Today I randomly opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 15 . With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “School.” This is our prompt today.
School by John W. Howell © 2026
“Mom, I don’t want to go to school today.”
“Why, sweetheart. Don’t you feel well?”
“It’s not that.”
“What is it then?”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“It has to be something. You normally like school.”
” It’s just that there is a new kid who doesn’t like me.”
‘What do you mean doesn’t like you?”
“He makes fun of me.”
“So?”
“He calls me names.”
“You know what we say about that?”
“Yeah, but the other kids laugh.”
“Can’t you just ignore him?”
“He’s bigger than me, and sometimes he pushes me.”
“Uh oh. Sounds like a bully. How long has this been going on?”
“A couple of weeks.”
“Why don’t you want to go today, of all days?”
“We have a field trip, and I know he’s going to try something funny.”
“How about I go with you to school—”
“Mom. You can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“I’ll never be able to show my face at school again.”
“Okay, son. How about we take a mental health day?
“Can we go swimming, just you and me?”
“It is a little odd for herring to do that, but if that’s what you want to do.”
“Aw, Mom, you are the best.”
A real deal red herring story. You never cease to amaze me.
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Thank you, Marc. 😊
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Aww… got me again! Good’un, John!
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Thank you, Jim. Always like a gotcha. 😊
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Fun choice of school and fish.
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Thank you, Pat. 😊
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I’d be careful. Dolphins love herring.
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That is so true.
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I wish the Tuna was reading this. He’d give that bully “what for.”
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I’m sure he would. Thanks, Tom.
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