Today I opens Detour on the Eternal Road randomly to page 167. With eyes closed I pointed to the page and the word skeptical was closest to my finger.
Skeptical by John W. Howell © 2025
“Not sure I believe you.”
“Why so skeptical?”
“Just look at that thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“it looks dangerous to me.”
“Come on. I have worked it hundreds of times and look at me.”
“I’m looking. What am I supposed to see.”
“A picture of health.”
“So you say you have worked these things and they are safe?”
“Yes sir. Safe as safe can be. Ypu do have to take precautions though.”
“Like what?”
“You can’t just rush in and grab the prize. You have to take your time.”
“Can you show me?”
“I suppose I could but then how are you to learn?”
“I could do the next one.”
“These things only show up once in a while. Next time may be a long time. You’re hungry aren’t you?”
“Yeah I could eat that whole thing myself.”
“You don’t want to do that. You’ll get a stomach ache.”
“Okay I do it. What’s the first thing?”
“See that bar and spring?”
“Yeah.”
“When you step on that pedal it releases that bar and a big ole metal thing is driven by that spring. If you are on the pedal the metal thing will trap you.”
“So what do I do?”
“You come in from the side and get a good grip on the cheese. Then you rip it off the pedal carefully. Done right you have the cheese and the trap is undisturbed.”
“Takes nerves of steel.”
“Yes to match that metal thing. Now go ahead and give it a try.”
“I’m very nervous.”
“Think how good that cheddar will taste.”
“You’re right. Here I go.”
(No mice were harmed in the making of this post)
Fiction Favorites 
I have anxiety just thinking about it lol 😆 🧀 🐁
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Aw. At least you are not a mouse.
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🤣 😆 very true!
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😀
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This could be a deadly exercise for the newbie…
Your imagination knows no bounds! (Lucky for us.)
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I was going to have a loud snap at the end but decided to leave it in a more kinder position. The last line was going to be SNAP……Oops
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I won’t lie… I was half-expecting you to!!
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Decided to be kind.
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Because you are a kind and sweet man!
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Aw. You are the best.
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Takes one to know one 🙂
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You know kids just don’t listen. My bet is on the cheese!
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Ha ha ha. Good one.
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Nice. Couldn’t figure it out until the end.
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I’m glad you liked it, Charles. Thanks for letting me know. 😊
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Some of those little guys are adept at removing the cheese unharmed. Glad to see this guy is sharing the knowledge.
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I watched a mouse one time, and he did a side grab and got away
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Brilliant John. I wondered how those little guys did that.
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Some have the cheese-grab DNA
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Brilliant John. I wondered how those little guys did that.
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Good one, John. It took me a while to figure out exactly who was talking and about what. Smart mouse!
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A very smart mouse. Thanks, Noelle
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Ah yes. Gotta be tricky for sure! Thanks for the grins, John!
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Glad you liked it, Jan. Thanks.
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If the lesson isn’t learned it will result in a broken back and being tossed in the garbage.
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Very true, Tim. (sounds horrible, doesn’t it?)
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As soon as I saw a bar and spring, I knew there had to be a mousetrap involved!
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You are too wise for me. 😀
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No, just experienced in ridding a house of vermin.
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Ha ha ha.
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Nerves of steel…sounds like Mighty Mouse. Remember him? He was the original Big Cheese. 🤣
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I do remember Mighty Mouse. “Here I come to save the day. Mighty Mouse is on the way.”
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Oh my goodness, scary proposal. Lessons can be deadly, can’t they? Well done, John. 😄
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Thank you, Gwen. Fooling with a mouse trap is not for the faint of heart. 😊
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I’m glad no mice were harmed! I love how you build a story and then comes the revelations. So good, John.
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Thank you, Esther. To be fair though, I have to put in a couple of hints. Like spring.
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Lol. We do have one that knows this trick.
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Good for him or her. If they can outfox a Victor 4 way then I say let them have the cheese.
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Here it’s peanut butter but yes 🙂
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😊
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I’m impressed with your ability with mouse think, John. 🐭🐭🐭
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I try not to stretch my brain too far. Mice are just right.
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Good one, John.
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😊
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I still remember the first mouse I caught in a trap — you’d have thought I grew up in the city instead of rural Central Illinois, wouldn’t you? But my dad was the “mouse-catcher,” not us girls! Your story brought me some happy memories, John.
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Thanks for sharing that, Debbie. 😊
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I know you needed to know that, ha!
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😀
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As the story unfolded, I began to wince in anticipation. I mean, I love cheese as much as any mouse but I would ditch the stuff for good if this was my only way to procure it.
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It does seem a little intense.
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Uh huh
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😳
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I have no trouble catching rats and mice. It’s the gophers who continue to give me a run for my money.
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We had a cat one time that took care of all the gophers.
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That would be the easiest solution. I can’t believe some of the dumb stuff I’ve tried to get rid of them.
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From time spent on the coast the best way is trapping.
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Hahahahaha this is too funny. I got 4 ferals for the rats and made them best friends.. now they live inside and bring the rats inside too. lol 😝
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How fun, Cindy. Hopefully, all the rats have gone to rat heaven before they come inside. 😀
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I wish!!! They run and play and eventually must! Ha 💕
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😳
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It was fun trying to figure out what the “thing” was as I read along. Poor little mice. But. My daughter’s old Victorian (renovated, but) house is inundated with mice. She previously didn’t believe in mouse traps. Now….
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One running across the feet is all it takes
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These fiction stories are fun to read – looking for that first clue that reveals the bigger picture and your creative ability to draft a story from one word. 👍🏻 Cheering for the little mouse! 🐭
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The mouse made it. Is now having a fondue.
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😅 Alongside precious pampered pups, I believe that would be true!
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😊
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I was guessing and guessing … ants again? … until the description of the trap. Thank you for letting me know that no mice were harmed ‘cause that was a scary ending!
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Yes. He was able to get the cheese and is enjoying it right now.
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Sweet! or, since it’s cheese, savory!
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Yes savory. 😀
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Is this how the mentor winds up with the cheese?
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Ha ha ha. 😀
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Your final sentence was classic!
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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