Freeing the Chestnut

I shuffled past the front gate and slid belly-first along the sheltered garden wall, away from the pattering mist. Resting on a flat granite slab was a prickly green husk, split down the middle to reveal a gleaming chestnut. Moving carefully to avoid the sharp spines, I braced the outer casing with one flipper and pressed my nose against the polished brown nut. With a gentle, persistent nudge, it popped free from its rough cradle. It rolled across the wet stone with a quiet, dull clack, settling smoothly into a cool groove in the rock. I gave it a soft murmur of approval.