PHOTO PROMPT © J Hardy Carroll
Horatio Maurice Peabody worked out of a cubbyhole at Michigan’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB.) Mr. Peabody’s desk had three monitors, one ten-key adding machine, three legal pads, and a Yahtzee cup of pens and pencils on it.
His job was to analyze where too little money was taken in and too much money was spent in the annual budget. Mr. Peabody noticed not enough employment taxes were being taken in and too much was spent on the criminal justice system.
Personal home privatization of prisoner incarceration was encouraged. Maximum number of cells per basement was capped at three.
[100 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the pragmatic host of Friday Fictioneers.
Dark humour there. But eerily possible
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s coming.
LikeLike
great idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 In theory, maybe…
LikeLike
Sigh. We’re not that far from it, I’m afraid, if those who are currently in charge and who benefit from the ‘donations’ of those who profit from jailing people, including caging children, continue to have their way …
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a frightening idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is! Non-criminals housing often charismatic criminals is a recipe for disaster.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll take a couple of the less violent ones if the price is right! Love the guy’s name 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a novel way of making the jail service a public company!
LikeLiked by 1 person
True!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Terrifying.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliantly inventive story. I loved the way you painted such a vivid picture of Peabody in his den; I could see him.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Thank you very much, Susan.
LikeLike
About as good as any other proposal to improve criminal “justice”. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
uh huh
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lisa,
I love the Yahtzee cup full of pens and pencils. Not too crazy about the prison reform though. 😉 Imaginative solution (and story), though.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, thank you. I tried to show that the “solutions” are often proposed by bean counters with little connection to the “problem” except through numbers.
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLike
From bad to much, much worse. Private citizens being paid to keep criminals in cages in their basements? Hoo boy. Nothing but trouble there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uh huh
LikeLiked by 1 person
what a life! but who cares? if he’s enjoying it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
He might, true, but he has no business making those kinds of decisions. Let him count his beans but leave people out of it…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch! That final line stung!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reading and commenting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loved the descriptions, Lisa. I could picture it all… Not saying I love that type of a sollution, though… Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale, thank you so much 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes,it feels as if our lives are being run by accountants without empathy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly, James.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely a creative take on the photo prompt Lisa. Disconcerting yet humourous. I like it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Girl!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very unique and entertaining story. Wow, can you imagine … I suppose it’s possible. Things I never thought could happen, do happen. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brenda, thanks so much. Believe me, even if it never gets implemented, some bean counter will suggest it as a solution at some point!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought to were taking this metaphorically. Horatio feels like his desk is a cage. Then, “Hey, let’s lock people up in the basement.” I think I’d pass on that one. “Honey, be careful. The rapist escaped again.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know this could actually be a metaphor, now that you mention it. He feels caged so he cages others. He could be another Kafka, who worked as a clerk for years! I think I’d pass on caged prisoners in the basement also.
LikeLike
Subconsciously, though. He’s imprisoned by the people he imprisoned, so he works to imprison. It’s an endless cycle.
The Metamorphosis is one of my favorites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mr. Peabody’s solution makes numeric sense, but would be a catastrophe in practice! A chilling, thought-provoking tale.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Magarisa thank you, 100% in agreement.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that the proof of too many in the prison system don’t work in more ways than one… interesting to take a fiscal approach to the problem
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed, Bjorn. It’s a symptom of a very sick society based in inequity. In this neck of the woods, it is how governments are operated, letting the bean counters dictate public policy, much the same say insurance companies dictate what kind of health care individuals get.
LikeLike
Spookily credible — nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Oh now there is a horrible idea. Scary thoughts!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Delivered in a cold and calculating way. Well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Fatima!
LikeLike
This is a interesting take on the prompt, nicely done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mike.
LikeLike
Great job! NIcely done! ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Carol Anne.
LikeLike