As you know, I’m a fan of Keith Channing and his Kreative Kue prompt. Here Keith gives the direction. “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 on 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 seem to be working, and I haven’t yet figured out why.

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.”

Here’s the photo

Here is my interpretation.

Thar She Blows by John W. Howell © 2016

“Zimba how many times do I have to tell you. We are pirates, not whalers.”

“I know, but I just love the book Moby Dick and every time I see a bunch of big freighters I just feel like Captain Ahab sighting the white whale.”

“You know how stupid that sounds right?”

“Yeah, Zimba we are a bunch of cutthroats, not fishermen.”

“Aw come on guys. You know as well as I do that it takes guts to be a whaler.”

“Oh please. You mean with those high power boats, sonar, and explosive harpoons. Those guys are wussies.”

“Maybe now but back in the day of Ahab you had to have guts to get in a little boat to battle a whale.”

“I just don’t believe we have a member of our band who reads. Talk about a wuss.”

“Just cause you can’t read doesn’t mean readers are any less manly.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want it to get around the coast that you are going around quoting Herman Melville. Oops.”

“Ah ha.You have read Moby Dick as well.”

“Uh, er, well, yes I have.”

“What the hell is this outfit coming to. A couple of readers for heaven’s sake.”

“All right you blackguards. Stow it. We need to pay attention. Which one do we take?”

“I like that pretty red one.”

“Who cares what you like Mr. Librarian.”

“My AK 47 works as well as yours.”

“Yo men. I said belay it.”

“I love it when he talks like Ahab.”

“Have you read the Scarlett Letter?”

“Oh man. That Hester had it rough.”

I guess by now you all know I love writing prompts, and Keith Channing posts a picture once a week on Mondays. You can go here and see the post http://channing.info/wp/2015/12/07/kreative-kue-54/

Here is the photo and my interpretation follows.

The Band by John W. Howell ©2015

“Well, then I said to the teacher, ‘why do I always have to play these stupid drums'”?

“Was that when he gave you detention?”

“No. Thant comes later. He told me the reason I play the drums is I stink at horns.”

“Wow. That musta hurt.”

“Darn right, it did.”

“So what did you say then?”

“I told him to give me a chance, and I would show him how good I can be on a horn.”

“So why aren’t you playing a horn?”

“Well, it gets complicated. He told me that there were no openings in the horn section so I would have to wait.”

“That sounds reasonable. I don’t know why you get all in a bunch. You think shaking these gourds is fun?”

“I wouldn’t do what you are willing to do.”

“Oh, you too good for gourds?”

“They are called maracas and no I’m not too good. I just was born to be a horn player.”

“So what kind of horn are you going to play if you ever get a chance?”

“I don’t know. I’m thinking of Rhino, but then there’s a Springbok.”

“Springbok is an antler.”

“Okay, then how about a big horn antelope? Also, I told the teacher that we need different uniforms. I said we are tired of looking like we are in the army.”

“What did he say?”

“You’re in detention.”

As you may know, I have become enamored by the talent of Keith Channing. He has a weekly prompt named Kreative Kue, which runs on Mondays. Here are the instructions from Keith for the prompt. “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 on Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated.”

His advice. “Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your blog or website, next Monday.” Here is the photo.

The Plot by John W. Howell © 2015

“Okay, ladies I placed the call. Anything happen while I was away.”

“No nothing much. Charlene here has cold feet.”

“I do not have cold feet. I just said we should think it over and make sure the plan is airtight. Betty’s the one who’s concerned.”

“You can’t say that Charlene. All I said was I don’t want to get caught. Tell us again Jean your thought on getting away.”

“Well to me it’s simple. We go in with our disguises on, and when we come out and get in the cars, we take them off. No one will know it’s us.”

“I think it’s a good plan, Jean. How about the rest of you? You’ve been quiet Mariann. What do you think?”

“I’m just about finished with my disguise, and I say we do it.”

“Good job Marianne. So if you are all okay here’s the plan. We get in the cars and drive to the location. We park as close as we can but avoid the surveillance cameras. We go in and spread out. We use the big bags to take as much as we can. When we think we are finished we get out clean and head for the cars. Everyone got it? Any questions?”

“I have one.”

“Yes, Charlene what is it?”

“Who’s idea was it to do Black Friday at Wal-Mart in the first place?”