Coffee frees the mind and stimulates the soul. It drips from the spout like it has all day, not knowing the quivering mass witnessing the slow process is about to explode. It finally fills the cup, which reaches the lips just in time. One sip and the affirmation of living one more day is assured. The brain thanks the hand for delivering the wake-up medicine critical to jump-start the thinking process.

With a free-basing brain in gear, the memory of the alarm clock comes rushing in like the sea through an open port hole. The memory seems as messy as a ton of seawater on the floor. The clock sits where it was left. Poor me is the thought in my mind as the task of trying to figure out what to do with it bounces around in my head like a marble in a fishbowl.

Looking at the face provides no clue. There is one big face with hands, one little face with hands, and one medium-sized face with just numbers and one hand. The back has three wind-up keys. One marked time, one marked alarm, and the final marked travel. Beside each key is a small dial, which looks like it is used to set the time and alarm. The question is, what could the dial near the travel key be used for? After fiddling, it is found to move the one-hand face. To set the time, you pull out the dial, move the hands, and punch it in. The alarm is set the same way. The travel dial, when pulled out, moves a single hand to any of the twelve numbers. It is discovered that repeated pulling and pushing of the dial makes the numbers appear in a little window that looks like an odometer with room for seven numbers.

Further experiments causes me to enter my birthday in the odometer window. The next stop is Harper Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, the place of my birth. An alarm goes off, and then back home again. Standing in awe before the clock, which is now on the floor, I get a text. It is from Linda Hill. It reads Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “oo.” Find a word with “oo” in it or just use “oo” because why not? Whatever you decide on, use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!.

To see what other bloggers have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/10/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-28-2023/

OO by John W. Howell © 2023

“That is some clock.”

“No kidding.”

“So, is it magic?”

“I have no idea. I looks that way.”

“You need to find out sooner rather than later.”

“It seems that it can be set for any year.”

“What made the alarm go off?’

“You got me there. Maybe Google has an answer.”

“I think you did something goofy before you took off to the place of your birth.”

I think I could set it for any time I want.”

“Just don’t set it for doomsday.”

“When is that?”

“No one knows.”

“I can’t very well set the date if I don’t know it.”

“You could make a mistake, too.”

“Now is the time for a Voo Doo. Did you call Über?”

“He’s parked in the drive.”

“That’s a herse.”

“Think how much room we will have coming home.”

“What are you talking about?”

“We can sack out in the back.”

“Maybe you can. I’ll ride up front, thank you.”

“After enough Voo Doo, the back will be proof I made a good deal.

If a deity is in charge of coffee, then it would be a good idea to offer thanks. The dark, steamy liquid waits for my approving sigh. There it is, the first sip and then the crashing reminder of that box on the back patio. Yelling, “What a curse,” does no good for poor Twiggy’s nerves. She can only react to the volume level of the expression.

Once Twiggy is off the ceiling, finding out what is in the box must be addressed. Another ear placed against the box produces the same result as last time, namely, no sound. A crowbar comes in handy to remove the top. Peering over the edge gives no information since whatever is in there is surrounded by packing material.

Pulling out each piece of material gets me down to another box. The top is quick work, and inside is a clock. It appears to be an old-fashioned alarm clock with two large bells on the top. On the back is a key to wind for the clock and one to wind for the alarm. There is also a third key that is unmarked. The thought goes through my mind that this is a strange gift from the CEO of Warner Brothers. Instructions for the clock are in the box as well. When there’s time, they should be read.

While holding and inspecting the clock, my attention goes to a sudden movement beside the box. It is a carrier pigeon with a message attached to its leg. The message when unrolled reads Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “material.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun! Obviously, it is from Linda Hill. If you would like to read other responses to the prompt, visit Linda’s blog at https://lindaghill.com/2023/10/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-21-2023/

Material by John W. Howell © 2023

“You sure Linda doesn’t set up these prompts for you?”

“Of course, I’m sure. Very coincidental, I would say.”

“I mean, having a box filled with packing material is very suspect.”

“I can assure you she doesn’t play favorites.”

“What is with the clock?”

“I wish I knew.”

“Who’s running this blog anyway?

“I wish I knew that too.”

“You are hopeless. You would think you controlled your own material.”

“Look at you with the prompt word.”

“Slipped out. Didn’t do it on purpose.”

“Sure.”

“You ready for the pub.”

“You order Über?”

“Right over there.”

“I don’t see a haywagon.”

“No, right there.”

“Oh, that 88 corvette?”

“That’s the one.”

“How are we both going to fit.”

“You’ll sit on my lap.”

“Oh, brother. Why can’t we get normal Über drivers?”

“We save the equivalent of two Voo Doo Rangers this way.”

“Say no more. Let’s go.”