Sometimes the coffee machinel ikes to prolong the wrecker ball hitting a metal building sound in my brain due to caffeine withdrawal. My guess is that it is jealous of not being able to walk around. When this happens, a subtle reminder of who is the boss gets things back on track. This morning, a message appeared on the touchscreen.
An immediate thump on the top resolved the problem, and two streams of life-restoring elixir began to flow. The first sip quelled the noise in my head. The second (As seems to be the custom now) is accompanied by the cacaphony of Westminster chimes, Tempest, and Twiggy throwing up their warning barrage. A quick toss of a Wagyu steak into the soundproof room and a door slam brought a kind of hush all over the world. A glance at the security monitor revealed the idiot pushing the doorbell. It was none other than Tiny, the WWF champion, with an envelope and a clipboard. Mrs. Howell didn’t raise a fool, so the security shut-down process began.
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 are returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes is 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 off. Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above front door fed. The vat of boiling oil set to warm. The front door is open.
No time is wasted in signing the clipboard and passing it back with a $20 attached. A smile curled on Tiny’s lip, and it was hard to tell if he was pleased or simply passing gas. Not waiting to find out, the front door quickly came between Tiny and me. The envelope contains a message from Linda Hill. It reads:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “sometimes.” Start your post with the word “sometimes.” Have fun!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2026/07/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-18-2026/
“Sometimes you amaze me with all that preamble before you, and I get to talk.”
“How so?”
“Well, it would be easy just to try and do the prompt and then come down here and lead the discussion up to a VooDoo ranger,”
“You mean without the character and security system shut down?”
“Yes, and throw out the bit with the coffee maker too.”
“That leaves a discussion between us.”
“Exactly. That’s all we need.”
“What about the readers?”
“What about them?”
“Oh, I get it. You think our discussion is the highlight of the post.”
“Call me naive.”
“Let’s just get on to the pub. Uber?”
“Over there.”
Photo by Tom Okragly
“Wow, a 1935 851 Supercharged Auburn Boattail”
“Yup, and three of us will fit.”
“Pretty cramped.”
“That’s okay.”
“So what’s the catch?”
“None.”
“None?”
“Well.”
“I knew it. Tell me.”
“The starter is on the fritz.”
“What does that mean?”
“We have to push it to get it started.”
“Figures. In this heat, too.”
“Here are some cotton gloves.”
“What are they for?”
“So you don’t get body oil and sweat on the paint.”
“I guess it will be worth it.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m getting in the car.”
“You aren’t going to help push.”
“There is only one set of gloves.”
“So why aren’t you doing it?”
“Bad back.”
“Of course.”
Fiction Favorites 
I love the way you write dialogue, John…
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Oh, thank you, Jaye. A lovely comment. 😄
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John, you have always amazed me, but sometimes you make me scratch my head and I’m losing too much hair🐳
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I know how you feel. Sometimes you make me scratch my scalp, too.
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l sorry😢…🐳
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😊
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Good decision on tipping Tiny. I don’t think a snarky bit of advice would have served you well. I’m guessing you don’t look good in quicksand.
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Ha ha ha. I try to avoid pushing Tiny into a corner. $20 was a low price to pay.
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Tiny is a new character, that you may have used previously in other contexts. At least you are tipping now. I like the coffee and the rest of the intro so please keep as they are.
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Tiny is a character from my Top Ten lists. He has a few psychological problems. 😳
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Apparently….
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With no roof, I do t think the heat while pushing is going to make a difference. Nice car though.
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It is beautiful. Thanks, Charles.
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My gosh, a Wagyu for the barkers? Maybe I’ll try barking my head off and see what my bride gives me. Next, WTH ? A $20.00 tip. John, I remember when you were a tough guy. Now you just throw money at a problem. How times change. Have a good day.
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You don’t know Tiny. You would do the same. 😊
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I guess it was good to tip Tiny with $20, John. A push start for that old vehicle could be tough, making you thirsty when you get to the pub. Have a great weekend.
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think it will be a good first drink, Tim. Thanks. 😊
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I imagine so, John. You’re welcome. 😊
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😄
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Well, John, I happen to like your security system. I have a retired Army friend who loves Star Trek and she would get a kick out of your preamble.
Next time, call for an Uber vehicle that doesn’t require pushing…not in this heat! Have a lovely and cool weekend with the wife and a Voodoo.
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Thank you, Mary. I plan on the VooDoo and staying cool.
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John, your mornings are a whole action film. This one made me laugh.
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Thank you, Kymber. So glad you liked it. 😊
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That is a car worth riding in. Pro tip: Park on a hill.
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Great idea. We should have you along as a consultant. Thanks, Craig. 😄
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I’ll bring my coozy.
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Excellent.
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A twenty for Tiny. Nice. You know he passed gas just for the heck of it.
No coffee discussion? No security system? No visitor at the door? To tip or not to tip? Perish the thought!!
Wagyu for Twiggy and Tempese and a $20 for Tiny?! Whew! This post was expensive!
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It was. I’m going to be forced to stay out after dark on my aluminum can route to make up.
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Yikes! I didn’t expect Tiny to show up at your door. Prudent move to give him a $20. as a tip.
Nice song reference: “a kind of hush all over the world.”
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Herman’s Hermits version.
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That’s the one!
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I wouldn’t want to upset Tiny with a tiny tip!
And I remember the days when I had to push my Ford Phaeton to get it started – in high school the teachers would help!
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How nice. Whatever happened to that car?
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My Dad sold it to pay for my college bills!
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AW.
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well played, John. Get someone else to do the pushing. It’s good to see Tint here on a Saturday 😁
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Yes,Tiny is one of those reclusive characters who is allergic to light. 😄
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😂🤣
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😄
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Visitors with envelopes and clipboards always seem to want something. They just seem to go hand in hand, John. I’m always happy to lend a hand if a push is required, but I reserve the right to claim “bad back” if the push-ee turns out to have more force than the push-er. Love that car.
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A bad back is a good excuse. Thanks for the offer, Bruce, but I got it.
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That is indeed a good looking uber
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I would love a ride.
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Sometimes, no, make that all the time, the ‘two of you’ amaze me.
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😄
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Tiny’s curled lip had me laughing out loud. Of course readers love the preamble as much as the Uber.
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I appreciate that, Jennie.
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You are so good with these prompts, John! Mrs. Howell raised a very clever lad 🙂🩷
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Aw. So nice of you to say so, Marie. 😊
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Now THAT’S quite an Uber ride! Way to give Tiny a terrific tip without any platitudes. Me thinks Tiny may not be all that keen on receiving life suggestions.
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He would take them as a personal criticism. That would not be good. Thanks, Monika.
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How about a field of poison ivy? They’ll never get through that. If they do, they won’t come back.
Your pal with the bad back… he’s bad. And I don’t mean that in the cool way. I wonder if he can lift a case of VooDoo’s?
Happy week ahead, dear John!
🤗X 🐂 🐖
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He could lift two cases of VooDoos. 🤣X🐂😄X
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Feats of strength when under dire circumstance, eh!
🤣X 🤣X
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Or just circumstances. 😊X
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It’s the power of VooDoo. ꧁☆꧂ 𝓧
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😄
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OX
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