The idea is to open a book randomly and, without looking, point to the page. The word or words closest to the pointing finger is the prompt.
Today we opened The Eternal Road on page 147. The word closest to the pointing finger is ‘asleep.’
Asleep by John W. Howell © 2023
“Who can tell me what asleep means without using the word sleep. Yes, Johnny.”
“Well, teacher, I believe asleep means that your eyes are closed and you are breathing deeper.”
“Okay, Johnny. That is part of it. Anyone else? Your hand is up, Nancy.”
“How about you are dreaming.”
“That’s good, Nancy. Go ahead, Jerry.”
“And you can’t hear the TV anymore.”
“I see. Asleep while TV watching.”
“Yeah, my dad does it all the time.”
“Thank you, Jerry.”
“After he drinks a lot of beer.”
“That will be fine. Anyone else? Okay, Maureen.”
“Asleep is what you want to be to relax.”
“That’s interesting.”
“You lock your bedroom door and tell the kids to be quiet.”
“Thank you, Maureen. Surely someone else has an idea.”
“I do.”
“Yes, Richard.”
“It’s what happens when you talk about history after lunch.”
“I can see that, Richard. Thank you. Can anyone tell me what part of speech is asleep?”
“I’d say all parts of speech are asleep.”
“Thank you again, Richard. It is an adjective. Does anyone care to try a sentence? I’m holding my breath, but go ahead, Richard.”
“When I sit too long in class, my bum feels asleep.”
“Richard, it is time for you to take a walk. Please take this attendance sheet to the office and try not to hurry.”
“Did I use it right?”
“Yes, Richard, and your reward is to keep your bum awake. Bye now.”
Fiction Favorites 
I like Richard. He could be related to Little Johnny.
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I think so too. Thanks, Craig.
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Sounds like a teacher who longs to be asleep.
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Ha ha ha. Good one, Dan
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LOL! Every class needs a Richard.
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I think you are right, Mark. Would make school more fun.
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In my experience as a student, every class did have a Richard.
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Mine, too. 🙂
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😊
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Teachers (good ones) put up with a lot and handle it well. A few of my kids’ elementary school teachers (yes, more than one) pulled me aside to tell me they’d believe only a small fraction of what my kids said about me if I extended the same courtesy to them. Those were easy deals to make. 😆
Fun story, John.
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I love that quid or quo. Thanks, Staci.
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Hahaha!!!
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😁
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After last night, I can say asleep means not staring at the ceiling all night. Good one, John!
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Aww. Sorry about that. Not a fun time.
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At least Richard is honest with his ideas and I have to say, I doubt he was wrong about any of it!
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I’m sure he was right on point.
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Haha! Good one!
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Glad you like it, Vera. 😁
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Kids speak the truth whenever you give them the chance.
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They do. So much fun when they spill the beans.
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Cute. I love talking to young children because you never know what will come out of their mouths!
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So true.
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That was so funny. You got the kids’ perspectives down pat, John. That classroom almost sounded familiar!
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It did sound familiar.
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Fun one, John:)
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Thank you, Denise
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Richard is going to be a teacher some day. I just know it.
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Lets hope so. Thanks, Marc.
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🙂
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Yeah, Richard needs to wake his bum up. Good one, John. Nap time! 🙂
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Ha ha ha. I like that. Thanks, Tim
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This bum is awake now. Coffee time!
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Excellent.
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Good one, John. Sounds like an interesting class, one where nobody dares fall asleep!
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I guessing the same thing, Debbie.
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Out of the mouth of babes…
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Yes. Unvarnished truth. Thanks, Pam.
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When I taught high school (briefly), any time a kid put his head on the desk and went to sleep, I let him stay asleep until the bell rang. If he was asleep, he couldn’t be giving me a hard time.
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Ha ha ha. Good one.
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I can be pragmatic when the need arises.
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I can see that.
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I’d be willing to bet Richard is Little Johnny’s cousin. 🙂 Good one, John. Now I feel sleepy.
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I think you may be right.
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Keeping the bum awake is important! Hahaha.
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Yes it is. Never know when you might need it.
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Haha!
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😊
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LOL!!! I had kid a like Richard in my 5th grade class. The teacher wasn’t as clever with him though. Your teacher is wiser. 😀😂
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Maybe older too. Thanks, Deborah.
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😀
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Let’s hear it for woke bums, without any crazed political reference. 😉
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Would be an interesting opening at a motivation seminar. “My bum’s awake how about yours?
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Now that would be a real ice breaker.
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It would for sure
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I love this
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Thank you,
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Ha! This was fun, John. I’ll call out your “I’d say all parts of speech are asleep.” as being delightfully philosophical. But since everyone is talking about bums… Once while writing a final report during my second time at college, I sat in my metal folding chair (all I had at that time) so long that my bum went to sleep. Then I realized my legs had followed the bum’s example and down I went. Right after exams, I treated myself to a better chair. 😀 Hugs.
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A great story, Teagan. I am glad you got a better chair. Falling down with your bum asleep is no way to live.
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A great use of the word asleep! I think it was Art Linkletter who said, “Kids do say the darndest things.”
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You are right, Darlene. He did say that. 😁
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Buahahaha! There is a “Richard” in every class!
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I think so too. Thanks, Dale.
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🙂
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