Walnuts

There is a irritable old man not far from Rian's Abode who seems to have slowly developed a dangerous preoccupation with his walnut trees.

First, yes, he painted wide white stripes around the mid trunk of the trees to keep bugs away. This is not unusual. Rian has seen it done before.

And then...tin siding. Carefully wound around the branches - a good foot and a half upwards- presumably to keep the squirrels down. This is also not TERRIBLY unusual. Although Rian often wonders what happens to the poor squirrels who attempt the climb. Slip-slip-slipslipsplat!

Finally, this troubled creature has placed speakers in his trees. Long winding electrical cords of orange and black hang from the upper tree in loops and then snake across the man's front yard, presumably to the nearest electrical outlet. The speakers are motion sensitive, and so when a bird or extremely buff squirrel try for the walnuts.....zzzzing! A high pitched whistle pierces the air, yes?

I imagine the tone is similar to a dog whistle. Rian can only faintly hear it, although it immediatly makes one's eyes smart. Aidan shrieks when he ears it.

The man has turned two trees into a frightening piece of loud modern sculpture.

So. Perhaps the ancient creature is a serious farmer. Perhaps he survives all winter long off of black walnuts. Perhaps.

But Rian rather believes he is Walnut Obsessed. Two trees do not a livlihood make. And every afternoon he stalks the strip of grass between them, a sailor manning his craft, looking for fallen fruit and glaring about with tiny angry eyes.

What was the line? "Your heart is a shriveled walnut..."?

Beware obsession, chickens. Twill come back to bite ye.