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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You betcha, and I will proceed to marinate that bully herring. There’s nothing that gets under my fin more than bullying herring. Jut wait till l can swim with the fish again. For a while l thought l might be sleeping withthe fish🐳
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I’ll be darned. The Tuna talks. Welcome back. 🐳
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The Tuna is ready to spit out the hook. Welcome back !!
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😊
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The minute I saw the word school, I knew I was in for a fishy story. I got this red herring! Fun story, John.
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Thank you, Noelle. Yeah, the word was a giveaway. 😊
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And you know I am an expert at red herrings!
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Yes, indeed
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I didn’t come close — clever you! Thanks for the morning chuckles, John. 😄
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Glad you liked it, Gwen. I’m also glad I pulled the wool. 😊
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Fascinating, John! It’s too bad he misses the field trip. With mom, he should have a nice swim.
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Yeah, Mom is a lot of fun. Thanks, Tim.
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😊
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😄
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Ha! Never in a million years did I expect herring. Nice on, John.
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Poop…make that nice one. Not ‘on.’ Sheesh. Sorry about that.
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Ha ha ha. I read it as one. I like the noun, though. 😄
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😁
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😊
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That makes me so happy, Monika. Thanks for the boost. 😄
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I almost thought it was a reindeer, fun fish twist!
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Oooh Reindeer. They would have fit, too. Thanks, Denise.
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School was a good hint. I was thinking muskrat for some reason…
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Hmm. Would be a good one. Thanks, Rebecca. 😊
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This one had me completely stumped, all the way to the end!
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I’m so glad, Liz. 😄
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I figured you would be! 😏
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Ha ha ha
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Were you inspired to use herring this week because you used it in your reply to me last week? 😉
Ya got me for sure!
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Might have been deep in my memory. Thanks, Dale. Now, where did I put my keys?
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Hahaha!!
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😄
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A fun turn at the end, John! Great story!
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Thank you, Lauren.
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School – ha ha. I did not anticipate that.
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I always like it when you are hoodwinked. Thanks, Thomas.
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