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.combefore 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.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”

The photo.

Programming Adventure by John W. Howell © 2021

“So listen, Bud. It’s my turn to select the program.”

“Says who?”

“Sez me.”

“And what army.”

“Big talk for a little punk.”

“I’ll wipe the floor with ya.”

“I could take you sitting here without even getting up.”

“When I’m through with you, that’s about all you will be able to do is sit.”

“Yeah, right. Go get some friends. You’ll need them.”

“Hey, you two.”

“What, Trevor?”

“Yeah, Trevor. Don’t try to save this big dumbass’s ass.”

“I’m just wondering why you go through this every time we watch TV?”

“Huh? We do?”

“Yes, and it’s getting boring.”

“Okay, then, smartypants, tell us how to resolve this dispute.”

“You both like Animal Planet, right?”

“Right.”

“You both like UK’s Funniest Animals, right?”

“Yes, we do.”

“Well, then just trade-off. Watch one and then the other. You both will get your way.”

“You know what, Trevor?”

“What?”

“You should run for Parliament. What a great idea.”

“Why, thank you.”

“What do you like to watch?”

“Naw, forget about me.”

“No, I insist. You get the next choice.”

“How nice.”

“So, what is it?”

“Yellowstone.”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“I told you to forget me.”

“Who are you?”

 

“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 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.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”

The photo

Twilight Zone-ish by John W. Howell © 2021

“Excuse me, you, there.”

“Who there?”

“You at 38,000 feet on a 270 heading.”

“Yeah, what do you want?”

“This airspace is mine.”

“Says who?”

“Air traffic control.”

“No way. They told me this is my space.”

“I’m right behind you, and had I been asleep, I would have run up your pipes.”

“Well, you can back off and go find another space.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Why?”

“When someone tells me this is mine, I’m not going to give it up to some trespasser.”

“Oh yeah. I’m calling ATC right now.”

“What frequency?”

“Why?”

“I want to be there, so you don’t fudge the truth like you always do.”

“Is this Jimmy?”

“Yes, Bobby, it is.”

“What the hell. Just because we are twins doesn’t give you the right to follow me wherever I go. The frequency is 122.25.

“Just make the call. I’ll be there.”

“Control Delta 1776.”

“Go ahead 1776.”

“Hey, hold on. I’m Delta 1776.”

“Keep quiet, Jimmy. Sorry about that Control. Requesting assigned altitude.”

“Roger Delta 1776, you are assigned 38,000 feet.”

“Thank you, Control. 1776 out. Did you hear that, Jimmy?”

“We got a problem.”

“What is it?”

“You and I are both flying Delta 1776 but in different airplanes.”

“No, you have made a mistake. I am 1776. You are something else.”

“Why didn’t the Controller say something about two planes?”

“Hmmm. That’s a good question. Of course, since we are IFR, he would have reported you being so close.”

“I think we have finally gone our own directions.”

“What do you mean?”

“Different but parallel planes of existence. Let me call Control. Control Delta 1776.”

“Go ahead 1776.”

“Could you verify my assigned altitude, and are there any planes in my vicinity?”

“Roger 1776. Your assigned altitude is 38,000 feet. You have one flight ten miles to your stern at 36,000 feet.”

“Thank you, Control. See what did I tell you? We both have this altitude but in different times or spaces.”

“How come we can talk then?”

“I don’t know. I wonder if someone put something in my coffee?”

“Don’t be silly. How can we explain this situation?”

“Remember when we were kids, and we would take each other’s places to fool the adult?”

“Yes.”

“I think this is payback.”

“I don’t like it.”

“I guess now we can feel what those folks felt.”

“Well, okay if that’s all it is. Excuse me, I have to prepare for a landing.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Where you going?”

“SFO.”

“I’ll see you there.”

“Let’s hope so.”

 

 

 

 

Keith is back, and these are his 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 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.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next time.”

The photo.

The Consultant by John W. Howell © 2021

“So it looks like you are off to a good start.”

“Well, thank you, but I need your advice.”

“I assumed you hired me for a reason.”

“Yes, and at three hundred an hour, we should get to it.”

“Right. What seems to be the problem.”

“That wall over there.”

“Yes.”

“I want to go two stories high but am not sure if the foundation will support that weight.”

“What kind of foundation did you pour?”

“Concrete.”

“I’m sure that will support the wall.”

“Shouldn’t we take a look at it?”

“Is that what you want?”

“It seems logical to me.”

“Well, then we should.”

“Excuse me, but you seem to agree with everything I say.”

“What you say has great merit.”

“What if I’m wrong?”

“You will know that too.”

“I hired you to give me feedback on this project.”

“How do you think it is going?”

“Okay, but I need confirmation.”

“I think it is okay too. By the way, do you have the time?”

“Eleven o’clock.”

“That sounds right. Are we finished?”

“Why do I get this feeling your feedback is what you think I want to hear?”

“Consulting is giving the client what the client wants. You don’t have another cup of that coffee, do you?

 

 

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo 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

You and Me by John W. Howell © 2021

“I don’t know Jacques. I would say the air is more like blue.”

“Well, either way, I don’t like it.”

“You and me both, brother. What do you suppose happened?”

“Hard to tell. You know how those idiots keep threatening each other with annihilation.”

“You don’t suppose they finally did it.”

“You have to admit, it is pretty quiet.”

“Yeah. It’s like there is only you and me here.”

“You think?”

“I almost don’t want to believe that could be true.”

“If it is, what are we going to do?”

“Um, I would say have a great time.”

“Why do you think what got them didn’t get us?”

“I think it might be we already had the bird flu.”

“So you think that’s what did them in?”

“That or maybe one too many cheeseburgers.”

“Really?”

“No. I’m just messing with you. Let’s fly to the city and see if anyone else is around.”

“If it is bird flu, those Peragine hawks are going to be all over that place.”

“Yeah, maybe you are right. Let’s fly to Starbucks. If no humans are there, then you know we are alone.”

“Better idea. Could also check Chick-Fil-A too.”

“Great point. Let’s go.”

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo 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.

Show me the Way to Go Home © 2021

“Okay, you want to tell me what made you do that?”

“What?”

“Tell the boss that he could take a hike.”

“He was getting on my nerves.”

“For heaven’s sake. That’s what humans do.”

“Well, I just couldn’t take any more.”

“Your barking was getting annoying.”

“Did you see all those people we passed?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“They needed to be taught a lesson.”

“Which is?”

“This is my Earth, and you need to get off.”

“Says the narcissistic sociopath.”

“Aw, come on. You know you would like to bark those idiots to mars.”

“But I don’t, and that is the difference.”

“I would say the boss needed to be taught a lesson.”

“Which was.”

“Don’t stand between a dog and his bark.”

“Okay. Maybe you need to be taught a lesson too.”

“And what would that be?”

“How to start and drive a car.”

“Yeah. Maybe I was a bit rash.”

“You think?”

 

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 Watch by John W. Howell © 2021

“How do you know?”

“I’m telling you I smelled the shampoo.”

“How can you smell shampoo when it’s not been used?”

“Come on. You know as well as I do that stuff can leave an olfactory trace that can be picked up for miles.”

“Yes, but mom isn’t even home.”

“Which makes our situation all the more precarious.”

“So you think this back-to-back watch scenario is going to help?”

“Look. If we spot the old man coming out of the kitchen door with some sad excuse of a treat, you know he’s got a bath on the brain. I just think early warned is early armed.”

“So, what are we going to do?”

“When we spot him, we run like hell.”

“That’s not very dignified.”

“Who cares? It keeps the suds out of our eyes.”

“Look, here he comes.”

“Treat?”

“Yup. A piece of turkey.”

“Turkey, you sure. Let me look. Damn, you are right. It’s turkey.”

“What does it mean.”

“Worse than I thought.”

“Tell me.”

“A trip to the vet. Let’s take off.”

“Maybe it’s not.”

“Don’t be a fool. If he was holding that pathetic bacon treat bag, it’s a bath. Turkey is a full-on vet trip.”

“Where should we go?”

“I saw something on the path. It’s drawing flies, so a good place to roll. He won’t come near us then.”

“But that will beg a bath.”

“Which would you rather have? Vet or bath.”

“Let’s go.”