Today I randomly opened The Last Drive to page 133. I closed my eyes and pointed to the page. The word nearest my finger is fly. This is our prompt today.
Fly by John W. Howell © 2025
“How long have you been flying?”
“I can’t remember when I started.”
“That long ago?”
“I guess. How about you?”
“I just started maybe five years ago.”
“Wow, so you are a newbie.”
“Well, I think I’m a little more experienced than a newbie.”
“Yeah, you’re right. No offense, but I was comparing you to me.”
“No offense taken. So we are headed for the sunny South.”
“Yup. Can’t wait to get out of this cold weather.”
“I hear it’s going to be a hellacious winter.”
“I heard the same. I wish I had decided to fly to a warmer place earlier.”
“It is only going to get worse.”
“That’s what I hear. I saw our captain earlier.”
“You did. How’s he look?”
“Well. You know it is tough to tell competence just by looks.”
“I’m sure you are right. Any thoughts on the captain, though?”
“I was quite surprised that she is a goose.”
“Why are you surprised?”
“Normally, a gander leads the migration flight. It was a surprise, I’m all.”
“I’m sure she will be fine.”
“I agree. Oh, look. Time for take off.”
An interesting dialogue, which encourages to read the whole story at once. Thanks, John! Best wishes, Michael
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That’s why I keep them under 400 words. They are intended to be read in one sitting. Thanks, Michael.
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Geese have the right idea.
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I think so too.
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Another entertaining gem, John.
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I’m glad you liked it, Esther. Thanks for letting me know.
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🪿
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😊
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It will be more than fine because she won’t hesitate to ask for directions should things go off 😉
Fun one, Boss!
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Right on, Dale!
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😉
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😀
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Ha ha ha. Love it. 😀
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Thought you might 😉
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😀
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There’s something inspirational about watching a flock of birds fly together. Nice twist.
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The V formation is very practical in that each bird doesn’t have to work as hard, since the formation makes the airflow much more efficient.
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What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Or something like that…🙄
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Yeah, something like that. 😊
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Good late surprise that these are geese talking!
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Yes. Thanks, Rebecca.
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Our geese stay here year-round. They do move around the area however, and seeing the highly efficient V-formation in action is a wonderful sight to behold. What amazes me is how they manage to fly being so huge, but then again I still haven’t figured out how airplanes do it…so maybe geese flying around makes sense after all, John.🪿
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There is an engineering answer, but flying always seems like a miracle to me. Thanks, Bruce.
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Geese sure do the right thing. It’s really nice to see them evacuating the area, and they often yell hello as they fly overhead.
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So true, Tim. Thanks for the hello reminder.
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Well, there you go! I’m sure the goose will do just fine. 🙂 Fun one, John.
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She sure will.
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Oh, perfect, John! I was guessing all manner of flying creatures until I saw “gander” 🙂
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Glad you liked it, Marie 😊
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I was wondering what the animal might be. Wasn’t anticipating a goose. Fun choice. 🪿🪿🪿
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I thought of geese when the word “fly” came up. 😀
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Another great story, John. We’re on their flight path. To-and-fro we enjoy their visits. 🪿🪿🪿
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They would be enjoyable guests for sure. Thanks , Gwen. 😊
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Time’s be a changin! 👩🏻✈️🪿 Fun story! Thanks, John.
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Glad you liked it, Michele. 😊
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I thought migratory birds, just didn’t know what kind!
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😀
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What’s good for the goose is good for the gander or in this case what’s good for the gander is good for the goose. A female goose can be the captain.
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Yes, indeed, and as Dale said below, at least she would ask for directions if lost.
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That is a very good point
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🤣
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They loudly went by a few weeks ago 🙂
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They do go loudly. 😄
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This time you didn’t fool me, I knew it was a goose. But our geese who live in our neighborhood are year-round!
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A lot are.
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Hey – what’s good for the gander, is good for the goose, eh?
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So true. 😊
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Hahaha…what’s good for the goose is most definitely good for the gander. Great prose as always, John.
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Thank you Monika. I loved Dale’s comment regarding a female captain. “At least she will stop and ask directions if she gets lost”
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Love that perspective John… So many birds that fly South for winter and it is often an incredulous journey.. And one often wonders at their wondrous navigation methods to land in the same spots each time they migrate .. We watched some Icelandic Geese land in Mid England, on a nature reserve in the beginning of Oct… To see them all gaggling to one another as they landed and then others greeted them and they found each partner again, was amazing to watch… They too had come over early…
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What a wonderful story about the reuniting and joy of finishing the journey. Thanks, Sue.
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It was lovely to witness John. It felt quite emotional, seeing how far these geese had flown. Xx
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😁
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Ripped straight out of the book of English proverbs and retold in a modernistic flair by the inimitable John Howell. Bravo!
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Thank you, Marco. You are too kind.
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You are the master of these.
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Blush. 😊
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😉
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This is wonderful, John. I just started reading The Wild Robot to children. They will soon be learning about geese and migration.
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There are many lessons in how geese relate to each other.
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Yes, there are!
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