Approaching the coffee machine with trepidation is necessary, given past troubles. The touchscreen appears normal, and the system status lights are all green. Today may be a day of peace after all. A touch of the two coffee buttons brings the normal function of my dear friend to life. Sure enough, a cup is delivered. The first sip lets my bleeding brain know salvation is at hand. The neurons finally stop their light show, and calm spreads throughout the gray land. The second sip is followed by the jarring intrusion of the Westminster chimes, indicating that once again, some idiot has ignored the “Do not ring the doorbell” sign.
A Bennie bone tossed into the soundproof room and slamming of the door puts an end to the eardrum pain caused by the painful octave reach of the Frenchie bark version of “Danger Will Robinson.” Looking at the security system monitor screen, I see what appears to be a pig dressed in human clothing. “What do you want?”
“D-d-d-d-delivery f-f-for J-J-John.” “Can you leave it?” Of course, as the words left my mouth, the answer was well known. Of course not. 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.
“S-s-sign h-h-here.” We swap, and when turning to go back inside, the pig says, “What, no tip?” “Use a seven iron to chip up to the green,” is the reply. The pig bears his teeth, and the door is slammed before things get nasty. The delivery is from Linda Hill. The message reads, Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “chip.” Use it as a noun, use it as a verb, use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, go to Linda’s post. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2025/07/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-19-2025/
Chip by John W. Howell © 2025
“You should have tipped the pig.”
“Why?”
“Just a nice thing to do.”
“I think it is his job to deliver, right?”
“Yeah, but clearly he needs the money.”
“What for? More corn?”
“It wouldn’t hurt for you to chip in a few bucks.”
“This is coming from the VooDoo Ranger big spender.”
“Hold on. This is your blog. You invented this whole scenario. Why should I have to pay?”
“It would be nice to share.”
“Do I get paid for showing up here?”
“Well, no.”
“I rest my case.”
“Fine. Order the Uber and let’s get to the pub.”
“Silly man, like 1000 times before, he’s right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“You are kidding, right?”
“We got a great deal.”
“I’m sure, and all we have to do is deliver those plants.”
“Well, yeah. But they are on the way.”
“I guess it’s better than having to plant them.”
“Erm.”
“What?”
“We have to hang them.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
“It’s easy work. Well, except for the ladder.”
“Ladder, what ladder?”
“The ten-footer that we need to reach the hanging places.”
“Why so high?”
“It’s on the rooftop of that new fifty-story high-rise.”
“Of course it is.”
“You’re not afraid of heights, right?”
“Let’s just go and decide who is going up that ladder later.”
“Good plan. We can flip for it.”
“Yeah, and whoever wins the ladder climb doesn’t have to pay for the VooDoos.”
“I’ll do the ladder.”
“Thought so.”
Fiction Favorites 
I’m getting dizzy when I think about climbing that ledder. 😀
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Don’t look down. 😀
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I used to have to use a ten foot ladder back in the day when I was a window dresser we had to also decorate in store and the displays were high up!
It was not a worry then but as I got older it became so… And funnily the same happened to hubby but his was almost an over night thing!
have a good weekend John and keep the security up and running 😊💜💜
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Thank you, Willow. I’m still good on a ten footer as long as there is someone below to catch me. 😀 Wishing you a terrific weekend.
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lol 🤣🤣🤣🤣 you too!
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😊
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Just make sure he’s up and off that ladder before opening those VooDoos.
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Yeah, there are no beverage holders at the top. Thanks, Dan.
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I like hanging plants, but geez, carry them up a ladder? Who’s going to water them?
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I hope they figure that out and not call me. Thanks, GP.
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😂😬
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😊
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Great banter, with lots of funny one-liners!
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Thanks, Liz. I’m glad you enjoyed it. 😊
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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At this point, I think you need a refund on that doorbell sign.
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Or run a 220 electrical line to the bell button.
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Not the worst gig you could find if Voodoos are attached to the end of it.
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I would always agree with that statement. Thanks, Marco.
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🤣😂, you should’ve tipped the piggy. 🐷
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I know. But someone has to pay for ringing the doorbell.
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🐽 nose in air 😂
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😀
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I’ve never liked the stinkin’ plant bidness either, l could never spell that photosynthesis thing🐳
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I feel your pain. 🤣
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Yes, but sometimes you caused the 🐳 a lot of pain. Like the times you would say to me, “If that little weasel Gary R comes up to me and asks about ‘my bride,’ I’ll turn him into five feet of quaking Jello. And just so you know, it will be your fault, 🐳. I didn’t even want to go to that stinkin’ meeting. You were mean to the 🐳🥲.”
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I know you were abused, poor Jim. To set the record straight I said I would fire him.
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Haha…I won’t ever ignore a “do not ring the doorbell sign” again and yes you should have tipped the pig….
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Aw gee. Look at the trouble he put me through. Okay, I should have tipped the pig. 😊
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In the grand scheme of things, hanging plants with a VooDoo payoff is not the worst that could happen!
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That’s true. The worst is riding in a close cab with my buddy.
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Hahaha!!
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😊
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Good tip for the pig, John. Being on a ladder on top of a five-story building will take concentration. Have a good weekend.
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Yeah, and no VooDoos till the job is done. Thanks, Tim.
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As many times that I read it, I never tire of your security shut-down. Always fun to spot a new addition. And you always make me smile with your TIPS comment. Thanks for a fun morning.
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So glad you liked it. Thanks for letting me know.
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Poor Porky. He used to be a big star, now he’s a delivery pig.
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That was not Porky. After all, if that were the case, I would have to pay Warner Bros.
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“Use a seven iron to chip up to the green” sounds like the sort of tip that’s right up my golfer husband’s alley. 😊
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Advice I got many years ago. Forget the wedge. Thanks, Laura.
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No chip on my shoulder today after enjoying this fun filled episode. Unsuccessfully looked for a 🥔 chip emoji.
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Hmm. I like this one. 🍪
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Chocolate chip would definitely work, if I had thought of it. 😆
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😊
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Dear John
What a funny car again. You seem to attract funny cars.
To climb that high up on a ladder, I wouldn’t do that.
Keep well
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thanks and have a lovely Sunday F4oC
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lol Looks like a grand adventure! 🪴Happy Saturday!
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It is. I just realized I misspelled stream in my headline. What a hoot.
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Ha! Happens to me more times than I’d care to admit in my text, or I leave out a word. Thank goodness for an edit feature.
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Don’t know why the editor didn’t catch it.
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That’s a good question. 🤔
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Too bad the editor doesn’t answer it.
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haha yes!
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😊
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No tippy for the piggy… shame.. lol. I just witnessed a window cleaner climbing a 40 ft latter at a clients, couldn’t watch it was painfully scary and he said “all in a days work”.. don’t be climbing yourself.. stick to the uber, John 💕
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Yes, I don’t do climbing at my age.
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Whew!!! 😅 Good thinking!
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I don’t have a fear of falling, just a fear of my dear spouse saying, “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t get on a ladder.” 😳
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Ha that’s better yet! 😂😉
I hate to say she’s right. 🙄😋😋
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She is right. Thanks, Cindy.
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Aren’t wives always?! 😂You’re welcome, John
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Seems that is true. 😀
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[…] from left to right: Sam from John W. Howell’s Eternal Road series — Lady Kara from Shehanne Moore’s book His Judas Bride — Estelle from […]
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Thanks you two for a super post.
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Love the UBer. Can I ride on the back? Just hang the danged baskets at your house!
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Of course, you can ride on the back. Don’t wear white, though.
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No, I’ll dress in brown! Love your Ubers.
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Brilliant color these days. Thanks, Noelle.
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Those plants sure would look pretty on my porch 🤣 Happy Saturday John!
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Thank you, Jill.
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Lol, John! I always know I’m in for a treat with these posts. 🙂
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Thanks, Jan.
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Haha! I do love that Uber.
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Could have a hay ride on that thing.
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Yes!
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😊
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Oh gosh, when one is afraid of heights as much as me…I might actually beg off the VooDoo Rangers. Wait…what am I saying?? Of course I’d do it! Great job with the challenge, John.
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Ha ha ha, We’ll do the ladder work, Monika. 😀
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Your VooDoo pal is a chip off some ol’ block John.
Well, hope the hangin’ went well.
Were the plants in baskets? I hope so. You 2 are a couple of cases (of VooDoo)(and in general)
So, basket cases……
🧺🍻 🧺🍻 🧺🍻 🧺🍻
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They were hanging baskets, and yes, we are a basket case. 😀X 😀X
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😂X
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😊X
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