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

September 26, 2017September 25, 2017 ~ 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

“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.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Hot/Cold”

September 23, 2017September 22, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

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.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Vol”

September 16, 2017September 15, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “Vol.” Yup, that’s right. Linda Hill says to find a word with “vol” in it and construct the post. She also advises the group to have fun. If you would like to participate in the fun go to Linda’s blog and find out how. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/15/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-1617/

“So what did she say?”

“Find a word with vol in it and write the post.”

“That’s it?”

“Oh, and she said to have fun with it.”

“Ha. Easy for her to say. You and I are here on the line and she sits in that Ivory Tower handing out prompts like they are free.”

“They are.”

“Are what?”

“Free.”

“What do you mean. We have to put our very heart into this crap. We sweat bullets over these damn words. How can you say they are free?”

“You finished?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Okay then, Let’s put our thinking caps on and come up with a word that has vol in it.”

“I hate that.”

“What?”

“The phrase thinking cap. I don’t have a cap. It is my brain that does all the thinking.”

“Did you get your coffee this morning?”

“Had five cups. Why?”

“You seem a little wound up is all.”

“Fine. Volume, Volvo, convoluted, volleyball, benevolent, voluptuous, devolution, malevolent, and voluminous. Just to name a few.”

That’s great. On which do you want to base a post?”

“None of them.”

“None of them? Why not?”

“They have all been done before. Let’s do something original.”

“Okay like what?”

“Well there is a village in Iran named Vol. We could do a story on it.”

“Ho hum.”

“There is Vol Dooley a former sheriff Louisiana. We could do his story.”

“Ugh.”

“How about the computer command Vol?”

“Wait a minute. You went on-line and looked this stuff up, right?”

“Well, yeah. So what?”

“So what? Do you know how frivolous this makes you look?”

“I think I’m a revolutionist.”

“I think you show the voluminousness of the empty space where your brian should be.”

“I’m thinking you border on the revolting.”

“Says the man with the vole sized brain.”

“You better vol.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“It’s French for flight and you should take the hint.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Motive”

September 9, 2017September 8, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

It is Steam of Consciousness Saturday and this weeks prompt is “motive.” Linda Hill says we can use the word any way we want. If you would like to join in the fun, please go to Linda’s site and read all about it. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/08/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-917/

“I wonder what gimmick the seminar leader is going to use to motivate us.”

“Oh, I believe it is the old trust your fellow workers with exercises designed to make us all not trust each other.”

“Ha ha ha. remember that time we were supposed to catch Jenkins as he fell.”

“My gosh, that was funny. He fell right on his head. Did he ever come back to work?”

“I heard they set him to a feelings doctor. He had PSSD.”

“PSSD? What’s that?”

“Post Seminar Stress Disorder.”

“No kidding. I think I have had that myself.”

“What do you suppose is management’s motive for this kind of foolishness.”

“They call it team building. I guess it’s meant to bring us together.”

“I never did forgive Simmons for that paint ball shot to the groin.”

“I’m not surprised. To see you on the ground crying like a baby is not a vision soon forgotten.”

“That was not my proudest moment. How about you? That time you were left out in the woods with no shoes.”

“My team was supposed to fetch me a pair.”

“Too bad the bar opened before they could get back.”

“I hate those people.”

“All we have is each other in this thing. I got your back.”

“Aw, thanks, man. I love you too. Oops here comes the leader.”

“Ladies and gentleman please give me your attention. This seminar is a little different from most. At the end of the week, the company will be promoting half of you based on how well you do with a pay increase of 10% above your current level. The other half will return to their old jobs at a wage level of 90 % of the previous amount.”

“Did you hear that?”

“You talking to me? Do I know you?

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 138 by Keith Channing

September 5, 2017September 4, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 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 6 pm 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 #138

“Keep it down. He’s coming.”

“I’m afraid to look.”

“Don’t worry he can’t see you.”

“I’m still afraid. Tell me what he looks like.”

“He is wearing denim pants, a black t-shirt, and get this, he has a buzz cut.”

“A buzz cut?”

“Can you believe it?”

“Aw, this makes it too easy.”

“I know right. Wait he is carrying something in his hand.”

“What is it?”

“Some kind of bag. At least we only have to worry about the one hand. It is the right one by the way.”

“I am always concerned about getting hit by the right hand.”

“There are two of us. Don’t you think we can have our way with him?”

“There is still a chance he could smack one of us with that hand.”

“Well, this is the chance we will have to take. He’s getting closer.”

“Be still my beating heart.”

“Oh, C’mon. Be brave buckaroo. On my count, we will jump him.”

“This is the worst part. I wish I were born as someone else.”

“Why? You have a great life.”

“What’s so great about having to drop down on a mammal and hope not to be slapped flat.”

“But after you get your fill you just sleep. That buzz cut means you can hit the sweet spot on the head and he’ll never know. Now get ready and try not to make that whining noise with your wings.”

“You gotta be kidding me. All mosquitos make that noise.”

“Yeah, I was kidding. Pre-mission humor. Let’s go.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Birth/Berth

September 2, 2017September 1, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is Birth/Berth. Linda Hill says we can use one or the other or both. If you would like to have fun with us, please visit Linda’s blog and read all about it. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/09/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-217/

“Tell me again. What is your emergency.”

“I’m stuck in the upper berth on a boat, and a deer is giving birth in the lower berth.”

“Okay maybe it has been a long day, but there are a lot of birth words in your statement. Let’s break it down. You are stuck in the upper berth of a boat?”

“Yes. I can’t move.”

“Thank you. Where is the boat?”

“It is berthed in the marina.”

“Of course it is. What is the name of the boat?”

“Birth of the Blues.”

“Why am I not surprised. Tell me what happened?”

“I was trying to get away from the deer and jumped into the upper Berth.”

“Okay, and how did you get stuck?”

“I got wedged. I guess I should have left my tool belt back in the truck.”

“The deer was chasing you?”

“Yes, and I ran for this boat with her in hot pursuit.”

“Tell me about the deer.”

“She is brown with big eyes.”

“Not her appearance. Tell me what she is doing.”

“She is laying in the lower Berth giving birth.”

“So she won’t be chasing you anymore.”

“No, she is pretty busy right now.”

“The real emergency is getting you unstuck right?”

“That and getting the deer some help.”

“Okay, sir. I want you to remain on the line. We have dispatched an EMS crew to your location. Please stay calm.”

“I’m calm. I can’t speak for the deer though.”

“I understand. Any change?”

“No, my breathing has returned to normal.”

“Not you. The deer.”

“Nope still brown.”

“You are putting me on right?”

“No, I’m stuck.”

“I’m trying to find out how the deer is doing.”

“Oh, she gave birth and left.”

“So that just leaves you stuck in the berth.”

“Yes. And the bear.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “When.”

August 26, 2017August 25, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 47 Comments

When it is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time you know, I’m going to participate. This weeks prompt is “When.” One little twist of today’s prompt is that Linda Hill has asked that those participating begin their post with the word “when.” Now you know why I started this post the way I did. If you would like to join in on this fun, please visit Linda Hill’s blog. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Aug. 26/17

“When did you make that up?”

“Make what up?”

“That story about the ghost.”

“I didn’t make that up.”

“Who did then?”

“No one made up a story it is true.”

“Oh, C’mon.There is no such thing as ghosts.”

“That’s what you think.”

“So how can you prove you saw a ghost?”

“That’s just it. I don’t need to prove it.”

“Why not?”

“There is a particular kind of person who can see a ghost.”

“Now you are talking crazy.”

“Here take a look at this photo.”

“Yeah.”

“What do you see?”

“A guy on a horse.”

“Does he look familiar?”

“Yes, it’s General Grant.”

“What if I told you it takes a ghost to see a ghost.”

“I would think you are nuts.”

“Turn around and tell me what you see.”

“Is that General Grant?”

“What do you think?”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #136 by Keith Channing

August 22, 2017August 21, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

Using 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 6 pm 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 #136

“Now let me see. I think the best place for the photo might be over by that tree.”

“This shot is pretty good right here.”

“Mr. Belcheck. It is your bellybutton. Where do you want the photo taken.”

“I’m not too particular, but I’m a little shy. Could we do it without a lot of people around?”

“Hmm. I think he is talking about us, Sally.”

“I don’t think so, Mary. Why we are like family. He should not be ashamed to show us his belly button.”

“I agree, but can’t help thinking he is talking about us.”

“I’ll ask. Hey, Leroy. You talking about us when you say, people?”

“No Mary. You are most welcome to watch.”

“See I told you, Sally.”

“Who is he talking about then.? It can’t be the camera man. It can’t be the producer, nor can it be old lady Schultz the director.”

“I guess I’ll have to ask him then. Hey, Leroy.”

“What, Mary?”

“Who don’t you want to watch while your belly button is being photographed?”

“Turn around and take a look.”

“Oh my gosh. You are talking about all those readers.”

“Yes. They make me nervous.”

“Don’t you worry, Leroy. I’ll take care of them. Hey, you readers. Now is the time to close your eyes.”

“Thanks, Mary.”

“No problem, Leroy.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Pant.”

August 19, 2017August 18, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This weeks prompt is “Pant.” Linda Hill says we can use it alone or part of another word. If you would like to participate, go to Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2017/08/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-aug-1917/

“Are you telling me the new occupants of our rental apartment are a bunch of pantomiming pantywaists?”

“Yeah, they are mimes. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”

“Hey watch it. I don’t wear panties.”

“It is an expression. Any participant in civil discourse knows that.”

“You saying I’m dumb?”

“No. I’m saying your lack of sophistication runs rampant through your understanding of things.”

“Hmm. Sounds like a flippant remark to me.”

“Whoa. You just surprised the pants off of me.”

“They are still on.”

“Whoops back to a social nonparticipant.”

“Huh?”

“The expression had nothing to do with pants on or off.”

“Yeah, I get that. Sometimes I wish a wild animal would come along and bite you.”

“Any in mind?”

“Given this discussion, I would say a panther.”

Tuesday Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #135 by Keith Channing

August 15, 2017August 14, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 35 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 6 pm 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 #135