Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt- Average

 

Today’s prompt as determined by Linda Hill is AVERAGE. If you would like to read more about the Stream of Consciousness Saturday yo can go here: http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/09/19/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-september-2014/ The following is my interpretation of the prompt. It is a story titled “So?”

So by John W. Howell Copyright 2014

“Hey, Frank what yew up to?”

“You a poet?”

“HUH? Wadda ya mean?”

“You, to. You sound like you been in a coffee shop too long.”

“I still don’t get it.”

“That’s cause you are average.”

“Average? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I am putting out some high-value subtle bits of humor and you aren’t getting it cause you are not a high-level intellect. Just average.”

“Oh, I see what you mean.”

“I’m glad. Makes it easier to get along with me.’

“So Frank since I’m only average I have a request.”

“What’s that?”

“Pay me the thousand bucks you owe me. NOW!”

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday Prompt- Funny

 

The Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt as put up on Linda Hill’s blog is funny. Could be funny strange or funny funny. Read about here: http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/09/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-september-1314/ Here is my attempt  to cover the prompt.(Pardon me I didn’t mean to create that alliteration. I can’t go back since this is Stream of Consciousness but I think it in itself  is funny) Anyway the name of this piece is Funny Man. I hope you like it.

Funny Man by John W. Howell © 2014

“You have to see this guy. He is the funniest stand up comic.”

“The funniest? That says something. Where is he appearing.’

“Right here. Right now.”

“What are you talking about Frank? You mean you?”

“Yes I mean me. I have a great routine. I’m telling you it is funny.”

“Bear with me if I’m not laughing, but you have never impressed me as someone who is particularly funny.”

“Okay, give me five bucks and I’ll show you.”

“Five bucks? You crazy?”

“Aw come on. I guarantee it will be worth it.”

“I know I will regret this, but okay here you go.”

“Thanks, Bill. Okay, here we go. This horse walks into a bar and goes up to the bartender, The bartender says, ‘Hey buddy why the long face?’”

“That’s it?”

“You get it, right? The horse has a long face and the bartender asks ‘why the long face?’”

“I get it Frank it’s just not funny.”

“How about the termite walks into the bar and says, ‘where’s the bartender?’”

“I hear crickets Frank. Give me my five back.”

“I thought they were funny.’

“You would Frank. You would.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt

 

The Stream of Consciousness Saturday, prompt for this week is re-. After the re the writer can to anything with it. I have to admit these prompts are starting to get real esoteric. The fact I enjoy esoteric makes me like them. If you want to know more go to Linda Hill’s site and check it out right here: http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-september-614/

So here is my impression of re-. The title is Rewind. I hope you like it.

Rewind by John W. Howell © 2014

“So what the hell you doing?”

“trying to get this thing to work.”

“What is it?”

“Can’t you see it’s a lamp?”

“No I can’t see it’s a lamp. Doesn’t even look like a lamp. Looks like something out of

“Hello. Wasn’t that a lamp?”

“W-Well yes, I guess─”

“You guess? Don’t you know what I have here?”

“Tell me Frank.”

“This is the damn lamp from

“Yeah, okay Frank. You go boy.”

“First I have to make sure the wishes are in line. We know what happens when you make wishes and screw up. You don’t get what you wished for.”

“Frank. Is this a rewind of the story from the Devil thing last week.”

“Naw. This is the real thing. That devil stuff was crap.”

“Okay. Rub away.”

“Here’s my wish. To receive a billion dollars a year for thirty years.”

“Nice. This means you will live a long time and collect all that money. The Genie will not have anything on you.”

“Rubbing.”

“Yeah, Frank and nothing’s happening.”

“I don’t get it. The guy said it would work.”

“What guy?”

“The guy in the shop up the street. I gave him two hundred bucks. He even gave me a

“Which shop?”

“The one called Rewind. An antique shop.”

“Frank there is no shop named Rewind. There is no antique shop on this street period.”

“He got me again didn’t he?”

“Yeah, Frank he did.”

a socs-badge

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

This post is in response to the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt “age.” You will find it here as well as others rendition of their interpretation of the prompt

http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/08/29/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-3014/

I never thought I would ever be considered old. I continued to work in business until I was seventy-one. It wasn’t a matter of loving what I was doing it was a matter of saving retirement money from being spent at one of Texas’ finest private schools for the youngest daughter. She graduated and it then became time to retire.

I did retire and began writing and so far have finished two books. One has been published and the other is with the publisher now. The third is at 36,000 words and should be finished by November first.

I still don’t consider myself old and am very fortunate to be able to function each day. I did get a small wake up call when I was crossing the beach one day while a bunch of college kids were attempting to drink Miller Lite brewery dry. I  had to wait while a pickup truck filled with laughing and obviously toasted young girls passed by. One of the girls leaned out of the truck and gave me a greeting. Was the greeting “hi handsome, “or “hi good-looking?” No, it was “hi old man.”

So at least she wanted to say “hi,” and no I did not say “hi young, good looking, drunk and stupid girl,” back. Should have.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

 

 

This post is in support of the Linda Hill Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS. http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/08/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-2314/  My story is titled With You. I hope you like it.

With You by John W, Howell © 2014

“With me, there is no doubt of where I stand.”

“From you, it sounds like you have a great deal of conviction on this.”

“Above me, I maintain control of myself no matter.”

“Except, you sometimes go off the deep end.”

“Before, I am the pinnacle of cool.”

“Under you, serving is a pleasure most of the time.”

“Beside me, is a very safe place.”

“Until you have too many.”

“Beneath me is the place to be then.”

“Near you is the place not to be then.”

“Since you know me so well, how would you describe me?”

“In you is a real human being.”

“From your heart you say this?”

“Between my ears I say this.”

“Among my friends I count you as dear.”

“Against you are many enemies.”

“Into my world this must be tolerated.”

“For you are most forgiving.”

“Since we agree, would you join me for a beer?”

“Against my religion. Sorry.”

 

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

 

This post is in response to the Linda Hill Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt “Time” You can go here to see some of the other author submissions

http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-1614/

 

Time by John W. Howell

“Do you have the time?”

“Yeah, I sure do.”

“That’s good. Could you tell me what time it is?”

“Yes I could tell you.”

“Okay. What time is it?”

“Half past six.”

“Thank you. Was it so tough to tell me?”

“No not at all and no need to get huffy.”

“I’m not huffy. I just think I had to go through a lot just for the time.”

“That may be, but I wasn’t the one who didn’t know, now was I?”

“Meaning?”

“Let’s see. My watch not yours. I know and you don’t. I think any amount of fun I have at your expense you have coming.”

“Okay, I see that. Let’s do it another way. You ask me for something.”

“Swell, do you have ten dollars?”

“Sure here.”

“See Ya.”

 

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

 

This is in response to the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt using the word or thought of two. The prompt and rules can be found at: http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-914/

A Couple by John W. Howell © 2014

“Give me a couple of those donuts.”

“A couple? Do you mean two?”

“Yeah, I mean two. What do you think a couple is?”

“Well, where I come from a couple could be four or more.”

“How’s that?”

“You got mom and dad and the young ens. We say that’s a couple.”

“Okay, but you don’t say a couple of donuts is more than two.”

“You do if they are on sale like buy two get one free. Then a couple is three.”

“Okay, so maybe I’m pretty dumb. I wouldn’t call a couple of donuts three even if the one was free.”

“You are not in the donut business.”

“And I’m so glad I’m not.”

“Here’s your donuts. That’ll be a couple of dollars.”

“A couple as in two or three?”

“Surprise me.”

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt

 

This week’s stream of consciousness Saturday prompt is “Hear/hear.” SoCS is a weekly affair and you can drop in to check it out at:  http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/08/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-august-214/

My attempt to interpret “here/here” follows and it titled Tell Me Again.

Tell Me Again by John W. Howell

When I listen to you talk I can almost see the scenes you describe. I am with you on a long trek up the mountain and fast track down to the sea below. You’ve carried me along for the journey of a lifetime and I know it must be hard to have the extra burden. I wish I could help, but you have me transfixed and a prisoner of your words. You painted the verbal picture of the courtroom with the majesty of the law. The judge and jury so eloquently drawn it is as if I am there. The words of the bailiff calling, “Hear/hear order in the court.” Almost imagined by me yet understood clearly. The judge so beautifully pictured from your mouth leans over the verdict and gently asks that god have mercy on my soul. Tell me again what happened and why I must stay and you can go? Tell me another story, but this time make the ending not so dark. Tell me why I am no longer allowed to go free?

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

 

Here is my contribution to the Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt as described by Linda Hill:  http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-2514/

The prompt is to end with a question and extra credit for an exclamation point. Here goes:

“Holy cow! Did you see that car?”

“What car you talking about?”

“The one that just went by. The red one.”

“No, I guess I missed it. What was so special?”

“There were two people in the front seat and a couple of bears in the back.”

“Yeah right, a couple of bears.”

“I’m not kidding these two bears were sitting in the back and it looked like they had some kind of drink in their hand . . .er  . . .paw.”

“How do you know it was a drink?”

“They had Big Gulp cups that’s how. Why the hell you concentrating on the drink? Don’t you want to know what the bears were wearing?”

 

Getting Out – Prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday

The Saturday Stream of Consciousness prompt for this week is “Getting away or Getting out.” I have chosen Getting Out as my subject. This post is part of SoCS:http://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-july-1214/

 

Getting Out by John W. Howell Copyright 2014

“When you getting out?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Just curious. That’s all.”

“Yeah well, it’s none of your business. How about you?”

“If when you are getting out is none of my business what makes you think knowing when I’m getting out is any of yours?”

“Oh, I know you are dying to tell me since you  are probably a short timer.”

“Okay, Mr. Genius. I’m getting out tomorrow.”

“Hah. That’s what I thought.”

“Come on tell me.”

“All right, but don’t spread it around since it’s not confirmed yet.”

“Who am I going to tell?”

“getting out is such a good thing you might want to blab it all over the place.”

“I promise. I won’t say a thing.”

“Okay. I get out tomorrow as well.”

“Whoa. So you are short-term too.”

“Well, I hate to tell you, but when one goes the other goes about the same time. You are really pretty dumb sometimes. Twins get out almost together.”

“I never knew that. Of course, I’ve never done this before.”