Figuring it would be a good idea to get out of the chest, I found purchase on the sides and, with some effort, lifted myself out. It was a shortfall to the ground, and with some degree of grace, I landed softly on my face. Unhooking my feet from the rim of the chest, I made an effort to get up. Looking more like a crab than a human, I managed to finally stand.

As I approached the chest, the cover slammed shut, blocking any opportunity to see what was inside. Feeling grateful none of my fingers were on the edge when the lid fell, I tried the key in the lock once more.

This time it didn’t turn. Instead, there was a clicking sound like something electronic attempting to disengage the lock. I could almost imagine the same action as two magnets coming together exert their force field and as opposites repel, turn away from one another. Maybe that was what was happening inside the lock.

As I was standing there waiting for something to happen to the lock, I noticed what I thought was a butterfly overhead. On further observation, it turned out to be an envelope turning over and over as it drifted down toward my backyard. I reached up and snatched it from the air.

The lock clicked, and the chest popped open. I stood in wonder as a bright light hit me in the face, and confetti shot from the chest and rained down. A spring-loaded sign exploded up and away from the chest. It was still attached but waved back and forth like a figure just released from a jack in the box. The sign had a message that when the waving stopped, I could read.

Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Humankind is what it said. Music came from the chest, and after a few bars, I recognized the carol “Silent Night.”

I looked down at the envelope and tore it open. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “opposites.” Use the word “opposites” or write about things that are opposites. Have fun!

If you want to have, fun visit Linda Hill’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2021/12/17/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-18-2021/

Opposites by John W. Howell © 2021.

“Talk about opposites.”

“What?”

“How I think a story s going to end and how you end it.”

“You don’t like a holiday story.”

“It’s not that, but I was expecting some treasure in that chest.”

“You don’t think what was in there is a treasure?”

“It’s not gold or jewels.”

“Some would say it is better than gold or jewels.”

“You know Peace on Earth is never going to happen.”

“Unless enough wish it to happen.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“You sure don’t have the holiday spirit today.”

“Maybe you are right. I need to get with it.”

“I know what helps.”

“What?”

“A nice cup of eggnog.”

“Does sound good.”

“That sounds like a segway to the pub.”

“Where we always like to end this post.”

“Yeah. Let’s go. First, a Happy Holiday wish to all.”

“I’ll drink to that, but I don’t have anything to drink.”

“We are going already.”

When the lid popped open on the chest, admittingly, my first thought was to run behind the magnolia tree. But, of course, the better part of Valor made me freeze in position. Also, having seen several Sci-Fi shows, I knew not to approach the chest too quickly. How many people have you seen incinerated by some kind of death ray all because they rushed to an opening in a spacecraft?

Mrs. Howell didn’t raise no dummy, so taking my time to slowly inch up to the chest. As I got closer, there was no noise coming from the inside. This led me to believe that this chest did not come from a different planet in all probability. If it had, I’m sure there would be some kind of disturbance by now. Gaining confidence, I approached the chest and appeared over the edge.

“Sign here,” came a voice from behind me. My reaction was to immediately fall into the chest, which by now was the size of a hot tub. Then, quickly standing, I faced the voice. It was the USPS delivery person asking me to sign something on a clipboard. “What’s this?”

“Special delivery. Sign here.” After signing, the delivery person handed me an envelope and left.

Looking around the chest, it appeared empty, so I ripped open the envelope. I’m sure by now you have guessed it was from Linda Hill. There were two messages inside. The first read: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “tree.” Use the word “tree” or write about a tree. Any kind of tree. Enjoy! The second was a bit more cryptic. It read: Watch your feet.

If you want to join in and enjoy, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2021/12/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-11-2021/

I think next week we are going to discover what is in the chest.

Tree by John W. Howell © 2021

“Next week?”

“Yup.”

“Why not just do it this week?”

“Ran out of time.”

“You drive me up a tree.”

“Bear chasing you?”

“Very funny. You are supposed to be doing prompts, and here you are fooling around with some dumb chest.”

“There are some out there who would have a good chuckle over that statement.”

“Yeah, I remember them from last week. So what kind of tree are you going to talk about?”

“Hadn’t thought about it. Maybe a hall tree.”

“Hall tree? Never heard of it.”

“It’s a place to hang hats and coats.”

“In what life?”

“Okay, so they are a little bit dated. There is one at the pub, though.”

“Hold on. Did you just sneak in the word pub not expecting me to say something like, ‘You had me at the word pub?'”

“I figured one cast, and you would bite.”

“So, let’s go look at the hall tree.”

“It’ll cost you.”

“What’s new? Let’s go.”

I was sitting on the back porch with a cup of coffee, contemplating my next chore on the honey-do list. My thoughts immediately went to what would be a better thing to be doing instead. Golly gee, how about sailing the seven seas? Was one idea that blew through my brain like a rocket from the ACME rocket company. Best forget that, came the next blast that strangely had the face of Wile E. Coyote attached to it.

Finishing my coffee and standing while stretching out the effects of sitting for ten minutes. Gave thanks to the impact of nature on the old bones and heard a slight sound of metal hitting concrete. Looking down, there it was, the key that was long forgotten along with this morning’s breakfast. It might have been Raisen Bran Crunch, but that didn’t matter. The key is what was important. Scooping it up made me realize there will have to be a hunt or a hint about what the key can open.

Just as my thoughts began a quest, I summoned than back to reality as a large chest half-buried itself in the turf. Looking up, the realization that I could have been under that chest hit me a little lighter than the chest would have. Suffice it to say the answer to the key mystery was a few steps away. However, the chest had a lock, and since there is a God, surely the key will fit.

On the way to the chest, a petite man in green stopped me. Come on, the thought hit. I don’t need a troll right now. “Not so fast, big man.”

It was the troll talking. “You need to pay me before solving that key mystery.”

He was holding an envelope, and I just knew it had this week’s prompt. Coming right out and asking for the envelope paid off. “Sure, here you go,” he said. “No lock, though.”

I opened the envelope, and sure enough, there was the message. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “golly gee.” Use “golly gee” or another interjection that displays the same sentiment in your post. Enjoy!”

If you want to have this kind of fun, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2021/11/26/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-27-2021/

Golly Gee by Jon W. Howell © 2021

“Did you pay him?”

“I don’t know how much he wants.”

“Why not ask him?”

“We are out of time.”

“Golly gee, don’t give me that. I refuse to wait a week.”

“So go ask him yourself.”

“Where is he?”

“In the backyard. By the chest.”

“Now you are creeping me out.”

“Why?”

“There is no backyard, and you just directed me there.”

“Of course, there is a backyard.”

“In your mind.”

“In everyone’s mind. I just put it there.”

“You ought to listen to yourself. You sound nuts.”

“That’s what storytelling is all about.”

“Maybe for you. I need hard facts.”

“Like this tall frosty glass of VooDoo Ranger Ale?”

“I’ve had one of those.”

“So to you, that’s a hard fact.”

“Yes.”

“Take a drink then.”

“You trying to confuse me. There’s no beer here.”

“Okay then. I’ll just drink it myself.”

“Hold on. I’ll take one.”

“Here you go.”

“You are a warlock, you know that?”

“Maybe.”