Six long ones!

Keith's Ramblings

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This week’s prompt word is at Six Sentence Stories is Stake.

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Ted sauntered back from the gaming machine and plonked himself down beside his fellow farmers, “I put in more than I got out”, he said, “nothing unusual about that, I used to gamble properly, only for small stakes although I did win big on the first five races at the gee-gees once; I decided to be brave and stake all my winnings on the last sprint and back a horse tipped to win called Landfill, unfortunately it came in last, it was a  rubbish tip”.

Arthur was late arriving at the Baaamy Inn, he said he’d been to buy a stake, ”did you go to that new butcher in the high street?” asked Babs, “I hear he’s very good”; “not a steak-stake”, said Arthur “a stake-stake, you know, the ones that hold fences up, I was repairing the one in my yard and I was one stake short – and Colin, please don’t tell that old joke again, the one about the butcher who couldn’t reach the meat on the top shelf because the steaks were too high!”

The ladies of the knitting circle had been listening in as usual, “my hubby and I went out for a meal at that diner called Steaks and Shakes the other evening”, said Natasha, “and I ordered a fillet with pepper and white wine sauce, well, after I’d finished eating the waiter came over over; ‘how did you find your steak madam?’ he asked, ‘I found it under the sauce’ I said, ‘was it to your liking?’ he asked, ‘it was well done’ I said, ‘I’m pleased I’ll pass your compliment on to the chef’, he said, ‘no, I meant it was well done and I ordered it medium’, I said, ‘sorry, madam, my mistake’, he said’!”

George was telling them about a new business his son was setting up, ‘I’m going to have a small stake in it”, he said, “he’s insisting as I’ve helped him out financially; it’s a fancy dress shop and he’s hoping to have it open in time for Halloween as there’ll be quite a demand for ghost costumes and vampire outfits” ; “I went to a halloween party as a witch once” said Babs, “some cheeky so-and-so came up to me and asked if I’d forgotten to wear fancy dress, I’d have wacked him with my broomstick if I’d not left in the parking lot!” – up jumped Suzie at the next table, “they paved paradise and put up a parking lot!”

“I need you to stay-quiet for a while”, quipped Colin, and he was off – “a gambler’s favourite time of day is ten to one – they have fences around cemeteries because people are dying to get in – how long is an average fence? around a yard – I walked into an electric fence, the result was shocking – I won’t tell you that rude joke about a stake because it may cause a fence – Elvis had a steak house called Love Meat Tender – I was an investor once, but I lost interest – a vampire got nervous during a poker game when his opponent raised the stakes – vampires don’t have friends because they are a pain in the neck…..”

Just lately, something odd had been happening in the pub garden during the night, Landlord Len always kept his pair of gardening boots out on the veranda, but each morning one of them had somehow found its way to the middle of the lawn; he liked to think it was his dearly departed Maggie having a bit of fun, so last night he decided to hold a stakeout – needless to say it wasn’t Maggie, what he actually saw was a mischievous fox pick one up, move it, then believe it or not, smile in his direction!.

 

 

Thanks to Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge for hosting.

27 thoughts on “Six long ones!”

  2. Suzette Benjamin's avatar Suzette Benjamin Aug 21, 2025 / 17:27

    Considering what was at stake in the prompt, there were no mistakes in your excellent story, Keith. Love the mini drama at the end with Len’s gardening boot…Poor Len, was he being out-foxed at his stakeout, I wonder?

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  4. Frank Hubeny's avatar Frank Hubeny Aug 21, 2025 / 20:26

    Good observation from Colin that vampires are “a pain in the neck”. I like how Maggie got the fox to move the boot.

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  5. beth's avatar beth Aug 21, 2025 / 21:55

    The stakes were high on this one but you came through, sharp as a tack

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  7. Rene Heartsong's avatar Rene Heartsong Aug 22, 2025 / 03:09

    I’m picturing your brain, Keith–these lines of yours each week constantly going like balls in a pinball machine, or those things that BINGO callers have…looks like popcorn popping with numbered balls. It’s a wonderful time of my blogging week, to read you. I always need a laugh, and darned if you don’t always serve one up! Thanks a million! Rene

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      • Rene Heartsong's avatar Rene Heartsong Aug 25, 2025 / 12:39

        Just doin’ my job, friend–it’s a pleasure knowing you and so many fine folks in blogging!💖

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  11. clark's avatar clark Aug 23, 2025 / 14:38

    “…hold a stakeout – needless to say it wasn’t Maggie, what he actually saw was a mischievous fox pick one up, move it, then believe it or not, smile in his direction!.”

    Unsolicited observation… things are not always what everyday reality insists upon. after all, much of magic and most miracles are a function of the individual’s choice of experience

    ‘cellent get on the Joni lyric

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