On one hand, waking to the sound of an alarm, the first thought was to make sure everyone was safe. On the other hand, the attempts to round up and evacuate those in the house were met with some degree of resistance. It was then that the source of the alarm was discovered. The coffee machine had somehow figured out how to copy the screech of the smoke detector. There it was screeching like a banshee. One touch of the trouble button disclosed the reason. The water level was low. Filling the reservoir caused the alarm to come to a sputtering halt. The halt acted like a signal for the two Baskerville hounds to cease their protestations.
Pressing the two coffee button soon gave me the liquid soothin’ syrup that promised to quell the hammer on anvil chorus that was playing in my head. After the third sip, another chorus joined the cacophony. It was the Westminster chime routine of the doorbell touching off another round of the Bark-You-to-St. Louis symphony. Throwing two stuffed toys into the soundproof room and slamming the door after the eager fetch-it twins brought peace back to the valley.
Checking the security monitor, all that was visible was the blurred outline of something running in a circle. The “Who’s there?” challenge was answered with a “beep beep.” Knowing further communication was futile, the security system shutdown began.
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. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. 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, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots were chained in the basement. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.
Running in a circle was a roadrunner bird. On one pass, an envelope flew out of the blur into my hand. It was from Linda Hill. A thanks you to the bird caused it to stop and raise one leg in the classic “Tip me” fashion. “Here’s a tip. Avoid all things ACME,” and slammed the door. I opened the envelope, and a note was inside. It read:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “hand.” 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, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/09/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-13-2025/
Hand by John W. Howell © 2025
“We need to hurry.”
“Why?”
“You ate up 500 words with that intro. Need to use as few as possible and get out of here.”
“Okay, call Uber.”
“Already did. It’s over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Wow, that looks like a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Brougham.”
“It’s hard to tell those rear sidelights look different.”
“Well, anyway, it is a nice ride.”
“I agree.”
“I have to hand it to you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“This one you got right.”
“Why, thank you. There is just one thing.”
“Oh no.”
“We just have to make some Uber Eats deliveries.”
“Doesn’t sound too bad.”
“Pastrami sandwiches.”
“Sounds good, actually.”
“Here is a clothespin.”
“Oh, come on.”
Fiction Favorites 
Another busy morning at the Howell household….it’s handy that you can handle stressful situations especially when they are lined up in threes like today!
I have to hand it to you John you display great nerve control! 💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Thank you, Willow. I think raising daughters gave me plenty of practice. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very likely John I had three sons and two grandsons… So I can only hold my hands up in awe of you 💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha, if it was me, those people awaiting their sandwiches would go hungry!!!
LikeLiked by 3 people
You acting eat pastrami, GP??!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey, pastrami is a health food.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are entitled to the benefit of your opinion..😁😄🤔😱.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also, years on the Earth count more than opinion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You win; you may have a few years on me. 🤔😱😄🎂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Try decades
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not really. Im old enough to for Medicare and I’ll leave it at that..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, only two decades then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fewer than that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, then.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love it! But don’t forget the rye bread and deli mustard!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yowzaa
LikeLike
You two enjoy it. I will take a hard pass. 😱🤐🤬
LikeLiked by 1 person
K
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would eat them myself.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’d have to fight me for them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, you take ten and I’ll take ten.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s what I like – compromise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seth Rogen would approve of the pastrami but Walken is still hounding me for a trip to Katz’s. I’m definitely on board with a ride to the pub, but I cannot promise the pastrami will make it to its destination.
Nice ride.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m with you. Hard to resist. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seriously
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got to hand it to you, you’re a dab hand at creating these scenes. Does anyone give you a hand? We must give you a hand for a job well done. 👍🤜🤛👏👋
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pat. Your words are hand enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol. I must admit, I wrote a story for young children that included all of the give me hand versions I could think if. Thought it might work better for people learning English and were confused by our similar sounding but different meaning idioms.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a helpful piece.😊
LikeLike
Thanks. If we can find it or reconstruct it, it may become a blog post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be terrific.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. Way too generous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
God job getting the hounds away from the door, John. However, I think word might have spread. I wouldn’t expect a tip with those deliveries. Maybe keep the pickle for yourself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
l love pickles. Will do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m surprised the roadrunner didn’t put out a hand! And I’d probably eat the pastrami sandwiches before they could be delivered!
LikeLike
I would, too.
LikeLike
Pastrami and beer. Sounds like a good day to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rye bread, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Guessing a lot of sauerkraut on those sandwiches.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The garlic doesn’t help either.
LikeLike
Huh. Never had garlic on it. Mustard is my go to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was a very dramatic start to the day. The sandwiches sound good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Robbie. They were. 😀
LikeLike
Ain’t modern technology grand??? Remind me never to come to your front door! If I ever get to your part of the country, I’ll call you and maybe we can meet at a coffee shop where I won’t have to worry about boiling oil, tanks, and warthogs!!! Fun post, John! ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. That would be a good idea. Some of these defense weapons have a mind of their own. 😀
LikeLike
That’s a land yacht….
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sure is. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha Well, would be an unforgettable ride! Envisioning the style choice for a ride like that. 🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe bell-bottoms and gypsy shirt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! 🤩🌈
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know, I don’t think I’ve given enough thought to the effect delivering pastrami or sauerkraut would have on a vehicle. I imagine it would never be quite the same.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Can you say ServPro for the car?
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a intelligent tip for the Road Runner, John. The ride sure looks nice. Riding with those sandwiches would make me hungry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think we are no longer hungry, Tim 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
My goodness…your coffee maker does everything but the dishes! Glad it all got sorted and it delivered the necessary elixir to cleverly complete the challenge. Well done, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to train it to do the dishes. Great idea, Monika. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first question it asked when I mentioned dishes was, “Do I get paid more?” 🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahahaha…so it’s a capitalist’s coffee maker!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it might be a Millennial machine. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear. Hope there’s a button to mute the entitled whining. 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is right on the side.🫥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great use of the prompt, John! I agree about the sweet ride! But a clothespin might come in ‘handy.’ 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha
LikeLiked by 1 person
A clothes pin???
Well, thank you!
As a veggie I would need one to sit in a pastrami wagon.
Hopefully the clothes pin isn’t needed for something engine related? I have tape!
👗🧷 👔🧷 🩳🧷 🦺🎳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Tape is good. 😀X 😆X
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀X 😆X 😀X 😆X
LikeLike
🏆 🏆
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Uber Eats Delivery is well worth a ride in this car.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially considering the sandwich. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person