Today I randomly opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 31. Without looking, I pointed to the page. The word hand was closest to my finger.

Hand by John W. Howell © 2024

“I appreciate the hand.”

“No problem. We’ll knock out this job in no time.”

“It would have taken me forever.”

“I thought you had tacked a pretty big project.”

“Well, you know how it goes. We always think we can do more.”

“Yeah, I have been there.”

“We could use some more material.”

“What do you think we should use?”

“For that west side, I think something of substance.”

“Yeah, the wind comes through from that direction. It can get pretty cold. Especially up this high.”

“I hate to send you all the way down, but I don’t know any other way.”

“I happen to know of an abandoned place just over the hill. I could go there and get what we need.”

“That’s real close, too. How do you know it’s abandoned.”

“I used to live there. My wife ran off with another.”

“That’s strange. My husband did the same.”

“You don’t suppose?”

“They went together?”

“I thought eagles mated for life. What is up with that?”

“It is a mystery. I really wasn’t sure why I was building a nest anyway.”

“I’m glad I came along. I think there might be a reason to build it.”

“You mean?”

“You and I could build it and have a family.”

“What a great idea.”

“I’ll go get the sticks. Then I’ll catch a nice trout, and we can have lunch.”

“That sounds so good. Hurry back.”

 

Today, I randomly opened Circumstances of Childhood to page 251 and pointed to the page without looking. The word closest to my finger is “call.”

Call by John W. Howell © 2024

“There is a call for you.”

“For me? I don’t know anyone who would call.”

“Well, it is obvious that it’s for you.”

“I am really confused. Who would be calling me.”

“Why don’t you answer the call and find out.”

“It could be someone selling something, that’s why.”

“Oh, come on. You can just say no, right?”

“You would think, but I’m a pushover regarding sales pitches.”

“How about I go with you, and if it is a pitch, I’ll tell them no.”

“You would do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“Since it is Thanksgiving time, I just want to say I’m thankful for you.”

“Aw, that is sweet.”

“Okay, let’s go answer the call.”

“On second thought, maybe we should just stay here.”

“Why a change of mind?”

“There is something strange about that call.”

“Like what?”

“The quack sounds artificial. Listen.”

“Yeah, I hear what you mean. Wait a minute. Do you think duck season has opened?”

“I’ll bet you are right. You better lay low.”

“How about you?”

“I don’t think goose season is open yet. If it is, though, I think the turkeys have more to worry about.”

“Let’s just stay here.”

“Good plan.”

 

I randomly opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 131. Without looking, I pointed to the page, and the word “small” was closest to my finger.

Small by John W. Howell © 2024

“Can you see it?”

“Damn, that is pretty small.”

“Here, take this magnifier.”

“It still is too small to see clearly.”

“For heaven’s sake. What’s the problem.”

“My hand is shaking too much to determine what I’m looking at.”

“Maybe if we get closer, it will come into view.”

“It’s not like I can’t wait.”

“It won’t be too long.”

“How long?”

“A couple of light years.”

“That’s all? Why am I straining my eyes then?”

“I thought you would want a first glance.”

“Naw, I can wait. After all, it has been eons since we have been on the road. What’s a couple of light years?”

“That’s very mature of you.”

“I forgot the name of the place.”

“It’s a rather stupid name.”

“What is it?”

“Earth.”

“Boy, you are right. Being so close to the Milky Way Galaxy, you would have thought they could come up with a better name.”

“Yeah, all the others have pretty catchy names. Since we have discovered this one, we should rename it.”

“Great idea. Got any names in mind?”

“Humm. The only one that comes to mind immediately is yogurt.”

“I like it. Let it be so.”

 

I opened Circumstances of Childhood randomly to page 189 and pointed at the page without looking. The word closest to my finger was “courtroom.”

Courtroom by John W. Howell © 2024

“You may call your witness counselor.”

“Thank you, Your Honor. The state calls Ms. Charlene Roste.”

“Ms. Roste, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

“I do.”

“Very well, Ms. Roste. Would you state your name for the record?”

“Certainly. My name is Charlene Maywood Roste. My friends call me Chuck.”

“Thank you. Now tell the jury exactly what you saw on the night of June sixteenth.”

“Well, there I was, minding my own business when a guy approached me.”

“Is that guy in the courtroom?”

“Yes, right over there.”

“Let the record show the witness has identified the defendant, Farmer Brown. What happened next?”

“He had a pail and three-legged stool, which he immediately used to assault me.”

“By assault, you mean he hit you?”

“No. He grabbed my parts and started taking my milk.”

“Before we go further, the defense insists that you were under contract, which allowed Farmer Brown to take your milk. Do you agree with that?”

“I never saw a contract, nor have I signed one.”

“So here is the paper the defense says you signed. Does this look familiar?”

“I’ve never seen it before.”

“Is that signature yours?”

“Heck no. I always sign with my right hoof. That clearly is a left-hoof forgery.”

“Objection, your honor.”

“Yes, Mr. Travis?”

“The witness is not a certified hoof analyst, so her statement is conjecture.”

“So noted. The jury will disregard Ms. Roste’s last statement.”

“But you say you did not sign the contract.”

“I did not, and that man humiliated me.”

“Thank you, Ms. Roste.”

“Mr Travis, your witness.”

“Thank you, your honor. Ms. Roste, how long have you been on Farmer Brown’s farm?”

“About four years.”

“How many times has he taken your milk?”

“Twice a day.”

“So for four years, that would be over twelve hundred times.”

“I guess. I don’t do well at math.”

“Why did you object this time?”

“To be honest, I was looking for a ‘thank you.'”

“A thank you?”

“Yes. That man has taken my milk over twelve hundred times and never said thank you.”

“I see. What if he says ‘thank you’ now?”

“That’s all I want.”

“Your honor, for a directed acquittal, I will guarantee that my client will say ‘thank you.'”

“What say you, Mr. Prosecutor.”

“Yeah, fine.”

“Ms Roste?”

“I will be good with that.”

“So directed. Yes, Mr. Brown?”

“Thank you, Ms Roste.”

” You are welcome, Mr. Brown. Also, some warm water would be nice in the winter.”

 

Today, I opened Our Justice randomly to page 151. I pointed to the page with my eyes closed, and the word contemplation was closest to my finger.

Contemplation by John W. Howell © 2024

“You’re quiet.”

“Yeah.”

“Is it a contemplation, or are you not feeling well?”

“A little of both, I suppose.”

“Aw. What is bothering you?”

“I think I overate at lunch.”

“I thought you seemed overly hungry.”

“I don’t think it was that.”

“What was it then?”

“I have been wondering why we were put on the Earth. I think the contemplation of that question just got me to a point where I binge ate.”

“Well, I have certainly had that feeling myself.”

“You have?”

“Yes. A while back, I was also wondering what is the ultimate meaning of life?”

“Oh wow. Then I’m not weird.”

“Not at all. I think most thinking beings ask themselves that very thing. Especially in our case, given the way we live.”

“By the way we live, what do you mean?”

“We have to rely on some unfortunate circumstance to happen in order to get a meal.”

“What do you mean by unfortunate?”

“Like today. We would never have had such a beautiful lunch had that raccoon not run under that car.”

“Oh, I get it. We need road kill to survive.”

“Exactly.”

“But I never thought such a thing was unfortunate.”

“No. Then ask our lunch host the next time.”

“Oh, my goodness. I never thought of them.  Is there a way to change how we find food?”

“Like become vegans? Don’t make me laugh. We are vultures, and we are destined to eat what has gone before us.”

“So contemplation about such things is not very healthy.”

“Just think of this. If we weren’t here, who would clean up the mess left by a dead animal? Certainly not humans. They can’t seem to pick up a beer can, let alone a skunk.”

“So we have purpose.”

“You bet. And some pretty fine eats.”

“Thanks, you’ve helped me.”

“Good. Feel better?”

“Yeah. Let’s catch a thermal and find another meal.”

 

 

Today, I randomly opened Circumstances of Childhood to page 177 and pointed to the page with my eyes closed. Under my finger is the word ‘recognized.’ Our prompt.

Recognized by John W. Howell © 2024

“Why the clown mask. You going to a party?”

“I don’t want to be recognized.”

“By whom?”

“That guy standing by the tree.”

“Who is he?”

“I have no idea, but he’s been there for a while.”

“What makes you think he has any interest in you?”

“Just a feeling.”

“You think he won’t notice the clown mask?”

“At least he won’t know it’s me.”

“Have you been into the marijuana again? You sound paranoid.”

“No, I haven’t. Just look at the guy, though.”

“Okay, what am I looking for?”

“Notice the hat.”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Says John Deere.”

“So?”

“Check the jacket.”

“Yeah.”

“Down filled.”

“Okay.”

“Now look at that shotgun.”

“I didn’t see that before. Yikes, I know what you mean. ”

“Yeah, it’s hunting season, and that is a hunter.”

“From one pheasant to another, let me tell you something.”

“What?”

“That clown mask won’t fool him for a minute.”

“I guess you are right. My tail feathers are a dead giveaway. I think I’ll just stay in today.”

“Good decision. Me too.”

I randomly opened the book His Revenge to page 109. Without looking, I pointed to the page, and the closest word to my finger was a tie between hot and water, so I used both.

Hot Water by John W. Howell © 2024

“What are you reading?”

“A fascinating book about scientific experiments.”

“Really. You don’t look like the science type to me.”

“Oh yeah. I have been interested in science ever since I was little.”

“Funny you think you know someone, and then they surprise you.”

“Well, it’s not like I’m a dolt, you know.”

“I didn’t mean to imply you were. I’m just surprised, is all.”

“Okay. I can see that.”

“Any experiments touch your fancy?”

“Yes. One in particular stood out for me.”

“What was it.”

“It was where a frog was put into some water and gradually heated.”

“Oh, I remember. The frog finally was boiled in the hot water.”

“That’s the one.”

“Wait a minute. You are sitting in water.”

“Yeah, and it’s becoming hot water.”

“You should get out.”

“But it doesn’t feel hot to me.”

“Hello. That’s cause you are a frog, and you’ll end up dead.”

“I guess you are right. It is amazing how our bodies adapt to the changing temperature, isn’t it?”

“Amazing and dangerous. I only find that trait useful when it gets freezing.”

“Now that I’m out of there, it seems cold.”

“Well, duh. No more temperature experiments, okay?”

“I could use a coffee.”

“Good idea. Let’s hit the Lilly Pad Thai place.”