Today, I randomly opened the award-winning book Eternal Road—The Final Stop to page 259 and placed my finger on the page without looking. The word nearest to my finger is ‘nothing.’
Nothing by John W. Howell © 2024
“What are you thinking?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh, come on. Your face tells a different story.”
“What do you mean?”
“That deep frown tells me something is bothering you.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Looks like something.”
“Why can’t you just believe me when I say it’s nothing?”
“Because I’m concerned when it looks like you’re troubled.”
“I’m not troubled.”
“Okay, let’s drop it then.”
“You started it. How about we drop it when I say we drop it?”
“You call it then.”
“I’m not ready to drop it yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because you didn’t accept the fact that I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
“I do now.”
“Yeah, but now I’m not thinking of nothing. I’m thinking about not talking to you for the rest of the day.”
“This got out of hand fast.”
“So next time when I say ‘nothing’ to a question of ‘What are you thinking about?’ You’ll believe me, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay, I forgive you.”
“Thank you.”
“What are you thinking?”
“That I need three fingers of bourbon.”
“You are always thinking about bourbon. I believe you have a problem.”
“Soon to be solved with three fingers.”
“That was funny.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Don’t start. Go get your bourbon.”
Fiction Favorites 
Sometimes, you need to stop before you start. Go, go get the bourbon.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good idea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good choice, go get the bourbon!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. Time for the bourbon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Three fingers coming up.😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
People never believe the ‘nothing’ answer. It’s like zoning out isn’t a thing to them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. 😁
LikeLike
Sometimes bourbon may seem to answer heartfelt questions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. Helps avoid even tougher ones too. Thanks, Tim
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, boy. True confessions, right? This conversation is so real. Thanks for the chuckle, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I may have heard it a couple of times myself. Thanks, Lois.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love stories all about nothing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was certainly that wasn’t it? Thanks, Noelle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, a circular conversation. A bourbon might be the best solution. Great use of the prompt, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Gwen. Sometimes bourbon is the best answer. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
sounds like a Seinfeld routine
LikeLiked by 1 person
Might be. Of course, on Seinfeld there would be a lot more laughs.
LikeLike
nothing is where something begins. At least if it starts with bourbon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. Yes indeed, Pam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bourbon as a peaceful mediation is the sign of a responsible drinker.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Pilgrim. Thanks for the affirmation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know it, Sheriff
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed this a lot, John. Also, I think it’s neat that you did a finger point prompt. Very creative!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Kymber. Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I surmise you’ve been married a day or two. Bud asked me to make him a haircut appointment this morning. I needed to know when. He rambled on so long I totally lost track. I had to go back and make him be specific and concise to make sense of it. Oh yes, he couldn’t call because hairdresser is a woman and he didn’t want her to think he’s getting personal. What’s personal about I need a haircut?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I have been married a day or two. I can’t give you an answer about what is personal about a haircut, Linda.
LikeLike
Cheers for absolutely nothing! 🥃
LikeLiked by 2 people
That’s the spirit, Monika. 🥃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonder why people won’t accept that you’re not thinking about anything when you tell them that? I mean, you could be thinking about a lot of random things, or something you’d prefer not sharing, or even just plotting your next book, right?!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right. I guess we could reply, I was thinking about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No one would buy that either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, this is a very married conversation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it is. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, my, this sounds like one of the “arguments” my husband and I will have at times 😆 For us, a glass of wine usually resolves the issue.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I think wine should get the Nobel Peace Prize.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“This got out of hand fast.” To be replaced with a bourbon. Funny storytelling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Michele. I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
👍🏻😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny how things can get out of hand over some innocuous comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Almost over nothing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha that was funny. Reminds of something I saw. Two women were talking and one told the other that it annoyed her when she asked her husband what he was thinking and he said “nothing”. I mean you can’t have nothing on your mind unless you are unconcious. The other woman said; actually it’s true for men. Their heads are sometimes completely empty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is a comedian who talks about the “nothing” box in men’s brains. I wish I could find it. Very funny. I don’t even remember his name.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my, John, that sounds just like me and my husband. I think men are more likely to have empty heads (hehe), when compared to women who are thinking all the time. Bourbon sounds like the perfect solution.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bourbon has been called the Henry Kissinger of liquors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. I like bourbon.
LikeLike
What a funny conversation, John, and so clever! I’m not a bourbon drinker, but after reading this, it sounds like an agreeable plan. 😂
LikeLike
Haha!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person