I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two.
I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.
“So what are we doing today, Little one?” “Friday? Lovely sunshine? 98 degrees? Absolutely nothing but relax and stay cool..” “I can handle that.”
Here we are on a Friday again. It is so nice to head into a weekend. I hope your week wasn’t too stressful. If it was, then you are only eight hours until relief.
I went to the dentist today. My teeth had not been cleaned since October of 2019. I was scheduled for one in April of 2020, but we all know what happened. I was rescheduled for September 2020 but canceled. I finally showed up today, and it was fine. The good news was the hygienist and dentist were surprised I hadn’t been cleaned for 21 months—the power of wine.
There has been a lot of talk about employers wanting employees to return to the office. But are employees ready to return?
NBC News has reported, and I quote, “a survey released in April by the American Psychological Association found that 49 percent of adults feel uneasy about returning to in-person interactions once the pandemic is over. Vaccination status did not affect that: 48 percent of those who have already been vaccinated say they, too, feel uncomfortable with in-person interactions.”
So this means folks would like to take more time at home, and hopefully, companies will be able to accommodate them. FlexJobs, which surveyed more than 2,100 people who have been working remotely during the pandemic, found that 58 % would quit if they were forced to return to the office. This has to be a wake-up call for companies.
The suggestion is companies take a slow approach and keep alternatives open for those who aren’t ready to return. How about you? Any desire to return to the office?
Today’s JohnKu talks about a return to the status quo. I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.
A short note. I am currently extending the downspout drains to take the water away from the center of the yard. During the heavy rains, the yard floods and takes a while to move away. Twiggy loves to play in the puddles, and Lucy hates to get her feet wet. In some of the later photos (By the glove), a tall white pipe is a cleanout. It needs to be cut and lowered by about six inches, so it is not as prominent.
I let Lucy and Twiggy into the construction area to have a look.
“Look at this pipe, Twiggy.”
“I see it. What’s it for, Lucy?”
“I heard talk of extending the downspouts. I think this is the purpose.”
“Extending downspouts? What for?”
“I think to take the rain away from the house.”
“I remember the puddle that used to form here when it rained. I loved playing in it. Drove mom crazy when I ran back into the house dripping wet.”
“Yeah, and that dried-up spot continues to be there.”
“Hey, there’s a stick.”
“I’m going to have a better look.”
“Can’t beat an old stick. This oak is a giving tree.”
“Now I see. The downspout is connected to this longer hose.”
“I just love the taste of oak.”
“Mom’s going to be mad if she catches you with a stick.”
“She hates it when I chew sticks. She’s afraid I will choke. Okay, I’ll stop.”
“You trying to get out of that gate, Little One?”
“No, I just wonder what it is doing here?
“To keep us out of this mess. That’s why.”
“Doesn’t work when Dad leaves it open. Oh, look some smelly stuff on the pipe.”
“Twiggy. Get away from there. That is the sealant. You’ll get stuck to the pipe if you put your nose in there. So what are you two doing in here anyway?”
“Inspecting the work, Boss.”
“What do you think?”
“See, that’s the beauty of being a dog, Boss. We don’t have to think.”
“Lucy are you sure it’s not Friday?” “I’m positive.” “I guess I’ll call this my Wednesday sit-ups then.” “Who in the world needs to name their exercises.” “Makes them easier to do.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we saw Mike Moore, the FBI agent, organize a SWAT team to surround the house where Cortez lives. The tricky part is there are four hostages inside, and Mike doesn’t want to start a shooting war that could get them killed. He has decided to allow Cortez to surrender the hostages and give himself up. Let’s join up with Mike, Andrew, and Larry as they meet with the SWAT team.
“The names’ Moore and this is Dunfee and Cummings.”
“Agent Withers, agent Moore. What’s the situation?”
“We believe we have four hostages and probably four perps inside the house. We have a warrant for their arrest on federal kidnapping charges. The problem is we need to serve the warrant without getting the hostages killed.”
“Yeah, roger that. So you want to try some talk?”
“Yes. I need your men to surround the house, so no one gets away. I don’t want to be chasing these guys all over the state.”
“I get that. Okay, what if they don’t give up?”
“you have a standard protocol for that situation, right?”
“Yes, we do. We will keep them in place for as long as it takes. We have ways to escalate the situation but would only do that on your order.”
“I think we should wait to see what happens.”
“I agree. Okay, we will deploy around the house. Our comms are set at 360 Mh. You want to test that?”
“Okay. Can you read?”
“You are loud and clear. Keep me informed. I’m going to move out with the team.”
“Thanks, Winters.”
“Yeah. Do that when this is over.”
“Roger that. Hey Larry?”
“Yes, Mike.”
“You ever been in this kind of situation?”
“Can’t say I have.”
“Well. Let’s hope it won’t turn into something ugly. There are readers out there who want this thing to end peacefully.”
“I understand. There is also a writer out there who tends to make our lives difficult.”
“Hey, Winters?”
“Go ahead.”
“You guys in place?”
“Give us three more minutes. I’ll give you a shout when we are ready.”
“Roger. Okay, Larry, once those guys are in place, we will move closer to the house. I think we’ll take the car for cover.”
“I think that’s a good idea. You want me to drive.”
“No, that’s okay. I’ll just pull up in front of the house, and we will talk from the opposite side of the car.”
“Winters to Moore.”
“Go ahead, Winters.”
“We have the place surrounded. There is a back door and a sliding door off the patio. We have a clear view of the entire back. We don’t see any movement in the house.”
“Thank you, Winters. We are pulling up in front. I’m going to block the drive.”
“My guys are directly across the street. The drive will be perfect. We can keep tabs on you in case a firefight starts.”
“Somehow, that is not as comforting as you probably wanted it to be. We have pulled up in front. We are getting out of the car. Moore out.”
“So, do you have a megaphone?”
“Just so happens I do. It’s in the trunk.”
“Be careful.”
“Be right back.”
“Crap Andrew. What was that?”
“A shot, Larry. Looks like Moore got hit.”
“Stay here. I’m going after him. Mike, you okay?”
“Damnit, Larry. Some stupid son-of-a-bitch shot me. Winters, Moore here. I’ve been shot. Hold your fire and position. I’m giving the comm to Dunfee.”
“You okay, Mike.”
“I am for the moment. What a stupid thing to do. These guys must be really stupid. Here take this megaphone and tell them they are surrounded. Tell ‘em the agent they shot is okay and to lay down their weapons and come out. If they do, no one will get hurt.”
“Andrew. Get over here and take care of Mike. I’m not sure how badly he’s hurt. His Mouth is working okay for now. Okay, Mike, you are going to be okay. Andrew is a doctor.”
“There is a first aid kit in the trunk as well.”
“Okay, we got this. You take it easy. ATTENTION YOU IN THE HOUSE. WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED. THIS IS THE FBI. THE AGEN YOU SHOT IS OKAY. SURRENDER NOW, AND NO ONE GET’S HURT.”
“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”
I am welcoming Joan Hall to fiction Favorites. Joan is a fellow member of Story Empire and a terrific writer. She has a new book to tell us about. Joan the post is yours.
Thank you for hosting me today, John. I’m delighted to be here and to tell your readers about my newest release, Cold Dark Night. It’s the first novel in the Legends of Madeira series. Each book begins with a historical event that ties to modern-day.
I have the utmost respect for the men and women who serve or have served in the military. My character, Connor Hughes, is a former SEAL. He’s recently returned to Madeira after his discharge from the Navy and purchases a gun range.
There are parts of his past that he’s reluctant to share, but he and lead character Jason soon strike up a friendship. Connor plays a pivotal role late in the story. The following scene is when he and my lead character Jason first meet.
Excerpt:
Connor Hughes unlocked the door of the gun range, then stepped inside. For what must have been the hundredth time in the past few weeks, he asked himself why he’d returned to his hometown. There was nothing left for him here. His parents sold the family home shortly after he enlisted in the navy and bought a condo in Westwood. These days they spent most of their time traveling. The friends he once had in Madeira were either living somewhere else or had likely forgotten him.
Okay, that was an unfair assumption. The truth was, he’d forgotten his friends. A few of them didn’t understand why he decided to join the military—not even the one person he thought would support him in anything.
This morning, he’d driven through his old neighborhood. One house stood out among the others—the two-story Victorian where Ruth Hazelton once lived. Apparently, she no longer lived there—a mid-size SUV and a black Camaro sat in the driveway.
But it was his family home that drew his attention. He had a lot of good memories there. Family gatherings. Shared meals. Having friends over for a visit. Times when…
Connor shook his head. He would not think of her today.
His decision to buy the shooting range wasn’t one made lightly. After his years in the Navy, he figured he had one of two choices. He could put his college degree to use and work in the information technology field or use the skills and training he’d learned in the military. The thought of working all day in an office no longer appealed to him. Owning a business could be demanding but having some flexibility—rather than a nine-to-five job—would also give him time to pursue ways to help his fellow veterans.
It was mid-afternoon when the door opened. Connor walked to the front to greet a man wearing a police uniform. He extended his hand. “Hello. Here to get in a little practice time?”
“Jason Montgomery, the new police chief. Wanted to introduce myself and look around.”
“Connor Hughes.”
“I heard you recently bought the business.”
“Word travels fast in small towns.”
“Actually, my lead detective told me.”
“Manuel Ortiz?”
Jason nodded.
“Glad to know he’s still around.”
“Almost thirty years on the force. He told me officers have used this place for training and certification.”
“Yes, they have. I hope you’ll want to continue.”
“There are other ranges nearby, but I see no reason to change. My officers have only had annual training. I’d like to increase the number of required sessions to twice a year.”
“Good idea. Even with small-town police forces.”
“Probably more so.”
“Yeah. It’s a different world out there these days.”
“Were you in law enforcement?”
Connor shook his head. “Military. Spent ten years in the Navy. Eight of them as a SEAL.”
Jason paused, then cleared his throat. “Impressive.”
Cold Dark Night is available on Amazon. This is the last day to grab a copy for only .99. After tomorrow, the price increases to $3.99.
Blurb:
New husband, new house, new town… and a new mystery to solve.
Tami Montgomery thought her police chief husband was going to be the only investigator in the family when she gave up her journalism career and moved with him to Madeira, New Mexico.
But after the historical society asks her to write stories for a book celebrating the town’s history, she becomes embroiled in a new mystery. If she can’t solve this one, she could lose everything. Her research uncovers a spate of untimely deaths of local law enforcement officials. Further digging reveals a common link—they all lived in the house she and Jason now share.
Tami isn’t a superstitious person, but the circumstances are too similar for coincidence. Then she unearths an even more disturbing pattern. And if history repeats itself, her husband will be the next to die.
This post originally ran on June 15th 2015. It still appears to hold some water today.
Unsplash photo by Sandy Millar
Since June is wedding month, I can’t let it pass without making some comments on what we should all avoid if we are in a wedding, invited to a wedding, or married. I hope you enjoy it.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at a Wedding (no matter who you are)
10 If you are a wedding guest, do not be tempted to pick up and shake a few of the wedding presents to see if there are sets of china or appliances inside. If you do, at best those observing you will know you bought a cheap gift or none at all. At worst, you will be asked to step away from the gifts by a large man with the word SECURITY above his left pocket. He also happens to be the brother of one of the celebrants, and you are now busted since he assumes you are looking to pick out one to go.
9 If you are a parent of the celebrants, do not tell anyone how you feel about not being good enough for your child. If you do, at best, you will be confiding with someone who knows the other and has not met yours and can’t wait to report your indiscretion. At worst, you might be told to mind your own business and quite possibly followed by a knuckle sandwich (hold the mayo).
8 If you are a second in a wedding, do not think your job is to complain about every detail of the process and how much the whole thing cost you in air travel and clothes. If you do, at best, people will assume the only reason you are at the wedding party is that you are family. (Whether you are or not) At worst, you will add a degree of declassé to the event and will not be forgotten when it comes time to remember the most idiotic attendees.
7 If you are the best person, do not think your toast needs to have several cringe moments, including a detailed description of the past fiancées. If you do, at best, the wedding guests will think your humor is a little bizarre. At worst, it will be assumed you are drunk and out of control that should prompt an intervention placing you in the back of the Quiet Acres van on your way to rehab.
6 If you are the person of honor, do not think your toast has to include rapid hand fanning and a bunch of tears. If you do, at best, the room will pray you faint quickly. At worst, you started without a tissue, and now the streaked mascara and runny nose have cleared out the tables within a ten-foot radius.
5 If you are officiating the wedding ceremony, do not think you can rely on the notes when it comes time to say the names of the celebrants. If you do, at best, you will stumble on the names as you have lost your place in the written word and demonstrate how shallow you are. At worst, you will be using last week’s notes and continue to call the celebrants by names that you have an indication are not correct, but hope are close to the real thing. (hint they’re not)
4 If you are the caterer of a wedding, do not think you can cut corners the day of the event to increase the bottom line. If you do, at best, you will be able to substitute for the few things that you are short. At worst, you will have the luck to cater the wedding of a family of lawyers and will be fighting the lawsuit of breach of contract for the next ten years wishing all the time you had settled out of court.
3 If you are a musician at a wedding, do not think your usual twenty-minute set break each hour will be tolerated by the marriage guests. If you do, at best, you will have several of them with you requesting songs no matter where you go. At worst, as the evening gets older, you will believe your life is in danger once the music stops. You will be reminded of a pack of wolves surrounding and closing in on the camper as the fire dies. ( Better keep playing).
2 If you are the venue manager of a wedding, do not think there will be any problem asking everyone to leave at the appointed hour. If you do, at best, your encounter with overserved wedding guests will be loud and unpleasant. At worst, you will be barricaded in your office praying the SWAT team arrives before the angry mob does what was subtly suggested when someone yelled, “Get some tar and feathers.”
1 If you are a server at a wedding, do not think you will get rich on the tips. If you do, at best, you will realize that people attending a free event think everything’s free. At worst, the tips you counted on receiving you already spent, and you will now need to work another job to offset the lost revenue. (Of course, you could turn into a pickpocket. Naw, that’s not right.)
Today we are going to take a drive and check on the deer. There have been some new additions to the herd, and we ought to go out and introduce ourselves. We are being catered by Perlas of Austin. Our entertainment is Taylor Swift.
I was enjoying a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood yesterday. I was on the lookout for the deer since I intend to provide a deer update on the Neighborhood Views on Sunday. As I was turning into my cul-de-sac, I felt the wind of the big brown UPS truck as it barely missed running me over. I reached the drive to my house just as the delivery person shot put a package that rolled and tumbled into the front door. I could hear Twiggy hitting high C inside the house. I said, “Thanks.”
The sarcasm was dripping from the word like a melting cone. I could have saved my breath and chilly bon mot since the delivery person was deeply into the tune playing behind the eyes from the noise-reducing earbuds. I’m not certain they saw me as there was no effort to avoid me. I jumped out of the way, and they were off in a cacophony of backup warning tones, grinding gears, and a V8 that begged for a tune-up.
I approached the package, which had Handle With Care warnings on all four sides. I could see dark liquid pooling from the side, lying on the concrete. I thought about calling 9-1-1 but gently lifted the package to see if there was any hope.”Stay with me. Help is on the way,” I yelled. Of course, the package had no idea I was not telling the truth. There wasn’t much anyone could have done anyway. I carefully opened the box to see the damage and found a message on top of six pulverized bottles of VooDoo Ranger Ale. The message was from Linda Hill and read, “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “drive.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”
“Okay Twiggy. Come over here and we can play a game.” “Catch me?” “Well it’s Friday so why not?”
Another Friday and another fast week. I love the refrain, “I just don’t know where the time goes.” It speaks so well for the current situation. But, of course, it is a refrain spoken mostly by the senior members of the population. I have to plead guilty as being included in that body of folks. But, just the same, I would like to have time to slow down a bit.
Our first summer is officially here in Central Texas. We have 90 degree days.
We just finished the Noad’s Ark phase of the seasons in Texas. Here is a chart giving you an idea of all the Texas seasons.
When we move into Hell’s Front Porch, the temps will get into the 100’s. We always look forward to that time of year. Today’s JohnKu talks about talking about the weather. I hope you all have a delightful weekend.
