Today I randomly opened The Last Drive to page 259 and, with eyes closed, pointed to the page. My finger fell closest to the word “everyone.” This is our prompt today.
Everyone by John W. Howell © 2026
“All right, everyone, listen up.”
“Oh, here we go. Mr. Know-it-all is taking over.”
“He always takes over.”
“Yeah, and I think it’s a pain.”
“Well, I sure don’t want to do it. Do you?”
“That’s beside the point. It’s just so irritating that he thinks he should be in control.”
“Look at it this way. All we have to do is relax and follow everyone else.”
“That’s a good point. But old ‘I’m In Charge’ won’t let us just follow.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s got to go hup, hup, hup all the while.”
“I agree that does get old.”
“Why can’t we just go with the flow without all the marching crap?”
“You know, some people just have to believe we are better off with leadership.”
“That would be true if the leadership were competent, but just saying hup, hup, hup doesn’t accomplish anything.”
“Okay, people, time to go. Hup, hup, hup.”
“I think I’m going to stay here.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“You are a Lemming.”
“Okay, true enough.”
“Besides, this is a one-time thing. Get over it.”
“You’re right. Let’s go.
Fiction Favorites 
Poor lemmings. I read that whole ‘follow leader off a cliff’ thing was staged. The people behind the video or whatever actually drove them off the cliff.
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That is nasty for sure.
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Well, this was a new one on me, so I Googled ‘lemmings’ and watched them jump off the cliff. Oh, the drama. Cute little things, though.
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Not sure I could watch that. Thanks, Lois.
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Imagining the lemmings being led to mass suicide is stunning, John!
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Kinda gross too, Tim. 😀
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😲
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😊
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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Glad you liked it, Noelle.
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I know some people who would join the line. I can name names if necessary. Tom
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I can too. 🤣
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And you had me guessing birds ‘and not rodents. Got me good, John.
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Well, that’s the whole point. My job is finished here
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🙂
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😊
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Yes, the plight if the lemmings is very sad. But, what the poor little Naughas have to endure is far worse. What they go through for us to have naugahyde is beyond cruel. Oh the humanity 🐳
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I agree on those poor Naughas. The horror.
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Here’s me imagining guys in uniform being made to march, and all the times it was the bloomin’ lemmings! Good surprise there, John.
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Glad you liked it, Jim
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Oh gosh, poor lemmings. John, you sure know how to create a captivating story. Bravo! 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. So glad you liked it.
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Oh my, you got us good.. I’m just trying to muster the strength to get moving,.. best hit your coffee bar.. 😂
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A couple more cups and you will be back to normal. Thanks, Cindy.
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Oh no, that’s no fun.. 😂
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😊
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Ha ha, good one! You had me totally fooled. I was thinking Canada Geese.
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They could be the ones too.
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My cousin had a Lemmings computer game and I remember I loved it! Very good, John.
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Glad you enjoyed it, Esther. 😊
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I wasn’t expecting lemmings, John. I would have passed on that.
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😊
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Well, there you go! I would have never guessed they were lemmings. 🙂
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That makes me glad, Jan. Thanks
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Watch that first step, guys.
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😀
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Hahahaha!
This is the ultimate “once and done”.
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Yes indeed. 😀
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Ha ha I was wondering how that would end, and hup hup hup, they were lemmings. From what I’ve read it is true that the lemmings can migrate in large herds, but luckily the cliff thing is a myth.
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Yes. Good to know. Thanks, Thomas.
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*Pffffttt!* I’m glad I was only drinking water, John. You slayed me with lemmings. LOL. I should know by now that you’re always up to something, but you still caught me by surprise. Hugs.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Teagan. I’m also glad I caught you by surprise. Thanks for letting me know. 😀
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Hahaha, certainly was expecting lemmings! Nice twist, John.
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Thank you, Monika. Glad you liked it. 😊
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A great sentence:
“That would be true if the leadership were competent, but just saying hup, hup, hup doesn’t accomplish anything.”
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Yes indeed. I have had bosses like that. Thanks, Neil.
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Got me again. I was thinking caribou.
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Caribou act like lemmings in a herd so I can see that. Thanks, Craig.
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“Oh, here we go” made me chuckle. 👍🏻
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It is a funny line, but many didn’t catch it. Thanks, Michele.
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