It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again and this weeks prompt is “bone.” Linda Hill says we can use it any way we want. I just love the smell of freedom in the morning. If you would like to participate and lose yourself forever just visit Linda’s blog and she has the easy info on how there. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2018/10/26/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-27-18/

Bone by John W. Howell © 2018

“What is that thing?”

“I found it in the park.”

“Well, I’m glad you didn’t find it in the backyard. What is it?”

“I think it is an animal bone.”

“It’s the size of a baseball bat. What kind of animal would have a bone that big?”

“If I were to hazard a guess I would say a tridactyl.”

“You mean like T-Rex.”

“Exactly.”

“Oh man. Don’t be telling me we have a T-Rex in the neighborhood.”

“You know they are extinct, right?”

“So they say, but I wouldn’t take any chances.”

“Oh come on. How silly can you be? Extinct means no longer on the planet.”

“I hear you. It’s just that I have been hearing some strange noises when I’ve been out at night.”

“What kind of noises?”

“Heavy footsteps in the grass.”

“Well, maybe it is some other kind of animal or your imagination.”

“I’m telling you these were big heavy footsteps.”

“You want to go out and take a look to see if there are any tracks?”

“Its dark now.”

“We have fire remember. We can make a torch.”

“I keep forgetting the fire thingy. How did you do that?”

“Rubbed a couple of sticks together. Come on. Let’s make a torch, and I’ll show you that it could not be a T-Rex out there.”

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “post.” Linda Hill says we can use it as a stand alone or to find a word that uses “post” as a prefix. If you would like to join in with this fun just pop over to Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/09/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-15-18/

Post by John W. Howell © 2018

“What the heck is a prefix?”

“You don’t know?”

“Would I ask if I did?”

“A prefix is a word or a letter placed in front of another.”

“So what would be a prefix to the word post?”

“How about lamp?”

“Ah, lamppost. I get it.”

“I have decided not to use a prefix though.”

“Pretty brave. You going to use ‘post’ alone.”

“Yup.”

“Go ahead then.”

“This post will not contain any prefixes to the word post.”

“Pretty boring so far.”

“Ahem. The torn and folded piece of paper was driven into the post by whoever used the large knife to stick it there. Not sure whether or not I should interfere in whatever was going on, I just sat astride my horse and stared.”

“Okay, that’s better. Keep going.”

“It was clear the paper has some kind of message and the post because it is central to the town is the perfect spot for special delivery.”

“Now you’re cooking.”

“My mount sensed some danger and kept urging me to pull away. With a firm hand, I guided it closer to the post and wrapped my fist around the handle.”

“And then?”

“A scream moving out from the gates of hell fell across us, and the horse bolted leaving me on the ground with the knife. The note was still attached to the post. I wasn’t sure I could stand but looked up to see a small rivulet of blood begin to amble down the post from where the knife used to be.”

“Wow.”

“This is none of your business came a thought out of the air, and it was clear to me that my troubles had just begun. I tried to rise but could feel a force holding me down. I looked at the knife and tried to open my fingers. Almost like a magnet, the knife held me fast.”

“What did you do?”

“Not sure.”

“What do you mean not sure?”

“I haven’t finished the story.”

“You got us all worked up, and you haven’t finished the story?”

“Want to catch some lunch?”

“I want you to finish the story.”

“After lunch.”

“That will be the goalpost then. Story after lunch.”

“Linda Hill will love you. Sure the goalpost is to finish the story after lunch. I’ll give you a hint. The guy dies.”

“Ah man?”

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “earworm.” Yup, you read that right, earworm. Linda Hills says we can write about our latest earworm or one that continually haunts us. If you would like to join in the madness, go to Linda’s blog and read about how easy it is to slip off the edge. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2018/09/07/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-8-18/

Earworm by John W. Howell © 2018

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to NPR’s People Feature of the Week. I’m Alex Silverton. This week we are featuring some special guests who claim to have an earworm of special note. Now for those in our audience who are unfamiliar with  the term “earworm,” here is Lexis Brominowski to give us some background.”

“Thank you, Alex. An earworm is that annoying song that gets stuck in your ear and is very difficult to shake. An example is Mary had a Little Lamb. Once you hear the song, it is difficult to stop it from rolling around in your head.”

“Thank you, Lexis. Our first guest comes to us from Buford Montana and claims to have an earworm. Tell us your name and the nature of the earworm.”

“Hello, my name is  Ralph Dunson, and my earworm is Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.”

“Oh, you mean pieces of the symphony?”

“No the whole thing. From the first dum de dum to the last ta ra.”

My goodness, how do you concentrate on anything else?”

“Huh? My goodness, it’s hard. Hold on the second movement is just starting.”

“Okay, Ralph. We are going to cut over to Tillis Wentworth who says her earworm is the Gettysburg Address. How is this possible Ms. Wentworth?”

“You tell me, Alex. I was minding my own business, and one morning I got up, and there it was.”

“Who is speaking the address?”

“You’re kidding right?”

“Don’t tell me it’s Lincoln.”

“It’s not Lincoln. I think it is James Earl Jones.”

“How long has it been since you have had this earworm?”

“Hmmm. It might have started when I went to Disneyland.”

“Thank you, Ms. Wentworth. Now our last guest, Max Sanders claims to have an earworm that is of a strange alien radio broadcast. Tell us about this, Mr. Sanders.”

“Not much to tell. My every waking hour is taken up by this broadcast of news from outer space.”

“Can you identify the station?”

“Well like I told the FBI it sounds like it is from another planet.”

“What makes you say this?”

“Some of the people who are interviewed cannot be from this Earth.”

“Any names jump out at you.”

“There have only been a few.”

“Like who?”

“No one I have ever heard of for sure.”

“For instance?”

“The Kardashians and Kanye West.”

“I hate to tell you this, Mr. Sanders but I think you might be receiving CNN.”

“Yeah that’s what the Feds told me, but you know how those people try to cover stuff up.”

“I can see by the clock that we have just about run out of time. I want to thank our guests and look forward to next week’s show.”

“Mr. Silverton?”

“Yes, Mr. Sanders.’

“I just heard a broadcast describing that your show is canceled.”

“That would be too kind, Mr. Sanders. Too kind indeed.”

It is Stream Of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is, “notice.” Linda Hill says we can use “notice,” any way we want. If you would like to join in on the fun visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/08/24/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-25-18/ 

Notice by John W. Howell © 2018

“Would you look at this?”

“What?”

“This notice in the newspaper.”

“Let me see it.”

“Read that part about more taxes.”

“OMG. The county is raising the tax rate. Can they do that?”

“Yes, if they publish a notice they can.”

“Well, this looks like a notice to me. How about if we just ignore it.”

“Ignore it? Then what?”

“When it comes time to pay the taxes we’ll just say we never got the notice.”

“Doesn’t work that way.”

“Why not?”

“They posted a notice. Nowhere in the statutes does it say anyone has to read the notice.”

“That’s taxation without retnalization.”

“Without what?”

“Retnalization. Without making sure the eye sees the notice.”

“You been reading lawyer fiction again?”

“No, but it has to be a thing.”

“Good luck with the tax bill. As for me, I’m going to pay mine.”

“Well, I’m going to fight to my last fiber against unfair taxation.”

“It is a one mill increase.”

“One million? Outrageous. Get a gun.”

“A mill is one one-hundredth of a cent. It is almost not enough to count.”

“One one-hundredth? Hmm. That means my bill goes up by a dollar.”

“I’m not good at math, but it sounds right.”

“That’s different.”

“it is?”

“Not worth my time to fight.”

“What about the principle?”

“Principles are overrated. Let’s get some coffee.”

“No gun?”

“Please.”