I got up from writing to answer the knocking at my front door, wondering if I’d have to speak federal election with someone I’d never met, or if my neighbour needed a hand.
There was no one there, save for a couple walking down the street. When I looked down to the stoop I found a walnut, still wrapped in its green ball. As I picked it up I saw a black squirrel staring at me from the driveway.
He looked so ready and willing and …waiting. I rolled the walnut across and over the porch and down to the pavement to him.
He caught it, with a little squeak of … glee? And rolled it under my car.
I looked at the couple, who’d stopped in their tracks – yes they saw that.
For a moment all the bustle and think of Human was interrupted by the bustle and gather of Squirrel, and we played “Roll the Walnut”.
Smile. Pause.
I closed the front door and got back to work.
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