Today, I readomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 147. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word nearest to my finger is “complicated.” This is our prompt today.
Complicated by John W. Howell © 2026
“It’s complicated.”
“All I asked was how come you two are not together.”
“And I’m telling you there are complications to an easy answer.”
“I mean, you and he are always together.”
“Today we are not.”
“What happened? Is he sick?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“I guess I’m not going to get an answer.”
“As a friend, I guess you deserve an answer.”
“As a concerned friend.”
“Well, you know how he and I have worked together to build our house.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“And you know how delightful the property is with the beautiful lake and all.”
“I do. It is a special place. You two have done wonders.”
“We have had a slight argument.”
“Oh goodness, what about?”
“He thinks we should move and start another.”
“Why on Earth should you do that?”
“According to him, it is our duty to the environment.”
“So where is he now?”
“Off scouting another location. One that would benefit from our skills.”
“You mean a barren place with a trickle of water.”
“Exactly.”
“You guys do build nice dams for sure.”
“I just wish we could settle down in one place.”
“Maybe someday.”
“It’s not easy being a beaver.”
Fiction Favorites 
I really like the pay-off. I didn’t guess they were beavers – and yet the clues are there! Well done, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Esther. 😀
LikeLike
Perfect chosen. Let`s get going! 🙂 I wish you a wonderful week, John! xx Michael
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Michael. Wishing you the same.😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, John! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLike
Dam good one this week.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ha ha ha Thanks, Charles
LikeLike
Beavers didn’t immediately come to mind, but ants did. Another good one, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooo. Ants. Need to hold that memory. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t realise they don’t stick around!
Nicely done, sir!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Dale. They may. The fact is that beavers mate for life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They just like to move on the regular 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, John! Beavers are such effective workers with good relationships!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are for sure, Tim
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊 This reminds me of seeing beavers at work in the UP of Michigan or Canada while I was fishing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to love going to Canada to fish. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
ha! I was thinking of birds. Not even close!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah well. There is always next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! You got me. Since we’ve recently had work done on our house, I reacted like I would need to move without enjoying it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds normal to me. 😀
LikeLike
Two rodents that give a darn! ; )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup.
LikeLike
Whew! I suspected a praying mantis but am glad everyone is still alive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha ha. That would be a good guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking beaver about half-way through. Hard-working little critters and so good for the environment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are. Thanks, Noelle,
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew there was a surprise waiting for me in this conversation, John, and after the “trickle of water,” I suspected beavers – environmental restorers at work! Thanks for the fun, feel-good post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you liked it, Diana.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought at first birds, but then the barren place with a trickle of water clued me in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a major clue, as was the pond mentioned up front.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha I did not guess that it was beavers but it makes a lot of sense in retrospect. I was guessing birds but beavers makes more sense with the story. I loved this book by the way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Thomas. I’m glad you like the book. I’m also glad you couldn’t guess the animal 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one, John. You had me until the end. 😊 I just heard a story about beavers being a touch tone creature for the environment. Pretty cool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup. They’re great for creating sustainable habitats out of barren deserts. Thanks, Monika
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL, that ending! You had me going!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad.
LikeLike
It’s a tough life for nature’s contractors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jennie. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
And that’s the tooth, the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha h ha. Good one
LikeLiked by 1 person
😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person