Written for the Friday Fictioneers. Story begins after the picture.
Genre: Science Fiction
Word Count: 99
copyright – Indira by way of Scott Vanatter
All Clear!
“That’s a Jeepnee,” explained the cab driver. “Very colorful, yes?”
“It looks old,” said the American. “The Philippines is beautiful, but still poor if it still uses such old tech.”
“Ah true, but it is fun for tourists to enjoy.”
***
Aboard the Jeepnee, the lookout called back to driver, “All clear! The tourist is out of sight.”
“At last,” muttered the driver. He reached down and pressed a secret button beside his seat. Slowly, the bus rose above the highway. The wheels folded up and tucked into hidden cavities. The “Hover Jeepnee” accelerated to 210 km/h, and shot down the highway.
___________________________
Author’s note: I suspect the bus in the picture is from India, but it still reminds me of the buses in the Philippines, called “Jeepnees.” When you get on a Jeepnee, you board from the back. You hand your fare to the person beside you and they pass it again and so on until it gets to the driver. Imagine trying to handle fares like that in Chicago! If you ever get an opportunity to ride in a Jeepnee, do so. It’s an interesting experience.
The Friday Fictioneers is group of imaginative people led by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Each week, she presents an image and the Fictioneers write 100 words or less based on the image. Anyone can join this intrepid group of writers, so why not join in on the fun? This weeks image comes from Indira by way of Scott Vanatter. The original prompt page may be found here: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2013/06/26/29-june-2013/
EagleAye
Momus News 
Is that anything like the fabled Jeepster, as immortalized by T-Rex on Electric Warrior? Very amusing, darling!
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I’m not familiar with the song, so I guess no. Still, it would be amusing if such a thing as a hover jeepnee existed. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping in!
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Tourists can be clueless, can’t they? Nice one!
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They definitely can be, but in this case, this one is well setup. I mean, who would ever expect a flying bus, anyway? 🙂 Thanks for stopping in and commenting.
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The Philippines gets the last laugh. Fun.
janet
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They sure did. Here’s a secret: they usually do. Don’t telly anybody, okay? 🙂 Glad you liked it. Thanks for coming to visit.
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Seems like I was just here (at your blog site). Very fun. I would love to see the bus morph like that. How excellent that would be, tourists can be so gullible! 🙂
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The Filipino buses are a closely guarded secret so don’t tell anyone, okay? 😉 I want a car that does this.
Thanks for coming to visit again so soon!
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Everyone sees it as a bus but I see it as a Fire engine 🙂
You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if some “third world” country has that kind of technology. Secrets, secrets secrets
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Actually, I expect a few do. Every country has secrets and an ace up their sleeve.
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Creative! I would love to ride a jeep nee and one that hovers too! Fun read!
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I would too! And thanks much for reading and commenting.
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A nice counter to the supercilious attitude of the tourist. Well done.
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My pleasure. 🙂 Thanks for stopping to comment.
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Cool that it’s a hover vehicle!
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I hope to see them some day. Thanks for stopping in.
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Marty McFly: Wait a minute, Doc. Are you telling me that you built a hovercraft … out of a Jeepnee?
Dr. Emmett Brown: The way I see it, if you’re gonna build a hovercraft into a bus, why not do it with some style?
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Haha! I didn’t think of this until you pointed it out. I can totally see it.Thanks so much for commenting.
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Interesting tid bit! Thanks so much for including it.
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My pleasure. And thank you for reading! 🙂
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The vehicle in the prompt is actually used to transport goods.. a lorry as its termed generally in India … 🙂 those lorries would be a perfect cover to conceal a hover vehicle !
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Ah, thanks for confirming that. It makes sense they would call it a Lorry in India. And yes, no one would ever expect the highest tech in one of these. Thanks much for stopping by.
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Very imaginative
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Thank you.
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Ho ho. I love it. The “developing world” playing us at our own game. Nicely done.
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Exactly what I was getting at. We should be nice to people in “developing countries.” Who knows what wonderful answers lay in wait there.
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“There is much that we miss being so unsespecting, in the way we expect things.”
Elder son was showing me a video on unique shelving that had upity-upteen secret compartments.
Like that hollowed out book on your shelf holding the safety deposit key…which opens the secret room…. Fun write.
Thanks for your visit.
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There’s always more out there than meets the eye. I like cleverly made things. Pants with lots of pockets and hidden drawers are among my faves.
It’s my pleasure to visit you place, and a great pleasure whenever you come by.
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It is all about prospective. No matter who you are you have your own idea of what things look like.
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Yup. And someone can always use the expectation to achieve an end. Sometimes the best way to fool someone is let them see what they expect to see.
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For the love of Pete! I meant perspective, have no idea where I got prospective, don’t think that is even a word!
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No worries. I knew what you meant. And yeah, “prospective” is a word, as in “prospective client.”
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mmmn i’ve been riding the jeepney since i learned how to commute, so i could ride with my friends 🙂 but only the province. in bigger cities like manila, better to hire a cab. 😉 great story, really entertaining.
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Very cool. I rode one in Manila. It was a real treat for me. Thanks for stopping in. I appreciate it.
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Dear E. A.
I enjoyed this clever piece. I’d also love to ride that Jeepnee. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Me too. I have contacts. I’ll try to hook you up. Thanks much for the comments!
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Ah, those gullible tourists, wanting to try some vintage danger. Personally, I’d pay triple the fare to ride in a hover bus.
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I would too. In the Phils you can have your quaint scenery and great food, but then throw in a hoverbus ride? Oh heck yeah!
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Nice story, and I learned something about Jeepnees. Good work.
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Thank you much, Tony!
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Clever tale, well done.
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Aw thanks. I appreciate it.
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