Kreative Kue 314

Kreative Kue 313 asked for submissions based on this photograph:

John W Howell is a multiple nominated and award-winning author who blogs at Fiction Favorites. Details of John’s books can be found on his Amazon author page

Picture This by John W. Howell © 2021

“Why did we come to this desolate field?”

“You know very well that we are waiting for the arrival of the great eagle.”

“yes, so when is he getting here?”

“Should be any hour now.”

“Hour. You have got to be kidding. We have been here since sunup already.”

“Hush now. Why don’t you entertain yourself.”

“I didn’t bring any bourbon, that’s why.”

“My goodness, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed today.”

“It was so dark I think I lost my bearings.”

“Well, look around and tell a story about what you see.”

“Okay. Better than dying here, I suppose.”

“That’s my man.”

“Look to the left. I think someone hung their dog costume on the fence post. You have to wonder why a dog costume.”

“That’s funny. Keep going.”

“Look at the giant. I wonder what shoe size he takes?”

“Good.”

“I think we should have those bald guys put on a hat. The glare is starting to hurt my eyes.”

“You’re on a roll.”

“Check out the ape in the clouds. Looks like he might be doing a high dive into a pool.”

“Never would have seen that.”

“To the left again. The biggest crow I’ve ever seen. Hope there is some corn around her.”

“That’s no crow. It’s the eagle.”

“Yay. We came, we saw, we joked. Can we go home now?”

“Hold on. Let’s see if he flys this way. Darn, he went behind the tree.”

“Shy, I suppose. I don’t blame him. Who would want to approach a gang of humans anyway?”

“These are all conservationists.”

“Especially on conserving water and soap. Downwind is a good place.”

“You are bad.”

“Dang me.”

---

My effort was:

The Crowd

“What time is it?”

“Oh, welcome back, John. Did you have a good sleep?”

“I think so. These seats aren’t the most comfortable, though. What’s the time now?”

“Half past three.”

“How long did I sleep?”

“Just over two hours. Don’t worry, you haven’t missed anything.”

“We still waiting?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I thought he was supposed to be here at two.”

“He was.”

“So I missed him?”

“No. When I said he was, I didn’t mean he was here, I meant he was supposed to have been here.”

“At two o’clock.”

“Yes, at two o’clock.”

 “And now it’s…”

“Gone half past three.”

“So where is he?”

“I don’t know. No-one has said anything.”

“I’m going to ask the bloke in front. He must know something, surely to goodness.”

“Don’t, John. You’ll set everybody off. Look around; everyone is seething. If you say anything this whole crowd will blow. It’ll be like dropping soft mints into a bottle of cola.”

“But don’t we want to know when he’s coming?”

“Yes, we do; but let’s just sit here and let someone else take the flak. Hang on, the bloke up front’s just picked up his microphone…”

“Ladies and Gentlemen, can I have your attention, please? Thank you all for coming here today. Now, I know you’ve all given up your Saturday to listen to our beloved leader – the man you’ve all worked so tirelessly to support through the election process and beyond. And I’m fully aware of how much importance you attach to his every word—“

“So where is he?”

“Shush, John. I’m sure he’ll tell us soon.”

“I understand your impatience, but I’ve just been handed an official communiqué by his deputy assistant second-level representative—“

“You mean one of his minions?”

“John, stop it!”

“The note says that when our great and glorious leader said that he would very much like to come and address us all here this afternoon to thank us for our support, financial and moral as well as fundraising, organising and all the other things we do, he meant it.“

“So where is he?”

“Julie!”

“What?”

“You told me not to.”

“Oh yes, so I did.”

“He has said that he would like to, but he has a pressing engagement.”

“What can be more important than thanking his supporters?”

“The handwriting on the communiqué isn’t clear. The only words I can make out are ‘more interesting’. Sorry.”

---

On to this week’s challenge: 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.