Peanuts, Walnuts, Pecans

This story was originally published on Medium.

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It’s been a long day for Sam, running everywhere, running every which way, it felt as if he was running for his life at every turn.

Maybe not every turn.

But Sam is just about home now, and he can relax. He can slow his heart rate. It is pounding right now. He stops for a moment and allows his heart rate to slow to… whatever is normal. Less than this.

As he breathes slowly he can smell something wonderful in the air. Sam wonders where it is coming from. Could be anywhere. He scans his surroundings and doesn’t see anyone… or anything… but he better get home quickly.

You’re never safe when you’re standing still.

He rushes up to his home, his knees ache from the day, but he’s almost there. Just 10 feet forward and 20 feet up. Roughly. He never measured. He didn’t know how to. He didn’t have the tools to do this.

He would stick with his estimation.

After 10 feet forward and 20 feet up… Sam is home. He is greeted by Pepe and Fiona and Rocky. Each one gives him a quick embrace, Rocky’s lingers a bit longer. No one needs to embrace too long around here. Everyone knows how everyone feels about one another.

Sam stays still for a bit, taking in the noise of the neighborhood. Some birds are chirping back and forth, perhaps a conversation. They flutter away and the sounds of all their wings flapping together is such a beautiful sound. It sends a lovely chill down Sam’s spine. A heavy wind whooshes by and swirls half of the trees’ leaves in its wake.

Piercing laughter echoes out in the street. Words follow the laughter in a foreign language Sam doesn’t quite understand. The words drag on long and in a high-pitched manner. It’s that woman with the red hair across the street. The one that always has the drink in the cup. She must be having the drink again. Sam sees her stumbling in the street, happy as can be, almost unable to stand on her own.

As long as she keeps moving.

If there’s anything Sam knows, it’s that you’re never safe when you’re standing still.

Sam’s stomach grumbles. He cannot remember when he last ate. It must have been soon after he awoke. He wonders when everyone else last ate. Pepe and Fiona and Rocky are all together, just about seven feet from Sam. Again, he didn’t measure. But that seems about right.

Sam is about to approach them, when he hears a loud sound from behind him. Sam spins around, eyes wide, body spread wide, ready to protect his family at all costs.

Sam, you fool! You stayed still for too long!

Actually, Sam is incorrect. It’s not danger. It’s his neighbor, Garrett.

Garrett is slowly moving towards Sam, a smile on his face. He keeps his movements slow and methodical, smooth, his muscles are stiff. Sam can sense it. Garrett reaches up from the ground, his arm extended as far as it will go. There is a good deal of distance between Sam and Garrett’s hand. Sam wonders if his calculation of 20 feet up is incorrect, as Garrett’s hand is probably… four feet away now.

Sam slowly moves down a few branches, getting closer and closer to Garrett. He and Garrett see each other oftentimes in the mornings. Garrett has left food out for Sam occasionally, but not always. He tries to talk to Sam in hushed tones. He seems to be the nicest of all the neighbors. But Sam is still cautious when it comes to anyone.

But he has seen Garrett in his home many a time… through the window just outside of Sam’s tree. Sam tries not to be nosey, but he has gazed in on occasion. Garrett seems like such a delicate and joyous person to Sam. He seems kind. He seems gentle.

Sam moves closer and closer. He realizes he smells a delicious scent. Not the one he smelled before. A new scent.

Nuts!

Garrett’s hand is open and Sam nears it… now less than a foot away.

Look at the bevy of nuts Garrett has brought to the tree! Peanuts! Walnuts! Are those pecans?! They often use pecans in those cooking shows that Garrett watches and Sam sometimes catches glimpses of through his window.

Sam cannot remember if he has ever had pecans. If he has, it has been a long while. And Pepe and Fiona have likely never had them. Rocky… perhaps not.

Sam moves closer, seeing the treasure of nuts laid out in Garret’s hand.

Is this whole collection for me?

“Go ahead.” Garrett says quietly.

Sam reaches and pulls a peanut from Garrett’s hand. Garrett doesn’t move. Sam eats the delicious peanut. So savory. So amazing. He grabs a few more peanuts and walnuts, all he can hold, and he scurries back up the tree. He drops the nuts off with everyone. He turns back… and Garrett is still waiting. A couple more trips and Sam is able to retrieve all of the nuts from Garrett’s hand and bring them back up to his home.

He returns for the last trip, just one pecan left in Garrett’s hand. Sam swipes the pecan from his hand and quickly devours it.

Oh, that is a lovely taste. I remember now, I have had one of these… a long time ago… when I was but a baby squirrel.

Sam twitches his tail a bit, delighted with this turn of events. Garrett says his goodbyes and heads off. Sam returns to his home where a feast of nuts lay before him, Pepe, Fiona, and Rocky.

Tonight is going to be a good night.

Everyone else gets their first taste of pecans and they are in heaven. The nuts don’t last long. They go quickly. Everyone is left with full bellies. Sam relaxes in the tree with his family, full bellies, bodies warmed by the nourishment, souls warmed by the generosity.

As they relax together, they gaze through the window. Garrett sits on the couch with a glass of weird yellow water, watching the television. The baking show is on. It’s the semifinals. Sam is excited. He hopes they cook with pecans. It’s his favorite thing to watch. And now, it’s his favorite thing to eat.

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