about you in Siberia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not good in salt mines for sure.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes me want to look up more about the Bolshevik era. I know very little about it, but I’ve heard it in various stories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The church went through a big purge for certain.
LikeLike
Where do fiction writer’s come from, John?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t a clue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gosh, John, it is rather shocking to read this about the Russian Orthodox Church leaders. I must have realised this was the case, but I hadn’t ever thought about it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
If you were a member of the clergy during those times, there was a high probability you would be killed. World War II and the invasion of Russia by Hitler ended the persecution.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you are right, John. History is so awful, isn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes it is, Robbie.
LikeLike
💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
😂 The things fiction writers get themselves into. 👍🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and sometimes it is tough to get out of the jam, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, and if we only get one call, it’s to our editor. 😁😂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good point. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol! You are good at getting into messes. 🙂 Maybe you could slice off a couple of steaks when no one’s looking. 🙂 After all, you said it. It is fiction.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good idea, Jan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is a good idea for sure. 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Since it is fiction, I would love to do that since I haven’t had beef since 1996
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fiction writers are masters of getting in and out of jams. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
So it would appear, Laura. 😂
LikeLike
I think it would be easier to walk for the Voo Doo Ranger than wrestle a side of beef.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There has to be something you could beer braise on that truck. All you need is a fire.
LikeLiked by 1 person
!00 proof bourbon and a match will do it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way to dish up a great stream of jam, John. Well done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Monika. Also, I just discoved that your replies to my comments on your posts do not come back to my notifications. I’m going to investigate, but if I missed a comment or didn’t send a “like” on your replies , it was not intentional. Love WP.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for letting me know. So sorry. WP is very vexing of late. Grr.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is. I figured it out, and now you are back in my notifications again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hurrah! Thanks, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I laughed out loud at the last line! Well done, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
from scary and dangerous atmosphere to riding in a meat waggon dressed like a butcher!
.You are no ordinary writer John you are an ace writer 👀💜💜💜
LikeLike
AW. Thank you, Willow. This is a lovely compliment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
well it’s true 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤗 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person