Today I opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 69. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. My finger fell on the word “we are,” but the visible words were “her” and “throat.” I made an executive decision and chose ‘throat’ as our prompt. Also, I apologize for the blurry words. My iPhone was set incorrectly, so I got a nice, clear shot of my hand, but the background took a hit.
Throat by John W. Howell © 2025.
“You have a lovely throat.”
“Oh, stop. Do you know how many times I have heard that line?”
“You must believe it then.”
“Well, it is graceful.”
“And so pure looking.”
“What is with you anyway?”
“Please pay no attention to me. I have a neck fetish.”
“But you mentioned my throat.”
“Well, that goes hand in hand with the neck thing.”
“How did you happen to get like this?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have plenty of time.”
“It may be a bit disturbing.”
“Look at me. Do you think I frighten easily?”
“I must say you do exhibit a lack of fear.”
“So tell me the story.”
“Okay. One night I was walking by the lake—”
“This lake?”
“As a matter of fact, yes.”
“Go on.”
“I decided to sit and rest since I had been walking for a while. While looking at the full moon reflected in the water, I felt a presence—”
“A ghost?”
“No, it turns out it was someone who looked very much like me.”
“This is getting good. Go on.”
“When I turned, there he was. Very handsome with an air of royalty —”
“He had a crown?”
“No, it was the way he held himself. Very regal and confident. He asked my name and then asked if he could sit with me. Something made me say yes, and so he sat. I can barely recall our discussion, but at one point he leaned over and I thought he was going to kiss me —”
“Wait. A guy was going to kiss you?”
“Yes, as it turned out, that didn’t happen.”
“What happened?”
“He bit me on the neck.”
“What?”
“You heard me. He bit me, and I passed out. When I woke, he was gone.”
“You must have been terrified.”
“Actually, I was at peace except for the side effects of the bite.”
“What side effects?”
“I can’t stand the daylight or garlic, and I have this overwhelming desire to bite others on the neck.”
“You are a vampire?”
“Yes.”
“No wonder you liked my neck.”
“Such a beautiful neck.”
“I think you’ll have to excuse me now. I need to get going.”
“I fully understand. I hope to see you around.”
“Not if you keep drooling over my neck.”
“I promise.”
“Lovely to meet you then. Ta ta for now.”
Fiction Favorites 
I’ll be sure to pick up some garlic at the store. Good one, John.
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Yes, get a bunch. Thanks, Dan.
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We love your little text, dear John.
Wishing you a happy day
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, Klausbernd. Wishing the F4oC the same.
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Maybe consider a cross pendant.
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That would be a good idea, although these two seem to be on pretty good terms.
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I was thinking vampire as soon as I saw the word. Also, I wonder how vampires survive in countries where garlic is a food staple.
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An excellent point. I wonder if there is a Vampire out there who could answer the question for us?
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Probably the vampire version of Claritin.
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😀
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With your penchant for animals, I was initially thinking a swan or a flamingo! Shows you where my mind wanders. But a vampire is perfectly reasonable, especially at this time of year.
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I was going with some kind of bird, too. Glad I was not along in my thinking!
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😊
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I was thinking of a swan, but couldn’t convert it into a vampire swan. Wouldn’t make sense.
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A vampire swan! Quite the image – they don’t have teeth!
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I know. That’s why I couldn’t pull it off.
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Fascinating story about the creation of a vampire, John.
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Thank you, Tim. 😀
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I was going down the animal route – but then came the realisation. Very good build up, John.
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I thought it would be nice to switch proteins, Esther. Thank you.
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Ha! Every week I try to guess what animal is this week’s pick. One week I guessed right. This was not the week. 😂
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Aw. Well, good luck next week, Lois. 😊
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I was expecting swans and frogs, John, but I forgot it’s almost Halloween. Thanks for the fun..
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Yes, I had to switch it up. Thanks, Diana.
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Oh this was timely, our vampire of the night. I’ll rememver to wear a turtle neck when I meet you! 🤣
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Good strategy. Nothing like getting wool on the tongue
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😂😆
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😀
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🤪🧛♀️ Brilliant, John. I expected swans but got a vampire. Great job!
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Thank you, Jan. A swan vampire would be hard to explain.
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Ahh, garlic. I may need to pick up more. Well done, John. 😄
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Yes, get a big strand of it. It may save you. Thanks, Gwen.
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🤣
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Just in time for Halloween, John — outstanding!
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Thank you, debbie
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Good executive decision. Throat was a good choice and lead us right to a vampire. Well done!
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Thank you, Jo. 😀
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Ha! John, I sincerely mean it when I say “no pun intended,” but I got sucked me right into the story. The idea of ending a vampire tale with “See you around” amused me no end. Big hugs.
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Thank you so much, Teagan. I’m so glad you liked it.
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Fun story. The only non human I could imagine was a vampire. Nice one, Drac.
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Thank you, Pat.
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🦇🦇🦇
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I didn’t get vampire until I was halfway through. I thought it would turn out to be a swan.
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But halfway is pretty good.
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Thanks!
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😊
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========== skid marks going in the opposite direction!
Well done with your ‘executive’ decision, John.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Monika.
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I was going to make something with garlic before I read this and now, welp . . I think I’ll us the stuff for the rest of the month. Just to be safe . . .
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Good idea. A month of garlic is a good idea.
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Maybe they could just have it shipped to them on the regular.
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😀
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Is this what we call “necking?” 😎
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Ha ha ha. Good one.
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Minor side effects. 😂
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Yes, just minor.😀
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Very funny. He was nicer than most vampires I’ve read about.
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Yes. A modern-day gentleman. 😀
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A great sadness to not be able to eat shrimp scampi or garlic mashed potatoes.
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Indeed. Best not get bitten I guess.
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Well done on the prompt, John. I love the spirit of the season.
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😊
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