Tag: thriller fiction

Tuesday – Anything Possible- Kreative Kue # 255 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 60 Comments

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.

Kreative Kue #255

Light the lights. By John W. Howell © 2020

“Well, we finally made it to Broadway.”

“Oh, my goodness. What a trip it has been.”

“You are so right, sister. We have come a long way.”

“Did you ever think we would be here one day?.”

“Not even in my wildest dreams.”

“When I was a little girl, I used to dance and sing and pretend to be on Broadway.”

“Me too. That’s amazing. We had the same thing going on.”

“I used to put on shows for my family. I even had a cardboard sign with Broadway written on it.”

“Oh, that sounds cute.”

“I would charge my family a penny for the show.”

“Hahaha. I would probably have had to pay my family to attend, so I never mentioned a price.”

“So now we are here. What is the first thing we should do?”

“We need to find an agent.”

“Yeah, and then some auditions.”

“How about an apartment?”

“And some food.”

“Uh, ladies?”

“What?”

“Yes?”

“I think we better get jobs.”

“Buzzkill.”

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do on The First International Airline Service in 1919

~ John W. Howell ~ 87 Comments

Ten things not to do

 

This week marks the occasion of the first international airline service inaugurated on a weekly schedule between Paris and Brussels. The service was established by Lignes Farman. If you want to be part of this historic occasion, don’t forget to take your list so you can avoid some of the pitfalls of time travel.

10 If you take a flight, do not think you can get first-class treatment. If you do, at best you’ll be lucky to get a seat. At worse, you’ll be freezing and caught in many cross drafts. (You see, Knox the first plane used was a Farman F60 Goliath which was built as a bomber. Your seat is wicker and, you should have read the instructions about dressing warmly. Yeah, that’s your breath you see in the unheated cabin.)

9 If you take a flight, do not ask Tiny the WWF champ and your steward today for anything. If you do, at best, he will tell you to sit down and buckle your belt. At worst, he just found out he is being replaced by a female. (It looks like Tiny is going to show you how it feels to skydive, Kade. Don’t forget to ask to borrow Tiny’s parachute. It’s worth a try.)

8 If you take a flight, do not ask “are we there yet.” if you do, at best, no one will answer you. At worst, the pilot will walk back and explain the realities of air travel in 1919. (The next question is “Who is flying this thing,” Kenan. With the pilot standing there giving you arrival information, you may wonder. Breathe easy buckaroo the first autopilot was invented in 1914 by the Sperry Corporation. Of course, we don’t know if this plane has one.)

7 If you take the flight, do not forget to exchange your money for the fare of 365 francs. If you do, at best you won’t get on the plane. At worst, since this amount is about $50 dollars in 1919, you may get charged 365 dollars instead. (You should have known there wouldn’t be a money exchange at a 1919 airport, Kaapo. All they want is 365 of anything. The fact that the $50.00 value in 1919 is $679 today should give you an incentive to exchange to francs.)

6 If you take the flight, don’t ask about the customs declaration process. If you do, at best you’ll get a funny look. At worst, someone will think you are a member of the treasury department. (Since customs for international flights were not established for the first two flights, Kadar, whoever you asked, is now opening the cabin door. I think I would worry since the plane hasn’t landed yet.)

5 If you take the flight, do not expect meal service. If you do at best you’ll be hungry when you land. At worst, since the plane has lightly structured wings, it is susceptible to turbulence. (Can you just see it, Kaelan, you’ve just wolfed down a baguet with Fois Gras, and you hit an air pocket.? You and your Fois Gras will be reunited after a 500 foot fall. Hot meals were started in 1936 and sandwiches in October of 1919.)

4 If you take the flight, do not let the crew talk you into a high altitude record. If you do at best, you may get to 20,000 feet which was done in a Farman F60 later in the year. At worst, no one understood that the oxygen starts to thin at 10,000 feet. (So here you are, Kaemon, having all kinds of fun setting a record and meanwhile, your pilot passes out from the lack of oxygen. Yes that screaming you hear is you.)

3 If you take the flight and are a white knuckle flyer, do not grab the back of the seat in front of you. If you do, at best it is well bolted to the floor. At worst, the seat comes loose and you now have the passenger in front of you in your lap. (Don’t worry Kaga. The flight is two hours and fifty-five minutes. Plenty of time to make friends.)

2 If you take the flight, do not grab any of the control wires running through the cabin. If you do at best it is not important. At worst, you’ll grab the main control cable just as the pilot needs it. (Now the left full rudder has bee stopped, Kai. Y’all are headed for a very big mountain. I would suggest letting go of that cable very slowly so the pilot can maintain control.)

1 If you take the flight, do not say anything derogatory about the airplane. If you do, at best no one will hear you. At worst, you’ll be sitting next to Lignes Farman the builder. (You are now invited to go outside and settle the matter like gentlemen, Kaila. Too bad you are still 6000 feet in the air.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Bike Ride

~ John W. Howell ~ 105 Comments

Views of the Neighborhood

Here I am on my bike. This is my only outside event so, I thought I would record some of the more unusual things seen while riding the neighborhood.

Views of the Neighborhood

Yes, that house and Jeep are purple. You can’t really see them, but there are purple lights around the tree as well.

“Trash day? Sure, toss that double sink. I’d rather use a bucket now that we are going third world.”

“Hey, dear. Where’s my office chair?”  “I isolated it for your protection.”

“Just your ordinary deer in your ordinary yard.”

This old Jeep has to be a point of irritation in this house. Maybe some dirt and flowers would help.

New driveway and sod.

Never see a Pittsburgh Steelers sticker around here, so I had to take this one. Go Steelers.

A terrific armadillo mailbox decoration.

The murdered Crape Myrtle is coming to life.

Here is a yard wholly surrounded by cut firewood. Talk about stockpiling and expensive fencing.

Some napping flamingos

For the life of me, I have to wonder what a pig means to these folks.

Our final shot is a cement deer. This buck is very handsome and poses nicely for the photo.

So don’t ask what I’m going to do next week. I’ll just have to take it as it comes. Thanks for coming along. Have a great week.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 93 Comments
“Okay, Lucy. It’s Friday ruckus time.”
“Whisper Little One, Whisper.”

With all the news of social distancing and the crazy swings of the stock market, this week seemed like a never-ending stream of bad news. Well, now we are eight hours to at least some time to take it easy. You may be at home working all week, and now is the time to pitch all that and head for the patio, backyard, or even a walk around the block. If spring has not arrived in your area, then maybe it’s time to play some board games or even binge-watch something you have always wanted to see. Yeah, you could also read a book. 😁 The point is to separate your weekend self from your working self. You’ve earned it.

This week I made the decision to stop going out. I’m in the high-risk age group (At the upper end) and have underlying medical issues. I have had a compromised immune system for the last ten years and have been able to stay healthy. I learned to wash my hands and be very careful. Unfortunately, I have seen some folks totally disregard the CDC warnings, and I can no longer trust that my efforts will be enough to stay healthy.

Instead of working out at the gym, I am now riding my bike. Our daughter has decided to stop coming for Sunday dinner since she believes it too risky. I have to respect her mature attitude, but I can’t say it is a pleasant prospect. I know she will miss visiting and can’t help but be proud of her choice.

Today’s JohnKu contemplates the new realities of life. I hope you all have a great weekend and will keep yourself safe.

Reality by John W. Howell © 2020

Stay six feet apart,

No more than ten in a group . . .

Sanitize those hands.

Cover that pesky sneeze,

Don’t forget the Clorox wipes . . .

All this, too, shall pass.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #254 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

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.

Kreative Kue #254

“What do you mean you can’t find it? The coordinates are clear.”
“The coordinates are real clear, but we still can’t find it.”
“That’s impossible. Give me an optical scan of the area.”
“Okay. Coming at you.”
“I don’t see anything.”
“That is exactly what I told you.”
“Maybe the solar flares are distorting the picture.”
“Okay. What do you see then?”
“Some vegetation is all.”
“That is exactly what we are seeing.”
“Why don’t you walk a couple of klicks and send us another shot.”
“What? Through the coordinates, you mean?”
“That object is as big as a mountain. It can’t have disappeared.”
“So one would think. Maybe our measuring devices have been damaged. You think the locator on the thing could have gotten damaged in flight.”
“Well, the takeoff was certainly a jolt. You could be right.”
“Not to mention the landing. This planet’s gravity is pretty strong.”
“Okay let,’s assume the locator is faulty. Can you get to higher ground and, maybe you can spot it.”
“Yeah, there is a cliff up ahead. We have to cross what looks like a desert.”
“Go ahead and cross.”
“Okay, the rover made it across the sandy place. It looks like this desert has been dug out of the cliff.”
“Can you climb to the top of the cliff?”
“I have shot a grappling hook and rappelling rope up and over. All I have to do is climb up there.”
“You have permission to do that.”
“Okay, I’m here. My goodness.”
“What?”
“This is a plateau and, it is made of grass.”
“Can you see the sphere?”
“No, but when I rise with my jet pack, I can see a huge hole not too far away. There is some kind of pole rising up from the hole.”
“Send me the picture.”
“Here you are.”
“Look at that. Amazing. Aim the camera up to the top of that pole.”
“I don’t have an LD lens, so I don’t know if you can see the top.”
“Yes, I can make it out. There is some kind of symbol on a flag on top. Jet to the hole and point the camera into it. Be careful and don’t fall in.”
“Here it is. “Look at that. The sphere is at the bottom of the hole.”
“You sure. It doesn’t look like ours. The size looks right, but that one is white. Can you see the letters on it.”
“Yes, I can.”
“Do you have any idea what it means?”
“S-P-A-U-L-D-I-N-G? I have no idea.”
“Well, it can’t be good to see other spheres landing around there. We’ll just chalk ours up to lost and take the penalty. Come on back. It’s time for lunch anyway.”
“Roger that sir.”

Views of the Neighborhood – City Wide Garage Sale

~ John W. Howell ~ 104 Comments

Views of the Neighborhood

Here we are back to the Activity Center In Lakeway for the City-Wide Garage Sale last weekend. I decided to cover the sale held here since this may be the last gathering of people for a while. I know I have done the sale before, but given the uncertainties of Covid-19, I didn’t think you would mind another go.

Views of the Neighborhood

“Can you take a quarter for this blanket?”  The vendor looks like he might say, “No.”

I have a fascination with dishes that look like food. I’m wondering when someone will come up with food that looks like dishes.

Hey, Marylyn, you are beautiful, but a 2019 calendar may not work for me. Lots of other stuff, though. I like that bag of soap. Might come in handy, given all the handwashing that will go on.

There is a doll dress dummy that is interesting. I noticed that the red paper towel roll holder is empty. Pretty typical, I would say.

The vendor tried to run out of the photo. Trapped like a rat. That wine bucket caught my eye. Reminded me of a large restaurant where the waiter rushed out with the wine on ice. In times like these, the wine doesn’t stay around long enough to get warm. (“Sure, bring another bottle.”)

Lots of art here. “Can we really live without that pink lamp?” Don’t even mention the Emelda Marcus shoe collection. That fern needs water or a dusting. Such treasures.

Ah, the dress dummy. Every home should have one. My eye also went to the basket of phony tomatoes wrapped in cellophane. A must-have for sure.

Thanks for going along with me today. Here take this Purell. You can never be too careful. Next time we will do an outside tour.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #253 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

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.

Kreative Kue # 253

The Beach by John W. Howell © 2020

“Come on out, the water’s fine.”

“Nope.”

“Whattya mean nope.”

“Not coming out.”

“Why?”

“Because I look terrible.”

“How can you say that?”

“It’s true.”

“Okay. Tell me about the problem.”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“How long have we been together?”

“I can’t remember. Our whole lives, I guess.”

“I’m the only one out here.”

“Yeah, so?”

“We’ve been together forever. Why are you embarrassed in front of me.”

“I guess it’s this suit. I’ve never worn one like this before.”

“What bothers you about it?”

“I almost hate to say. You’ll laugh.”

“Come on. I promise not to laugh.”

“Well okay. This suit bearly covers my breast and makes me look like I have chicken legs.”

“But that’s not a bad thing.”

“Go on.”

“You have a beautiful breast and shouldn’t be ashamed to show it.”

“And?”

“You are a chicken. Why wouldn’t you have chicken legs?”

“Typical rooster comment. You just don’t understand.”

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do as the First Ford Mustang Rolls Off the Assembly Line in 1964

~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

 

Top Ten Things not to do

March 9th  marks the 56th anniversary of the beginning of the production of the Ford Mustang. Since most of you were not around or were too little to remember. I thought it would be fun to go back to see the first roll down the line. As usual, we need to take a list to help us stay away from making any time continuum slip. By the way, I remember the event well. (tsk, tsk)

Top Ten Things Not to do as the Frist Mustang Rolls Down the Production Line in 1964.

10 If you are there, do not start singing the song “Mustang Sally.” If you do, at best, no one will listen. At worst, people will wonder where the song came from. (Since the song was recorded and released first by Mack Rice in 1965, you are getting suspicious looks from those security guards, Keagan. Maybe it is time to hum a Buddy Holly tune.)

9 If you are there, do not try to get around Tiny the WWF champ to touch a newly built car. If you do, at best, Tiny will turn you back. At worst Tiny, who has skipped his Zoloft medication for two weeks, will think you are going to harm a car. (Funny thing about having your legs behind your ears, Keene. It takes a while to get them untangled again. Here have an aspirin. It’ll help with the swelling.)

8 If you are there, do not ask if the Mustang comes with a stereo radio. If you do, at best whoever you ask doesn’t know what a stereo radio is. At worst, you will ask an engineer who has been working on the project. (Now you’ve done it, Kenner. That guy has been sworn to secrecy on the stereo project, and you wander in, and ask the question. Since the first stereo wasn’t introduced into the auto market until 1969, that guy is pointing you out to those two big security guys. I think he wants you silenced.)

7 If you were there, do not offer to drive one of the cars to the staging area. If you do, at best, you’ll get a polite, “no.” At worst, you’ll ask a union member who will want to see your union card. (Since you could not produce one, the member assumes you are management and has declared a walkout. You are personally responsible for the line stopping, Kennan. Lee Iacocca is looking for you.)

6 If you are there, do not wear your Corvette sweatshirt.  If you do, at best, you’ll keep it covered. At worst, someone will notice and call security. (You have been taken for a Chevy spy, Kristof. You know what they do to spies, don’t you? I think I would exit right about now if I were you.)

5 If you are there, do not say out loud that you believe the word Ford is an acronym for Fix Or Repair Daily. If you do, at best, the factory noise will drown you out. At worst several workers will hear you. (Looks like a few guys with big wrenches and muscles are headed your way, Konrad. That hardhat won’t help.)

4 If you are there, do not pick up one of the mustang insignia, thinking you could take a souvenir. If you do, at best, the foreman will tell you to get behind the yellow line. At worst, the foreman will take more extreme measures. (I don’t think he is joking about putting that in insignia back in the bucket, Keelan. That baton looks pretty hard.)

3 If you are there, do not try to touch a car to see if the paint is wet. If you do, at best, no one will observe you, and you’ll rethink it. At worst, the painter will see you coming and help you out with wet paint. (According to the paint instructions, Kristofer, you will be wearing that British Racing Green color for ten years. I think it looks pretty good.)

2 If you are there, do not get in the way of the camera crew filming the first car off the assembly line. If you do, at best the filming will stop until you get out of the way. At worst, the filming will continue with you in it. (There are two options, Kienan. 1. You join the Screens Actors Guild. 2. You reimburse the film crew for the reshoot. Let’s see that will be about $20,000 or $166,432.90 in 2020 value.)

1 If you are there, do not ask a question at the press conference. If you do, at best you won’t give your time travel away. At worst, you’ll ask something really dumb. (The question about the relationship with Carroll Shelby and the Mustang Cobra was about three years too early, Kali. That paper you’ve been handed is a summons to appear in court to answer copyright infringement charges.)

 

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments
“Ooooh, Lucy.”
“Yes, Little One.”
“Do I hear Friday coming?”
“Sorry, that’s just Wednesday sounding like Friday.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we were left with the lingering sound and the acrid cordite smell of a gunshot. Let’s get back there because there is no other background needed. Someone got shot. It’s that simple.

“Ow ow, ow.”

“Shut up, Wentworth. We got you and your gun. Whoever taught you to shoot didn’t do an outstanding job.”

“I think he hit his foot, Larry.”

“Wentworth, what the hell were you trying to do?”

“This really hurts detective. Call 911.”

“Not till you tell us what’s going on around here.”

“Come on. My foot is killing me.”

“Andrew, call 911. Okay, Wentworth get down on the floor and let me look at your foot for a minute.”

“Damnit Detective, that hurts like a sombitch. What are you doing.”

“I just took off your shoe is all. You have any towels around here?”

“Yeah, there are some in the bathroom.”

“Hang on. I’ll be right back. “

“EMS is on the way, Larry.”

“Thanks, Andrew. Sit with our boy for a minute. I’m going to get some towels and see if we can stop the bleeding.”

“Hurry, will you. I think I’m getting weaker.”

“Hey, Wentworth.”

“Yes, uh, uh. I forget your name.”

“It’s Andrew. It looks like you are going to be okay. I think the bullet just grazed your foot. Took a nice chunk, but don’t think any bones were involved.”

“Yeah, that’s comforting coming from a cop.”

“I’m also a physician.”

“No, shit. Why didn’t you say so?”

“Here are the towels.”

“Thanks, Larry. I’ll just put some pressure on this wound, and that should take care of it.”

“Wentworth. You want to tell us anything after we saved your life.”

“The doc here says it’s a flesh wound.”

“What would happen if you stopped the pressure, Andrew?”

“In my opinion, Mr. Wentworth here could bleed to death.”

“But, EMS is on the way.”

“So, he said Wentworth. So, he said. Tell the man why you don’t practice medicine, Andrew.”

“It seems I’m a pathological liar.”

“Yeah, Wentworth. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear.”

“You two are crazy, like I said.”

“Give us the information we want, and you’ll get help.”

“You can’t do this. It’s harassment.”

“Yup. That it is. Stop the pressure, Andrew.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Okay, I sent those guys to kill you.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you that. It’ll cost me my life.”

“So, the outcome will be the same if you don’t tell us. If you do, we can protect you.”

“You sure?”

“You have my word?”

“Go talk to Cortez, but don’t tell him I said anything.”

“Cortez told you to kill us?”

“I didn’t say that. Just go talk to him.”

“Just tell us who told you to have us killed.”

“You don’t know how things work here. Cortez has the answer, but it’s got to come from him. Are those sirens I hear?”

“I guess.”

“So, you did call 911.”

“Yeah darn it.”

 

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “etc”

~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

 

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and this week’s prompt needs to be explained by Linda Hill. In her words.

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ect.” Find a word with the letters “ect” in it, and base your post on that word. (Not to be confused with “et cetera,” which is “etc.”) Enjoy!”etc”

If you would like to join in the fun, go to Linda’s blog and read how. It is easy to go off the edge. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 29/2020

Ect by John W. Howell © 2020

“Well, this certainly is farfetched.”

“You seem upset. What has caused you to express this farfetchedness?”

“I’m looking at the latest Stream of Conscious prompt, and it is wretched.”

“Let me see. Oh my, that is the sketchiest.”

“I know, right? Anything I can think of right now is a stretch.”

“So, you have no idea? Mind if I kvetch?”

“For once, I think I could use something from your mental sketchpad.”

“I’ll take that as a yes. So here is my latest mind stretchability.”

“My brains are outstretched to welcome any idea.”

“That is a visual that’s not very fetching. Here we go with my idea. What don’t you build a dialog around words that have “etc” in them?”

“Like maybe a story about streetcars?”

“Whatever. The important part will be to include an “etc” word in each line. This will etch a commonality in the reader’s mind, and you will have met the prompt.”

“That sounds great. Then in the backstretch, I could do something really super.”

“This is not a horserace, but what are you thinking?  I wouldn’t overstretch the concept.”

“Pull out a word that few will know. Like baronetcies.”

“Are you tetched? Why would you do that?”

“To outdo the prompt in the homestretch.”

“Guess what, wretch?”

“What is it, kevetchier?”

“There is a pint with my name on it that will take me away from this wretchedness.”

“And a burger and fries with ketchup?”

“Let’s go fetch it.”

“I have been letching for it all morning.”

“Letch no more my man.”

“How do we stop this kvetching?”

“Grab your coat, etcetera, and walk out the door.”

“Etc no more.”