The old man contemplated suicide. He would 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 and stepped on its bank. An object floated towards him, a squirrel clenching onto a chestnut. The old man bent down and held out his cane. He leaned in as it neared. But the squirrel kept holding on to the chestnut.
The creek pulled the squirrel downstream. Then, submerged it.
Children played.
Mothers talked.
Dogs barked.
Fathers caught baseballs.
“Stupid animal,” a boy said. “Why do they do that?”
“Everybody’s gotta eat,” the old man said. “No matter how stupid you are.”
“I don’t get it.”
The old man turned away. “Sometimes you’re not supposed to.”
Both story and image by Marc Alexander Valle ©2016.
For the shorter, one-hundred word version of the story, click here, and please click ‘Like’ if you liked it.
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