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Linking up with Wordless Wednesday, BeThere2Day, and Sandee at Comedy Plus.
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Words for Wednesday was begun by Delores and has become a moveable feast of word or picture or music prompts to encourage us to write stories, poems, or whatever strikes our fancy.
This month, the prompts are being provided by yours truly.
Please feel free to use some of the prompts, none of them, or all of them as you see fit. The point is to get the creative juices flowing in whatever manner your muse leads you.
This week's prompts are:
abuse
pardon
posture
guideline
gavel
evening
and / or the following phrases
drive me nuts
beating around the bush
high and dry
Charlotte/Mother Owl has chosen luminous bright red as the color/colour of the month, which may also be used as a prompt.
The small town had a reputation, and it was rightly earned.
To some, it might seem an ABUSE of power. Others might see their POSTURE of "just upholding the law" as laughable.
The local law enforcement, however, was within every GUIDELINE, asking and expecting no PARDON for their strict applications of the law of the land and highways and roads. If you wanted to stay and argue with the local justice of the peace and have him smack his GAVEL down before you settled the matter, you could. Most did not, and one man took that further than anyone.
The small town's reputation was for being a "speed trap," stopping almost every out-of-town motorist who came through, as it was very difficult to see and so quickly obey the lowering limits. By the time you did, you'd already been seen by whichever of the local officers had duty that day, and it was no use arguing.
The town's law enforcement made almost their entire budget for the year from speeding fines.
The protagonist of our story owned a company which was responsible for electric line maintenance for a rural power company. Their territory was far reaching, and he traveled often and far, and knew this particular town well.
On a day when he knew he'd be driving through to supervise some line repairs further down the highway which went through this town, he had come to a decision and was prepared.
"I'm not going to let them Drive Me Nuts," he'd told his wife. "I went to the bank yesterday and I won't be left High And Dry."
As he approached the tiny burg he made no pretense of slowing, and the local official pulled up behind him, Luminous Bright Red lights flashing, just as he expected.
The officer came up to his driver's side window. "You were going kinda fast there, mister," he drawled, and our protagonist agreed with him.
"The fine is $20, and you can ask to see the justice, or you can just pay me now."
"I'll pay you now," he said, handing over two twenty-dollar bills, procured from the bank the previous day just for this purpose.
"Sir, it ain't but $20," the lawman said.
He answered, "I know that, son. But I'm not going to go Beating Around The Bush right now. I'm going to be coming back through this way this EVENING on my way home, and I don't want to be stopped again!"
He wasn't.
(Based on a true story, from back in the 1950's, in rural Louisiana.)
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Today is:
Betty Boop Day -- she debuted in "Dizzy Dishes" on this day in 1930
Book Lover's Day -- internet generated, but if you love books, go sit under a shady tree with a cool drink and indulge!
Clean Out the Kitchen Cupboards Day -- because someone, somewhere, thought it would be a good day to remind us to get rid of the junk in there we haven't seen since last year
Crayfish Premiere -- Sweden (although they are now available year 'round, it used to be that crayfish could only be sold and served in restaurants the day after the season opens; the actual premiere date is often still celebrated with crayfish parties and lots of schnapps)
Dag der Inheemsen -- Suriname (Indigenous People's Day)
Elvis Week -- Memphis, TN, US (celebrating The King of Rock 'n Roll with lots of special events; through the 17th)
Festival for Sol -- Ancient Roman Calendar
Festival Wednesday/East End Parade -- British Virgin Islands
Independence Day / National Day -- Singapore(1965)
International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples -- UN
Jesse Owens Day -- the day he became the first American to win 4 gold medals
Nagasaki Day / Moment of Silence -- Japan
National Hand Holding Day -- sponsored by Adrienne Sioux Koopersmith of Chicago
National Rice Pudding Day
National Women's Day -- South Africa
Remembrance for Radbod, King of the Frisians -- Asatru/Norse Pagan
Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross' Day (born Edith Stein, killed at Auschwitz; Co-Patron of Europe; Patron of converts, martyrs, those who have lost their parents, World Youth Day)
Smokey the Bear Day -- Smokey first appeared on a U.S. Forest Service poster on this day in 1944
Veep Day -- US (commemoration of the day in 1974 Richard Nixon's resignation let Gerald Ford succeed to the presidency)
Yosakoi Matsuri -- Kochi City, Japan (over 100 groups come up with their own Bon dance and costume and have dance competions in the streets, through the 12th)
Anniversaries Today:
Coronation of Albert II of Belgium, 1993
Birthdays Today:
Audrey Tautou,1976
Eric Bana, 1968
Gillian Anderson, 1968
Delon Sanders, 1967
Hoda Kotb, 1964
Whitney Houston, 1963
Michael Kors, 1959
Amanda Bearse, 1958
Melanie Griffith, 1957
Sam Elliot, 1944
David Steinberg, 1942
Robert Joseph (Bob) Cousy, 1928
P.L. Travers, 1899
Joseph Locke, 1805
Amedeo Avogadro, 1776
John Dryden, 1631
Izaak Walton, 1593
Debuting/Premiering Today:
"Béatrice et Bénédict (Beatrice and Benedick)"(Berlioz Opera Comique), 1862
Walden(Thoreau, publication date), 1854
Today in History:
Battle of Pharsalus, in which Julius Caesar defeated Pompey, who fled to Egypt, BC 40
Bulgaria is founded as a Khanate on the south bank of the Danube after defeating the Byzantine armies of Emperor Constantine IV south of the Danube delta, 681
Start of construction of the Tower of Pisa, 1173*
Sistine Chapel opens, 1483
First horses arrive in Hawai'i, 1803
The Webster-Ashburton Treaty is signed, establishing the United States-Canada border east of the Rocky Mountains, 1842
Thoreau's Walden is published, 1854
Thomas Edison receives a patent for a two-way telegraph, 1892
Betty Boop makes her debut in the cartoon, Dizzy Dishes, 1930
Mahatma Gandhi is arrested in Bombay by British forces, launching the Quit India Movement, 1942
The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council release posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time, 1944
Singapore is expelled from Malaysia and becomes the first and only country to date to gain independence unwillingly, 1965
Richard Nixon becomes the first President of the United States to resign from office, 1974
Wayne Gretzky is traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in one of the most controversial player transactions in ice hockey history, 1988
The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan loses a 38-year hold on national leadership, 1993
Tensions escalate between North and South Korea, when South Korea claims North Korea fired over 100 rounds of artillery into the Sea of Japan, 2010
David Rudisha of Kenya becomes the first athlete at the 2012 Summer Olympics to set a new world track record and secures the 800m gold medal, while Usain Bolt becomes the first person to win the 100m and 200m sprint in back to back Olympics, 2012
Nepal's parliament bans menstruation huts (comes into effect August 2018), 2017
The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that humanity can only avoid catastrophic climate damage if all governments of the world act together quickly, 2021
*completed two hundred years later
What an intriguing use of the prompts - made better for being based on truth.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I suspect that the 'back to school' rush has had many a parent driven to drink...
For the parents, after the kids have finally left ;) ?
ReplyDeleteBack to read your Words later.
What a story. I would like a sherff like that to come and live here for a while, we too live in a small place - only difference the signs are big and clearly visible from far off - but people are still speeding through. I do not like it (mildly put) as we have people biking, riding and walking those roads.
DeleteLOL @ the list never had that on mine :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a beertastic week 👍
LOL, that is so funny! It must be for the parents.
ReplyDeleteOur state offers sales tax free days this weekend for school supplies.
ReplyDeleteI think it’s meant for beleaguered parents…to celebrate back to school day! Lol
ReplyDeleteBack to School? Bwahahahahahahahaha. Good one.
ReplyDeleteLove your use of the prompts. I laughed out loud. Well done.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Love and hugs. ♥
The alcohol is for the teachers after spending the day with kids after summer vacation. They need it!
ReplyDeleteGreat question ~ beer for the parents and teadhers hopefully ~ lol
ReplyDeleteGreat use of the prompts ~ lol
You are a treasure ~ Xo
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
MOL maybe for teachers?
ReplyDeleteWwwwhhhhaaattt???!!! How crazy is that?!
ReplyDeleteI love your WfW story, especially that it is based on a true one!!! Mine has been published here!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great story and even better for being based on fact!
ReplyDeleteI try to help out with school supplies for my 4 children who has children... and I know I'm appreciated... I can't give a whole lotta money so I buy supplies actually all year long and my daughters call me when they need something. It's a great arrangement. Have a great day my friend... so I'm sending a great big HELLO to ya!!! hugs
ReplyDeleteThe corners of my mouth have not yet returned from theier expedition to my ear-lobes.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good story and that ad is a riot!!!
ReplyDeleteThat ad is hysterical! Is that for the teachers?
ReplyDeleteGreat story, messymimi.
ReplyDeleteLOL about the back to school list. Too funny.
ReplyDeleteKhoral settled into an empty seat as the women began gossiping about what they had seen and where they might stop for tea and cakes on the way home. A small quarrel broke out as Gertie berated Jenny for wandering off. “it’s an abuse of the system,” she declared. “If this nice young man hadn’t found you we would not have been allowed to continue our weekly trips.”
ReplyDeleteMissy said, ”she’s right Jenny, the guideline clearly states we must all stay together.” “You are right of course,” said Jenny and I do beg your pardon for wandering off.” “Just don’t let it happen again!” said Gertie sternly. “Don’t you get to banging your gavel Gertie,” said Missy, “you’re no longer a People’s Court Judge.”
They soon arrived at a small town and the driver, Stanley, stopped quite near to the small park which had picnic tables and a café off to one side. “Everybody out,” he said, “and start ordering your afternoon teas while I duck over to the pharmacy for some antiseptic wipes. If one of you could order me a strong black coffee and a sausage roll I’d be grateful.” “I can do that,” said Gertie and set off towards the café. Marie watched Stanley and sighed, "he has such excellent posture, I wish I could stand so straight still."
Khoral and the ladies followed Gertie and soon were choosing between sweet and savoury items from the menu. Most of them chose sweet cakes, knowing they would get a substantial evening meal soon after arriving home, but Khoral chose a more hearty snack, a large sandwich with ham and cheese and salad and also a roast beef sandwich to take home for his own evening meal. He came out to the picnic area to hear a lot of whispering and Sandra saying, “for heaven’s sake Betty! You are going to drive me nuts! Stop beating around the bush with all the hints and just tell us!” Betty spied Khoral and blushed a bright luminous red. “They say he’s an alien!” she blurted out and all heads turned towards Khoral.
“It’s true,” he said and told them the story of seeing his planet explode, losing his family and how he came to be living at the Lighthouse. “Without the help of my friend Eric and then Old Pete giving up the Lighthouse to live in a smaller place, I would have been left high and dry, as they say. I am very grateful to have found such a wonderful place and all the friends I have made there. I would be happy if you all came to Lighthouse Village on one of your outings, perhaps on one of the Farmers Market days, we have them twice a month in summertime, always on a Saturday.”
I hope that school is at least a college.
ReplyDeleteTeacher (and parents) will love that sale!
ReplyDeleteI had heard about towns with speed traps. I never actually thought any of them were true!