Tuesday – Anything Possible

May 12, 2015May 11, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

On May Ninth, Audrey Dawn posted a beautiful poem along with a great picture that she titled Wild West. Here is the picture and you can go to her blog and read the lovely poem. I could not help but be drawn to both the picture and her words. They served as a prompt for a short story that follows. I hope you take a moment and visit Audrey and enjoy her work as well as this story.

“Hey, Maud wha cha doin?”

“A bit o’ sewing Jacob. Wha’s it look like?”

“Well. Ta tell the truth, it looks like yor loafin’ on tha there stump.”

“Loafing? Why you old goat. If’n anyones loafin’ it’s you.”

“Aw, Maud you know I be roundin’up strays all damn day.”

“No need ta swear Jacob. Th’ Lord don’t take kindly ta no swearin’.”

“Well the’ Lord don’t take kindly to no lies either.”

“What lies Jacob?”

“That I be loafin’.”

“You started it.”

“Yes, I guess yor right. What cha makin’?”

“Not makin’ anythin’ Jacob. I’m a fixin’ your shirt.”

“The one I was wearn’when I stopped that arrie?”

“That’s th one.”

“I’as damn lucky that day.”

“Jacob? Th’Lord don’t want to hear you swearin’ specially after savin’ you an all.”

“Yeah, Maud yor right. Mind if I take this here chair?”

“No. Jacob you sit. You’ve had a rough week and ta rest is good for ya. That lasso needs some lookin’at while yor restin’.”

“Yeah been meanin’ to get ta it afore now. Looks like a quick fix. Hey Maud?”

“Yes, Jacob.”

“What’s fer supper?”

“Same as yesteday. Critter stew.”

“I think I’ll go fix this here lasso afore supper. Not shore what shape I’ll be in after critter stew.”

“An we’s runnin’ low on critters.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Name”

May 9, 2015May 8, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

SOC Badge by: Doobster at Mindful Digressions

Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “Name” and we minions can use it any way we want. If you would like to join, the fun go to Linda Hill’s site and read all about it and jump in. http://lindaghill.com/2015/05/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-915/ my interpretation follows. Hope you like it.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

“What’s that you’re saying?”

“Oh, nothing just a quote.”

“A quote? From where or what?”

“It’s from Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet.”

“Who are they?”

“Shakespeare?”

“No, the other two. I know Shakespeare. They make fishing equipment.”

“For heaven’s sake. It is the sonnet writer William Shakespeare.”

“He on YouTube?”

“No, he lived in the sixteen hundreds and wrote beautiful poetry.”

“So he lived uptown?”

“What do you mean uptown?”

“Well, the sixteen hundreds are way uptown.”

“Man alive. Why do I even try?”

“So the other two what’s their name. What’s the story on them?”

“They were lovers who were from families that hated each other.”

“So they couldn’t be seen together and they died under tragic circumstances.”

“Wow. I’m impressed. How did you know?”

“I saw Westside Story. That’s what happened in that movie.”

“Yeah, it happened in the movie as well I guess although I think Romeo and Juliet inspired the movie.”

“Well, I didn’t know that was true.”

Does it change your mind about Shakespeare?”

No, should it?”

“It should make you think about stuff more.”

“I guess you’re right. I have something to say but should think it through.”

Now you’re talking. When you’re ready say it.”

“Want to get a beer that by any other name would still taste good?”

“Well, it’s a start. Sure, Why not?”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Compliment/Complement

May 2, 2015May 1, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 16 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday again. This week’s prompt is Compliment/Complement and can be used together or separately. If you want to join this fun, go to Linda Hill’s site and read the rules. Here is the link http://lindaghill.com/2015/05/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-215/ My interpretation follows.

“Hi, Sarah how you doing?”

“Very well, Jackson. Thank you.”

“I enjoyed taking you to the party.”

“Me too. You complement me.”

“Well, okay. You have lovely hair.”

“Huh? Oh, I get it you thought I was looking for a compliment.”

“You said complement me.”

“I meant you make me feel complete.”

“Whoa. That is some compliment.”

“Well, it’s true. You are a complement to me.”

“Thank you, Thank you very much. You compliment me as well.”

“Hum, as in make you whole?”

“Naw, as in saying nice things about me.”

“I think we should get going to the movie this is getting complicated.”

“I agree. Excellent Segway.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“I think I’m getting it.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

April 25, 2015April 24, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 14 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “Very/Very.” If you would like to participate in this fun, please visit http://lindaghill.com/2015/04/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-2515/. Here is my interpretation.

“The guy said what to you?”

“He said, ‘very very.’”

“What the hell did that mean?”

“I’m not sure, but he had a pretty big gun pointed at my face.”

“What did you do?”

“I said, ‘very very merry merry.’”

“Oh, my gosh. Then what happened?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing? You’ve got to be kidding.”

“Well, he did mutter ‘very very merry merry carry carry.’”

“Wait, what. Why did he do that?”

“I’m not sure, but he had a little smile on his face. I think it was becoming a game, so I said, ‘very very merry merry carry carry hairy hairy.’”

“Wow, that was good. What then?”

“He told me I was disgusting and walked away.”

“Seriously.”

“I’m here aren’t I?”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Jour”

April 11, 2015April 10, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

A Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “jour.” It can be as part of a word, with a suffix or as the French word for “day.” If you would like to know more about the craziness challenging weekly prompt go here http://lindaghill.com/2015/04/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-1115/. Here is my interpretation. Hope you like it.

Jour by John W. Howell © 21015

“Bon Jour Mon ami.”

“Okay what is going on with you?”

“Going on? I just said good morning in French.”

“Yeah, I got that. I just wonder why you are speaking in French. You barely have English down pat.”

“Aw. That’s cold. I’m trying to better myself. I decided to start a journal.”

“And what does that have to do with French?”

“I figure I will practice in my journal and then become a journalist.”

“Journalist? I still don’t get the French connection.”

“Well, I can’t start at the top of journalism. I have to be what is called an apprentice.”

“Okay, I’m beginning to what to bite your nose off. What does apprentice have to do with French?”

“After apprentice study is complete I will be a journeyman.”

“Now that you are a journeyman you are speaking French?”

“No, but the French will allow me to select a Nom de Plume.”

“A what?”

“A pen name.”

“You need French for that?”

“Can’t hurt.”

“I’ll give you to the count of three to run away and I suggest you do it very fast.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday Prompt – De plus ed

April 4, 2015April 3, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 16 Comments

It is Stream of Conscious Saturday and this week’s prompt is to use “De” anywhere in the post, and there is extra credit if the word I choose ends with “ed.” If you would like to participate go here for the rules, http://lindaghill.com/2015/04/03/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-415/ Here is my contribution.

“So I walked into his office and slammed my keys on his desk.”

“Oh, my. What did he say?”

“He didn’t say anything. He knew better.”

“How did you leave it?”

“He told me I was through and then I went to my cube and got my keys and went back and slammed the keys on his desk. I guess I’m still through.”

“You mean he never said anything.”

“Nope, he just handed me this card.”

“What does it say?”

“I’ll read it. The front says ‘congratulations.’ Then you open it and inside it says ‘you have been Deemphasized’”

“Boy, that’s cold. Anything else?”

“Just signed by the boss.”

“Damn I have never heard of a de-emphasized card before.”

“Sure beats a sympathy card.”

“I guess so. What are you going to do now?”

“I think I’ll go apply for a de-emphasized check.”

“Where do you get that?”

“At the de-emphasize bureau I suppose.”

“Can you get a license while you’re there?”

“Funny.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Naught/Knot/Not

March 28, 2015March 27, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 29 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again. Linda Hill has come up with a prompt that should be fun. The prompt is Naught/Knot/Not and can individually used or all three together. If you would like to join in the pain fun go here to learn more. http://lindaghill.com/2015/03/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-2815/

Naught/Knot/Not by John W. Howell © 2105

“What is that thing?”

“It’s a rope. You can see that can’t you?”

“Because of its color I thought it might have been a snake.”

“Colored? Oh, I see the green and brown.”

“Yes. So what are you doing with that rope?”

“It’s not just any old rope either.”

“Oh yeah. What makes it out of the ordinary.”

“Not out of the ordinary amazingly special.”

“I give up. What makes it so special?”

“No matter how you do it the rope can’t be tied in a knot.”

“That’s nonsense. Give it to me.”

“Here you are. Try making a knot.”

“Look I have made a triple bowline-on-a-bite with two half hitches.”

“You sure? Give it a shake.”

“Wow, look at that. The knot fell right out. There is no knot.”

“I told you. Want to try again?”

“No that was my best shot. Here take it back. What do you call that kind of rope anyway?”

“It’s called a Naught Knot Not rope.”

“Who in the hell named it that name?”

“Look up top at the intro. Who do you think?”

“Linda right?”

“Right.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Pat/Pet/Pit/Pot/Put

March 14, 2015March 13, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 30 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday again. This week’s prompt is Pat/Pet/Pit/Pot/Put, and the writer can use all or part of them. If you want to join, the torture fun go here and read up on the rules: http://lindaghill.com/2015/03/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-1415/

“So what are we doing today?”

“I just came from HQ and I have the assignment.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“You’re not going to like it?”

“Since when have I liked any of them?”

“Yeah I know what you mean but this one’s a doozy.”

“Lay it on me. Can’t be any worse than the others.”

“Swell, don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.”

“Tell me already.”

“Pat/Pet/Pit/Pot/Put.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope, that’s what came down.”

“Crap. The prompt is going to take some planning.’

“Well, remember there is none of that allowed.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Double crap.”

“You want to get on with it?”

“Okay here goes. Pat had a pet he named Peter. He kept him in a pit and ah..”

“Yeah what?”

“Uh. One day he got into some pot.”

“Who got in the pot? Peter or Pat?”

“You are not making this any easier. Peter got in the pot.”

“Okay, then what?”

“Um, then Pat had to put Peter in the pit with only the pot.”

“I think you are almost there. Big finish now.”

“Pat’s Pet is put in a Pit with Pot.”

“Take a bow.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Go

March 7, 2015March 6, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 11 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt is “Go” which can be used in any manner the writer chooses. If you would like to learn more visit Linda Hill at http://lindaghill.com/2015/03/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-715/ Here is my interpretation of “Go.” Hope you like it.

Go by John W. Howell

“Where does this one go?”

“I think it will go over here.”

“Okay if you say so. I think it will go here better.”

“That may well be but I’m paying you to move furniture not tell me something will go better somewhere else.”

“Okay you’re the boss. I just know from moving thousands of people it will go better here.”

“So put it there then and I’ll see if it will go.”

“How does it look? Tell me it doesn’t go here.”

“I think it will go there.”

“Ah, I feel vindicated. I said go here, and you agree.’

“Don’t get carried away. Go get the next piece.”

“We going to discuss where it will go?”

“I don’t think the go discussion is one I want to continue.”

“Go on. You know I made a good suggestion.”

“Go get the next one and we’ll see.”

“That is a condition I can live with today. I’m going to go.”

“What are you looking at. Go.”

Go, go, go. Doesn’t anyone stay anymore?

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

February 28, 2015February 27, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

Stream of Conscious Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is Acquaint/and or Friend. The writer gets to interpret this prompt as they wish. For all the information and to join in go to http://lindaghill.com/2015/02/27/special-edition-friday-prompt-for-socs-february-2815/ Here is my contribution to the prompt.

“So which is it?”

“Which is what?”

“That guy you were talking to when I came up.”

“Yeah, he is a guy.”

“No I mean is he a friend or just an acquaint?”

“I guess he would be considered a friend.’

“Why is that?”

“An acquaint is someone you introduce to someone else. I didn’t introduce him to anyone.”

“Yes, I noticed he ran off when I came up.”

“Now that’s not true. He had to get to the store.”

“To buy what? A mask?”

“For heaven’s sake. Why are you so sensitive?”

“Sensitive? When a good friend of mine is talking to a guy, and the guy takes off before an acquaint is made I don’t think, it is sensitive to wonder what is going on.”

“Why are you using the word acquaint instead of introduce or introduction?”

“It’s in the prompt. Now who’s sensitive?”

“The prompt? You mean this is a story?”

“Yes a story.”

“A prompted story?”

“Yes.”

“Shit.”