Today, I opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 267  and with eyes closed pointed. My finger fell closest to the word “tampered.” This is our prompt today

Tampered by John W. Howell © 2026

“Somebody tampered with my stuff.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look here.”

“What am I looking at?”

“See the mess?”

“I hate to say this, but your place is always a mess.”

‘Not like this.”

“Okay, spell it out for me. What’s wrong?”

“When I left this morning, everything was in its place. Now everything is strewn about.”

“It does look like someone came through here looking for something.”

“Who does that?”

“I must say it is a breach of your personal space.”

“Who has the unmitigated gall to trespass and mess with my stuff?”

“You know what?”

“What?”

“Is that mouse poop over there?”

“I’ll be darned. Doesn’t that take all?”

“What are you thinking?”

“My prey dares to come up here.”

“Gotta give him credit.”

“I’ll tell you what else I’m going to give him.”

“Like any self-respecting hawk, I hope it’s a dinner invitation.”

“Darned right.”