WICKED WICKLES

WEDNESDAY 27th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ WICKED WICKLES

WICKED WICKLES

by John Yeo 

To someone who has never encountered Wickles

A writing prompt from M can be cunningly concealing

Wicked or innocent the imagination bristles.

~

With a thorny question on a bed of wicked prickles

It was enough to send the sense of reality reeling

To someone who has never encountered Wickles.

~

Were they witches covens with spellbinding trickles?

Or a questionable form of alternative healing?

Wicked or innocent the imagination bristles.

~


After onerous research through magical epistles

An enquiry through Google search was revealing

To someone who has never encountered Wickles.

~

Showing mouthwatering wicked, hot Wickles pickles 

A mix of spicy vegetables so tastefully appealing

Wicked or innocent the imagination bristles.

~

Wicked flavours the unrefined palate tickles 

Through a tasty gastronomic flavourful feeling

To someone who has never encountered Wickles

Wicked or innocent the imagination bristles.

© Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved 

THE SUGAR SCANDAL

TUESDAY 26th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ The Sugar Scandal

THE SUGAR SCANDAL

by John Yeo

(A weight watchers nightmare).

    Through fallen sugar snow everywhere. With candy-floss-topped toffee mountains and rivers of sweet sugar rushing through fields of barley-sugar sweet corn. Trees made of solid-shaped icing sugar with leaves of sweet sugar marzipan. There were chocolate houses with chocolate gardens. A sweet bride with a handsome groom, were smiling happily on the topmost tier of the sweetest wedding cake ever made. The dreamer woke with a start, after a dream full of delectable treats. A nightmare and a shocking scene of a forbidden sugar scandal. 

© Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

UNSEASONABLY SALTY

MONDAY 25th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~UNSEASONABLY SALTY

UNSEASONABLY SALTY

by John Yeo

If salt were a part of the recent trend,
Would the salty flavour alter our taste?
Would we finish our food to the bitter end?
~
If salt were consumed with a dietary end,
Would the real food flavour ever be traced?
If salt became a part of the recent trend.

~

Without a dash of salt to add to the blend
Food seems indigestible, yet hard to waste.
Would we finish our food to the bitter end?

~

If we faced the bitter truth would it tend,
To touch our consciences, sadly debased?
If salt were a part of the recent trend.  

~

Would scientific research be hard to defend

With salty language, sadly misplaced?

Would we finish our food to the bitter end?

~

Careless views would be hard to defend
Unseasonably salty and badly displaced.
If salt were a part of the recent trend,
Would we finish our food to the bitter end?



©️John Yeo all rights reserved

RICOCHETING ROCKETS

 SUNDAY 24th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~RICOCHETING ROCKETS

RICOCHETING ROCKETS

by  John Yeo

   The world was on full alert. The media had broadcast warning after warning of an unidentifiable, asteroid-like object; rapidly approaching the Earth. Panic had set in among the leaders of the world’s nations. In spite of many warnings and prophetic utterances of approaching doom. The strange object just got closer and closer and seemed to be on a collision course. The richest nations proposed to strike the object with strategically aimed missiles and blow it to smithereens. The plan was to save as many lives as possible by limiting the collision damage to small pieces. The most powerful telescope lens on Earth was trained on the unidentified object. To the scientist’s great surprise it was a transparent rock with gaseous clouds visible inside. Clouds that seemed to have shifting forms, with some moving independently and some conjoined. This new information arrived too late for any deviation from the damage limitation decision. The leaders had already decided and a barrage of rockets was already on the way Incredibly the massed nuclear rockets were deflected and ricocheted off the surface of the asteroid-like object. Then cracks appeared in the glasslike surface and suddenly the whole asteroid was black and invisible to the human eye.

 ‘That’s not an asteroid! That’s a spaceship under alien control. We must try to contact the occupants.!’ yelled Professor Stevens to the team in NASA control. ‘Somebody should inform President Jonas, our armaments are useless!’

At that precise moment the power failed, the lights went out and Planet Earth was pitched into a dark void.

© Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

CERTIFIABLY SENSATIONAL

SATURDAY 23rd JANUARY 2021 ~ FLASH FICTION

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ CERTIFIABLY SENSATIONAL

CERTIFIABLY SENSATIONAL

by John Yeo


The specialist stepped back looking grave,
He frowned and said with a hopeless sigh;
‘I’m afraid you’ll have to be extra brave.
This infection has hit hard like a shockwave.
We did our utmost to apply and nullify 

The viral particles are alive and mutational
We used an antidote the symptoms to stave,
Your child’s stats show we were right to retry.

The vaccine’s effects are certifiably sensational.

This new drug has helped us save life

~

There’s no guarantee but our hopes are high,
I’m afraid you’ll have to be extra brave.
We waited, breath-baited, tried to believe
Praying and beseeching to the cold blue sky.

The speed of the response was inspirational,

Colour slowly appeared with a flickering eye

Shallow breathing quickly became stronger

A slight smile appeared on the thin pale lips

The senses returned in a symphony to health

A revolutionary treatment; certifiably sensational.

© Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved.

PICCADILLY SQUARE

FRIDAY 22nd JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ Piccadilly Square

PICCADILLY SQUARE

by John Yeo

  Joey, a hard-bitten, streetwise, London taxi cab driver queued up in a line of cabs waiting for passengers along the rank at Kings Cross station in central London. Joey had a philosophical approach to life, profit was everything. 

He was a short, stocky man, with a misshapen nose that was a relic from his school days when he excelled in the boxing ring. His friend Fred was seated in the cab behind and he sidled up for a chat while they waited.

  ‘Hey Joey! Heard the latest? There’s a group of smart-alecs about. They will hire your cab then give you the runaround.’

 At that moment an oriental gentleman opened the cab door and said.

 ‘Can you take me to Piccadilly Square please?’

Joey’s eyes gleamed when he heard this mispronunciation.

  ‘Certainly Sir!’

The gentleman climbed into the cab, breathing heavily with the effort.

 Joey began his usual flow of disarming conversation and said, 

‘Is this your first visit to London Sir?’

The stranger nodded and gazed out of the window at the dense traffic and the slow progress they were making.

Joey continued. ‘What part of the world are you from?’

  ‘China, I am here to visit my relatives who run a restaurant here. I understand Lord Nelson is commemorated in the square.’

  Joey couldn’t quite work this reply out but he didn’t respond and concentrated on the traffic. Finally they reached Piccadilly Circus and Joey pointed out Eros, the fountain. It was surrounded by tourists of all nationalities. 

 ‘Rumour has it that you will meet everyone you have ever known here if you stay long enough.’ said Joey.

 At that point another Asian gentleman knocked on the window and  Joey said, ‘Sorry, I’m not for hire.’ 

To his astonishment his passenger excitedly opened the window and began chatting away. They were old friends.

Joey said to his passenger, ‘There’s £125 to pay please.’

The passenger then enquired. ‘Where is the famous column and the statue of Lord Nelson?’

  Joey then began to understand. ‘Oh you want to get to Trafalgar Circus, I’ll take you both there for another £125.’

  As the sun went down in Central London on another day of ripoffs, misunderstanding and linguistic shenanigans, two TV actors removed their oriental makeup and went to a local pub for a well earned nightcap.

Joey the taxi driver had enjoyed a profitable day indeed. Little did he know his day of reckoning was just around the corner. Somewhere between Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square.

© Written by John Yeo ~ all rights reserved

SOFA SURFING

THURSDAY 21st JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ SOFA SURFING

SOFA SURFING


by John Yeo

Sofa surfing isn’t connected to exploring the internet,

It’s a step away from a night on a cold stone pavement,

A friendly gesture that will always be hard to forget.

~

A circle of good friends will always be a valuable asset

When homelessness begins to make a slow descent

Sofa surfing isn’t connected to exploring the internet.

~

A harsh alternative to hope can be a powerful threat

Life’s troubles and despair arrive without relent

A friendly gesture will always be hard to forget.

~

To help a friend in need is something never to regret

Just an even break will help towards a hard ascent

Sofa surfing isn’t connected to exploring the internet.

~

A friendly sofa can go forward and adjust the mindset

Bringing hope of an end to the need to beg for consent

A friendly gesture will always be hard to forget.

~

Friendship and help bring hope for a life to reset

The slide into homelessness can be hard to prevent,

Sofa surfing isn’t connected to exploring the internet

A friendly gesture will always be hard to forget.

© Written by John Yeo~ All rights reserved

LICKABLE LOTIONS

WEDNESDAY 20th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ Lickable lotions

LICKABLE LOTIONS 

by John Yeo

  Farmer Ben Jones had worked as a successful sheep farmer for many years. A short stocky man with a ruddy, weather beaten face that reflected his years of coping with the ups and downs of working as a successful livestock farmer in all weathers. 

The farm was located on the hilly terrain of North Wales and subject to extremes of weather conditions from fierce winter winds with driving rain, to beautiful spring sunshine, encouraging fresh green grass where his flock could contentedly graze. 

The large flock of sheep with their lambs were expertly controlled by his three well trained, energetic, intelligent border collie, sheepdogs, Meg, Shep and Spot.

  His pretty wife Betty, a tiny lady, whose stature didn’t reflect her ingrained toughness, had trained as a vet, before she married Farmer Ben and became a full time farmers wife and a mother to their 15 years old son James. 

  One day Spot began licking one of his front paws more than usual, whimpering quietly to himself, James came in from the yard having fed the dogs, this was part of his daily routine. 

    ‘Hey Dad! what’s  up with Spot? He keeps licking his front paw and he’s not himself.’

    ‘Farmer Ben looked up and grinned, ‘Well spotted son! You’re learning fast. Your Mum has been looking after him with some of her TLC.’

     ‘That’s right James, I think he has a slight infection on his foot pad and I’ve plastered it with some of my special lotion.’ said Betty.

 James looked slightly puzzled at this and exclaimed! ‘Surely it’s no good if he keeps on licking it away. Is it safe?”

 His Dad proudly smiled and said, ‘Don’t worry son. Your Mum knows what she’s doing.’

  Betty patted him on the back and said, ‘Good point James, I used a safe lickable lotion that will do no harm to Spot’s insides. I will renew the lotion later and dress his paw overnight so he can’t lick it off again. I didn’t want him to run around for the rest of the day with a bandage on his foot.’

  Farmer Ben and James then made a special visit to make a big fuss of Meg and Shep, while Betty was caring for Spot. 

© Written by John Yeo all rights reserved.

JELLY JUNIPERS

TUESDAY 19th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ Jelly junipers

JELLY JUNIPERS 

by John Yeo


We picked a basketful of sumptuous junipers for jelly,

An ancient remedy for arthritic and rheumatic ailments.

In the Middle Ages, junipers supposedly cured the plague.

Jellied junipers, reputed to be a cure-all for colds and flu, could be a defence against all viruses, old and new.

Jelly made from juniper, a reputed health superfruit, should be prescribed as an added weapon in the ongoing fight, alongside the proven scientific research and experimentation
in the armoury to counteract and help to destroy this ongoing blight.

© Written by John Yeo

FUSION FORESTS

MONDAY 18th JANUARY 2021

This is a response to a Flash Fiction prompt from ‘Putting My Feet In the Dirt’, Writing Prompts hosted by ‘M’.
Which can be found by following the link below..

Prompt ~ Fusion forests

FUSION FORESTS


by John Yeo

   There were six of us in the party led by the esteemed Professor Williams, Peter Woods, a famous ornithologist, Leyla, and Sadie, with her best friend Betty and myself, Jamie Cook.

   We’d been trekking through thick jungle for days, searching for rare new species of wildlife. We pitched our tents alongside an impressive lake with a magnificent waterfall hurtling down into the lake from a rocky incline.

  The lake was still at sunset, after the wildfowl and the birdlife had gone to roost. Silence replaced the noisy sounds of the prolific wildlife, vying for food and personal space. Darkness was descending on the shrubs and trees around the banks of the lake as the sun disappeared. Nocturnal wildlife was slowly appearing. Nighthawks spread their wings, calling in the nearby trees as they ventured out on their hunting forays after dark. Bats were fluttering their wings, searching for insects, using echolocation, their powers of ultra-sensitive hearing, for guidance. 

  ‘They seem to be flying from within the waterfall!’ exclaimed Peter Woods. Clouds and clouds of bats were filling the evening  skies.     ‘There must be a cave in the rocks behind the waterfall. Bats hibernate in caves, they generally stick to water where they like to feed on insects, even fishing them from the surface of pools.’

    ‘We will certainly explore the waterfall tomorrow morning,’  said the Professor.

The next day dawned with a cacophony of sounds from the jungle dawn chorus. We decided to explore the waterfall immediately.

  It was an onerous task for us all, as we climbed the slippery, quite steep, rocky cliffs. We discovered a large aperture in the rock face, partially hidden, somewhat obscured with a thick wall of soaking jungle vegetation. Peter and I, with the help of the Professor, soon hacked a passable entrance to what appeared to be a series of large caves hollowed out of the interior of the rocks.             

   The amazingly beautiful sight that greeted us will always be indelibly engraved on my mind forever. Illuminated by the light of our torches were thousands of pink and aquamarine-coloured stalactites hanging from the roofs of the caves. Sadie and Betty were soon snapping away images on their mobile phones, Leyla gasped, ‘Forests of wonderful stalactites, fused together they’ve probably been growing here for thousands of years,’ 

 There was a powerful obnoxious smell as the floors were covered in guano, obviously the droppings from the thousands of bats roosting in the gaps between the fused stalactites.

  The Professor and his team wrote up their discovery of these incredible fusion forests to great acclaim from the academic world.

The caves became a world heritage site.

© Written by John Yeo ~ All rights reserved