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.”
Can’t blame him for being cautious. Food can get scarce before you know it.
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Especially Abalone.
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I have to talk to that otter. Abalone is probably in my top 3 foods. If you remember Nicks Seafood Restaurant in downtown Chicago (I think we were there together once), it was available on their menu and I would order every time I went there. Can’t find it anymore and Nicks is gone. That otter better spill the beans or else !!!
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I love abalone. I do remember Nicks. Great place. Don’t know why it went out of business. Great memories, Tom.
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At least he has a high end meal… for now.
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So true. Beats those cohogs.
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Oh yeah, well my pet otter, Otto wouldn’t eat the stuff…way too tough. That’s why you and TO had to get dentures so early in life …eating all that abalone🐳
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Ha ha ha.
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Very entertaining, as always.
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Thank you so much, Esther,
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It’s nice to read this about the couple planning the meal for them, John. 😊
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Glad you liked it, Tim. 😊
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So am I, John. 😊
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😊
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Sounds like every true fisherman and their ‘secret spot.’ 🐟
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It does, doesn’t it? Thanks, Lois.
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I was guessing bears, but I had a feeling I was wrong. Love the line, “You are sleeping in the brown kelp tonight.” Very slimy.
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Ha. ha ha. Thanks, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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You are always keeping us guessing and I missed this one. I miss abalone too! 😂
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Thank you, Cindy. I miss abalone, too.
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Abalone – one of my favorite meals! Really good with Green Hungarian wine. The minute I saw abalone, I knew it was otters because they like it as much as I do (and can’t afford it now!)
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It has been years since I have had some.
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It’s out of this world expensive now. They give you squidalone instead.
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Arggg
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I first thought eagle and then beat, otter was a nice surprise! Now I’m thinking about abalone soup 🙂
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I’m glad you were surprised. Thanks, Denise.
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I would hope my wife and I would share our food sources if a similar situation arose, but then again depending on the type of food she might very well deploy the “trust is fine, control is better” strategy, John.😁
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It reminded me of the time I took the last Orio. I could never find them again.
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Fantastic entertainment, as always. You are keeping the tension till the last sentence. I always have to guess where i had read it before. Thanks, John! Best wishes, Michael
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Thank you, Michael.
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“You are sleeping in the brown kelp tonight.” – Ha ha Otters are cute and this is a fun story. I loved your book Detour on the Eternal Road. Very entertaining.
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Thank you, Thomas.
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I’ve never been privy to a backroom deal involving otters, but man, these guys could definitely run for office.
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I think they already have the mayor slot tied up. 😊
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For sure LOL
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😄
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Huh…I’d have never guessed otters. Good one, John!
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Thank you, Monika. 😊
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“Trust is fine, control is better” is a whole philosophy. I think we see a lot of it, though I’m not sure otters deserve the rap. 😂
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Ha ha ha. No, they have been generalized by a silly writer. 😄
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Well done, John. The same in every species, I guess.
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😊
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Sleeping in the brown kelp doesn’t sound good.
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It’s not. Dog house for sure.
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🙂
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