NULA Bookmark Club Presents 'Walnut' by Henry Rowe

Nalej Univeral Language of Arts 

Topic: Communication

    We may define the process of communication as the activity of sending a signal or reaction within the ability to receive a message. Communication is the building foundation to any interaction and can never be found contrary to life. Over the waters, sand commutates through wind towards lands. These sands deliver rich nutrients into the earth of the forest. In ancient acupuncture arts it is fact that the skin receptors can communicate within millimeters of a fine needle drawn in the skin to relieve, heal and impact our internal environment that is ongoing. The day is communicated through light. One may know the time of the day based on how light or dark the skies vary. Below we have provided an interactive short story to read to family and friends about how location can be communicative and delivers various of messages. 

Title of Entry: 'Walnut' by Henry Rowe 

Genre: Science Fiction, Short Story

Reading Level: Advanced

It was a warm, fall mid-day around twelve o'clock. My flight had just landed thirty-five minutes ago from a five-hour flight; Los Angeles to Michigan. 

Shortly after the flight, I waited by the luggage return to retrieve my one suitcase and began toward exit. 

Reaching for my 'iPhone' to check the time zone switch instantly, a bag of raw walnuts glinted in my memory. So, waiting I ate the rich dense nutrients that my great-great grandmother loved so much.

Arriving early, the driver pressed her horn three times to signal her position. I walked tall, and handsome, wearing a custom knitted jumpsuit and sweater. 

The sweater had an embedded feather of leather material and the sweat joggers very neatly designed with leather stripes and zip pockets that held the enclosed walnuts remaining. 

I recall often of we wore custom knitted material that great grandma would always sew for great grandpa, my siblings and me. 

It grew with me especially within my native heritage as we would always sew coverings for the preparation of the winter when great granddad would share stories about our family by a warm fire.  

They passed in very old age and passed forward many writing that helped shape my confidence, always teaching that 'strong trees stand tall'.

As I started to enter the vehicle, it was spacious and had multiple rows. "Osyio, my name is Nuna" I begin to speak. 

"Hello Nuna. My name is Azuka. Are you headed to Pontiac?" The driver replied with an elegant soft Nigerian accent. I replied in excitement "Yes ma'am I am!"

Checking the road and clearances we began towards the destination. Not much was spoken along the ride as I was finishing editing task on my new book 'Bookmark'.  I wanted to enjoy this visit as a family focus. 

A while longer until then I finally looked up and broke silence.

"What is your name from? It sounds very special." I ask the driver. 

She smiled briefly with her glowing melanin and her hair elegantly braided, "Yes. It is Nigerian that means to be well experienced and confident." 

As I digested her name, and within what she revealed about the meaning, I most certainly felt her beautiful confidence in knowing. She was kind and to add very strong in the 'noble pride' she deserved.

She started looking in the rear view to switch into a right lane toward an exit and continued saying, "Your name is unique also.... what is your name from?"

Then I replied "It is a family name passed from my native ancestors. It is spiritual name to have survived through colonization. It means land in Algonquin tongue." as I replied.

She gave an intimate light chuckle with a blush and then stated, "That is very beautiful"

A moment later my phone began ring. It was my grandmother Hurit (Beautiful). I quickly answered. and the pone dropped service. "

"Huh" I thought to myself, and suddenly about twenty seconds following the call I received another call from G'ma but the server would not connect the call. We got into a phone tag game.

 A text appeared from G'ma Hurit saying "Everything is just fine baby! Your loudmouth sister will pick me up the morning at the airport."

"Ok, I still have my key. I'm so excited to see everyone." I texted back speedily.

Then a lengthy message notified me saying 

"Returning tomorrow lol... Always prepared like me. I left a list on the counter with directions. Make yourself comfortable my child and KEEP MY KITCHEN CLEAN. " Following with "I Love You My Nuna! Grandma Hurit"

"lol, well ok I love you too G'ma Hurit. Please travel safe and keep me updated" I replied smiling at that fact that she was using an emojis and a signature like an email.

"You ever smile at just a thought?" I began to ask within myself.

"All the time." Azuka replied randomly.

"Excuse me" I spoke aloud in amazement.

With a slight chuckle she then replied, "I was doing a voice text." Pausing briefly, she began playing music from her country. A new sound roamed my mind as I began to rest my eyes and visualize. 

It would only take a thirty-minute drive to Pontiac, where I grew up and learned all the writing skills that help me sell over 500 copies of my first book named "Think & Create." 

I rolled down the window a few inches and smelled an array of cooking. Until maybe ten minutes after we were driving down the street of the home.

Turning into the driveway the driver began to quote a writing under the maple trees saying, "Strong trees stand tall and is weak for nobody... I have your book that you written, and I enjoy your work."  

"I looked in amazement that she recognized me but managed to make the reference looking at the trees that stood tall. Both were opposite holding their own places looking like lung branches, as the driveway was a vein in front of a large home.

Very intrigued, "Azuka" I said, "How would you like to join me for dinner this weekend while in town? I want you to have lunch with me.

"Sure, I will go with you" as she glowed in excitement in her eyes and cheeks.

We both smiled as we began exchanging contacts. Then I gently shut the vehicle door as I entered into a Deja vu.

Every few months Nuna would revisit his grandmother Hurit for a weekend reconciliation with his brothers and sister who was planning to arrive the next day. 

I sat in his grandmother's home at the edge of a white sectional that began looking fatigue. Though it remained white much of the material on the seat began to shed like fall. 

A fragrant tree sat in the corner as aged cable wires were hidden folded behind a pot.  

I began to prepare clothes from my luggage and suddenly a movement occurred to my right as a quick shaking. It interrupted the still the leaves of the corner tree briefly. 

Instantly aware I noted that another influence was near. An instance began to dawn upon me as I remembered that I heard scratching of some sort so my early thoughts considered that it could have been a rodent. 

Immediately, using a near pole, I began to move the chords and swept underneath the couch. Nothing was there and the movement had long been gone. 

"Not any trash around but outside" I thought to myself. Exploring out the back door I saw what would unveil all known. 

A marvelous example manifested. As I looked down on the porch steps, I seen a very small walnut on the porch steps. As I observed directionally towards the left, I noticed cable and wired chords on a trail leading to a drilled hole near the window where I heard perfunctory gouging. 

Next morning, I sat postured at the piano as I practiced as song written by 'Stevie Wonder' called

"Knock me off my feet" and instantaneously the abruptly movement occurred by the window behind me, where the apple tree stood exquisitely along and aged walnut tree.

Examining the noise from the window, I began to see a red squirrel swiftly begin to approach my direction. Eventually the squirrel was reconciling to their shrouded walnut. 

"I'll name you Walnut" I said in a gentle tone. It would pertain to each return. 

Full of anticipation, I prepared my wardrobe, wearing red and orange knitted neck sweater decor that highlighted my brown eyes, followed by Kachhi jeans shorts that exploited the defined endurance of my calf's. 

I then began to arrange my accessories and notice that my wallet was nowhere nearby.

Searching my luggage, I said "Man, did I drop my wallet!" Then I remembered Azuka. 

"Maybe I dropped it in the car after the ride." Marking to note I had exchanged contact with Azuka and could possibly ask. So, then I began to attend to my phone to communicate.

Then the doorbell began to ring. Sarcastically smirking, I thought with a pleasant smile, "I wonder who that could be." 

Opening the door, expecting my grandmother and my siblings, it was Azuka, my driver from the airport with my wallet in her hand. 

She stood beautifully as a tiger lily flower, wearing a red decorated dress that curled. Jewel ornaments wrapped her wrist, ankles and neck. The natural shea and lavender kissed my nose.

"Azuka" I said in gladness.

"Nuna" she replied softly

"You look beyond gorgeous" I said while starring in attraction." 

"Thank you...Nuna, you look Hansome.

Extending to return the wallet she, looking deep into my eyes she gently says, " You will be needing this I suppose."

In accepting the wallet, I spoke.

"I Thank you Azuka...I was just beginning to search for you. You truly are a blessing."

Rhetorically within a smile she replies, "What was it about that lunch?"

Bookmark Notes: The key to understanding this passage is finding balance in interacting veiled location by sound travel, while exploring romance, and mystery. 

DID YOU ENJOY THIS STORY?

Watch this clip about how unique whales use echo communication. 

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