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
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.”
