We can do this the easy way or the hard way, the message on my coffee machine’s touchscreen said. Using the keypad, an inquiry as to which was which was sent back to the machine brain. To my surprise, the machine fired back a message. It read: “We are out of milk, so if you want anything other than a straight coffee, you’ll have to go to the store.” Smiling while selecting the plain coffee, the decision was made to do it the easy way. One sip stopped the klaxon horn low caffeine warning in my head. The second sip, as you might have guessed, was the trigger for the Westminster chimes of the doorbell. Right in step was the crystal-cracking barking of Igor’s hounds.

Two bones tossed into the soundproof room, followed by a door slam, ensured that the window panes would remain intact and that the Waterford would be preserved. The security monitor carried an image of something that looked like the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character. No discussion was possible, so, with a sigh, the security shutdown process 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. The MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter hovering over the house is diverted. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the security system’s shutdown process. 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 Klingons are called back, and the Targ is caged. Robbie’s Bot is sent to the basement. The Tasmanian Devil is directed to the food in his cage, and the door drops. The electronic jammer is kept active, given a situation with a robot not too long ago. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

The devil started whirling and was almost invisible in the tornado created. Out of the vortex flew an envelope and a clipboard. The place to sign was clearly marked. Once done, the clipboard was sucked back into the mailstorm along with several single-dollar bills that were sucked from my pocket. Slamming the front door to protect the rest of my money allowed me to read the message. It was from Linda Hill and read:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “easy/hard.” Use one, use both, use ’em any way you’d like. Bonus points if you get both words into your post. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2026/03/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-21-2026/

Easy/Hard by John W. Howell © 2026

“Well, that was fun.”

“For you maybe.”

“What? You didn’t enjoy the Tasmanian Devil?”

“You know I’m half Scot, right?”

“Yeah.”

“You must be able to imagine having my pockets emptied does not mesh well with my heritage.”

“Sorta forgot about that.”

“Well, anyway, did you order an Uber?”

“Sure did. It’s right over there.”

“That’s a ’49 Ford Custom Club Coupe. I drove one of those in High School.”

“It will be easy for you to ride in then.”

“You sure that thing can make it?”

“The ride may be hard, but it will get us there.”

“I’m not so sure.”

“There is one thing, though.”

“Of course there is. What’s the thing?

“The transmission doesn’t go in reverse, so if we have to back up, you and I will have to push.”

“That’s not so bad.”

“I didn’t think so either. So let’s go.”

“Wait. The driveway ends up here.”

Yup. We have to push it back down.”

“Those VooDoos will taste pretty good after this workout.”

“I’m surprised you are taking it so well.”

“Putting on a good act.”

“Oh.”