Today, I opened My GRL randomly to page 85 and pointed to the page with my eyes closed. The word closest to my finger was ‘paths,’ which is the prompt.
Paths by John W. Howell © 2024
“Why are we walking this way.”
“It is what they call the path of least resistance.”
“You said that about the other one, too.”
“Okay, then make it the paths of least resistance.”
“It seems difficult.”
“Think of trying to climb up this hill without this path.”
“yeah, that would be tough.”
“You would be clawing your way to the top and fighting gravity.”
“Sounds awful.”
“You might even slip and fall.”
“That would be painful.”
“So you see, this way is easier, even though it is challenging.”
“I see that now. Thanks for showing me the way.”
“My pleasure.”
“I do have a couple of questions, though.”
“Okay, shoot.”
“Why are we walking up to the top of this hill?”
“So we can look over the valley.”
“Why do we need to look over the valley?”
“Do you ever get hungry?”
“Yes. In fact, I could use something to eat right now.”
“Exactly. We must look over the valley to see if some food is available.”
“And we are walking instead of flying?”
“Yes. I read somewhere that walking is good exercise.”
“What about flying? It’s good exercise.”
“For the wings, yes. Not got the legs.”
“I miss riding the thermals and looking to see if some hapless creature is lying dead on the road.”
“You’ll be able to do that too. Today, we are hiking.”
“I just hope none of the other vultures see us.”
“Why’s that?”
“We will be the laughingstock of the flock.”
“Oh yeah? How about I remind them of when they circled that rug thinking it was a sheep.”
“They never lived that down.”
“Right. Keep walking.”
“I feel better.”
“Good. Maybe there is a skunk in it for us today.”
Fiction Favorites 
Maybe they should do squats instead. Less climbing.
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Might be a better solution.
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This is great, John. I am picturing the voices of Heckle and Jeckle, though.
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They would be great as voice overs for this story.
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Maybe their flock will circle above them.
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That would be a fun result. Thanks, Craig.
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Good one, John. Imagining vultures walking to dinner is mind-boggling.
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Ha ha ha. It is out there isn’t it. Thanks, Tim.
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Very amusing, John. I could just picture them!
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Thanks, Esther. I’m glad you liked it.
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I guessed birds but not vultures. Good one!
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Thank you Liz. Hard to fool you though.
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You’re welcome, John. I’m learning!
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Haha! Good one and yes, walking is good exercise (besides, they are funny when they walk).
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They are. More or less a waddle. Thanks, Dale.
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True!!
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😁
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Hmmmm, can a vulture wear a Fitbit? Got to get those 10,000 steps a day, but how do you measure that if you are a vulture? Inquiring minds want to know.
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I wish I could help on that, Greg. Maybe they do it in their heads. Of course those heads are so small there can’t be much room in there..
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This invokes some very interesting visuals and I laughed out loud. There’s a lesson here. I think it’s about sheep and rugs. Have a wonderful day John. Hiking is fun. 😊
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Beware of rugs in sheep’s clothing. Thanks, Holly.
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Hahahaha! I really must remember that.
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😁
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😁 lol!
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🐂
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🐂🐂
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😁
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So clever, John. This definitely made me smile – especially the circling the rug thinking it was a sheep! I’ve watched vultures walk – a comedy in itself!
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They are so funny when on the ground. In the air they are a work of art. Thanks, Noelle.
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‘they circled that rug thinking it was a sheep’ We’ll see some bird of prey circling in the sky. I always wonder what they see from up there. My guess would not have been a rug…😀 Hilarious conversation.
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You can never tell what they see. Thanks, Lois.
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Had me again, John. Wonderful imagination. I once saw a poster of a vulture sitting high on a branch overlooking dieing life in the desert below and the caption read, ‘patience, my a.., I wanna kill something’.
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Ha ha ha. That was great Steve. Had to laugh out loud.
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😆
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Hilarious, John! I love how you get guessing about who, or rather what, is doing the talking … lol.
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Thank you, Marie 😁 So glad you liked it.
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Terrific, John. You’re hilarious!
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Thank you, GP.
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Hilarious.
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Thank you, Pat
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A skunk?? Hilarious dialogue, John. Loved the buildup and the finale. Perfect! 😄
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Thank you, Gwen. A silly story but fun to write. 😁
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This is very cute–made me chuckled!
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You had me walking along until the end, John. I did not expect vultures and chuckled at the thought of them circling a rug. Nice one.
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Well done, John! I giggled out loud about the rug they thought was a sheep!
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I love reading the finger point prompts!
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I’m so glad Kymber.
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I would never judge a vulture. Just in case.
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Good decision.
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Would be hard to walk when flight is an option though good of them to get a full body workout! 👍🏻😄
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That is how a good vulture thinks. Thanks, Michele.
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You’re welcome, John. 🤔🪶
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😁
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Now THAT’S a vision…walking vultures, walking vultures. hmmmmmm…an ear worm has just formed in my ear and I’m smiling. Great job, John. Now I just need to stop humming that Down Under song. 🤣
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Ear worms can be fun or annoying. 😁
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Very satisfying.
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Thank you, Jacqui.
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Ha! Thank goodness I had just swallowed my last sip of coffee — because that ending would have caused me to spew it all over the computer. And you reminded me of a song… Hugs!
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I love that song. Used to sing it all the time. Thanks, Teagan.
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Cleverly done, with the gradual unveiling that these guys are vultures 🙂
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Thank you, Dave. Vultures do not receive enough credit for the job they do.
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Very creative!
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Thaks, Mark.
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That was good John, really good!
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Thanks, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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[…] Finger Point Prompt – Paths (a short story by a regular visitor here) […]
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Thank you for the link, Frank.
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