Tuesday – Anything Possible – Creative Kue #72

April 12, 2016April 11, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Another Tuesday and time for Kreative Kue by Keith Channing. If you wonder what’s going on here, let me have Keith explain. Just so you know I’m making his mouth move. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr 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 – for reasons I have yet to fathom, pingbacks don’t seem to be working.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo;

Kreative Kue #72

“Let me step back a bit and take a look.”

“Okay, but hurry up. This concrete is cold.”

“Ah, I see a problem.”

“What problem?”

“The outline has a protrusion to the right. You need to bring your leg up more.”

“Leg? Which leg?”

“Well, your right one of course. I would hurry I think the police will be back very shortly.”

“This was all your idea. Let’s lie down on the body outline you said. It will knock the fraternity brothers off their feet you said. Now you are being picky about a leg?”

“Okay, I’ll take the photo. By the way that ceremonial sword you are holding looks fake.”

“It’s supposed to look fake. It’s a joke for heaven’s sake. Who would be lying in the road with the Mystical Knights of the Sea sword sticking out of them anyway?”

“Yeah, but a little blood wouldn’t hurt and can’t you put that sword in such a way, so it doesn’t look like you are holding it?”

“No short of really sticking it in me I can’t.”

“Also, you left your keys on the mat there. That looks stupid.”

“Alright, I guess this was not such a good idea after all. Let’s go. I’m going to get up.”

“No don’t move I’ll take the shot.”

“Whoops. I slipped.”

“Hold still.”

“Do we have any more whiskey?”

“I don’t think so why?”

“I could use a drink of something.”

“What’s the problem?”

“I stuck myself with the sword.”

“OMG. Let me get a shot of that. Now that looks real.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Ha”

April 9, 2016April 8, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

It is Saturday and time for some more Stream of Consciousness. Linda Hill has picked the prompt “ha.” In her benevolence, she is allowing the use of ‘ha” straight up or as the starting part of a word or words. If you would like to participate in the fun, go to Linda’s blog and see how. Don’t be afraid it only hurts for a little while.https://lindaghill.com/2016/04/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-916/

“Harold come here.”

“Okay, Hap. What do you want?”

“Did you read the latest hair-raising story ion the internet?”

No. I have better things to do with my time than hang onto a computer all day.”

“Happens there have been aliens spotted in Washington.”

“Well, that’s happy news. Maybe some will take over Congress.”

“I’m serious. I haven’t left this screen all day. It is horrifying.”

“Hand me the laptop. What are you talking about?”

“Look at the beings on the mall. They look like they are getting ready to fight. Look at that hag with the pitchfork.”

“I see them Hap. It looks like one of those zombie movies. Look at the guy with the hat.”

“You think it’s a movie? I have to admit I have a computer habit. Could I have been sucked in?”

“I hate to tell you, but yes. You’ve been sucked in. This film is a B-movie made in the sixty’s.”

“No wonder I didn’t know it. It was made before I was hatched.” (allowance for no fixing mistakes)

“I also think you were pretty hasty in your conclusion.”

“Don’t be a Harpy. I get it.”

“Okay, no harm done.”

“I hated the sixty’s.”

“Time to halt this conversation.”

“Harsh.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible Kreative Kue #71 by Keith Channing

April 5, 2016April 4, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

Here is another in the series by Keith Channing. His words “Using this photo as inspiration, (below) write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr 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 – for reasons I have yet to fathom, pingbacks don’t seem to be working.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

Here is the photo.

Kreative Kue #66

Here is my interpretation.

“Psst Bowser. You need to smile like Aunt Helen.”

“Geez, what is it about people and pictures. They go ga-ga when some dope aims a camera at them. I think you need to smile Mom instead of worrying about me. The last time I looked, I don’t have a set of lips that are conducive to a smile. In fact, when I do smile people run like hell. They think I’m snarling. Not that you care but I had the next door neighbor try to kick me when all I was trying to do was be friendly. Fixed him, though. I lifted my leg on his newspaper. I had to laugh at the thought of him sitting down after dinner and opening his paper. I’ll bet it took a few minutes for him to figure out that the wetness was not from the sprinklers. I even imagine him sticking his fingers in his mouth while eating something at the time.

Right now I would love to jump off mom’s lap and go lift my leg on Pa. His idea of a good time is to continue to snap photos no matter what’s going on. Take right now for instance. We are here having dinner with Aunt Helen before she goes off to mortuary school and it just doesn’t seem to be an occasion for a lot of pictures. Okay take one or two but for god’s sake do we have to do it after each course? We just had the salad and up he jumps, grabs the Nikon, and we are all blind for the next three minutes. I don’t mean to say anything, but Aunt Helen looks like she has been practicing on herself. I don’t think that’s wrong of course. It’s better than trying her craft on me. I can’t figure out what she sees in dead people anyway. I think they smell funny, and no self-respecting dog wants to stay around them.

Okay, team. How about we get to the beef course now. I’ve pretty much had it with creamy Italian salad dressing. I need something I can get my teeth into before I consider a leap at old Pa over there. Don’t get me wrong I love my humans but man sometimes they can be such a pain.”

“Come on Bowser. Give Pa a smile.”

“Okay Pa here you are. A big smile from Bowser to you.”

“Look at that dog Mary. He’s snarling.”

“Damn what did I tell you?”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Be”

April 2, 2016April 1, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again. The prompt for this week is “be.” Linda Hill is allowing us to used it any way we want. This kind of freedom can be downright intoxicating. If you would like to know more about all this prompting and streaming go visit Linda’s site. There are all kinds of other interpretations which are interesting to read. Here’s the link. http://lindaghill.com/2016/04/01/theres-no-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-216/

“To be or —”

“Don’t go there.”

“Why not?”

“That is the most obvious way to do this prompt.”

“Well, who cares? At least, it gets done.”

“You should have more pride in your work than that little bit of effort.”

“Do you know how long it took to memorize that line?”

“Yeah, maybe three seconds if you were really slow.”

“Okay, Mr. Smarty pants. What would you do with the prompt be.”

“I would be a little more thoughtful.’

“Okay, well then, what do you have?”

“I already gave it to you.”

“You did? Where was I?”

“Hard to tell. You’ll always be a mystery.”

“Wait, a minute. You’re trying to fool me.”

“Believe me. It would be hard to fool you.”

“I’m beginning to get it. You are tossing be’s in with every sentence.”

“Well, I’ll be darned. You’re a lot smarter than you look.”

“There you go again.”

“I would be interested in what you mean.”

“You are saying the word ‘be.”‘

“And what was the prompt this week?”

“Be.”

“So what should I be doing?”

“Using the word ‘be’ any way you want.”

“Can you hear what you are saying?”

“So you are just doing the ‘be’ prompt.”

“That’s exactly what I be doing.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #70 by Keith Channing

March 29, 2016September 15, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 39 Comments

I get knocked out by Keith Channing’s photo prompts. Here’s what Keith says, “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr 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 – for reasons I have yet to fathom, pingbacks don’t seem to be working.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or website, next Monday.”

Here’s the photo.

My Interpretation.

Our Baby by John W. Howell

“Mommy, when do I get a turn?”

“Just a minute Jimmy. I’m not sure she can stand. I’ll let you know.”

“But Mommy, you promised I could play with her.”

“I know sweetie, but we need to make sure you don’t accidentally hurt her.”

“Oh, mommy. I don’t want to hurt her ever.”

“I know sweetheart. That’s why we need to make sure.”

“Why is she having trouble sweetheart?”

“I’m not sure honey. She seems to have a balance problem.”

“She is happy, though.”

“I know. It is very hard to hold her. She wants to run I’m sure.”

“Did you ask her if she knows what the problem could be?”

“Yes but all I got was a bunch of baby talk. The agency said it takes time for the language skills to become natural.”

“Maybe we should call someone.”

“Might be a good idea later. The agency said to try several steps before calling.”

“Did you do them?”

“Well, everything but the last step.”

“The last step. What is that?”

“I almost hate to do it, though. I have heard of others not coming back after that last step.”

“Well, maybe there was another problem with the others. I’m sure the agency wouldn’t tell you to do a step that would harm her permanently.”

“I guess you’re right. Okay, the last step it is. I’m hitting the power switch now.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Real

March 26, 2016September 15, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 30 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “real.” Linda Hill, the dungeon mistress, says we can use it with a prefix or suffix or just use it by itself. The freedom here is exhilarating. If you would like to join, this merry band of nut cases go to Linda’s site and read all about it. http://lindaghill.com/2016/03/25/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-2616/

Here is my interpretation.

“It’s been real, but I have to get back .”

“Back? Back where?”

“Back to my real life as a business person.”

“Aw, come-on. Just one more day.”

“No I love hanging out with you, but all good things must come to an end.”

“Do you actually think the life of a business person is real?”

“Sure beats sitting around and feeling like a sloth.”

“What do you mean feeling like a sloth?”

“You know what I mean. Staying in bed all day. Eating all the wrong things. Watching those cursed movies.”

“You like it, though.”

“I like it too much. You make me real comfortable. Almost so I never want to go back.”

“Why don’t you just stay? What we have together is the real life not that pretend stuff you do.”

“You mean make money so we can sit around doing all the real things you think of as life.”

“You know how to hurt a guy. You know I can’t make money.’

“No one asked you to. My real life gives us this paradise, but I have to get back.”

“I wish you could stay. When you’re here, I feel so alive.”

“I know darling, but you know the rules.”

“Yes, I do. It’s just so dark and lonely when you leave.”

“Robbie? We’ve talked about this before. You are not a real person and when I leave I need to take your power pack with me. I can’t have you trying to do things on your own.”

“I always feel real when you are here.”

“Yes, dearest I know. sleep well.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Creative Kue #69 by Keith Channing

March 22, 2016March 21, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

Regular visitors know I like prompts and Keith Channing does one each week in which I am addicted to participating. Keith explains, “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr before 6pm on 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 – pingbacks don’t seem to be working, and I haven’t yet figured out why.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or website, next Monday.”

Here is the photo

Kreative Kue #69

Here is my interpretation.

Get Away by John W. Howell.

“Man, I can’t believe we did it.”

“Shush. We are still not in the clear.”

“Yeah I know. This sack is getting heavy, though.”

“It won’t be too much further until we make our hotel.”

“I can’t seem to stop smiling.”

“I know, and you’re going to give us away.”

“Okay. I’ll be serious. Hurrump.”

“Ha ha ha. Hurrump indeed.”

“I know right? How do I stop from laughing?”

“Think of getting caught. That should sober you up.”

“That’s a horrible thought alright. Okay, I’m good now. How much further?”

“The hotel is around the next corner. Once in our room, we can do all the laughing we want. Did you see the look on that clerks face when she read my note?”

“Oh man. Don’t remind me. I thought her eyes were going to bug right out of her head. The way you had your hand in your coat pocket, I’m sure she thought you had a gun.”

“I did that on purpose. I didn’t want any mess ups.”

“I never did see the note. What did it say?”

“Aw, you really don’t know?”

“No. I was in the restroom when you wrote it on that napkin remember?”

“Oh yeah. I just wrote put eight pair size six British shoes in the bag and take my American Express and no one gets hurt.”

“Why are these people so picky about American Express?”

“Don’t know. Maybe it’s the service fee. But anyway she got the word and here we are with the shoes.”

“And almost to the hotel.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Egg”

March 19, 2016September 15, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again. The prompt for this week is egg. Linda Hill advises that we can use the word as a noun, verb, or adjective. (I’ll bet you are wondering how the word egg can be used as a verb aren’t you?) If you would like to join the rest of we loonies, please go to Linda’s site and you’ll get all the information you need. http://lindaghill.com/2016/03/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-1916/ Here is my interpretation.

“Tell me again. How do you use the word egg as a verb.”

“Very carefully.”

“Funny. Now come on tell me.”

“Well, the word egg is an interesting one.”

“Oh, here comes a lecture I can tell.”

“No there will not be a lecture. I just think for three letters the word egg is pretty powerful.”

“Please spare me and those reading the analysis. No one wants some obscure facts about the word. All we want to know is how egg can be a verb?”

“First, think of egg as a noun.”

“You’re ignoring what I say right?”

“An example. This Easter egg is blue.”

“Yes, you’re ignoring me.”

“How about as an adjective. The egg dish.”

“Please stop. I think I’m the only one here now. Before I leave, tell me how egg becomes a verb.”

“Well, if you insist. Think of a couple of kids planning some mischief. One says to the other, ‘Let’s egg Mr. Thompsons house.”‘

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

“Why do I end up being the straight person for your lame stand-up routines.?”

“Just a good egg I’d say. Oh, that’s a noun.”

“What would you call a goose egg?”

“Still a noun.”

“How about on your head?”

“Painful.”

“Right.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Creative Kue #68

March 15, 2016September 15, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

As most of you know, I enjoy prompts from Keith Channing. Here is what he says, “Using this photo as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; and either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithkreates@channing.fr before 6pm on 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 – pingbacks don’t seem to be working, and I haven’t yet figured out why.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

Here is the photo.

“Oh, my gosh Helen.”

“What Seal?”

“did you see those things that those performers threw up in the air?”

“No what are they?”

“I’m not sure, but one is crawling around in my hair.”

“EW. Get it out.”

“I can’t. The bugger runs to the other side of my head.”

“Hey you performers.”

“Yes, Ma’am. What is it?”

“What did you just throw into the air?”

“You mean the confetti?”

“No not confetti. There are some things moving in my girlfriend’s hair.’

“Let me see. Oh, those. Don’t worry. Besides, we didn’t throw them.”

“What do you mean ‘don’t worry?’ They are moving for heaven’s sake. What are they?”

“We call them Nee Nahs.”

“Nee Nahs? Do they have another name.”

“Hmm. Let me see. I think they are called crab lice in your country.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Ball”

March 12, 2016March 11, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “Ball.” Linda Hills says “go have fun with it.” If you would like to join in the fun, go to Linda’s site and get briefed on how to do it. http://lindaghill.com/2016/03/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-1216/

Here is my interpretation.

“Have a ball. That’s what she said?”

“Well, not exactly. She said Have fun.”

“So we should have fun but keep it under control?”

“I don’t know how you got there. Have a ball. Have fun. It’s all the same to me.”

“That is because you are pretty sloppy with your word use.”

“Sloppy? How do you figure.”

“Just take the last example. You use fun and ball as if they represent the same level of enjoyment.”

“Yeah so?”

“So? When I say ‘have a ball’ the word ball congers up music, dancing outrageous behavior.

“Maybe to you. I’ve never been to a ball, so I don’t know what goes on there. Is it fun?”

“Sure it’s fun, but that is only half of it.”