Today, I opened the book The Last Stop to a random page (219) and pointed to the page with my eyes closed. The word closest to my finger is the word “kidnapping.”
Kidnapping by John W. Howell © 2024
“I have heard everything now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t believe you would tell a story like that.”
“Well, it’s true.”
“It is so hard to believe I must call foul.”
“My kidnapping is the truth.”
“Oh, please. Your parents are wonderful folks.”
“Yeah, they are, but it still doesn’t take away from the fact that they kidnapped me.”
“Why do you say that?”
“All you have to do is look at them and then look at me.”
“So what’s your point.”
“Are you kidding me? My point is I don’t look anything like them.”
“I never noticed. Okay, but that still doesn’t mean you were kidnapped.”
“I don’t talk like them either.”
“Oh, come on. Yes, your voice is a little deeper, but still.”
“I’m telling you they stole me from my natural parents.”
“Hold on. I think I read about something like this.”
“You did?”
“Yes. National Geographic Magazine had an article about brown-headed cowbirds.”
“What does that have to do with anything.”
“You have a brown head.”
“Yes.”
“And your mom and dad are bluebirds.”
“Yes, of course.”
“That’s it then.”
“What’s it?”
“Brown-headed cowbird moms lay their eggs in other bird’s nests, and then the other birds raise their young.”
“You mean I’m a Brown-headed cowbird?”
“Looks like it.”
“Abandoned by its mother.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Get off the half-empty kick. You have wonderful and loving bluebird parents.”
“I guess it could be worse. I could have been raised by wolves.”
“There you go. Although wolves don’t build nests or lay eggs.”
“Hey, it’s my coping mechanism. Don’t throw shade on my parade.”
“Fine. Anything to get you thinking positively.”
“I think I’ll start thinking like the bluebird of happiness.”
“Swell. Let’s go flying.”
“We can sing songs.”
“Yeah, Maybe you should let me handle that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Never mind. Take to wing bluebird of happiness.”
Fiction Favorites 
Good one. I used to think I was adopted because my brothers annoyed me!
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That is a very real feeling when we were kids. Thanks, Darlene.
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Was curious about how many birds do this. Seems cuckoos and cowbirds. The term is creepy. Brood parasitism.
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That is a creepy term for sure. I picked the cowbird since they didn’t seem as goofy as cuckoos.
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I always wondered…..
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I’m sure we all have. In grade school mu sister was older so she had the teachers before me. During a parent teacher conference one remarked,”John is certainly different than his sister.”
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Uh-oh…
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I know right? My Mom answered, “John is a bit of a challenge.” I think after that the teacher had some sympathy for my mom.
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hahaha!
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😁
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Fun story with a twist.
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Thanks, Craig.
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Great mind twister, John. 😉
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Thank you, Tim
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Your brain and creativity work in wonderful ways, John. This was a fantastic story!
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I’m glad you enjoyed it, Dale.
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Always do!
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Which keeps me at the grindstone.
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Keeps that grey matter working, too 😉
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For sure.
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😉😘
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😁
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What a great take on kidnapped! Both my kids are adopted – I wonder if they ever thought they’d been kidnapped. We told my daughter she was a blue light special at KMart.
I knew that about cowbirds – and they don’t sound anything like bluebirds – very raucous!
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I have an adopted son as well. This is really a story about adoption.
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Small world!
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Yes it is. 😁
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I’m sure brown-headed cowbirds sound great in 3-part harmony. 😆
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🎶 Hello, hello, hello 🎶
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😂
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🤣
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You know this sounds so very plausible. Who knows what those birds are saying when they get to chirping first thing in the morning. Good one, John.
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Thank you, Lois. We have one cardinal who only starts singing when he sees Twiggy going out for her morning stroll.
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That is so sweet. In my mind, I have the Disney version of the cardinal swooping down to give Twiggy little kisses. Not happening, I am sure…
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No but he starts singing for sure. I think he has a crush on her.
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Brilliant, John. 🌞
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Oh, thank you, Gwen. So glad you liked it. 😁
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Nicely done, John. I thought at first that you were referring to a dog, who certainly doesn’t look anything like the humans who adopted it. Looking on the positive side is always a good thing!
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That would have been a good story too, Debbie. 😊
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Lucky little bird to find a loving nest 🙂
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I would say so too. Of course the cowbird is twice the size of a bluebird.
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I relate to this little feller and his bird-brained story!
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Marc.
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😉
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I have read about brown-headed cowbirds and this unusual habit. I remember they often kick one of the other bird’s eggs out of the nest and replace it with one of their own. Talk about taking the easy way out.
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Yeah. The cowbirds have other things to do.
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It was a fun story. I started thinking about a friend of mine. She was born in Brazil and she was adopted by Swedish parents. She kept saying to her parents that they were white thieves who stole her. But she eventually got over that.
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I’m glad she got over it.
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That was really fun! Well done on the prompt, John.
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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Just as I was with the ants, I was taken by surprise that these two speakers were birds!
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Well anytime I can put a gotcha on you I am very pleased.
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:D:D:D
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😁
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