Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Skeptical

~ John W. Howell

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)

76 thoughts on “Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Skeptical”

  18. 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.

    Liked by 3 people

  19. 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.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. 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….

    Liked by 1 person

  23. 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! 🐭

    Liked by 1 person

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