Category: Prompt

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Admit.”

~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

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It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “Admit.” Linda Hill says we can use it any way we want. I have to admit I’m not sure how to use it but will figure it out before too long. If you would like to join the craziness just pop over to Linda’s blog and read up on all the rules. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/06/09/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-1017/

Admit by John W. Howell © 2017

“This ticket says ‘admit one.’ Where does your buddy think he’s going?”

“Excuse me. You talking to me?”

“Yeah, Robert I’m talking to you.”

“Name’s Silvester.”

“Okay, Silvester. Where d’you think you’re going?”

“Into the show.”

“Show me your ticket.”

“He’s got it.”

“His says ‘admit one.’ You and he make two.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“Real simple. No ticket no entry.”

“I already said he’s got the ticket.”

“And I already told you his ticket says ‘admit one.”‘

“He and I are together.”

“Yeah, so?”

“That makes us as one.”

“Woo boy. You think I’m that stupid?”

“Don’t know.”

“Don’t know what?”

“If you are that stupid.”

“Okay, that’s it. Show me a ticket or get lost.”

“Here’s my ticket.”

“Now I have to ask.”

“What?”

“Why did you put me through all that?”

“You have to admit it was fun.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Suit yourself.”

“Let me ask just for grins. Did you get the Robert De Nero reference from the movie Taxi?”

“Yes. Yes, I did.”

“What’d you think?”

“Not funny. Excuse us the movie is going to start.”

Tuesday Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #126 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 32 Comments

Keith explains what is going on in his words. “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 – 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 #126

A headache by John W. Howell © 2017

“Yeah, that’s what I said. We are stuck.”

“How did we get stuck?”

“Well, I think it is pretty simple. We came to a tunnel that wasn’t big enough, and we got stuck.”

“How is this even possible?”

“Look I’m not a tunnel engineer. I’m a railroad engineer. How would I know?”

“Have you gone through this tunnel before?”

“Why yes. Yes, we have.”

“With this train?”

“Now that you mention it, yes with this very train.”

“So don’t you think it odd that on this particular trip you got stuck?”

“You know. It is odd.”

“Can you think of any reason why?”

“No. Wait it may be that out cargo load is heavier.”

“Think about it. What would weight have to do with getting stuck? You are wider is the reason. Can you think why you are wider?”

“Hmm. Wider. Let me think about that.”

“You do that, and I’ll call dispatch and see if they know anything.”

“Great idea.”

“Hello, dispatch. I’m calling about old 2120. It seems we are stuck at tunnel forty-one. Yes, forty-one. Okay, I’ll hold.”

“What they say?”

“I’m on hold. Oh yes, go ahead dispatch. You don’t say. Wow, amazing. Okay, we’ll try it. Thanks.”

“So what’s the solution.”

“Dispatch says to check the passenger’s list.”

“What for?”

“To see if there are some unauthorized people on board. Looks like these people have bloated your train.”

“People. Like who?”

“Well, this train don’t carry no gamblers this train. This train don’t carry no liars this train. This train don’t carry no smokers this train. This train don’t carry no con men this train. This train don’t carry no rustlers this train. This train is bound for glory and don’t carry nothing but the righteous and holy. Dispatch thinks you have an overload.”

“The guy in dispatch. You get his name?”

“Yeah. Guthrie.”

“Figures.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Weather/Whether”

~ John W. Howell ~ 35 Comments

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Whether we like it or not, it is the time for Stream of Consciousness Saturday. This weeks prompt is weather and or whether. We can use both or one. There are bonus points available if we start and end the post with one or both. Now I hope you see that I’m half way to the bonus points since I started with whether. If you would like to join in just go to Linda Hill’s blog and learn how to participate. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2017/06/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-317/

Whether/Weather by John W. Howell © 2017

“Whether thou goest I will go.”

“Huh.”

“Thy people shall be my people, my love.”

“Are you trying to quote Ruth from the Bible?”

“Why yes. Yes, I am. It is so romantic.”

“I would try harder to get it right then.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s whither thou goest. Whither, whither.”

“Oh, my.”

“What?”

“I just did a post on my blog about Ruth, chapter one, verse sixteen and I used Whether.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. Most will probably miss it.”

“I don’t think my English professor will.”

“He read your blog?”

“Not normally but he said he would because I sent him a link.”

“Hmm, I think I would get to the post and correct it fast.”

“I left my computer at home.”

“Cell phone?”

“Don’t have the app.”

“I think you are in for a little bit of inclement weather.”

Tuesday Anything Possible – Creative Kue #125 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

In Keith’s words to let you know what’s going on. “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 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 #125

Whoops by John W. Howell © 2107

“Okay steady as it goes.”

“Man, this new computer does all the work.”

“Don’t get over-confident. Keep your hands on the controls.”

“I know, I know. I’m just saying this thing is so easy to fly with the new computer.”

“I agree, but we need to be on guard for any malfunction.”

“Yes, so true. What’s our position?”

“We are two minutes from touchdown at cruise speed. We have just passed the Earth’s moon and are heading for a place called North America.”

“North America. I studied that area. Filled with some humans, right?”

“Yeah. Unfortunately. That’s is why we are landing while our site is on the dark side. We can avoid them.”

“So this site is in North America, but specifically we are on a trajectory to land at location Alpha.”

“That is correct.”

“Alpha is the name of a place?”

“No, it is just a designation.”

“But one with no obstructions.”

“Yes.”

“When was the last survey completed?”

“Just last month. There is nothing there but a few natives. It is one big island.”

“Do we know the Earth year at landing point Alpha.”

“Let me see. Yes, the year is 2017.”

“And what was the Earth year on the survey?”

“Here it is. 1617.”

“Wait. That is four hundred Earth years. Do you think there will be any changes.”

“Are you kidding? Those primitives? Not a chance.”

“Does the island have a name?”

“Well, the indigenous people call it Manhatten.”

“How do we know that?”

“The survey team sent back that information.”

“Oh okay. Looks like thirty seconds till touchdown. Initiating automatic landing sequence. All we have to do is sit back and—Wait what are all those lights?”

“Whoops.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Creative Due #124 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 33 Comments

Keith tells us what to do. “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– 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 $124

The High Road by John W. Howell © 2017

“For heaven’s sake why doesn’t that idiot pass us?”

“I don’t know. He’s just laying back there blowing his horn.”

“he must know we can’t go any faster. Our animals are needing a rest.”

“Maybe we should pull over and let him pass.”

“Look where we are. If we pull over these camels will sleep for a week.”

“I know but that horn is driving me crazy. The noise is giving me a headache.”

“You sure it wasn’t the three goat skins of wine last night?”

“That horn does nothing to help I can tell you.”

“Well, maybe we can pull over. I’ll signal for a lane change.”

“Oh, my goodness. The infidel is pulling over too.”

“Get my scimitar, Kumar. I think we need to teach this one a lesson.”

“He has stopped behind us. Be careful. That awful horn.”

“I’ll be careful. Let me yell at that guy from here. Hey you numbskull. Don’t you hear that horn?”

“He’s not stopping the horn.”

“Oh dear. I must go there. Give me my scimitar.”

“Here you are. Dont cut yourself.”

“Thanks. I’ll be right back.”

“Sir. Sir I’m talking to you. Can’t you hear that horn?”

“Why yes I can. It that a sword you’re holding?”

“It’s a scimitar. What about the horn?”

“I started about ten miles ago.”

“I know. Why have you been following us?”

“We don’t know the way to the village and thought you could lead us there.”

“About the horn?”

“Oh, yes. There is that better?”

“OMG you don’t know how much better. Why have you been blowing that horn all this way.”

“The man at the gas station said you would help us and all we had to do was blow the horn continuously.”

“I think he was joking with you knowing I had this scimitar.”

“Not very funny.”

“I would say not.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “All or Nothing.”

~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

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All week I have waited for this day. It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This weeks prompt is “all or nothing.” There are bonus points for beginning and ending the post with one or both. (It is obvious I’m going for the extra.) If you would like to participate go to Linda Hill’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/05/19/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-2017/

All or Nothing by John W. Howell © 2017

“So there I was on this game show.”

“What game show?”

“All or Nothing.”

“Never heard of it.”

“Oh, come on. All or Nothing. It is the number one game show on TV.”

“Okay, I’ll give it to you. What were you going to say.”

“Well, this I was on the show, and the host asks me what I want to bet on the next question.”

“You have to gamble?”

“No. You get so much money, and you can be all or nothing on each question.”

“Gee. Sounds dumb.”

“No, it’s fun. If you bet all and get the question right, you win the amount you bet.”

“What if you don’t get the question right?”

“You lose everything you bet.”

“Where does the nothing come in?”

‘You can bet nothing then if you win or lose you get nothing.’

“Nothing?”

“Yeah.”

“What’s the point?”

“Well let’s say the category is “parts of the brain,” you might want to bet nothing.”

“Why?”

“Do you know a lot about parts of the brain?”

“Yes, I do.”

“For heaven’s sake, it was an example. Name something you know absolutely nothing about.”

“This game show.”

“Swell what if the category was the game show.”

“Well, then I guess I would bet nothing.”

“Bingo. You’ve got it.”

“Would be no use in playing.”

“Well, there would be categories that you would know. Then you bet it all.”

“You seem like an expert.”

“I know my way around.”

“You were saying about the host?”

“Quite honestly I forgot.”

“How much did you win on this game show?”

“Nothing.”

 

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #123 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

In Keith’s words “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 – 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.”

Kreative Kue #123

The Sale By John W. Howell ©2107

“Look. Here he comes.”

“That horse doesn’t look fit enough for the wagon.”

“I know right?”

“He said the price included a horse, but I’m going to tell him the deal’s off.”

“Wait a minute. Maybe that nag is good enough.”

“What do you mean?”

“You pretty much stole this deal. You’ll never get a wagon at this price anywhere else.”

“Maybe he’ll throw in some kind of warranty.”

“Now you’re talking. Just bid your time. This deal may turn out okay.”

“I just thought of something.”

“What?”

“How we going to get this rig home?”

“Need to hitch up Dobbin and take it slow is how.”

“Is this wagon street legal.”

“Who cares. It’s an antique.”

“I know, but I don’t need a ticket.”

“We’ll ask him when he finally gets here.”

“Good deal here he comes. Say, buddy.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Can this be driven on the street?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Is it okay to drive on the street with this wagon.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, there are some funny laws about vehicles.”

“I don’t know of any that would prevent you from using this wagon.”

“How about the freeways?”

“The what?”

“Freeways. You know. Seventy miles an hour speed limit.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about. Te best we do is Fifty miles in a day.”

“What are you talking about? You have a car don’t you?”

“Car? Now, what are you talking about? You’re not trying to back out of the deal are you?”

“Come on man. I’m not trying anything.”

“Good cause they just passed the city ordinance of 1843.”

“What the hell is that?”

“You can’t renege on a purchase unless you can prove fraud.”

” City ordinance of 1843. What year is this?”

“I think you are faking insanity to get out of the deal. Its 1843 and I’m going to go get the sheriff. You stay here.”

“Did we fall asleep or what? Am I dreaming?”

“I told you not to take that Twilight Zone sign post lightly.”

 

 

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Language

~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

 

SOCS

It is Stream of Consciousness time again and this week’s prompt is “language.” If you would like to join in why not wander over to Linda Hill’s place and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/05/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-1317/

Language by John W. Howell © 2017

“What did the guy say?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What do you mean ‘not sure?”‘

“Well I asked the questions, and he answered me I think.”

“I have to ask you directly. What did he say?”

“He said ‘Jeremiah was a bullfrog. He was a good friend of mine. I never understood a single word he said, but I helped him drink his wine. And he always had some mighty fine wine.”‘

“For heaven’s sake. Those are lyrics to a song by the Three Dog Night.”

“I thought it was a little strange but considered he was talking in a different language.”

“The language is English. How could it be different?”

“Well, it could be code for something else.”

“I would say it was drunk for something else. So we still don’t know where we are?”

“We are here, but the question is where is here?”

“Now what language are you speaking.”

“Poetic right?”

“Stupid if you ask me. We need to get directions out of here.”

“We gotta get out of this place if it’s the last thing we ever do.”

“You are starting to wear on my last nerve.”

“Shush, big boys don’t cry. Big boys don’t cry.”

“Stop it.”

“Stop in the name of love before you break my heart.”

“Think it over.”

“After I’ve been good to you.”

“Think it over.”

“After I’ve been sweet to you. Stop in the name of love.”

“Before I break your head.”

“Huh? What just happened there?”

“We need to find out where we are.”

“I just got lost. Every river I tried to cross.”

“Enough.”

“Okay. Let’s try to find someone who speaks our language.”

“Maybe Spotify.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible Creative Kue #122 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

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 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 #122
Talkin’ to Me? By John W.Howell © 2017

“Psst. Hey, mister.”

“W-what? Who said that?”

“You waiting to see the doc?”

“Are you talking to me?”

“Who else is in the room. Look around. No one here but us two.”

“Wait a minute. Cats can’t talk. Is this some kind of prank?”

“It would be called a punked. And no this is not that.”

“So what is it? Somebody throwing their voice?”

“No. See my lips moving. I’m really trying to talk to you.”

“So what do you want?”

“I’ll tell you what I don’t want.”

“Whats that?”

“The damn operation that’s what.”

“What operation?”

“Man, you are real quick aren’t you?”

“No need to be rude.”

“Yeah, sorry. I’m using my cat brain and my human voice. Sometimes the two don’t work together right.”

“No problem. Let me ask again, what operation? You look fine to me.”

“Then why do they say I need to be fixed. I don’t feel broken.”

“Oh, I get it. You’re going to be neutered.”

“Neutered? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you won’t be able to sire more cats.”

“And how is this a good thing?”

“Well, for one thing, you won’t be bringing unwanted and perhaps abandoned kittens into the world.”

“I get that. What do I get out of this deal?”

“You won’t be fighting with other cats and will possibly live longer.”

“Okay, most of my fights are over romance. Are you saying there is no more romance?”

“Yup. All of that will be forgotten.”

“So they are going to fix my brain?”

“No. Just the things that cause your brain to go crazy at the sight of a female. Everything else remains the same.”

“So no fights and no romance and you say I may live longer.”

“That’s what they tell me.”

“Maybe it just seems like you live longer with all that boredom.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“You been fixed?”

“More or less son. More or less.”

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Inter-“

~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

SOCS

 

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “Inter—” Yes, that’s right we must use words that begin with Inter. If you would like to join in, I would suggest a visit to the feelings doctor. No, wait that’s not right. I would suggest a visit to Linda Hill’s blog to find out how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/05/05/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-617/

Inter by John W. Howell © 2107

“Now class I want you to intermingle with the international students during intermission.”

“Aw gee Mr. Thompson. Do we have to?”

“Billy,  how are we going to interchange knowledge of our cultures if we don’t interact with one another?”

“Oh, I don’t know. maybe we can play baseball or something.”

“I’m not sure our colleagues will be interested in a game that is not internalized in their own country.”

“Huh?”

“Baseball is intertwined in the fabric of America but has not been consistently interpenetrated in the rest of the world.”

“We could teach them.”

“Interesting concept, Billy. Let me interpolate your offer to the other counselors and see if there are any interregional possibilities to make that happen.”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to interview the other counselors to see if they can interpret to everyone some form of a game that you all can play.”

“Oh.”

“In the interim I want you to be prepared to interchange the skills of the game with others.”

“Okay. I will be ready.”

“And if you need an intermediary intermittently or on a regular interval just call on me.”

“Sure, Mr. Thompson. The first thing I need is an interpreter.”

“How come?”

“To interpose your words into something I can understand.”

“That hurts, Billy.”