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.”
Sometimes, you need to stop before you start. Go, go get the bourbon.
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Good idea.
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Good choice, go get the bourbon!!
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Ha ha ha. 😁
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Yup. Time for the bourbon.
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I agree. Three fingers coming up.😁
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People never believe the ‘nothing’ answer. It’s like zoning out isn’t a thing to them.
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So true. 😁
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Sometimes bourbon may seem to answer heartfelt questions.
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So true. Helps avoid even tougher ones too. Thanks, Tim
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Oh, boy. True confessions, right? This conversation is so real. Thanks for the chuckle, John.
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I may have heard it a couple of times myself. Thanks, Lois.
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I love stories all about nothing!
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This was certainly that wasn’t it? Thanks, Noelle.
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Oh my, a circular conversation. A bourbon might be the best solution. Great use of the prompt, John.
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Thank you, Gwen. Sometimes bourbon is the best answer. 😁
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sounds like a Seinfeld routine
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Might be. Of course, on Seinfeld there would be a lot more laughs.
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nothing is where something begins. At least if it starts with bourbon.
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Ha ha ha. Yes indeed, Pam.
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Bourbon as a peaceful mediation is the sign of a responsible drinker.
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I agree, Pilgrim. Thanks for the affirmation.
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You know it, Sheriff
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😊
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I enjoyed this a lot, John. Also, I think it’s neat that you did a finger point prompt. Very creative!
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Thank you so much, Kymber. Glad you liked it.
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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?
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Yes I have been married a day or two. I can’t give you an answer about what is personal about a haircut, Linda.
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Cheers for absolutely nothing! 🥃
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That’s the spirit, Monika. 🥃
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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?!!
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Right. I guess we could reply, I was thinking about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. No one would buy that either.
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Yes, this is a very married conversation!
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Yes it is. 😊
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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.
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Yes I think wine should get the Nobel Peace Prize.
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“This got out of hand fast.” To be replaced with a bourbon. Funny storytelling!
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Thank you so much, Michele. I’m glad you liked it.
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👍🏻😄
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😊
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Funny how things can get out of hand over some innocuous comment.
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Almost over nothing.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bourbon has been called the Henry Kissinger of liquors.
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Ha ha ha. I like bourbon.
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What a funny conversation, John, and so clever! I’m not a bourbon drinker, but after reading this, it sounds like an agreeable plan. 😂
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Haha!!
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😊
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