Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Purchases

August 13, 2024 · by John W. Howell · in Uncategorized · 63 Comments

Today, I opened the book The Last Drive randomly to page 87 and, without looking, pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “purchases.””

Purchases by John W. Howell © 2024

“So, what’s in the bag?”

“I couldn’t help myself.”

“Okay, what is it?”

“Not an it.”

“There are a few things in the bag?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Are they a secret?”

“No, not really.”

“Well, can I see them?”

“You can’t laugh.”

“Why would I laugh?”

“Cause they may seem a little strange.”

“Okay, I won’t laugh.”

“Here they are.”

“What are they?”

“Magic beans.”

“What? Where did you get these?”

“A guy in the Costco parking lot. He sold them to me.”

“Sold? How much.”

“Oh, no money. Just our firstborn.”

“Huh?”

“Yeah. We don’t plan to have kids, so I thought, what the heck.”

“Jack, you idiot.”

“What?”

“The test was positive.”

“Oh. Well, he doesn’t know our address.”

“Did the guy have red hair?”

“Yes. How did you know.”

“Give the nice man standing behind you his beans back.”

Tags: author, books, Circumstances of Childhood, Eternal Road - The final stop, fiction favorites, His Revenge, John W. Howell Author, My GRL, Our Justice, The Contract with Gwen Plano, The Last Drive, Writing Prompt

63 comments

Mostafa · August 13, 2024 - 4:08 am ·

Nice funny one, I stopped at the beans could not complete 🙂 thanks for sharing.

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 7:13 am ·
  
  😊
  
  LikeLike
Darlene · August 13, 2024 - 4:15 am ·

LOL!! A good one.

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1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 7:13 am ·
  
  Thanks, Darlene.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
GP · August 13, 2024 - 6:23 am ·

haha, Caught me off-guard, John!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:01 am ·
  
  YAY
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Charles Yallowitz · August 13, 2024 - 6:30 am ·

This is another reason Costco parking lots are dangerous. Not just crazy drivers and oblivious walkers. Damn magic relic dealers too.

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:01 am ·
  
  Ha ha ha. Thanks, Charles.
  
  LikeLike
T. W. Dittmer · August 13, 2024 - 7:36 am ·

Magic beans, good for your heart? 😎

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:02 am ·
  
  Might be a good source of protean. 😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
circadianreflections · August 13, 2024 - 7:55 am ·

Good one, John!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:03 am ·
  
  Thank you, Deborah.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. circadianreflections · August 13, 2024 - 8:40 am ·
    
    You’re welcome!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:54 am ·
      
      😊
      
      LikeLike
Ritish Sharma · August 13, 2024 - 8:28 am ·

Haha, love this 😄 I can just imagine the shocked expression on Jack’s face when he finds out the test was positive.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:54 am ·
  
  And to know the guy with red hair is standing behind him. Thanks, Ritish. 😊
  
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noelleg44 · August 13, 2024 - 8:48 am ·

You got me at magic beans. I imagined a bean stalk in his backyard, but the firstborn angle was so clever!

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 9:02 am ·
  
  Thank you so much, Noelle. So glad you liked it. 😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Author Jan Sikes · August 13, 2024 - 9:27 am ·

Ha! Ha! Yep. Give the man his beans back AND let him keep the money. 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 10:43 am ·
  
  Thank you, Jan. I originally finished the story with the red hair guy saying “No refunds.” But needed to leave it open. 😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Stevie Turner · August 13, 2024 - 9:54 am ·

Lol! Enjoyed this one, John.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 10:46 am ·
  
  Thank you, Stevie. I’m so glad you did. 😊
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
quiall · August 13, 2024 - 10:23 am ·

ha ha ha!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 10:46 am ·
  
  Thank you, Pam. 😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
lois · August 13, 2024 - 10:36 am ·

Oh, John….😆 Good one.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 10:49 am ·
  
  So glad you liked it Lois.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Tails Around the Ranch · August 13, 2024 - 12:22 pm ·

LOL…talk about irony! Great way to ace the prompt, John.

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 2:39 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Monika.😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Cindy Georgakas · August 13, 2024 - 2:05 pm ·

hahahaha such a good one, John😂

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 2:40 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Cindy
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. Cindy Georgakas · August 13, 2024 - 6:51 pm ·
    
    😝😎
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:10 pm ·
      
      😁
      
      LikeLike
House of Heart · August 13, 2024 - 2:25 pm ·

Clever one ax shears. Loved it. 😊

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. House of Heart · August 13, 2024 - 2:25 pm ·
  
  as always.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 2:45 pm ·
    
    I like the name Axel Shears.😊
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. House of Heart · August 13, 2024 - 4:27 pm ·
      
      Haha, yes , I love that.
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    2. House of Heart · August 13, 2024 - 4:28 pm ·
      
      That would make a great protagonists name.
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    3. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 4:30 pm ·
      
      I was thinking of the owner of a landscaping firm who sets his sights on marrying and then killing the rich widow fro whom he works
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    4. House of Heart · August 13, 2024 - 6:14 pm ·
      
      lol, that’s good but I actually think I saw that on an episode of Dateline .
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    5. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:04 pm ·
      
      Ha ha ha.
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    6. House of Heart · August 13, 2024 - 9:17 pm ·
      
      😊
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
2. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 2:44 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Holly. 😊
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Debbie · August 13, 2024 - 2:27 pm ·

Nicely done, John. Your sense of humor has the ability to make my day!

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 2:46 pm ·
  
  I’m so glad Debbie. The nice part is you get it.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Gwen M. Plano · August 13, 2024 - 3:03 pm ·

LOL, the younger among us may not have experienced magic jumping beans. Was this a flashback of sorts? Hilarious, John.

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 3:43 pm ·
  
  I remember those jumping beans. A little worm inside made them jump. Haven’t thought of them fro eons. Thanks, Gwen
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. Gwen M. Plano · August 13, 2024 - 4:39 pm ·
    
    🌞
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
thomasstigwikman · August 13, 2024 - 6:08 pm ·

That was a fun excerpt. It was clever and a delight to read.

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 13, 2024 - 8:03 pm ·
  
  Thanks, Thomas.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
coldhandboyack · August 14, 2024 - 5:39 am ·

Beans, beans, the magical fruit…

LikeLiked by 2 people
1. John W. Howell · August 14, 2024 - 7:48 am ·
  
  Very clever. 😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Michele Lee · August 14, 2024 - 7:53 pm ·

😱 This imaginative piece spilled from “purchases”? 👏🏻

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 14, 2024 - 8:02 pm ·
  
  That was the sole source. 😊
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  1. Michele Lee · August 14, 2024 - 8:08 pm ·
    
    Well done!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    1. John W. Howell · August 15, 2024 - 7:00 am ·
      
      Thank you so much. You made my day today. 😁
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    2. Michele Lee · August 15, 2024 - 11:04 am ·
      
      🌞🙏🏻
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
    3. John W. Howell · August 15, 2024 - 2:24 pm ·
      
      😊
      
      LikeLiked by 1 person
Anonymous · August 15, 2024 - 12:54 pm ·

By the time the kid is 14 you’ll be praying someone will come take them.

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1. John W. Howell · August 15, 2024 - 4:09 pm ·
  
  Yes indeed
  
  LikeLike
Jennie · August 17, 2024 - 6:28 am ·

Haha!!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · August 17, 2024 - 7:11 am ·
  
  😁
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
Liz Gauffreau · September 12, 2024 - 9:47 am ·

What an off-kilter story! I loved it!!

LikeLiked by 1 person
1. John W. Howell · September 12, 2024 - 9:51 am ·
  
  So glad you do. 😊
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person

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