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Sweetness and the damp scent of a recent rain permeated the still air. The boards, still wet, could be hazardous to the foolhardy. Such as one young brown squirrel in quite the hurry, running along this road of the picketway. Quickly, past bushes and intersections, carrying with him a bulging opaque bag. Two friends followed, carrying more. He wished they’d all left a few minutes earlier. Seeing a knot in the wood, it looked like they made it on time.
On the grass, in front of a large back porch, an old white hound was sleeping, likely to the chagrin of its owner. But he enjoyed the coolness of it. The squirrels stopped in a clearing between the tall bushes of the north fence. The leader whistled just like he was taught. The dog grumbled awake. Sleepy eyed and smacking his lips, he snorted happily when he saw the trio. Grunting to his feet on stiff legs, one side of his body was soaked, covered with flecks of loose grass. He climbed the stairs with careful steps. and walked to a ratty old folding table. Twisting his head to the right, he grabbed a small can in his jaws and gingerly lifted it away. Trotting back down to the fence, he plopped it at his feet, looking back to the squirrels, panting happily, wagging his tail.
The three squirrels descended, setting down their own cargo at the dogs feet. Who picked it up daintily in his teeth and left to lay down on the deck with it. The squirrels got to work, popping the lid, filling their other bags. The dog untied his own treats, crunchy peanut butter balls! Delicious.
Inside the house, an elderly man sips coffee with his wife On the couch. Watching through the window with smiles. They looked forward to this time of year, a now familiar scene of animal commerce. This was not what he’d expected when he started leaving those cans of nuts outside that day five years ago. But his faith in the craftiness of squirrels was rewarded, and now they get something out of it too. They keep some of the other pests away and his gutters have never been cleaner.
With the transaction complete, the young troupe waves goodbye to Sheffield and departs. Crossing paths with another group on their way elsewhere for their own delivery. Out in the rest of the neighbourhood, squirrels and chipmunks were collecting nuts, berries and many other things from various pets and their owners. High quality, tasty and exotic foods that they would not get otherwise if it weren’t for the humans who live there. Humans who were in many cases all too happy to pay some nuts and other snacks for what they got in return, And off in the house, inside a large and well maintained drey, Francis and Chloe sat with their family. Their youngest son poked his head inside the entrance, excitedly showing them his first bag of Watkins peanuts, The brand new Hickory flavour. He’d learned well.
THE END
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