Today I opened The Last Drive at random to page 199. With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “Verification.” This is our prompt.

Verification by John W. Howell © 2026

“May I see your ID?”

“Why’s that?”

“I need verification of who you are.”

“I told you.”

“I know, but verification is important; otherwise, I can’t let you in.”

“I just showed you my invitation.”

“All well and good, but verification is still needed.”

“I don’t have any ID.”

“Well then, sir, would you please step aside. You are holding up others.”

“Wait a minute. There has to be another way.”

“Don’t know what that might be.”

“Do you have a list of those invited?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then why not check the list with the invitation?”

“That won’t give me the verification that I need.”

“Seems silly. What’s one more at a feeding frenzy anyway?”

“If we let in every stray shark that comes by, there would not be enough prey to go around.”

“Okay. I guess I’ll miss this one then.”

“You know, on second thought, you have been nice about this. I agree the rules are a bit stringent. Go ahead in. Mackerel are the subject of the frenzy today.”

“Thank you.”

Today I randomly opened Eternal Road – The Final Stop to page 143 and, with my eyes closed, pointed to the page. “Direct ” is the word closest to my finger. That is our prompt today.

Direct by John W. Howell © 2026

“Okay, you men, listen up.”

“Yes, sir.”

“This next mission is going to be a tough one. I’ll need every one of you to do your best. Any questions?”

“Sir?”

“Yes, Jones.”

“You indicated that the plan is an all-out direct assault.”

“That’s right.”

“That’s going to be costly in terms of casualties.”

“We all signed up for that, Jones.”

“I know, sir, but I have an idea.”

“Oh, do tell.”

“Instead of a direct assault, we break up into groups and hit the target from several angles.”

“Hmm. Tell me more.”

“Well, in that way we neutralize the threat and at least save some of the troops for a later engagement should it be needed.”

“Are you sure separate attacks will neutralize the threat?”

“I have seen these kinds of attacks before. The enemy comes in with bravado and even killer gas. After a couple of hits, they pull back immediately. Deep down, they are very soft.”

“I must say you have seen more action than I have. Okay, let’s go with your plan. Okay, everyone, you heard it. We are going to attack the enemy in groups. Simpson, you and your troops are group one. Jones, you are group two. Kawolski, group three. Here are the targets. Any other questions?”

“Sir.”

“Yes, Kawolski.”

“What if this dope doesn’t retreat?”

“Just have your troops keep biting. Remember, you are fire ants, and those tall ones can’t stand for long. Besides, your target is the ankle, and that is the tender zone.”

 

 

Today, I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 63 and, with my eyes closed, pointed to the page. The word nearest my finger was “responsible.” That is our prompt today.

Responsible by John W. Howell © 2026

“All right. Who do you think is responsible for this mess, Jackson?”

“You think someone is going to own up to this?”

“They’d better, if they know what’s good for them.”

“I think you are dreaming if you think someone will step forward.”

“Well, let’s just see, shall we. Johnson.”

“Yes, sir.”

“What do you know about this mess?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“You sure?”

” Yes, sir. I am.”

“Baker.”

“Yes, sergeant.”

“What do you know?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“Figures. You covering for someone?”

“No,o sir. I just got here, sir.”

“Wier.”

“Ye,s sir.”

“How about you?”

“All I know is the call went out to gather here. By the time I got here, this mess was already made.”

“This was supposed to be our lunch. Johnson.”

“Ye,s sir.”

“Who else was here besides you three?”

“I hate to say this, Sarge, but a few gulls were flying away when I got here.”

“Gulls?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Didn’t I tell you to watch our lunch while I got a few more fish?”

“They were so quick, sir.”

“You are an ospre,y for heaven’s sake. You could have taken them out.”

“Gulls are nasty, sir.”

“I’m not saying eat them. You could have scared them away.”

“Next time, sir.”

“You three go get more fish. I’ll stay here with Jackson and guard the one left. Now go.”

Today, I randomly opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 111. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word nearest my finger is “Wringer,” which is our prompt.

Wringer © 2026 by John W. Howell

“Nice to have you visit.”

“I have really enjoyed myself. This hotel is the best.”

“I agree. I think it’s time for us to check out, though.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Well, they have cleaned our room.”

“I guess that’s a hint that we have to move on.”

“You said it. It’s too bad cause I like this place. The food is great.”

“I agree. Everything is so clean. Not like some other places we’ve been.”

“Yeah, talk about overcrowding and the lack of regular cleaning.”

“I have never visited a laundry before.”

“Well, if we hadn’t slept in, we wouldn’t be here now”

“What do we do?”

“We have to avoid being caught up in the washing machine and then the wringer.”

“What is a wringer”

“I don’t know exactly how it works, but I know whatever goes in comes out flat.”

“Have you seen it work before?”

“Oh yeah, plenty of times. I was just lucky to be able to avoid it.”

“So what’s our next move?”

“When they grab these sheets, jump over to the clean pile.”

“Won’t they see us?”

“Nah. We are too small for them to see us.”

“And so we will go to another room?”

“Yup. We can stay. But this time we have to be alert, and when they come to clean the room, we need to go onto the mattress.”

“Got it. I’ll tell you, being a bedbug is not easy.”

“You said it.”

Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 177. With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page, and my finger fell closest to the word “business.” This is our prompt.

Business by John W. Howell © 2026

“None of your business.”

“But that is a beautiful catch.”

“Yeah, I know, and where I found it is my business, not yours.”

“Okay. Be that way then.”

“It’s just that if I tell you, word will get out and before I know it all of them will be gone.”

” That is absolutely silly. Why would I share something that you and I need kept secret?”

“It’s the nature of things to want to impress others with what we know.”

“But in this case, we need those food sources to be kept on the down low.”

“I still think I should keep it to myself.”

“I’m really hungry and can’t locate a decent meal.”

“I suppose if you are hungry, that is a different situation.”

“And the fact that I’m your mate should mean something too.”

“Got me there. Okay, the abalone bed is where that pile of rocks lies underwater after the landslide.”

“I know that spot.”

“Of course you do. We met there.”

“We used to slide down that bank.”

“That’s the one.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t trust me.”

“Well, you can now go and get yourself lunch.”

“For an otter, you are certainly a strange one.”

“I guess it’s because I learned a long time ago that trust is fine. Control is better.”

“You are sleeping in the brown kelp tonight.”

 

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.’

 

Today I randomly opened The Last Drive to page 159 and, with my eyes closed, pointed to the page. My finger was closest to the word “attached.” This is our prompt today.

Attached by John W. Howell © 2026

“Are you still here?”

“Well, yes. I think we have unfinished business.”

“As far as I’m concerned, we are no longer attached, so I would like it if you moved on.”

“What do you mean, ‘No longer attached?’ What about love?”

“What’s love got to do with it? I gave you the best years of my life, and now here we are.”

“But didn’t those years count?”

“Of course they did. We had some good times, but now life dictates that you move on.”

“Life?”

“Yup. I have to prepare for another.”

“Another? You mean you found another?”

“Not exactly found. I’m having another baby.”

“Oh my. That is a surprise.”

“For me too. That’s why you must go. Find someone new and start a family.”

“But you are my mother.”

“Sure I am, but you see another Joey is coming and there’s no room in the pouch for the two of you.”

“So you still love me?”

“Of course. Nature dictates that you move on, though.”

“Okay. Can’t fight nature.”

“Watch out for the dingos.”

“I will. G’day, Mom.”

“G’day, son.”