The coffee machine sits quietly waiting for its first command of the day. A touch of the two coffee images on the touchscreen brings the sweet sound of beans grinding. In 14 seconds, the magic elixir that quells the evil caffeine withdrawal pain pours into the cup. The first sip quiets the sound of a falling Mosler safe crashing into a five-story greenhouse that is in my head. The second sip is accompanied by the predictable cacophony of the Westminster chimes, the doorbell, and the baying of the hounds of Baskerville, portrayed by Twiggy and Tempeste. A quick toss of a new bone into the soundproof room, followed by a door slam, brings the peace train back home.
A glance at the monitor shows that Clarabelle the Clown is on the front porch. Knowing it is silly to ask it to leave the envelope, the security shutdown process is begun with a sigh.
The B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort must be called off. One call does it. The tank corps and gunboats are told to stand by. The Apache helicopters are rerouted. The electric shock fence is turned off. The drawbridge over the quicksand is lowered. The robot attack dogs returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes was put away. The bucket filled with 1000 marbles is locked down. The tear gas canisters shut off. The electrified welcome mat set to off. The fall-away sidewalk into the pit filled with spikes is locked. The hornet’s nest closed. The water cannons are set to safety. Bear traps are set to go off. The Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above the front door fed. The front door is open.
Clarabelle gives me a honk and passes the envelope and clipboard. After the signature, we trade the envelope for the clipboard. Clarabelloe has a hand out in the classic request for a tip. “A positive mind is stronger than a negative thought.” Is the tip left with Clarabelle as the front door closes. The envelope is from Linda Hill. Inside is a message. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sweet.” 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/2026/05/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-16-2026/
Sweet by John W. Howell © 2025
“Clarabell? From the Howdy Doody show?”
“Yup, the very same. I used to watch it on our 10-inch TV screen.”
“In black and white?
“Of course.”
“What year was that?”
“The show started in 1947, and I think we got our first TV in 1948.”
“You were a kd.”
“Yup. Seven years old when I began watching.”
“Do you remember anything about the show?”
“Only that I sent away for a Clarabell cut-out figure. It arrived about 100 years after I sent in for it.”
“Did you like it?”
“Oh yeah, it was all in color and stood on its own. It was in my room for years.”
“Do you still have it?”
“Unfortunately, no. I’m sure it went the way of all my kid stuff. Passed to cousins.”
“Well, at least you can go on YouTube if you want to see the shows.”
“I don’t have any interest, but thank you for the information.”
“Why talk about Clarabelle then?”
“I just thought it would be fun.”
“You know what else is fun?
“You call Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“A 1978 Mark V Lincoln Continental. That will get us there.”
“I thought you would like it.”
“What’s the catch?”
“No catch. Just one stop.”
“Can’t wait to find out on this one.”
“Well.. There was a recall on a part back in 1978, and the dealer had to order it.”
“Yes.”
“The part just came in, and the owner wants to get it fixed before the shop closes.”
“After 47 years of waiting, I don’t blame him, but can’t he do it next week?”
“Yeah, but the price of the ride will never be as sweet.”
“How long is the repair supposed to take?”
“Twenty minutes max.”
“That means 4 hours. Okay, let’s go. I’m going to order VooDoos from DoorDash. Well, just sit in the dealer waiting room as if it were the pub.”
“Worth a try. They have snacks.”
“All the better.”
Fiction Favorites 
Read that as Clarabelle Cow (From Disney) and got so confused when Howdy Doody got mentioned. Car looks like it should only be used for car chases in the 70’s and 80’s. 😀
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They have a model in black called the gangster version.
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“Twenty minutes max.” “That means 4 hours.” Absolutely! You know they will find more stuff to fix on the car. Sweet ride, though!
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It was a sweet ride. Thanks, Lois.
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I think you got the waiting time inflation factor just about right, John.
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Been there and got the shirt.
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It was a good tip for Clarabelle, John. The ride in the Lincoln Continental should be nice and the wait at the dealership shouldn’t be bad. Have a great weekend.
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The wait will be quick, or at least seem that way, after the second VooDoo Ranger. Thanks, Tim 😊
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😊
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😀
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I think my Dad always wanted a Lincoln but seemed to settle for a Buick. Not quite the same impact. Definitely a sweet ride!
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Yes, it is. Thanks, Maggie.
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Always a pleasure to read your posts.
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I’m so glad you like them. Thanks, Maggie. 😊
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That car was a beast. You could get a lot done inside the car too. 😀Howdy Doody was a must see for me too. I had a crush on Princes Sumner, Fall, Winter, Spring. All the characters were great. Good times and good memories.
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I forgot about her. I had a crush too.
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Oh gosh, I haven’t thought about Clarabelle cow in MANY decades. Thanks for the memory. Just love the new shutdown process. I chuckle every time I read it. Thanks for the smiles. My Dad had that Lincoln. We called it the grey ghost. What a boat, but boy was it luxurious for the times. “Enjoy” the DoorDash VooDoos. Tee hee, I just fulfilled the challenge like you did! LOL
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Thanks, Monika. I’m glad you got some laughs and sweet memories.
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A car that long looks so strange nowadays. Well, at least it had style.
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It sure did. Weighed thousands of pounds, too.
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Yep, the car was a true “land yacht”, l think l see Tom, Howdy, the evil Clarabelle, and Doody through the porthole window…what a sad state of affairs🐳
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You see some of the strangest things there, JFRSr. 😀
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That is truly a classic! What a “sweet” idea to DoorDash the Voodos to the car dealership. 🙂 Fun, John!
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Thank you, Jan. Loved how you got “sweet” in there. Have a great weekend.
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Way to work in “sweet” with the ride. I can hear that in my husband’s voice. 🙂
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Yeah, like “Ah sweeet.” 😀
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Those beauties that lure you in for the 4 hour sweet deal. A Classic beauty, John❣️
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Thank you, Cindy 😊
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❤️❤️❤️
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😊
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Wow! My great uncle had a special edition of one of these. It had a small gemstone set into that opera window.
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Sounds terrific. 😀
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Clarabelle the clown and a sweet ride!
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😊 Thanks, Noelle.
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I did not realize you could order Voodoo Ranger from door dash but it makes sense. Something to make a note of. I have to admit, it is the first time I hear about Clarabelle the clown. That 1978 Mark V Lincoln Continental is certainly a sweet ride.
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Thomas. I write fiction here. Anything is possible. but not necessarily practicable. Clarabell was a kids TV character from 1947 to 1960. Not known internationally. Thanks. 😊
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So what you are saying is that ordering Voodoo Ranger via door dash is fiction?
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I have never tried so I just made up that it was possible.
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Maybe I should try. My daughter just told me she thinks it is possible.
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Go for it. 😄
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Yes it would be cool wouldn’t it.
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Indeed
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Ah Clarabelle, I remember the name, if not the face. Howdy Doody, now there’s a face never to be forgotten. We got our first TV in 1957-ish, I think. That’s a gorgeous car. I wish I could remember the car I had for a while. My boss sold it to me for next to nothing, and it was a gas guzzler back when gas had gone up to about $.59 a gallon. It set me back a lot to drive it, but it had beautiful white leather seats and was a dark navy exterior. My other huge care was an 67 Impala which I paid a whopping $350 for. Ah yes, and I had a 57 Chevy that didn’t run, too. They’d all be worth a fortune if they’d been fixed up.
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All those great cars, Marsha. I remember them well. I had a souped-up 1941 Ford coup that beat everything until the 1957 Chevy V8 came out. That was one quick machine. Thanks for generating some swell memories.
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Same to you!
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😊
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Sweet!!! And wow, John … that’s some security system you have there! Remind me never to try to pay you a surprise visit! Fun story … you always have such a great imagination!
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Thank you, Jill. 😊
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I had to look up Clarabelle. I have heard of Howdy Doody, though. And in searching Clarabelle, I see the character is in public domain. Yayay!
So that’s a car, eh? Not a boat?
Just checking!
🚢X 🚢X 🚢X
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I guess it could be a boat. 😀X 😀
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Yeah! Just take the wheels off, and toss it in the water.
I’m sure it will float. 😂𝓧 😬𝓧
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😀
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Wow…that is quite the car, John. Thanks for sharing it (and the adventure) with us. All smiles…. 😊
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Thank you for visiting, Gwen. Glad you liked it. 😊
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What a great car, and worth the Uber for the repair. I was a big Howdy Doody fan, and everyone loved Clarabell.
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So true, Jennie.
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Yes! 😀
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A few 80s detective shows come to mind, looking at that car. 🤩
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Should read 70s
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Yeah, I got it. Thanks, Michele. 😊
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😊 It is the car for it.
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When life hands you lemons, make a really strong drink and say fuck it. I love how they adapted to their situation so effortlessly. They’ve learned a thing or two in their time.
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Ha ha ha. They sure did. Thank you, Pilgrim
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🙂
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😊
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