Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 93 and closed my eyes. I pointed to the page, and the word “fodder” was closest to my finger. That is our prompt today.
Fodder by John W. Howell ©2026
“So what do you think, Captain?”
“I’d say we are going to have a tough time, General.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, the terrain is not conducive to cover, for one thing.”
“And?”
“That open field will be tough to cross without being seen.”
“I guess that’s true.”
“One more thing.”
“Yes, Captain.”
“We are going to take a lot of casualties to get to the objective.”
“Is there a way to reduce those?”
“Short of sending a phalanx to act as cannon fodder to save the rest, I don’t see how.”
“So you think sacrificing troops upfront could save the rest?”
“Well, sir, there is only so much spray in that can. If I know the enemy, he will panic at the sight of thousands of bees, drop the can, and run. Of course, this will be after he tries to defend himself.”
“I think that may work. What’s to guarantee he won’t return?”
“There is no guarantee, but next time we’ll be ready”
“Okay, Captain. Let’s do it.”
Had me thinking Gettysburg only to find out it was my backyard. Only you, John, only you. Excellent!
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Thank you, Steve. Yes, it was your backyard. Those guys are waiting for you.
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🥴
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😀
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I was first thinking ducks but what will bee will bee.
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So true. 🐝 Thanks, Pat
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I was thinking cockroaches or ants! Got me!
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Excellent.
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Same here!
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😊
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I was thinking Black Friday shoppers. Oh well …. 😀
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That is a good one. Thanks, Tom
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Fodder really needs to make a comeback in modern conversation.
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It is a super word. 😀
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The sacrifice of a phalanx is a good strategy in the bee attack, John!
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Thank you, Tim. I hope that guy runs fast.
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😊
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😄
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Excellent, John! Maybe that explains the term “swarm.” 🙂
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I think so, Jan. It is a tactical maneuver term. 😊
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Yikes! I’m running already!
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Yes, flee from the swarm.
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I’m good with bees, but our wasps are from another world and mean.
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I know those guys, too. Very judgemental.
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I’m with Coldhandboyack… don’t hurt the bees, but the wasps? Have at ’em!
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Yes indeed. Wasps are the worst. Thanks, Dale. 😄
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This was great! For me it is those darn wasps that build those little mudball nests between the bricks, for cryin’ out loud! Wasp spray to the rescue!!
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Yes, indeed. Stand clear, though. 😀
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It’s an absolute masterpiece of a flash fiction twist, John! Deploying a phalanx of wasp spray is top-tier tactical genius.
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Thanks, prateek
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Cannon fodder is such a terrible thing but I’ve heard the term quite a bit including in the Swedish Army. And as you know I loved your book “Detour on the Eternal Road”.
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It is terrible. The armies used to walk in formation right into the grapeshot from cannons
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Yes it was horrible
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I wonder who thought that was a good idea.
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Good one, John. The first thing that came to mind when I saw the word “fodder” was this old song: Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!
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Love it. Thanks, Pete
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Dear John
We are just fighting the wasps in our garden. Chemical warfare.
Thanks for your little dialogue
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Keep those gas masks handy. Have a super week F4oC
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I apply a strategy where I attack at night. It gives me the surprise attack element.
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Excellent strategy, General. 😄
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We have lots of what look like wasps at the end of our garden, but I can’t see a nest. They seem to come out of the ground when the sun comes out.
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Wasps do nest underground at times. If you want to get rid of them, wait until dusk and then give the opening a good spray with wasp killer.
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Thanks for the tip, John.
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Very clever.
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