This week’s photo prompt is provided by Phylor. Thank you Phylor for our photo prompt!
The notepad hung limp in the policeman’s hand, his pencil unused.
At first, Jim had been distracted by the second policeman, but he was an experienced enough drinker to distrust what he saw after a night in The Haymakers. After twelve pints, his eyes tended to exagerrate. Two policemen, two roads. Two lampposts.
‘Run me through it again, would you?’ said the policeman on the left.
‘Didn’t want to drink drive.’ That was what Jim meant to say, though the words sounded more like ‘Dinun wanna drivel.’
It seemed he couldn’t trust his ears either.
One of the policemen folded his arms. ‘So you took a horse to the pub because you didn’t want to drink drive?’
This kid was smarter than he looked.
‘Problem is, Mr Donovan, Dobbin here isn’t yours, is he?’
Jim didn’t remember owning a horse. But then life was peculiar – he didn’t remember falling off one either.
Funny old thing, life.
Written for Priceless Joy’s Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers, and what a joy this prompt is. See the pic, write 100 – 175 words in response. Do visit here to play along and to read the other, wonderful stories.
Love how your mind works!
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Haha! Thanks lovely 🙂
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I’m assuming that writing this well-crafted vignette wasn’t, as they say, as easy as falling off … a horse? Lots of fine little details, like the pub’s name which, despite the recent change in the weather for us here in the west, reminded me that making hay while the sun shines is so apt for this time of year.
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Thank you Chris! Well, let’s hope Jim learns his lesson – do not leave the pub with another man’s horse 🙂 It is approaching that time of year, you’re right – doesn’t feel like it today, though does it? Jim is certainly good at making hay while the sun shines 🙂
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Hahahaha! At least he was smart enough not to drink and drive! Too bad that he stole the horse! LOL! Cute story!
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Well, Jim clearly has some kind of inner barometer of what’s right and wrong – it might be a an off kilter barometer, but it’s there 🙂
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LOL!!
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Funny story! And yes, after 12 pints I’m not surprised if Jim starts getting confused about some of the details and forgetting whole swaths of the evening — including some things he may not want to remember!
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Yes, there are times alcohol induced amnesia is truly blessing 🙂
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LOL!
This was very entertaining.
🙂
🙂
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Aw, thanks. I’d loathe Jim in real life for his recklessness. But in fiction, the guy’s a lot of fun 🙂
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Ha! There was a story on the news about a guy who did this in real life. The bartender took his keys so he couldn’t drive drunk so he stole a horse! People are nuts. Great story.
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Haha! I never saw that story. I was sor of inspired by someone I knew who used to ride her horse to school when she was a kid. People are definitely nuts 🙂
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Great story Lynn, loved the ending, very funny….hope you are doing well today..
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Thank you Michael. Glad you liked it. A nicer day today, thankfully. Sunshine feels like a blessing all of a sudden 🙂
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Well done! Great writing and flow to your piece. I like to think there’s some bit of Jim in all of us…even sober.
Ellespeth
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Hahahaha Nice 😀
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Thanks Joy 🙂
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Oh my! Hahahaha! This is cleverly done, Lynn. 😀 I love the humor in this piece. ❤
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Thank you very much 🙂 And thanks for reading
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You’re most welcome. It was my pleasure. 🙂
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🙂
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Very funny story. Nice work, Lynn.
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Thank you Chris. Glad it made you smile 🙂
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Now this is hilarious (and concerning). Poor Jim, horse, policeman. Things could’ve ended up much worse. I’m glad they’ll have a funny, bizarre story to tell. Excellent take of the prompt. Very creative and memorable
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Thank you so much Izzy! Not sure why I wandered down this route, but your brain takes you to strange places sometimes. Thank you so much for reading 🙂
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It’s better to not fight it, right? With these challenges, I just go for it, let the words flow out, and see what happens. ^_^
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Very true. Go where it feels right and it usually turns out for the best :). Thanks
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Hahaha, I actually thought it was a smart thing to do considering- taking horse cause you don’t want to drunk drive. I enjoyed reading this story. Funny
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Thank you so much, Ameena. Glad you like it. Possibly safer to ride a horse than drive a car – if the horse knows roughly where it’s going 🙂 Thanks for reading
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Funny take on the prompt! Hope the horse is returned to its rightful owner after Jim’s finished with it. 😉
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Thank you. Hopefully, he’ll find his own way home 🙂
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Very funny 😄 Next time he should have less to drink
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Thanks Jacqueline – yes, let’s hope next time he does just that
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