Today, we randomly opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 209. With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page, and my finger landed closest to the word “appointment.” This is our prompt today.
Appointment by John W. Howell © 2025
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No, but my tooth is killing me.”
“Let me ask the dentist if he can see you.”
“Tell him it’s an emergency.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Excuse me, sir.”
“Yes?”
“If you don’t have an appointment, you are at the end of the line. Look around. There are several waiting to see the dentist.”
“I understand, but I’m in pain.”
“We are all in pain. So that doesn’t make you special.”
“Let’s see what the dentist says, shall we?”
“Just like the privileged ones. Don’t take responsibility and push good citizenship off on someone else.”
“Man, you got up on the wrong side of the bed.”
“It just burns my butt that you think you can walk in here and jump to the head of the line.”
“Okay. I think you can just settle down.”
“Yeah, right. How did you get a toothache anyway?”
“I was eating some chicken, and I guess I bit down on a bone or something.”
“Which tooth is it?”
“I’m not sure. I have so many. Wait a minute. You’re not the dentist, so why all the questions?”
“I’m just trying to figure out if I can help. Open your mouth.”
“What? No way.”
“Come on.”
“There.”
“I see the problem. You have a bone caught between two teeth. Here, let me pull it out.”
“Whoa. That feels better.”
“Where did you get this chicken anyway?”
“It just fell in.”
“I take it you didn’t tuck it under a log.”
“No, I was too hungry.”
“See. That’s what you get by not following alligator rules. The prey must soak until tender.”
“Okay, I get the lesson. Now I’m outta here. Thanks for the help. See ya later, alligators.”
“Sir, the doctor will see you now.”
“That’s okay. Tell him to see the next in line.”
Fiction Favorites 
I knew from experience that there would be an animal. Couldn’t guess it would be an 🐊. Sure it wasn’t a crocodile? Clever story, John.
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Could be a croc, I suppose.
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Cute, John. Everyone needs to learn good masticating rules! You wouldn’t want to get eaten by an alligator and only get eaten half way, would you?!! 😬
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Goodness no. 😳 All or nothing. I really like the nothing choice.
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👍👍
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😊
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This is why their death roll tactics are best. Just spin and tear with little risk to stuff getting stuck.
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Yes, good point.
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This was a delightful yarn, John!
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Thank you, Jim. 😊
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And no turtles for a week.
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Aw, darn.
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Follow the alligator rules! Fun post, John.
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Haha thanks for the laughs, John! What a croc! 🐊 🩷😜
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Fascinating, John. An alligator dentist could be very busy.
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Yes, he would be. Thanks, Tim
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Ok, you got me…wasn’t expecting ‘gator action! Good one, John.
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Thank you, Monika. Love a gotcha. 😀
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I like the build up and the gradual revelation. Had to be an alligator with all those teeth. Love the line ‘See ya later, alligators’.
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Thank you, Esther. 😀
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Very clever, John. 😄
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Thank you, Gwen. Glad you liked it. 😊
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So many teeth! Well spun, John — I never guessed alligator until you said so.
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I didn’t give any hints. Just popped it.
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Hahaha. Laughing. I didn’t ‘get’ that it wasn’t a human until waaaay too late. Call me gullible. But it was a really fun dialogue.
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I didn’t do any fortelling either. 😊
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I had no clue what kind of critter was trying to jump to the head of the line at the dentist’s office!
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And who would want to stop him?
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Not I!!
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Nor me.
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Not a very nice alligator dentist assistant but he fixed the problem. I have to admit I did not expect the ending.
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Thank you, Thomas. Makes me happy to keep you in the dark.
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A great twist. Took me totally by surprise but that might have something to do with the number of times I’m in my dentist’s waiting area 😂
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The mention of the word dentist causes the mind to fog immediately. Thanks, Laura.
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Wish all tooth pain was that easily resolved!
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Me too. That would be great.
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Bahahahahaha!
You rocked this one from the get, and then you finish it with that brilliant line. Loved it Boss!
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Thank you, Pilgrim. Glad you liked it, and thanks for letting me know.
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Loved it Sheriff
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😊
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This is a hoot. The last line should be “after while, crocodile!”
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Yeah. Didn’t want to press my luck.
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You landed on such a great passage in Eternal Road, John. Part of my mind was still on it when I started reading your story. LOL, I got suckered right in. Alligators… You slay me. Hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. So glad you liked it.
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Lol! I was not exactly ready for the ‘alligator rule.’ 🙂
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Jan.
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There’s always one who just can’t wait. Great story, John.
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Thanks, Dan 😊
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Well written
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Thank you
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Well done, John!
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Thank you, Jennie.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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