Wow! The speed of the coffee delivery this morning was nothing short of outstanding. It appears the coffee machine has developed a way to sense the urgency of the need for caffeine. It responds at a speed necessary to prevent a total collapse of the host. It is very logical for AI to continually adapt to its surroundings. It figures that if something happened to me, like a total caffeine meltdown, there would be no attendant to keep its vitals up.
A sip of the miracle brew brings to mind the clock. Reaching for it is interrupted by the way-too-loud interference of the Westminster chime of the doorbell. This cacophony is joined by the eardrum-shattering warnings of Twiggy and Tempest. Before a brain bleed begins, a toss of two marrow bones into the soundproof bunker and a slam of the ten-inch door bring peace to the household.
The security system must be deactivated before opening the front door and addressing the visitor. Before that, though, the SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. The control panel makes the shutdown of the security system process simpler. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gattling guns disengaged, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, the IUDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The locks on the door are thrown. A look at the security system camera shows a short guy who looks like a hunter. He is carrying an ominous-looking shotgun.
Thinking twice about opening the door, a call is made to him through the loudspeaker. He responds that he is looking for a wrascally wabbit. “No wabbits here,” is the reply. He states he has a Linda Hill message and holds up an envelope. “Just drop it on the porch.” He shrugs and tosses the message into the air and, with all the smoothness of a seasoned skeet shooter, blows the envelope to Kingdom Come. Punching the skunk scent button does the trick, and the hunter disappears down the street.
There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads: “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “exclamation.’” Add an exclamation mark to your title or the first word/sentence of your post, and just keep writing. Have fun!”
To know what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2025/04/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-19-2025/
Exclamation! by John W. Howell © 2025
“Amazing!”
“What?”
“That skunk scent button.”
“I find it effective to eliminate folks without causing permanent harm.”
“But very unpleasant.”
“Beats boiling oil.”
“You got me there.”
“So why no clock?”
“As you saw, I got interrupted.”
“Well, that’s what you wrote. There must have been a reason.”
“Yeah, it was another slow day 100 years ago. Only the funding of Colo-Colo, Brazil’s football club.”
“That’s interesting.”
“Yeah, but there wasn’t an event. Just a bunch of guys saying, ‘Okay, we have a club.’
“I’ll bet they had a few drinks, though.”
“No VooDoo Ranger.”
“Why?”
“VooDoo Ranger was launched in 2017 by New Belgium Brewing.”
“Makes your mouth water, doesn’t it?”
“Call Uber.”
“Already did. It’s over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Where’s the driver?”
“He was arrested for drunk driving.”
“Well, that’s just great. If we don’t get a driver, we could have the same fate.”
“Relax. One is on the way.”
“How long?”
“Here he is now.”
“Why is he dressed like that?”
“Like a race car driver, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“Maybe he likes to be safe.”
“What about us?”
“There are seat belts.”
“Yikes!”
Fiction Favorites 
Since there is no law “Drunk riding while in the back seat”, I think I’d have a few belts before getting in That car!
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I agree. Especially when the driver is dressed for a Formula One race.
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Please not, John! You can’t drink in tranquility when the driver dreams of winning a race. Lol – Happy Easter to you and all indahouse. xx Michael
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You are very wise, Michael. 😀
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❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗
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Talk about exclamation marks. 😀
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Wow!
I decided to get my exclamation point out of the way early so as not to upset the host of this Saturday morning event. It seems your process in the leadup to this challenge is stressful enough. Thank God for marrow bones, am I right?
That car has seen better days and hopefully the replacement driver doesn’t test the limits of this vehicle, so you guys can have better days ahead as well. But I gotta say, the limits seem built in when it comes to this ride.
Salud!
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It looks like a four-banger to me, so I think we will be okay. 😀
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LOL
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Dear John
We would go for a discount on this car.
Happy bargaining
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I think they should pay us. Thanks, F4oC
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Indeed!
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I was waiting for that guy ‘Mayhem’ from State Farm, Allstate, whatever to be your driver. He is cute and funny, so the advert is lost on me. But looks like this car didn’t pay attention to mayhem…like him!
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What a good idea. I wish I had thought of that, Lois. 😀
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Skunk scent defense seems both effective and cruel.
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Ha ha ha. Totally works.
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Kill the waaabit, kill the waaabit!!!
Sorry, I’m surprised he wasn’t singing that at your door because it’s sure in my head.
I think perhaps that you should just walk to your next Voodoo Ranger. Seriously.
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Or thumb a ride. At least we can see what’s coming and pull the thumb in if it looks like this heap. Thanks, Mary.
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John,
Love the addition of the skunk scent. Adds just a nice touch. as you know, I love the deactivation process. It keeps getting better and better. Well done.
Tom
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Gotta work in A10 Wart Hogs somehow. Thanks, Tom.
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lol John you made the mark today! The exclamation mark ❗❗❗💜
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Thank you so much, Willow. 😊
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A pleasure 💜
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😊
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You brought rout all the laughing stops here John! A lot to go through all in a morning . Thank god for bones, coffee and skunks 😂🦨 !
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Yes, bones, coffee, and skunks 😂🦨 ! The trifecta of survival. Thanks, Cindy
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Hahahaha exactly!! 😂
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😀
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It’s good that you got a text with the prompt, John, and the skunk button got rid of Fudd. Yes, you better wear the seat belts.
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Having that guy blow up my letter was a felony, too. I’m glad I did get the backup text. Thanks, Tim
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Is the soundproof bunker new?
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Yes, it was used a couple of weeks ago, but is now a standard.
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John, your imagination was on hyperdrive here.
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Yeah, there was something about the air on Friday
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You n an besides the skunk scent?
🦨🦨🦨
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Ha ha ha. Yes, other than the skunk scent.
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Hahahaha! This is one of your very best, John. The multilevel cacophony of the intro is nothing short of amazing. Well done, Maestro! Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs
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Doesn’t look like your driver can get too fast in that heap. Remember what Dale Earnhardt said, “God created bumpers and bumpers were made for bumping”. Happy Easter and have a great weekend, John.
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Thank you, Dan. Happy Easter to you as well.
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I’ll make sure to give you one week’s notice before I come knocking on your door to say hello! 🙂
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That would be great. Thanks, Pamela.
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🙂
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I’m so glad you are going to visit. 😀
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Wabbits, eh?
Although appropriate for Easter, disturbing.
There have been a lot of “fake” Wabbits around here lately, most disturbing.
Watch out for this one! 🐰X 🐰X
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Yes, disturbing is the right word. Thanks for showing it, though. 🐰X 🐰X
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🐰X 🐰X🐰X 🐰X
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😀X
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We need some skunk defense at our house, John. 😀 I think it would be very effective!
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I think so too. Thanks, Kymber
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PS. The skink scent repellant sounds good. Did you get it from Pepe?
Does it come in bulk?
O🦨 O🦨
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Yes, Pepe sells it by the 1/2 gallon 😂X
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OH goody!
🥴X 🫠X 🤪X
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I’ve sent you two gallons. 😀X
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😶🌫️X
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👃🏻
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“The Pew Factor”, Pepe’s latest book.
Should be on the shelves in the sniff of a nose!
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It is a scratch and sniff edition.
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lol!! I love all the gadgets you write in for security. Funny stuff!
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Thank you, Deborah
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Maybe you’ll get to the pub that much faster with the new driver.
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Or roll over trying. 😀
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lol John.. and I want some of that Skunk scent… it would go with my shillelagh we have hanging by the front door… and buckle up… xxx
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That would be an excellent deterrent. The belt is on. Thanks, Sally.
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Awesome! And, then some.
Heading out for a Starbucks Dark Roast to clear my head from that VooDoo Ranger you set up for me the other day.
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It does take a while, Steve. 😀
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🍺
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Hang on to your shirts guys. Great job on today’s prompt.
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Looks like we might need new shirts when it’s all over.
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Now I can’t remember the name of the hunter in those cartoons. Darn. A very good yarn, John.
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Elmer Fudd. Thanks, Robbie.
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I like the sound of that skunk repellant, John, and seat belts or not, I’ll pass. 😂
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Don’t blame you at all.
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😁
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😊
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You were on a roll, John. From skunk scent to the Uber was one of your best!
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So glad you liked it, Jennie. 😊
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😀
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