The glass touchscreen on the coffee machine is glowing with a soft light. A quick thump of the top brings up the icons. The best guess is the machine was caught sleeping, and, of course, we will never know. A touch of the two coffee button starts the flow of the life-giving elixir that promises to quell the falling Mosler Safe hitting the concrete sound that the lack of caffeine is duplicating in my head.
The first sip does the job. The second sip (Of course) is accompanied by the Westminster chime of the doorbell and the eardrum-bleeding cacophony of Igor’s hounds, Twigy and Tempeste. A toss of a veggie burger into the soundproof room and a slam of the door brings the peace train into the station. A check of the security monitor shows what appears to be Gladstone Gander holding a clipboard and envelope. Since asking anyone to simply leave the envelope has never worked, the security shutdown process is begun.
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 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. Monty Python’s Harmless Little Rabbit’s cage is closed. The front door is opened.
Gladstone Gander hands me the clipboard and envelope. The signed clipboard is handed back with a fiver. Once in the house, the envelope reveals a message from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “Starts with gl. Find a word that starts with “gl” and use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
To see what others did with the prompt, visit Linda’s post at https://lindaghill.com/2026/08/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-22-2026/
Starts with GL by John W. Howell © 2026
“So you got the prompt out of the way quickly.”
“Yeah, so fast that Reader Tom probably missed it.”
“Of course there is Reader Jim, to point out what Reader Tom missed.”
“Those two are on it for sure. It seems you know them.”
“Sure do. We worked together in another life.”
“Doing what? Robbing banks?”
“Ha ha ha. No, we were in the drug business.”
“I knew it was some nefarious dealing.”
“Sorry. Just over-the-counter healthcare products.”
“Ah, sorta like VooDoo Rangers.”
“Sorta. You call Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo by Tom Okragly
“You have to be kidding me.”
“What’s the problem?”
“We need a ladder to get into that thing.”
“I’m sure there is one in the bed.”
“I hope so. Any other information I should know?”
“That we are going to a dirt truck rally.”
“Swell.”
“It will be fun they said.”
I’m so glad to have this entertainment today.”
“I knew you would be pleased.”
“Not.”
“It will only take a few hours. We have a cooler filled with VooDoo Rangers, too.”
“I’m in.”
“All right, all right, all right.
John, this give a whole new meaning to the phrase “Riding High” 🐳
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Also to”Heads up.” Thanks, Jim. 😊
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Watch that first step!
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It’s a biggie. 😄
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Yep I missed it. GLad you pointed it out. If you do go to the dirt truck rally, please don’t get the truck dirty. It doesn’t go through a car wash very well. Yes, Reader Jim points out everything. He is very observant. And he sends me texts to ask if I posted yet. The problem is that he’s like a rooster, he’s up at the crack of dawn. I wish he would give me some breathing room. But he is really really smart so I guess it’s okay.
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I understand. It looks like he posted at 5;30 our time, which is 6:30 his time. Early for us, but not too early for him. He doesn’t know anything about the sleep-in bidness, so I think time is on his side.
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Hey, l severely resemble that there bidness comment…l no a lot about that slippin’ in bidness. 👀’s been slippin’ in for a longest time now…so, you get back 5 meters, JACK❗️
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I was talking about Tom. I can still smack you from 5 meters away.
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Wait. If the ladder is already in the bed, how do they get to it?
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It has a rope with one end dangling within reach. 😄
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Tarzan approves.
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Thank you. The Tarzan seal of approval is very welcome
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haha! I was going to ask about that ladder! Glad you got that covered. 😂😉
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Yes. You geniuses keep me on my toes. 😄
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Never heard of a cartoon character called Gladstone Gander. Wonder why?
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Don’t know. Here’s some info. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladstone_Gander
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Me neither!
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Here’s some info.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladstone_Gander
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Thanks for the full relation to Donald and his nephews.
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Yup.
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Thanks, John! I don’t know how I missed him when I was a kid watching cartoons.
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Yeah. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know.
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🙂
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I have one question about that truck. Why?
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Ha ha ha. To stay above the crowd.
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Good snappy comeback, John!
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😊
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A dirt truck rally sound like fun, and you can drink Voodoo Rangers while you’re rallying. But if the ladder is in the trunk of the truck, you’re gong to have a tough time getting in.
I notice you’re now giving out fivers left and right instead of advice. A change of heart?
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Yes, I decided to just give up the fivers rather than try to spread useful tips. The smiles are bigger on those getting a fiver.
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Oh my Oh my. I think the truck is scarier than Monty’s little rabbit. When do the training wheels come off and the really big wheels go on ?
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Next weekend, I hope.
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I had to look up Gladstone Gander. Had no idea he was a cousin of Donald Duck. I think Daisy should stay focused on Donald rather than the likes of that fella.
That is one flabbergasting vehicle. What in the world was that owner thinking??
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Had his head in the clouds, I imagine. Thanks, Monika.
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I suppose Gladstone Gander appreciated the tip, John. You sure need a ladder to get in that magic truck. I hope you have a good time at the dirt truck rally.
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That is an interesting looking truck. You found a lot of words starting with “gl”
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Thanks, Thomas. 😄
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I always love your lack of coffee woes and your vast equipment to keep strangers away, especially when you add something new, like the Mosler Safe and Monty Python’s rabbit. The truck is very cool, and a video of getting into it would be a 10 on the laugh-o-meter.
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It would be a ten. Here is something close. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PX7QmpWRKsQ?t=8&feature=share
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Yes! That is hilarious. 😅
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😊
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That is a big and high vehicle. I need one of those to drive to work in 😜
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You could certainly avoid debris in the road.
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I don’t think there is a world where I’d actually drive that vehicle, but I am a bit curious as to what piloting that around feels like. Lots of distance between driver and ground, with the built-in potential to go up, up, and away.😊
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I would be afraid the thing would fall over on a turn. Thanks, Bruce.
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I laugh when I see these jacked-up trucks but this one takes the cake! One might get vertigo once one actually makes it to the front seat!
Like many, I had to look up this latest cartoon character!
Nicely done, John.
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The first time I saw it, I laughed hard. Thanks, Dale.
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I bet!
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😊
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Am I the only one who doesn’t understand having a vehicle which requires the aid of a sherpa to get into it?
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No, I think you are in the majority, including myself.
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Granny’s camo undies! (Yes, I just made that up, because this deserves an extra special expletive.) I think I’d faint if I saw that thing pull up in my driveway. Thanks for the giggles, John. Hugs.
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I’m right there with you, Teagan. 😊 Hugs
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Thank god for coolers. Maybe you can stand on it to get in. I’ll bet that guy never goes to drive through.
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Ha ha ha. I’ll bet you are right.
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Lol! Definitely need a ladder to get in that thing. Good thing there’s a cooler. Great use of the prompt, John!
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Thank you, Jan. It was fun.
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IMO… the Gladstone Gander is a quack!
🎼 Hey run me over, pour us some beers,
Fresh outta Ubers, wheels way up to ears. 🎼
Lotsa fun here today. Thanks John!
𝓞𝓧 🐂 𝓞𝓧
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Nice song, Resa. Sung to the tune of “We gotta get Outa Here.” 🎶X 😄X 🐂
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Thanks! 😊X 🎶X
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😊X
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I don’t know why you’re guarded by such an arsenal, unless it’s to keep your writing safe!
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I have the arsenal to write about it, and I don’t want these characters to just waltz in unannounced. Also, I have a recessive recluse gene.😄
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Aha!
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😊
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You went with a fiver, good call.
You might also try a trampoline to get into the bed. Sure it’s risky, but I feel that if you’re going to spend the evening in one of these puppies, go Mad Max all the way.
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Great idea. 😄. Might even try a flip into the bed of the truck.
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Let’s do it!
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Ha ha ha. At my age, it would be a disaster for sure.
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Let’s Voodoo instead . . .
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Agreed. 😄
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