Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Union

~ John W. Howell

Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 97. With eyes closed I pointed to the page. The word nearest my finger was union.

Union by John W. Howell © 2025.

“Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the beautiful union of this male and this female. If anyone has just cause as to why this marriage should not take place speak now or—”

“I have just cause.”

“Who are you?”

“I am the husband of the bride.”

“Oh, come now sir. Perhaps you have made a mistake or took a little too long at the pre-reception.”

“I’m not drunk and I am not mistaken. This bride is married to me.”

“Why are you not together then?”

“You can ask her, but for all I know she just got tired.”

“Tired? Tired of what?”

“Well… she just became a mother and I think it was all too much.”

“Just became a mother? You have to be kidding.”

“No she left the children and I to fend for ourselves.”

“Children? How many children?”

“There are six.”

“Six? I think I’m going to faint. I would be tired too.”

“It’s not a big deal. Some have up to twelve.”

“Okay we must be talking by each other. Explain the six children.”

“We are Cassowary birds and she laid six eggs.”

“Oh. That’s different.”

“And like all Cassowary birds she left me to raise them. I’ve been on the nest 50 days and now they are hatched.”

“You want her home.”

“It would be nice.”

“May I say something?”

“Ah, the Cassowary mother wants the floor.”

“If you two idiots would look up Cassowary birds you will find that once the eggs are laid, our job is done. I’m not going back there ever.”

“I need to say something.”

“The chair recognizes the groom.”

“I don’t want chicks so we make a perfect couple.”

“I’m no expert but there has to be a formal dissolution of the first marriage before I can marry you two.”

“We never got married.”

“What?”

“He was a good looking bird so I just stayed in his nest.”

“Is this true husband?”

“Sadly it is.”

“Well then can we proceed with the ceremony?”

“I left the kids outside. Can they join?”

“Miss bride. How about it?”

“The more the merrier. Let’s get on with it.”

 

 

 

59 thoughts on “Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Union”

  1. Oh John, I don’t know how you think these stories up, but keep doing them… Loved this…. Argh to be a Castaway Bird and fly the nest leaving hubby to bring up the roost 🙂 I think Mama Bird got it made 🙂

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  7. Mmmm, promiscuous Cassowaries! At least the bridegroom couldn’t fly away. However, if the bride was annoyed she could have eviscerated her former lover – they have long, sharp talons on powerful legs!

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  9. Well, shoot. They’re flightless birds so the poor guy had to walk to the ceremony after sitting on that nest for so long. But I did enjoy the chair recognizing everyone. This was kind of like watching a tennis match.

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  12. Are these things real birds, or did you make them up, John?? At first, I was thinking “bird,” but when you mentioned the possibility of having 12 kiddos, I started thinking “Golden retriever.” I needed a chuckle today, and you didn’t disappoint — thanks!

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  15. I had never heard of these birds before you introduced them to me just now. And from what I have already learned about them, humans should never again complain about daycare or whose turn it is to stay up with the baby.

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