Saturday morning coffee is not a simple item that one wants. It is a crucial part of living that one needs to survive. A steaming cup with a bit of half and half is all that is necessary to continue down life’s path. Reaching for the half and half, a strange feeling came over me. The carton was too warm, and one sniff told me that the use of this would curl my hair. Then it hit me. Not only was coffee without half and half a catastrophic event, but something was obviously wrong with the chiller.
Holding my nose and taking the first sip was interrupted by the familiar Westminster chime of the doorbell. The Hounds of Hell took up their ear-bursting refrain and were redirected by a fresh knucklebone tossed into the soundproof room. Slamming the door brought the sound of silence, which spread like a relief wave over the household. Checking the windows for cracks brought me to the security monitor. Sure enough, centered in the view was a big-eared elephant. “You look like Dumbo,” was my greeting through the intercom.
“Letter for Mr. John,” was the reply. To prevent shutting down the security system, the suggestion was made to drop the letter on the porch. The elephant was having none of that. A mouse in his hat held up a sign. We work for tips. Heaving a sigh, the security system shutdown process has begun. The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.
“Here’s your tip.” Handing the elephant a bag of peanuts and the mouse a wedge of cheddar, they smiled and, in turn, gave me the letter. The elephant started flapping his ears. Before long, both were airborne and out of sight.
The letter is from Linda Hill and reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “curl.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/07/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-12-2025/
Curl by John W. Howell © 2025
“Well, that was a mess.”
“What do you mean?”
“Warm half and half?”
“I just wrote that because then I could use the word curl.”
“Which is the prompt?”
“Correct.”
“A cheap way to do it.”
“Huh?”
“I mean, come on. You made up the story about the half and half. Feels like cheating.”
“Okay, Einstein. Tell me what part of this post is not made up?”
“Um. I think you have me. Time to curl our fingers around a nice cold VooDoo Ranger.”
“Sure, change the subject, why don’t you? Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Wow, a 1972 Chevy Camaro Z28. Now we are talking.”
“I thought you would like it. I’ll sit in the back.”
“That’s nice of you. So there is always one thing. What is it with this car?”
“Nothing really. All we have to do is pay for gas.”
“Oh, that’s doable.”
“I thought so. Of course, it burns Nitro-methane.”
“How much does that cost?”
“$45.00 a gallon.”
“I almost hate to ask the mileage on this beast.”
“We won’t be going top end, so I would say 5 miles to the gallon.”
“That’s 90 bucks just to get there.”
“But in style, my man, and very quickly.”
“I have a headache.”
“A couple of Voo Doo’s will fix that.”
Reminder
Fiction Favorites 
Dear John
We had never heard of a car that runs on Nitro-methane. Where do you get this expensive stuff?
Besides this, it’s a beautiful car.
Wishing you a lot of fun with it and hope that it doesn’t ruin you
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
There’s a gas station in Springfield, MA (not far from where I live) that sells Sunoco Racing Fuel as well as Nitro.
LikeLiked by 3 people
We don’t know any place selling Racing Fuel where we live.
LikeLiked by 2 people
😊
LikeLike
This one is in between two race tracks. A drag strip in New York, and a small NASCAR series track in Connecticut.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There you go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is amazing. Usually, it is only on the drag strip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This station is fairly close to a small drag strip in New York.
LikeLiked by 2 people
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
The drag racers here in the US use Nitro. In a 1/4 mile, they burn 15 gallons (56.7 liters)
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice of Dumbo to give Timothy a ride – it’s a lot cheaper than your Uber!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would say so. Thanks, GP.
LikeLiked by 2 people
An expensive ride, but it would be fun. Was it Yosemite Sam you stiffed on a tip? I hope he doesn’t hear about tipping the elephant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think so. Told him to stay away from black holes. He was not happy. I hope he doesn’t hear as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never seen racing fuel sold at a gas station near me. You would think here in NV it would be sold somewhere though.
You used today’s word quite nicely. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Deborah. Mostly at racetracks, but Dan has a station in his neck of the woods that sells it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d pay $45.00 a gallon just to sit in the car and rev the engine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Good use of the Nitro, Lois.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Put the car in neutral and push it to the bar?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Good resolution and thirst builder.
LikeLike
First off, John, you have far too many security measures to protect the coffee and your made-up stories. Although…I wouldn’t mind if Shemar Moore came to my door in his SWAT fatigues. Just sayin…
The Camaro was my dream car when I was young and couldn’t afford one. Now I don’t know if I could easily get in and out of one. ;-p
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I might have the same problem of getting in and out. Might have to stay a week. Thanks, Mary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
“We work for tips” made me smile. Thanks for that this morning.
Did you add more to your security ? It seems to me there is something else but I can’t spot it. Anyway, ditch the half and half. Coffee black for me !!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The proton torpedo is new. Got it at the second-hand store. You have the real man coffee.
LikeLike
I kinda thought the Proton was new. Nice addition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very today wouldn’t you say?
LikeLike
Thank goodness for Dumbo!!! Gosh I loved that ride! 🩷
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha.
LikeLike
Unrelated comment but something wrong with the chiller made my anxiety spike. Our weather has been accompanied by unpredictable power outages and that’s the worst.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree. Good thing it was fiction. Made my hair stand on end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine too! There’s nothing worse than figuring out which foods are safe to eat after a few hours unplugged…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. We had just done a complete Costco shop and had a lot of goodies in the freezer. A fuse tripped, and we didn’t know it. All gone.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved Dumbo and his mouse! And the car is a real winner, except for the $45 dollars just to rev the engine. Somehow I kept thinking you were going to somehow work the curl into curdle – which is what your half and Half must have been!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stuck with the pure word. Thank you, Noelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was so invested and on edge that I ended up spilling my precious morning liquid gold all over Diane! 😱 But the moment I saw you had taken delivery of your new Protons, I knew everything was going to be alright! 💥 It’s time to declare war on the Voodoo Ranger—he’s just a devious tea-drinking villain! 🐳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tom’s advice is good in this case. Go apologize.
LikeLike
NO!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Boo
LikeLike
Tea-drinking ??? What the heck is that? You need a chill pill. Go apologize to your BRIDE and relax. Don’t make me come down there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha.
LikeLike
John, speaking of black coffee (our own Uncle Tom), whenever I was working with Walt, the waitress would ask if we wanted cream. Walt would always say, “No thank you, I take mine natural.” Great memories, great times.. 🐳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Which Walt was that?
LikeLike
WaltA…think about it🤔
LikeLike
Yes, I guess Walt H would not be in your area.
LikeLike
A tip to Dumbo and the mouse was nice. You got to see them fly away. That Camaro will be a fun ride.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would be fun, Tim. I hope there are sissy bars inside.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🌞😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Curl […]
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the share.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing my post.
LikeLike
“You look like Dumbo” — this phrase is a classic! And so is that Camaro.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Neil.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m delighted to find Dumbo featured here. I’ve never heard the Teri half and half before. Is it low fat milk?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Half whole milk and half pure cream
LikeLike
Ah 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nitro-methane sounds like rocket fuel. 🚀 Might feel like it in that car. 🙌🏻😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it would. Thanks, Michele.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏻🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing worse than bad milk or half and half… usually realising it is bad when it has curdled in the coffee! Oy!
And that is quite the ride…
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is when I usually discover it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t you just hate that? Now you’ve wasted a cup of coffee and now you have to make another!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Incidentally I am drinking a coffee while reading this but I don’t need half and half. That was a very dramatic door delivery encounter and an elephant on top of it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Thomas. Yes, the elephant was an added feature.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I say that car looks like it’s worth the expense 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks pretty nice to me, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John you get the best callers to you door! The fact it takes so long to disarm …is unsettling!
thats a lovely Camero very classy.!
I don’t believe you can buy Nitro Methame in the UK we have to order it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll bet Amazon is a little concerned about the delivery, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
indubitally!! 😁😁💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure what item to curl up with after reading this, probably a high octane adult beverage that doesn’t include half and half. 😱😎🥴
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good choice, Pat.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🍹🍸🥃🍷🥂🍻
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
It was very nice of you to give the elephant and the mouse generous tips for their trouble.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, I just happen to have cheese and peanuts lying around, so why not?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Makes sense to me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a cool car! Driving that would put a curl in my hair; paying for the gas would, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The gas bill would curl your toes, too.😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another brilliant meeting the prompt. Well done, John. Yikes, buying that rocket fuel sounds like a very expensive endeavor. But as you pointed out…riding in style. Nothing like a classic. Happy [but short] road trip. #zoomzoom
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked that ‘happy but short’ description. Made me laugh. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Would love a ride in that car but too rich for my pocket.. your precautions before allowing Dumbo to deliver his message sounds a bit like around here when strange men in a suit in 30 degrees ring the doorbell at our electronic waving leaflets and asking if we wish to repent… as they did yesterday…lol. Always entertaining John. Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked it. We had a guy selling bug control who refused to pay attention to the No Solicitation and “please do not ring the doorbell” sign. What a pain. Thanks, Sally.
LikeLiked by 2 people
They are John… thank goodness for searchlights and turrets lol. hugsxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the reload sound got to him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Agree on the coffee (though I drink mine black for the very reason you discovered). And am with you on the security system. We just upgraded ours from simple to not-so-much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We love ours. Thanks, Jacqui.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Great use of the prompt, John. I’ve yet to have a chance to try a VooDoo Ranger — dagnabit… But I would love to curl my fingers around the steering wheel of that old Camero!
I had tried to comment on your Friday post — and well, I’ll just blame it on solar flares. I wanted you to know that I enjoyed it a lot too. Hugs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate it when folks can’t comment. Crazy WordPress. I’m with you on the car. It would be fun to drive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s definitely a tragedy of sorts when there’s no cream to go with my cafe, and since I don’t use sugar the way I used to, it only adds to the woe. But you done good with this adversity by nailing the challenge. Again!
And this ride IS your wheelhouse. I took one look and said, “Yep, that’s the Boss right there”. So what if it costs a little extra? By the second round of voodoos, we’d be talking road trip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The road trip would almost be a necessity. Kick the Uber driver out, and Sally and Louise, here we come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vroom! Vroom!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t thought of Dumbo in years. Too cute. Cool Camero. Wowzers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the car is very cool. Don’t know why I threw Jumbo into the story, but there he is. Thanks, Audrey.
LikeLike