Keith Channing puts out writing prompts in the form of photos. Here is what he says, “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 website, next Monday.”
Here is the photo
My interpretation
Have One by John W. Howell ©2016
“How about you sir? Would you like one?”
“Um. I don’t know really. What d’ya say they were made of?”
“I didn’t say. These are the best there is on the planet.”
“Okay, I’ll bite. The best what on the planet?”
“Here little boy. You want one?”
“I have to wait for my dad. He said not to take anything from strangers.”
“I think that’s candy kid. This situation is different. It’s lunch.”
“I still better wait.”
“How about you over there. You want one?”
“Like the other guy, I would like to know what they are.”
“These are hamburgers. You never saw a hamburger before?”
“No. Can’t say I have. Say where did you people come from after all?”
“We are from the government and we are here to help you.”
“We don’t need any help. We are doing fine.”
“How about a hamburger then.”
“What’s it made of?”
“Beef. Good ole government beef.”
“What’s beef?”
“You’re kidding right?”
“No ma’am. I never heard of it.”
“You know what a cow is?”
“Sure I do. They are our pets.”
“Beef is cow.”
“COW? dead cow? You want us to eat cow?”
“What is the matter with you? Everyone eats cow.”
“Not here we don’t. We play fetch with them, and they provide companionship.”
“Does everyone feel that way?”
“YES.”
“Well, Blanch it looks like another government feeding program has been planned to the finite detail of perfection. We sure have a lot of hamburgers to eat.”
“I like our uniforms, though. Don’t you?”
