Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Save/Safe”

October 7, 2017October 6, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 27 Comments

Save the whales, it is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This weeks prompt is Save/Safe and Linda Hill’s stand-in Joey says we can use the words any way we want. If we start or end the post with one or the other, then there are bonus points to be had. I’m all over bonus points hence the weird start. If you would like to get on board with this, please visit Linda’s blog post and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/10/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-617/

“Save me the humor. Just answer the question.”

“Could you repeat the question, please?”

“Is it safe?”

“Okay, I may be missing something but is what safe?”

“I had hoped you would be able to tell me.”

“Now this is sounding like a movie. Are you a dentist?”

“No. I’m not a dentist. I need to know if the package is safe.”

“What package are you talking about.”

“Save the act for Hollywood. You know very well what package.”

“If I know very well how come I can’t tell you?”

“Maybe a little convincing is necessary.”

“Now you save me the dramatics. you going to torture me?”

“Oh please. I’m going to show you a picture of you and the package.”

“Let’s see it. Yeah, that does look like me.”

“What is under your arm?”

“Looks like a package.”

“Ah ha. Exactly. Where is the package now?”

“You are kidding right?”

“We don’t kid. Now, where is it?”

“In my car.”

“Your car? How did it get into your car?”

“I put it there before you grabbed me off the street.”

“Funny I should have noticed that.”

“I would say. Now you’ve made a mess.”

“Mess? What mess.”

“Illegal detention.”

“Oh that. We are all gentlemen here. We can let bygones be bygones.”

“If you let me go we can. Why do you want that package anyway?”

“It is a matter of national security.”

“My laundry is a matter of national security?”

“Laundry?”

“Yes, that’s what was in the package.”

“Mr. Young I can assure you we have it on good authority you are transporting government secrets.”

“My name is Horowitz.”

“Oh, my. Horowitz, you say?”

“Yes. I demand you let me go.”

“Is it safe?”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #142 by Keith Channing

October 3, 2017October 2, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 29 Comments

In Keith’s words. “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 keith@channing.info 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #142

“Yes hello.”

“Yes, this is the Beef-O-Rama. How may I help you?”

“Um okay. Yes, we have carry out. I think we can handle that. Sure thing. Thanks for calling. We’ll expect you at six o’clock. Goodbye.”

“Who was that?”

“A customer.”

“What kind of customer?”

“A very big customer.”

“What did they want?”

“They wanted to know if our menu was okay for carry out.”

“You told them yes, right?”

“I sure did.”

“And they’ll be here at six o’clock.”

“That’s what they said.”

“Did they order something?”

“Yes, they ordered some steaks.”

“Steaks for carryout. I’m surprised.”

“Well, they said it was a special occasion.”

“I can believe that.”

“Well, I’d better get busy.”

“Busy how?”

“To get their order ready.”

“Wait it’s only one o’clock. What’s the rush?”

“I have to order the meat and potatoes and green beans and then start the prep for the grill. Then I need to hire about twenty people—”

“Hold on. What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you.”

“What?”

” The order is for a hundred steak dinners.”

“A-a hundred? Who was that the government?”

“Well, not really.”

“Who then?”

“Our neighbor. They are throwing a party.”

“A party? Who for?”

“They didn’t say. I know who it is not for though.”

“Who?”

“You and I. Let’s get to work.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #141 by Keith Channing

September 26, 2017September 25, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 46 Comments

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 #141

“Yeah, hello.”

“Who you calling?”

“I’m trying to reach home.”

“Why? We are fine. You know father gets all funny when we call him.”

“He just is worried is all. He thinks something is wrong all the time. Hello is this you, father?”

“Did you get him?”

“No there is something wrong with the connection. I’ll try later.”

“How many bars do you have?”

“Hmm. My cell says no service.”

“That’s why you can’t get through. You’ll have to wait until we get near a tower.”

“You would think there would be some service. We are right in the middle of a major city.”

“Yeah. Urm what city is this?”

“What do you mean ‘What city is this?’ It’s the one we flew into yesterday.”

“Name it.”

“OMG, I forgot the name.”

“Right. I don’t believe you can tell me what day it is either.”

“It’s Tuesda— Wait, no it’s Monday. Yes, it’s Monday.”

“You sure?”

“Why are you asking me these questions.”

“Because we are lost that’s why. We boarded a plane on Saturday and flew off into the sky. Do you remember landing anywhere?”

“Um. Now that you mention it, no.”

“See. I’m telling you we are in another dimension.”

“I’m not sure. Let’s ask someone.”

“Okay, there’s a person. Hey, could you tell us where we are?”

“They didn’t hear you. Ask another.”

“Young lady. Over here. Can you tell us where we are?”

“There is something wrong none of them hear you.”

“I’m starting to get scared. Oh, look, a police officer. Officer, can you help us?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“You can hear me then?”

“Of course I can. What is it you want?”

“Could you tell us where we are?”

“Certainly. You are in a photo in a prompt run by a couple of idiots.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Hot/Cold”

September 23, 2017September 22, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Hot damn. It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This weeks prompt is “hot/cold.” There are bonus points for beginning the post with one and ending the post with the other. Now you see why I lead off with “hot damn.” If you would like to be involved with this craziness, then visit Linda Hill’s post and read all about it. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Sept. 23/17

Hot/cold by John W. Howell © 2107

“Hot coffee is what will revive me.”

“What’s the problem.”

“Not sure. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“That’s not good. You have something on your mind?”

“Not really.”

“I could have guessed your answer.”

“What do you mean.”

“I look upon your mind as expansive as a great vast empty ballroom.”

“My, what a nice thing to say.”

“You are kidding right?”

“No, why?”

“I just said you were empty-headed.”

“I thought you were telling me my mind was of high-capacity.”

“Every time I talk to you, I get this feeling you hear, but you don’t understand.”

“No need to be rude. So I’m not a deep thinker. I still am having trouble sleeping.”

“What time do you eat dinner?”

“Nine o’clock. Why?”

“What time do you go to bed?”

“Ten o’clock. What are you saying?”

“You should not eat anything for at least three hours before you go to sleep. Your body has to work hard to get rid of the food, and so you are unable to sleep.”

“Yeah, whatever happened to the food coma concept?”

“The what?”

“You know when you have a big dinner you want to lay down and take a nap?”

“Who does that?”

“A lot of people I know.”

“You run with a pack of pigs?”

“Now that is cold.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #140 by Keith Channing

September 19, 2017September 18, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

In Keith’s words

“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 keith@channing.info before 6 pm 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #140

“There are people out there.”

“So what. Just get your costume on.”

“They will see me before I’m ready.”

“Who cares? Once you get that jug on your head, no one will know it’s you.”

“Why is that curtain so darned small?”

“We are not a big budget show. Now put on the jug.”

“I never liked this jug.”

“You don’t have to like it. It is part of the character.”

“Why are we doing this play anyway?”

“We need to raise money for the order.”

“And who chose this particular play anyway?”

“You know very well it was selected by the master’s wife after her visit to America.”

“Yeah, that’s what scares me.”

“Now, now. Let us not say evil words about the master’s wife.”

“I’m not even thinking evil words about the master’s wife.”

“Good. Put on the jug.”

“I’ve never seen the characters in this play before. You say this is an American classic.”

“I’m told it is.”

“What is the name of the play in America?”

“It’s called Archie and friends.”

“Oh, so my name is Jughead, and that’s the reason for the jug.”

“That is what I’ve been told. Seems strange though doesn’t it?”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Vol”

September 16, 2017September 15, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “Vol.” Yup, that’s right. Linda Hill says to find a word with “vol” in it and construct the post. She also advises the group to have fun. If you would like to participate in the fun go to Linda’s blog and find out how. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-1617/

“So what did she say?”

“Find a word with vol in it and write the post.”

“That’s it?”

“Oh, and she said to have fun with it.”

“Ha. Easy for her to say. You and I are here on the line and she sits in that Ivory Tower handing out prompts like they are free.”

“They are.”

“Are what?”

“Free.”

“What do you mean. We have to put our very heart into this crap. We sweat bullets over these damn words. How can you say they are free?”

“You finished?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay then, Let’s put our thinking caps on and come up with a word that has vol in it.”

“I hate that.”

“What?”

“The phrase thinking cap. I don’t have a cap. It is my brain that does all the thinking.”

“Did you get your coffee this morning?”

“Had five cups. Why?”

“You seem a little wound up is all.”

“Fine. Volume, Volvo, convoluted, volleyball, benevolent, voluptuous, devolution, malevolent, and voluminous. Just to name a few.”

That’s great. On which do you want to base a post?”

“None of them.”

“None of them? Why not?”

“They have all been done before. Let’s do something original.”

“Okay like what?”

“Well there is a village in Iran named Vol. We could do a story on it.”

“Ho hum.”

“There is Vol Dooley a former sheriff Louisiana. We could do his story.”

“Ugh.”

“How about the computer command Vol?”

“Wait a minute. You went on-line and looked this stuff up, right?”

“Well, yeah. So what?”

“So what? Do you know how frivolous this makes you look?”

“I think I’m a revolutionist.”

“I think you show the voluminousness of the empty space where your brian should be.”

“I’m thinking you border on the revolting.”

“Says the man with the vole sized brain.”

“You better vol.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“It’s French for flight and you should take the hint.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #139 By Keith Channing

September 12, 2017September 11, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 27 Comments

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo 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 keith@channing.info 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #138

Not Funny by John W. Howell.

“How did my ten-year toy get in this ice water?”

“I threw it to you, and you were looking the other way.”

“So how was I to know you were going to throw it?”

“I yelled, “Here catch.”‘

“I thought you were talking about the hot dog.”

“This is my hot dog. Why would I give it to you.”

“Cause you love me?”

“I do but not enough to give up my hot dog.”

“Speaking of dog have you seen Elmer lately?”

“No. Come to think about it I haven’t.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“I guess it was yesterday.”

“Weren’t there six Corona’s in this bucket yesterday?”

“I don’t know I didn’t pay much attention.”

“I’m sure of it now. I counted them yesterday.”

“Why did you do that?”

“Well, Elmer has been known to imbibe now and then so I want to see how bad it was getting.”

“How bad what was getting?”

“His drinking.”

“Wait a minute. Are you saying Elmer took those beer bottles.”

“That is exactly what I’m saying.”

“I have one question super sleuth.”

“Go ahead.”

“If he took the beers.”

“Yes?”

“How did he open them. He has no opposable thumb.”

“Hmm. Let me think on that.”

“Meanwhile get your toy out of that ice bucket it looks like it is getting soggy.”

“His teeth. He used his teeth.”

“How did he hold the bottle.”

“Damn.”

“I think you need to make up another story.”

“Okay, Elmer shoots Heroin.”

“Yeah, that’s a good one.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Motive”

September 9, 2017September 8, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

It is Steam of Consciousness Saturday and this weeks prompt is “motive.” Linda Hill says we can use the word any way we want. If you would like to join in the fun, please go to Linda’s site and read all about it. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-917/

“I wonder what gimmick the seminar leader is going to use to motivate us.”

“Oh, I believe it is the old trust your fellow workers with exercises designed to make us all not trust each other.”

“Ha ha ha. remember that time we were supposed to catch Jenkins as he fell.”

“My gosh, that was funny. He fell right on his head. Did he ever come back to work?”

“I heard they set him to a feelings doctor. He had PSSD.”

“PSSD? What’s that?”

“Post Seminar Stress Disorder.”

“No kidding. I think I have had that myself.”

“What do you suppose is management’s motive for this kind of foolishness.”

“They call it team building. I guess it’s meant to bring us together.”

“I never did forgive Simmons for that paint ball shot to the groin.”

“I’m not surprised. To see you on the ground crying like a baby is not a vision soon forgotten.”

“That was not my proudest moment. How about you? That time you were left out in the woods with no shoes.”

“My team was supposed to fetch me a pair.”

“Too bad the bar opened before they could get back.”

“I hate those people.”

“All we have is each other in this thing. I got your back.”

“Aw, thanks, man. I love you too. Oops here comes the leader.”

“Ladies and gentleman please give me your attention. This seminar is a little different from most. At the end of the week, the company will be promoting half of you based on how well you do with a pay increase of 10% above your current level. The other half will return to their old jobs at a wage level of 90 % of the previous amount.”

“Did you hear that?”

“You talking to me? Do I know you?

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 138 by Keith Channing

September 5, 2017September 4, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

In Keith’s words. “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 keith@channing.info before 6 pm 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #138

“Keep it down. He’s coming.”

“I’m afraid to look.”

“Don’t worry he can’t see you.”

“I’m still afraid. Tell me what he looks like.”

“He is wearing denim pants, a black t-shirt, and get this, he has a buzz cut.”

“A buzz cut?”

“Can you believe it?”

“Aw, this makes it too easy.”

“I know right. Wait he is carrying something in his hand.”

“What is it?”

“Some kind of bag. At least we only have to worry about the one hand. It is the right one by the way.”

“I am always concerned about getting hit by the right hand.”

“There are two of us. Don’t you think we can have our way with him?”

“There is still a chance he could smack one of us with that hand.”

“Well, this is the chance we will have to take. He’s getting closer.”

“Be still my beating heart.”

“Oh, C’mon. Be brave buckaroo. On my count, we will jump him.”

“This is the worst part. I wish I were born as someone else.”

“Why? You have a great life.”

“What’s so great about having to drop down on a mammal and hope not to be slapped flat.”

“But after you get your fill you just sleep. That buzz cut means you can hit the sweet spot on the head and he’ll never know. Now get ready and try not to make that whining noise with your wings.”

“You gotta be kidding me. All mosquitos make that noise.”

“Yeah, I was kidding. Pre-mission humor. Let’s go.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #137

August 29, 2017August 28, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 35 Comments

Keith’s words. “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 keith@channing.info before 6 pm 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

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 #137