Tag: thriller fiction

Thursday – A Little Personal – Slow Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 72 Comments

Stella

“Hey, John.”

“Yes, Stella.”

“Where you been?”

“I was out taking photos.”

Stella

“With that iPhone?”

“Yes with the iPhone.”

“Pretty low-tech I would say.”

“Want to see one?”

“Well, it is a while before lunch so what the heck. Sure.”

Flag on the beach

“What is that?”

“Someone put a flag on the beach with a stick as a flagpole.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I think they were making a statement about being stronger than Hurricane Harvey.”

Stella

“That is a statement for sure.”

“Want another?”

“Not going anywhere, John. Why not?”

After the rain

“Okay. I get the cloud, but I’m sure there is more behind this one.”

“You are very intuitive, Stella. This shot depicts a new day after a storm.”

“I can see that. You know we felines don’t do a lot with symbols.”

“I know. It’s okay. Where are Lucy and Bailey?”

Lucy, Bailey, Stella

“Two guesses, John. If you use the term ‘couch’ you’ll guess right on each”

 “I see. Well thanks for looking at my photos today”

“Anytime, John. If you’ll excuse me. Since we still have some time before lunch I think I take a lay down. You will call me when lunch is ready, right?”

“You can count on me, Stella.”

“Thanks, John. I know that for a fact.”

 

 

 

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Hump Day

 

It is Wednesday Story Day again and last week we left Lucas and Jason McDonnell, Lucas’ lawyer in deep discussion about Lucas’ sister. We should go back since I see the lawyer has additional questions.

“So, Lucas you called her a loser?”
“Yes. I should have kept my mouth shut.”
“Let’s not worry about that now. When she came at you what did you do?”
“I shoved her and she fell.”
“I thought you said you hit her.”
“Well shove or hit. What’s the difference?”
“A lot. Tell what happened after you shoved her.”
“As I said she fell.”
“What did you do next?”
“I checked her and she was knocked out.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, it was like she was sleeping.”
“You could see her breathing?”
“Yes for sure.”
“Then what?”
“I ran for help.”
“Ran for help? Where did you run?”
“I had to go down the street. I pounded on a few doors but no one was home.”
“Then what happened?”
“A guy called 911.”
“So the EMTs came to the house?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I ran.”
“Oh, that is information I don’t need.”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you run?”
“I was scared. I didn’t know what to do.”
“Yeah. Why is it when we get scared we decide to run?”
“I’m in trouble huh?”
“Let me think before I answer that question.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #141 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 46 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 keith@channing.info 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 – pingbacks don’t often work.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The Photo.

Kreative Kue #141

Calling Home by John W. Howell © 2017

“Yeah, hello.”

“Who you calling?”

“I’m trying to reach home.”

“Why? We are fine. You know father gets all funny when we call him.”

“He just is worried is all. He thinks something is wrong all the time. Hello is this you, father?”

“Did you get him?”

“No there is something wrong with the connection. I’ll try later.”

“How many bars do you have?”

“Hmm. My cell says no service.”

“That’s why you can’t get through. You’ll have to wait until we get near a tower.”

“You would think there would be some service. We are right in the middle of a major city.”

“Yeah. Urm what city is this?”

“What do you mean ‘What city is this?’ It’s the one we flew into yesterday.”

“Name it.”

“OMG, I forgot the name.”

“Right. I don’t believe you can tell me what day it is either.”

“It’s Tuesda— Wait, no it’s Monday. Yes, it’s Monday.”

“You sure?”

“Why are you asking me these questions.”

“Because we are lost that’s why. We boarded a plane on Saturday and flew off into the sky. Do you remember landing anywhere?”

“Um. Now that you mention it, no.”

“See. I’m telling you we are in another dimension.”

“I’m not sure. Let’s ask someone.”

“Okay, there’s a person. Hey, could you tell us where we are?”

“They didn’t hear you. Ask another.”

“Young lady. Over here. Can you tell us where we are?”

“There is something wrong none of them hear you.”

“I’m starting to get scared. Oh, look, a police officer. Officer, can you help us?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“You can hear me then?”

“Of course I can. What is it you want?”

“Could you tell us where we are?”

“Certainly. You are in a photo in a prompt run by a couple of idiots.”

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do Before You’ve Had Your Coffee

~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

Coffee

 

The inspiration for this list came from the various and sundry things that needed to be done to begin to get back to normal after Hurricane Harvey. I haven’t done any of these, but it was fun pretending and I would certainly have some coffee before trying.

10 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not meet with a FEMA representative. If you do, at best you’ll have to excuse your behavior. At worst, the US marshalls will call in reinforcements to help extricate you from the room. (Who would have thought that raising your voice would have caused that reaction, Baltazar?)

9 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not call your cable provider to request service. If you do, at best you’ll be on hold for an hour. At worst you’ll get to talk to Tiny the WWF champ who just got released from his sociopath support group. (The two of you are having an excellent debate. Why is it he keeps wanting to know where you live, Banjo?)

8 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not take your car in for service. If you do, at best they will honor your appointment time. At worst, you’ll sit in the lounge for an hour trying to avoid being stepped on by two hyperactive toddlers. (They have already apologized for the fact the coffee machine is out-of-order. You might as well try to relax and for heaven’s sake quit thinking about that letter you plan to write to the CEO of the service company, Barnaby.)

7 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not visit the license bureau to renew your driver’s license. If you do, at best you’ll get a low number for service. At worst, you have pulled number 208, and they are now serving number four. (The drive through at McDonald’s wait now looks like a breeze compared to this huh, Beaudoin?)

6 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not visit the bank to ask for a loan. If you do, at best it is a bank holiday. At worst, you will finally admit that you really need the money and will, therefore, be denied the loan. Too bad your decaf state caused you to forget the rule about “those who have gets,” Bellamy.)

5 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not meet with your boss to talk about your career. If you do, at best your boss caught the flu and is out sick today. At worst, your discussion could have taken a nasty turn when your boss suggested you need some additional training. (If you had some caffeine, Benjamin maybe you would not have pounded on the bosses desk causing security to escort you to the parking lot. Tomorrow ought to be interesting.)

4 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not try to complete that delicate experiment with the new product at work. If you do, at best you’ll come to your senses. At worst, you are now in a position of being responsible for a complete redo. (You were sure your shaking hands would not be a factor right, Bennet?)

3 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not try to write that breakthrough chapter on your book. If you do, at best you and the keyboard will have a staring contest. At worst, you will forge ahead and write what you think is the best stuff you have ever done. (Really tough to file 13 all those words isn’t it Bodee?)

2 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not read that last two-star review. If you do, at best you’ll be diverted by a natural disaster. At worst, even though some of the points may be well taken, you vow out loud to hunt the person down and hit them with a poison dart. (Sure it’s the lack of caffeine talking, but you are scaring the kids, Braddock.)

1 If you’ve not had your coffee, do not try to create that meaningful post that you hope everyone will love. If you do, at best, the typos will kill you. At worst, only after you have posted and read what you have written do you see the similarity to the Unibomber manifesto. (Good luck getting that one canceled off all the social media sites, Brayden.)

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Hot/Cold”

~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Stream of Consciousness

 

Hot damn. It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This weeks prompt is “hot/cold.” There are bonus points for beginning the post with one and ending the post with the other. Now you see why I lead off with “hot damn.” If you would like to be involved with this craziness, then visit Linda Hill’s post and read all about it. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Sept. 23/17

Hot/cold by John W. Howell © 2107

“Hot coffee is what will revive me.”

“What’s the problem.”

“Not sure. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“That’s not good. You have something on your mind?”

“Not really.”

“I could have guessed your answer.”

“What do you mean.”

“I look upon your mind as expansive as a great vast empty ballroom.”

“My, what a nice thing to say.”

“You are kidding right?”

“No, why?”

“I just said you were empty-headed.”

“I thought you were telling me my mind was of high-capacity.”

“Every time I talk to you, I get this feeling you hear, but you don’t understand.”

“No need to be rude. So I’m not a deep thinker. I still am having trouble sleeping.”

“What time do you eat dinner?”

“Nine o’clock. Why?”

“What time do you go to bed?”

“Ten o’clock. What are you saying?”

“You should not eat anything for at least three hours before you go to sleep. Your body has to work hard to get rid of the food, and so you are unable to sleep.”

“Yeah, whatever happened to the food coma concept?”

“The what?”

“You know when you have a big dinner you want to lay down and take a nap?”

“Who does that?”

“A lot of people I know.”

“You run with a pack of pigs?”

“Now that is cold.”

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

Funny Friday

 

Friday is here already. Time does fly when you are having fun. I still don’t have internet or TV, but I am managing quite well on my AT&T cell phone. The speed isn’t all that red-hot, but I’m able to work it through. I did cancel my Spectrum service since they refused to credit my account for the time of the hurricane and until when it comes back. (Yes, they billed me the full amount payable in advance. You know how it is.) They wanted me to take a seasonal rate of $5.00 per service, and they would disconnect my service for a month. I explained that the only season I knew about was Hurricane season and I didn’t see why I should pay anything for no service. Long story short it was easier to disconnect.

I went to the local phone company and signed up for DSL which should be turned on today sometime. I also called Direct TV and signed up for satellite service. Between the two I’m saving over one-hundred dollars a month. I was appalled at the lack of empathy by Spectrum. I even sent a letter to their CEO and got one of his minions to explain that they really didn’t have a policy covering outages. Anyway, the good news is Spectrum is still without service here and it looks like by the weekend I will be up and running.

I was appalled at the lack of empathy by Spectrum. I even sent a letter to their CEO and got one of his minions to explain that they really didn’t have a policy covering outages. Anyway, the good news is Spectrum is still without service here and it looks like by the weekend I will be up and running.

Through it all, I managed to get Circumstances of Childhood up on Kindle and am waiting for the final proof of the paper edition. it should be good to go, but I want one final check. Today’s John Ku talks about Karma which I hope Spectrum understands that a whole boatload is coming their way if this is how they have treated all their Hurricane Harvey customers. It won’t be the good kind either.

Karma by John W. Howell © 2017

Do unto others,

As you would like done to you. . .

Karma is a bitch.

Have a great weekend.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Stella Tells it Like it Is

~ John W. Howell ~ 60 Comments

Stella

“Hey, John. What are you doing?”

“I’m proofing my latest book.”

“Let me see.”

Consequences of Childhood.

“Here it is.”

“Circumstances of Childhood?”

“Yup that’s the name.”

Stella

“Let me be honest. Doesn’t sound like something I want to read.”

“I never would have thought differently, Stella. I wrote it for humans.”

“Probably low brow then. Show it to the Canines and get their opinion.”

“Very well. I’ll humor you but I think I know the answer.”

“Bailey take a look at this book.”

“Yes Pops. What should I be seeing.”

“Does the title make you want to read it?”

“You are kidding right, Pops?”

“Well, Stella wondered what you and Lucy thought.”

“I for one don’t read. See what Lucy says. By the way, I think Stella was putting you on.”

Lucy and Bailey

“Lucy. Get up?”

“Huh. What?”

“I want to get your opinion on the book”

“Aw Boss. I was just about to take a big ole steak from that pipsqueak wiener dog across the street.”

“I know I disturbed your nap. What do you think?”

“Makes a good sleeping aid. Night, Boss.”

Stella

“Well, what did they say?”
“Not their kind of book either.”

“You know I was just putting you on.”

“I know but it was fun and at least I got to show them my book.”

“Authors. Don’t you guys ever give up?”

“No audience too small, Stella. No audience too small.”

 

 

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Hump Day

 

Wednesday Story Day again and last week we had a revolution that Lucas says he killed his sister. He admitted this to his lawyer, and some of you wondered if he Lucas was confused and though the lawyer a priest. It seems the lawyer is committed to client privilege where the priest might be tempted to obey secular law. So let’s go back and see the reaction of the lawyer.

“Whoa, Lucas. Don’t say any more. Let me ask you a couple of questions.”
“Yeah, okay. You are going to keep my confidence right?”
“Yes, there is no issue there. I just need to get some facts before I advise you on what we are going to do. So let’s start at the beginning. What caused you to hit your sister?”
“She was all coked up and came at me with a knife.”
“A knife? Why was she coming at you with a knife?”
“She was very upset. She came into my house and was yelling something about me killing our parents.”
“Go slower Lucas. Your parents are dead?”
“Yeah, some low life came into our house and killed them. That’s when my sister showed up and was banging on my door.”
“You let her in?”
“She’s my sister uh she was my sister. Of course, I would let her in.”
“Then what happened.”
“As I said, she came at me with a knife and that’s when I hit her.”
“Before she came at you did she say anything?”
“Mmm yes, she asked me if I knew anyone who would kill our parents?”
“What did you say?”
“I told her the only people who I knew who would kill our parents were the scumbag drug dealer friends she hung around with.”
“Then she came at you?”
“No. She looked at me like maybe I was right.”
“What caused her to come at you?”
“I asked her how much money she thought she was going to get from the will?”
“That did it?”
“What did it is when I told her our parents were fed up with her and she was not sharing in the proceeds of the will. I told her the only way she would get anything is if I were dead.”
“So she came at you with the knife?”
“I might have said something else, but yes that was when she came at me.”
“What else?”
“I called her a loser.”
“I see.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do If Your Internet and Cell Service are Down

~ John W. Howell ~ 89 Comments

Top Ten Things Not to Do

 

The inspiration for this list came from living without the internet and very spotty cell service for the last two weeks. It took me a while to get used to the fact that I could not do what has become everyday activities with my devices.

10 If your internet and cell service are down, do not try to send emails. If you do, at best you’ll never get an answer. At worst, you will convince yourself that you have been cut off from the word and will start filling bottles with notes. (Forget the fact that the biggest body of water is the dog dish, Barnaby.)

9 If your internet and cell service are down, do not look for “likes” on that last selfie. If you do, at best you’ll think no one saw it. At worst, you’ll think no one actually liked your selfie and could spiral into a black hole of self-doubt. (Your raging FOMO is about to overtake you huh, Barlow?)

8 If your internet and cell service are down, do not think you can poach off your neighbor. If you do, at best they will have a secure connection. At worst, your neighbor’s brother-in-law, Tiny, the WWF champ, who just returned from survival school will notice you crouched in the bushes close to the house. (That scream you are hearing was taught to Tiny to throw off the enemy he is about to pounce upon. Guess who, Bartek?)

7 If your internet and cell service are down, do not think you can sneak into a coffee-house and use theirs without buying anything. If you do, at best the manager is sixteen years old and afraid of you. At worst, the manager is a retired Marine who has just been told by a twenty-year-old District Manager that they will be fired if they allow poaching of the WiFi. (Looks like you made it out of there unscathed. Too bad about that flying laptop. The landing was not pretty right, Bastian?)

6 If your internet and cell service are down, do not try to meet your book publish deadline in spite of the difficulties. If you do, at best you will be forced to set a new deadline. At worst, you will end up bald and with a bad case of PPSD. (That’s Post Publish Stress Disorder.)

5 If your internet and cell service are down, do not try to stream a movie that you have wanted to watch. If you do, at best you’ll have to watch an old Harry Potter DVD. At worst, you’ll refuse to believe that the “LOADING” sign is a lie.(So after watching the LOADING sign for two hours maybe it’s time to call it a night, Bub.)

4 If your internet and cell service are down, do not keep picking up your phone after every little noise. If you do, at best you’ll be continually reminded that it’s gone. At worst, you might develop a tick which will require long-term therapy. (Try explaining to the doctor that your illness is cell phone related, Berkley.)

3 If your internet and cell service are down, do not put your life on hold until they return. If you do, at best you’ll miss out on trying new things. At worst, your family will begin to wonder if they need to orchestrate an intervention. (Sitting in a chair all day will not bring the internet and cell service back faster, Bixby.)

2 If your internet and cell service are down, do not lay out sheets in the backyard spelling the words, “Help, I Have No Internet.” If you do, at best a passing helicopter will drop some supplies in your yard. At worst, the Channel Six news team will hover above you and broadcast a story about the shallowest individual on the planet. (You could have guessed the story would go viral right, Bojan?)

1 If your internet and cell service are down, do not think anyone will miss you on your social media accounts. If you do, at best your feeling of isolation will drive you to books. At worst, you take to standing at the traffic light with a sign that says, “Will work for Tweets.” (Notice how many drivers look away when you get near, Benny?)

Views of the Neighborhood – Harvey Update

~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

I started out to capture the after photos of some of the places that I have featured on my blog. As you’ll recall, almost all of the photos shown were colorful and full of fun. After taking a number of the after shots, I simply stopped. Seeing these places as they appear now doesn’t capture the spirit of our town. The photos depict loss and sadness and are difficult to view. These are places of business and people’s homes and as such very personal spaces. I do not feel comfortable with an invasion of those private moments of challenge that a photo would represent.

Sadness is not what is left of Port Aransas. We still have the spirit to rebuild. I’m going to wait until the new, colorful, and fun Port A emerges. I’ll tell that story when available.

In the meantime, I will focus on the best we have to offer.

The Poly Anna

Here is a shot of the shrimp boat Polly Anna. The owners John and Molly rode out the storm and were able to bring her back home. She flies her flag proudly.

Texas Flag

Over the destruction in the marina flies the symbol of the spirit of our town and state. The flag stands for hope and the promise each of us must make not to give up.

Thank you for reading.