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, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”
The photo.
The Wager by John W. Howell © 2018
“Let me buy you a drink, my man.”
“That is very nice of you given the circumstances.”
“Ah what the heck. Life is too short.”
“But it seems like one would feel a little remorse.”
“Remorse? For what?”
“Well, it seems like a pretty goodly amount of money.”
“Yeah, but you know what they say, ‘easy come, easy go.”’
“I know if it were me, I don’t think I would take it so well.”
“You have to remember who suggested the wager.”
“That’s true. I guess if you hadn’t prepared yourself to lose you never would have suggested going title to title on a boat race.”
“That part is true. You see I really had not too much to lose.”
“What are you talking about? That is a gorgeous five-masted schooner.”
“You know the old saying, ‘one mans trash, another man’s treasure.”‘
“Yeah, I’ve heard that.”
“See, I have been trying to sell that tub for over two years with no takers.”
“That is surprising. It is a classic.”
“Yes, it is. Loaded with barnacles and filled with woodworms.”
“So you are saying you are glad to get rid of it.”
“You tell me. The last salvage estimate I got was over a million.”
“Someone would pay you a million?”
“No, I would have to pay a million to get rid of it. Now, how about that drink?”
“Now it is my problem.”
“Yup and at a leakage rate of one hundred gallons an hour, I think you better figure out what to do with it. Those pumps are pretty old. Maybe tow it beyond the shelf and scuttle it.”
“Gin on the rocks.”
