The Chestnut

Image provided by author.

By Marc Alexander Valle

The old man contemplated suicide. He’d walk the park. Maybe change his mind.

Children played.

Mothers talked.

Dogs barked.

Fathers caught baseballs.

He still wanted death.

He turned to the creek. An object floated towards him, a squirrel clenching onto a chestnut. He held out his cane. It kept clenching the chestnut. The creek pulled it downstream and submerged it.

Children played.

Mothers talked.

Dogs barked.

Fathers caught baseballs.

“Stupid animal,” a boy said. “Why they do that?”

“Everybody’s gotta eat,” he said. “No matter how stupid you are.”

“I don’t get it.”

He turned. “Sometimes you’re not supposed to.”