What's So Funny?
Russell Gayer, author speaker
Well Red . . . I mean Read
Contrary to popular belief, we DO have more than one book in our library. I know this to be true because my good friend Nancy Hartney, who works at the Fayetteville Public Library, donated her copy of “The Perils of Heavy Thinking” to that fine institution. This probably explains why, after 90 days on Amazon, I have yet to sell a single copy. Remember dear readers, books make excellent Christmas gifts.
While I’m at it, I’d like to debunk another theory. NO, we are NOT having baked hen for Thanksgiving. Don’t even think about it. Connie’s hens will all die of old age and natural causes. I don’t know what kind of meat we’ll be serving—whatever the Good Lord provides on the highway I suppose. Hopefully, it will be raccoon or groundhog as I’m getting rather tired of possum.
If you’re new to Friday Flash Fiction, the Pilgrim who sets the table with a photo prompt for us each week is Charity Hope Wisoff-Fields. If you’d like to participate in this exercise in madness, head over to her blog for step-by-step instructions. To view the FFF Hollywood Squares Authors Block click here.
“Wake up, son.” Officer Ridgley nudged the young man’s ribs with the toe of his boot.
“Uh . . . okay.” Abram rolled into a sitting position, head hung low.
“Look at me. Your eyes are glassy and red. How much have you had to read?”
“Only a book and a half—and they were short stories.”
“Uh huh, I see. What’s in that backpack?”
Abram dumped the contents on the ground.
“Well, well, what have we here?” Ridgley fanned three textbooks across the grass. “Science, literature, calculus. Pretty heady stuff, kid. Sorry, but I’m going have to book you.”
“On what charges, Officer?”
“DOK—drunk on knowledge.”
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I’m apt to get arrested this week for exceeding the word limit. This story was clocked on radar at the obnoxiously high rate of 108. The good news is I’ll never be accused on being drunk on knowledge, and as far as I know, being dense as a block of granite is still not a crime.
52 Comments on “Well Red . . . I mean Read”
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What's So Funny? 
Russell, Hilarious. 😀 Hope something you like turns up on the highway soon. You’re going to have to get the copy of your book out of that library. You’ll never make money on it that way. Take heart as Christmas is coming. Talk up gifts for Thanksgiving. Well written as usual. 🙂 — Susan
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You’re right, I’m sure the book is constantly on loan. Sales have hit a brick wall. I have been told it’s great bathroom material. I don’t know if they meant for reading or doing the paperwork.
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I would love to be drunk on knowledge myself, sir. A wonderful write. The concept is endearing. 🙂
-HA
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Well, the more you know, the more you’re accountable for. That’s why they say ignorance is bliss.
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Cops are truly out of control.
“On what charges, Officer?”
“DOK—drunk on knowledge.”
I’ll drink to you keeping those last eight words. Happy Roadkill Day, Russell!
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Thanks, V. I’ll save you a hind leg to go with your collard greens.
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I’ll bring the Rolaids for dessert.
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Oh yes knowledge is dangerous.. no wonder he passed out.. I had no idea that possum tastes bad.. but for sure it has be better than skunk.. 🙂
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I wouldn’t know, Bjorn. Even I draw the line at skunks.
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Hehe, I love it! Brilliant humor.
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Thank you for stopping by and commenting.
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No trouble at all. Thank you for the laugh.
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Dear Russell,
Now I know why I always have headaches. Hungover from having too much Funk and Wangnalls.
Great take on the prompt, sir. Happy Roadkill Day to you and Connie.
Aloha,
Doug
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I think the internet has just made it worse, Doug. People like you and Charity are always looking up facts and getting high on history. You need to be careful with that stuff. It’s easy to OD and black out like Abram.
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Funny as usual and thanks for sending me the possum. I guess I didn’t realize I have to kill it, so it may be with me for a few more Thanksgivings, even into middle age (his, not mine, already passed that). I don’t understand why “Perils of Heavy Thinking” has not sold better. Perhaps the price of $75 is a bit offputting, but I understand how much it costs to put your picture on almost every page. Well let’s raise a toast to the holiday and get drunk on knowledge, followed by as much booze as necessary to wipe away all that knowledge. Oh, there goes the possum!
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With your connections, Perry, i bet you can get President Obama to pardon that possum. Boehner and McConnell aren’t going to like it, but that’s to be expected.
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Dear Abram,
I meet way too many people who will never be arrested for DOK. I hope something good turns up on the road for your dinner table in time for Thanksgiving. I, for one, am thankful for the humor I find when I come here. What’s so funny? You, sir .
Shalom,
Charity Hope
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Thanks, Charity Hope. I certainly appreciate all you do to keep the ship on course. Heading out now to see what the Lord provided while we slept.
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Hilarious! That was a total TKO of a story – Now how many people would get arrested for making people laugh? 🙂
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I’m sure it’s happened. There’s a fine line between being funny and pissing people off.
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A clever response to the picture prompt. I imagine being Drunk on Knowledge would also be rather dangerous when driving. It would be difficult to drive well when constantly quoting Hobbes or Hamlet or debating the physical properties of dark matter. Entertaining food for thought.
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I’m more inclined to quote W.C. Fields of Groucho Marx. Those guys were real geniuses.
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DOK… Something our politicians will never be guilty of. As always, your story gave me a good chuckle, Russell, as does your prologue 😀
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You’re right about that, Lyn. You don’t have to be smart in politics–just for sale.
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Speaking of being DOK, I just splurged and bought myself a copy of your book, Russell 😉
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Bless you heart, Lyn. I knew if I begged long enough I’d get a “sympathy sale” from someone. 🙂
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‘Drunk on Knowledge’ – a rare but dangerous misdemeanour. There’s a dead pigeon on our road this morning… want me to post it?
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Would you mind putting it in a little shoebox and shipping it across the pond? We got company coming on New Year’s Eve and I want to serve something special.
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Guilty as charged!
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A confession? Maybe the judge will go easy on you if you promise not to look up anything on wikipedia for the next 30 days.
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Yes, they do make wonderful Christmas, birthday, and other gifts. Think in terms of books in the library as building a fan base. . . at least that’s the way I regard my three copies donated to our hometown institution.
Finally, I’m glad to hear you and Connie are NOT having baked hen. Ever.
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Thanks for dropping by Nancy. Unfortunately, I didn’t come through with a raccoon or groundhog and we were forced to eat store-bought ham and turkey.
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I think this is one of, if not the, best #FF of yours yet. Effective lead in, elegant joke, well told.
Nicely done Russell.
(And folks – this silly season, try to remember to ‘Read in Moderation’.)
KT
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Thanks for the kind words, KT. You’re absolutely right about reading. It can be a deadly addiction.
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This gives Happy Hour a whole new slant. Wonderful story. Again.
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I never thought of it that way. I guess you’re ordering a pitcher of books?
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So many dok-drunks out there all those lab-coats and four-eyes ….
Excellent take.
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Yes, it’s not even safe on the sidewalks these days.
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Once again, you have made me smile, both through your well wrought tale and your pre-story. Happy holidays!
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Thanks, Alicia. Ho, ho, ho, and all that too. 🙂
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the officer must only be joking… unless he’s deputy barney fife, of course.
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It could also be a commentary on their society.
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Dear Russell, I always have to read your blog, story, and comments carefully without eating or drinking anything except water. I have sneezed out coke, coffee, juice, vodka, and other clear liquids while reading your punchline and almost choked. You crack me up Russell. Love your story – hey what about windshield kill? We had a pretty big black bird hit the car the other day – didn’t even break the window! So in the future, if you want, we will send it to you (of course we will ice the silly thing down) and fresh herbs and spices. Just let me know – by the way, I will be doubling your sales this week. So you had “Possum on a Plate” for Thanksgiving? Fine Vittles indeed! Well done! Nan
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Thanks for being a faithful reader, Nan. I appreciate your kind words. What kind of black bird was it? Preferably, a wild turkey. I’ve eaten a lot of “crow” in my life, but I’m not ready to try buzzard. Thanks for doubling my book sales. This month’s sales record will be hard to top.
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A delightfully entertaining take on the prompt!
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Thank you. Thank you very much.
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Wunderbar. A few hours in a prison cell should teach him a lesson. Stick to the comics, young man.
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Do you think they have a “drunk tank” for people like him? I wonder how it will take for him to dry out?
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If only it was possible to get drunk on knowledge, and have a memory for everything we’d read to get there. 🙂 Am happily dreaming of the day.
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It happens all the time. The problem is, people who get drunk on knowledge lose all their common sense. So, you see, it’s not a great trade-off.
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Great story this week! I hope that young man wasn’t biking while intoxicated too.
Hope you enjoyed the raccoon feast over the holidays. We have 4 plump squirrels freshly caught after spending a week or so in our roof. Wanna pop on by and have a barbecue?
All my best,
Marie Gail
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Sure, I love squirrel. Never tried it barbequed. Mom always made squirrel & dumplings.
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