Tuesday Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Struggle

~ John W. Howell

Keith Channing is taking some time off from his Kreative Kue feature. Being addicted to prompts, I have brought back the Finger-Point Prompt. Here is how it works. I open a book to a random page and, without looking, point to a spot on the page. The word or words closest to my finger is the prompt. Today I opened Eternal Road – The last stop to page 201. My finger is closest to the word ‘struggle,’ our prompt.

Struggle by John W. Howell © 2024

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to figure out this math problem. It is a real struggle.”

“You want some help?”

“You know anything about calculus?”

“Are you kidding me? I have a PhD in quantum physics.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I think there is a lot you don’t know about me.”

“I would appreciate the help, but I need to know something.”

“What? As if I couldn’t guess.”

“What do you mean?”

“When people know I have a PhD, they always ask me what am I doing being a plumber.”

“That did come to mind.”

“Let me tell you a little story. I was working on a job, and when it came time to present the bill, the customer looked at it and said, ‘This comes out to $500.00 an hour. That’s more than my doctor charges.'”

“Okay, and the point is?”

“The point was my reply to the customer, ‘I know. I used to be a doctor.’ Now let me look at your problem.”

55 thoughts on “Tuesday Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Struggle”

  2. There once was a writer in plight,
    Who struggled to find words to write.
    With a deadline so near,
    And ideas unclear,
    He stayed up, wrestling words through the night.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Reading this and enjoying it was no struggle for me. Plumbing companies do take a heap of money for their services, but I’ve gotten lazy about doing those things myself in my old age.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Which is also why I cringe every time I need to have some plumbing done… They can be so generous when they offer you a discount if you pay cash… coz they are already making a fortune and paying as much in taxes. Poor buggers.

    All that to say, this was a wonderful write, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. A good one! My dad used to tell this story:

    “How is your oldest son doing?”

    “Great, he’s now a doctor.”

    “And your youngest son?”

    “He’s now a lawyer.”

    “What about your middle son?”

    “Oh, he’s a plumber. He paid for the education of the other two.”

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Things have sure changed over the years. When we were first married, I tried to fix everything, including plumbing issues. That’s a little like asking a bus driver to fly to the moon. Now, that my eyesight is terrible, and we have a little more money, I don’t have the patience to try and fix things. My plumber is on speed dial and worth every penny.

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Wonderful, John! Reminds me of our treeist (arborist) who has taken care of our trees in the past (trimming, removing etc).

    He got his PhD in Philosophy from Harvard. Likes trees better.

    Liked by 1 person

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