Today I randomly opened Eternal Road- the final stop to page 245. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word “Amazes” is closest to my finger. This is our prompt.
Amazes by John W. Howell © 2026
“You know what amazes me?”
“What?”
“The way those guys move on top of the water.”
“I never gave it much thought, but you are right.”
“You know what else?”
“No, what?”
“They go so fast.”
“Also, have you noticed how much they disturb the water near the shallows?”
‘They sure do kick up the sand for sure.”
“I have to laugh when they stop and sit too.”
“I know. They have no idea that we know what they are up to.”
“They throw that thing into the water and have a stupid worm skewered to it.”
“They must think we are stupid. Everybody knows there are no worms down here.”
“Everybody except those goofy sunfish.”
“Hey, look at that.”
“What?”
“They just tossed a perfectly good-looking frog into the water.”
“Why would they do that? Frogs are good eatin’.”
“I don’t know, but I’m not going to look at a gift horse in the mouth. That frog is going to be my lunch.”
“As a small-mouth bass, you can take that with one gulp.”
“You bet I can. Watch.”
“Bon Appétit, Leroy.”
Fiction Favorites 
Easy guess today. The fishermen were a tad confusing at first. Love the small mouth bass.
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My favorite fish to catch as a kid. Hula Popper was the lure. (frog like)
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🐸🐸🐸
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😊
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Hahaha! Definitely don’t look a gift horse in the mouth! Fun one, John.
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Thank you, Dale. 😊
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It’s amazing that the bass are watching food being tossed into the water, John, not considering that the frog is bait.
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I would say they have a problem with situational awareness. 😄 Thanks, Tim.
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😊
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😊
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Love that you’ve given one the name Leroy! Very entertaining.
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Thank you, Esther. I tend to name all my fictional animal friends. 😊
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That Leroy is quite the gourmet. I also enjoy a good frog leg dinner but hard to find around here. Ribbit Ribbit, Jug-o-rum.
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I’m sure there is a downtown restaurant that serves frog legs. Of course, you would have to go downtown ,Eek. 😥
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Downtown? Those days are over. Downtown Chicago is a war zone. No thank you. Jug-o-rum.
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I knew that. 😄
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Poor Leroy, he never knew very much about dat lure bidness…🐳
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He scoffed at the worm, but you are right. He fell for the bait.
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Poor frog. The fisherman probably thought they were doing it a favor.
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It was an artificial lure. So no tears for the frog. 😄
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My husband and his tackle boxes…fresh water lures, salt water lures, bobbers, sinkers…🙄
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Yowza. Ask him about a Hula Popper. That is what got ole Leroy.
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Oh, gosh. He was ready to tell me all about Hula Poppers. Had to tell him the old ‘asking for a friend.’ 🙄😉
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Could have been a wonderful moment, Lois. 😳
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Poor Leroy. He’ll surely be missed!
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Yes, he will. Made a fine breakfast, though.
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A fun take on the prompt. The conversation made me smile.
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So glad, Kymber. Thanks for letting me know.
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What a fun conversation! I think those were two smart fish. A first I thought those were two water striders (Gerris) talking to each other…
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Thanks, Noelle.
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Careful Leroy!
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Denise.
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Enjoy the massage in bread crumbs, Leroy.
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Ha ha ha. Good one, Craig.
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They make some good points.
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😊
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Ooops! The temptation was too strong. 🙂
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Those hula poppers are hard to resist.
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Uh-oh…I suspect Leroy will only have a quick amazing meal and then turn up as one himself. Nicely done, John.
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Yes. Nothing like a tri-hook in the lip for a delicious meal. Thanks, Monika.
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I guessed fish about halfway through. 🙂
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Yay. Score. 👏🏻
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Great article! I’ve been publishing articles on philosophy and literature on here if you’d like to check it out. My most recent one discusses language, https://weurd.substack.com/p/metaphor-is-a-gun-one-we-ought-to
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Big billy bass fish scores again. 💕😹
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Big Billy bass broil. 😊.
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😂😹 Yes
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😄
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I guessed fish. Of course they’re smarter than we think. Well done, John.
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😊
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Talking Fish would freak me out but it would be amazing
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You wouldn’t understand them unless you were fluent in fish. 😄
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“Amaze” is a feeling I often get, use way too often, and love reading.
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LOL, lunchtime for Leroy. I don’t know why, but the idea of naming a bass Leroy just cracks me up, John. Thanks for the smiles. Big hugs.
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