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 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.”
The Photo
The Fifth Encounter by John W. Howell © 2019
“I can’t understand frog. I said, ‘Hello little guy.’ Maybe you could sign or something.”
“For heaven’s sake. How about I use English?”
“Wow. You speak English?”
“No. The guy across the way is throwing his voice.”
“What guy?”
“Forget the guy. I was being facetious. I’m speaking English. What the heck is the matter with you?”
“You ask that? Here I am holding a frog in my hand who is speaking English.”
“Yeah so?”
“So? Don’t you think that is cause to be a little confused?”
“If I were human I suppose it would be a little unusual.”
“If you were human? What the heck are you.”
“What do I look like?”
“A frog.”
“Looks like a frog. Just might be a frog.”
“Are you from outer space.”
“Nope. From right here in Murphy’s swamp where you found me.”
“How did you learn to speak English?”
“How many times have you come to this swamp to read your poetry?”
“Yeah, hundreds.”
“It would take a fool not to be able to speak after listening to all those poems.”
“Which one did you like the best?”
“I think the question should be, ‘Which one was the least offensive.”‘
“That was cold.”
“You are right. I just can’t help myself.”
“Are you a poet?”
“No, but I do review poetry.”
“You do?”
“Yup. For the New York Times.”
“My gosh. What is your byline.”
“Phineus P Phrog.”
“You are Phineus P. Phrog? I can’t believe it. I worship your reviews. You’ve made the most famous poets with your elegant words.”
“My goodness, you make me blush which is not a good thing when the crane comes around.”
“Please tell me my poems are not that bad.”
“I have professional integrity to maintain. Between you and me I think I would find something else to do.”
“Don’t say that. I love to read and write poetry.”
“You don’t have to give up reading.”
“You are breaking my heart.”
“I have an idea.”
“What’s that?”
“I could make you my assistant.”
“Your assistant? That sounds wonderful. What would I have to do?”
“Well. there’s a matter of needing proofreading.”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“The mail is horrendous. Maybe you could answer the mail.”
“Perfect.”
“Twitter?”
“All over it.”
“My Facebook page needs a redo.”
“Consider it done.”
“Deadlines?”
“I have a great organizational system.”
“My blog?”
“I’ll ghostwrite and post for you.”
“Flies.”
“Flies?”
“I eat a lot of flies.”
“You don’t catch your own?”
“No time.”
“Freeze-dried?”
“Last resort.”
“Deal.”
