Today, I randomly opened Eternal Road – The Last Stop to page 99 and, with my eyes closed, pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “mess.” That is our prompt.
Mess By John W. Howell © 2026
“You are a mess.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“No, I mean you are literally a mess.”
“In what way?”
“You have food all over your face. It’s like you haven’t been taught anything.”
“I don’t see that I’m doing anything different.”
“This must be the first time I’m noticing then.”
“Uh oh. Looks like the honeymoon is over.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, pointing out little things that now bother you when they never did before.”
“But you should see the mess on your face.”
“I’m not sure how to avoid it.”
“Maybe if you wouldn’t gulp your food, you could be a little more careful about how it goes in.”
“There’s another.”
“Another what?”
“Indication of dissatisfaction.”
“Oh please. Just because I say something about your slopping eating, you take it to mean the honeymoon is over.”
“Is it?”
“If you don’t quit harping on it, I may have to smack you.”
“A loving comment.”
“Eat your carrion and then maybe we can fly to the lake and get you cleaned up.’
I do guess this one, but I really enjoyed it. Made me laugh. Thanks, John.
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Yay. So glad you liked it, Esther. 😄
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Hey Ms Manners, cut the guy a break…that “open-air” carrion is just plain messy🐳
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So true. Especially when trying to avoid cars. 😄
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True, that’s why they always have a designated spotter…they sit on the line and holler Caw, Caw, Caw whenever he/she spots a car!🐳
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Sounds like you are talking about magpies. These are vultures. 😊
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Trying this post again …..
John at first I thought you were talking about my wife.
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Ha ha ha. You really ought to shape up.. 😄
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I’ve always wondered if animals stop and look at their traveling companions or family members while they are eating and say…”really, do you have any idea what you look like right now?”😋
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Ha ha ha. I wonder, too, Bruce. If we believe my silliness, then the answer is yes.
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I suppose the scavengers’ honeymoon must be over for the sloppiness to be disapproved. I’m so ignorant I didn’t know they have a honeymoon.
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I just took a guess. I don’t know for sure either. Thanks, Tim. 😊
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😊
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They need a relationship counselor.
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i think they will come to that in time. Thanks, Neil.
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That last line says true love. ❤️
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Aw. I am thinking it does. Thanks, Lois.
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“You are a mess” covers so many possibilites.
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My thought was vultures, but it can be taken anywhere.
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Sounds like my grandkids. Oh for the clean couches. I haven’t heard to run after them and catch them. I’d trade them in for birds but they are every bit as messy! At least these 2 cleaned up after each other.
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😄 Thanks, Cindy.
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Aye!! Yep. When I divorced my first husband, it was watching him eat his breakfast the morning I left that did it. Gotta be careful. 🙂
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That’ll do it. Thanks for sharing, Jan. 😊
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And here I thought it was pigs! 🙂
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Good guess. Makes sense. Thanks, Noelle.
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I had no clue until the very end!
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So glad. Thanks for letting me know I’ve pulled the wool over your eyes one more time. 😊
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You’re welcome, John. I can be clueless on occasion. 😏
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To my delight.
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😁
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it would be a challenge to be a neat eater. Luckily they have the lake 🙂
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Thank you, Denise. It is good.
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Haha! Love this.
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Thank you, Holly
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I was stumped till the end. Well done, John.
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Thank you, Jennie
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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Vultures need that school where they teach manners.
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Or a good book on same. 😄
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It’s not like they have silverware. Good one, John.
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Thanks, Dan
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Must be a type of bird, probably a crow. Now we will have a murder on our hands
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Vulture
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I see where other people guessed correctly.
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A few, yes. 😊
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Got me again. I was thinking hyenas until they flew away.
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Funny, I was going to do hyenas but changed my mind. Thanks, Craig.
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Excellent job with the finger point prompt, John. I wasn’t expecting the ending. Nicely done. Makes me wonder if predators or the ‘clean up crew,’ think about how they appear at meal times. 🙂
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Let’s just say they are too busy to be concerned with the stuff of beauty. Thanks, Monika.
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Ha ha I was wondering what was going on but I did not expect the end
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Then I’ve done my job. Thanks, Thomas. 😄
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Hey, it’s not all amore all the time. There’s gonna be a point after which the carrion conversation gets going and well, I guess that’s what they mean by the whole through better and worse stuff eh?
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Yes cause the worse is the worst.
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Oh yes it is.
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😊
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