Fudge-Nut Squirrel's First Christmas

By David S. Rosenberg

"Fudge-Nut, if you don't stop squirming, I'm going to nudge you outside in the cold," Chester-Nut said. "How can anyone sleep in this nest with all your fidgeting?"

Fudge-Nut looked at his father and trembled at the thought of being outside in the snow and brutal wind.

"Chester-Nut Squirrel, what are you trying to do, give our son a bad dream? You know it's his first winter," Hazel-Nut said, trying to calm Fudge-Nut, who was still learning how to survive as a squirrel and winter hardships.

Chester-Nut's nose curled upwards. It always did that when he was upset. "Maybe he'd like to go live in the human's nest."

"I don't like the humans. I'm scared of them," Fudge-Nut Squirrel said as he nestled closer to his mother.

"There, there Fudge-Nut—no one's going to put you outside," Hazel-Nut said, giving her mate an angry look for terrifying their son. "And I don't think you have to worry about the humans who live in the gray nest. They don't come out much in the winter."

Fudge-Nut's eyes brightened somewhat. "I'm still scared of them. What good are they anyway?"

"All creatures have a purpose," Chester-Nut grumbled. "I have to agree with your mom that those humans seem pretty nice. They don't bother us when were searching in our yard for seeds and nuts."

Fudge-Nut looked at his mom to see if she agreed. "That's right, Fudge-Nut. The human called Day-vid uses a noisy thing that chops up grass. It's much easier to find seeds and nuts when the grass is not too high," Hazel-Nut said. "And remember what happened when you didn't stay on the grass like we told you?"

Fudge-Nut nodded. "Yes, mom, the squirrel flattener almost ran over me."

"That's right, Fudge-Nut, but the one they call, Soosan, stopped the squirrel flattener and let you scamper away," Chester-Nut said. "You were very lucky. Most of the humans roll down between our yards and won't stop their squirrel flatteners."

"And the other human they call, Awd-rey, did something that helped squirrels in every yard. That's really why we named you, Fudge-Nut," Hazel-Nut said.

"I don't understand," Fudge-Nut said, as his nose quivered as it always did when he was curious.

"Awww, save it for tomorrow," Chester-Nut said. "I need to sleep in case it stops snowing."

Hazel-Nut looked at her son and ignored her mate. "If I tell you the story, will you go to sleep?"

"I really want to know," Fudge-Nut's said, as his nose quivered again.

"Last year about this time when the first snow fell, the humans put up all those fancy lights outside their nest."

"Don't forget to use the lights, to warm your paws while you're looking for food," Chester-Nut said, causing Hazel-Nut to sneer at him for interrupting.

"Your father was up on one of the high branches looking into the human's nest. From there he could see what they were doing inside their nest. The humans are most interesting to watch. They actually bring a tree inside their nest and put lights and all kinds of things on the tree."

Fudge-Nut's nose continued to quiver as he listened.

"The human called Awd-rey was right by one of the openings and you know how good your father is at finding nuts. Well, Awd-rey had piles and piles of nuts. Naturally, he wondered if they would share those nuts with us."

"Did they share? Huh, huh—did they share," Fudge-Nut interrupted.

"Get on with the story, Hazel-Nut so I can sleep," Chester-Nut said.

"Awd-rey spent a lot of time putting the nuts and a lot of other things in bowls," Hazel-Nut said.

"It took her all day, and I could smell the nuts all the way up in our tree," Chester-Nut said. "Later in the day, when the bright light in the sky was almost gone, she put dozens and dozens of these little squares in fancy boxes."

"And she wrapped each box in pretty paper," Hazel-Nut continued. "Then you know what she did?"

"No, mom—what?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"She put all those packages out on the back porch. The packages smelled so good, so naturally I went over to look," Chester-Nut said. "I ran down the tree and hopped through the snow and climbed up on the railing to look on the porch. There I saw a little hole in the screen door."

"By this time I could smell the nuts and something else that smelled so sweet, all the way up in our nest. I was a little worried about your father as he made the hole in the screen a little bigger and went inside the human's nest," Hazel-Nut said.

"Weren't you scared, dad?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"Not me! I figured whatever was in those boxes were for us. Why would a human put them on the porch and then make a hole in the screen door if they didn't want us to get to the nuts?"

"Whatddya do then? Huh, huh?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"He nibbled away at the screen to get to those packages to get inside," Hazel-Nut said.

"Yes, after I nibbled away at the packages, it was wonderful. I tasted what Awd-rey made. It was more than nuts. It was sweet and rich, and heavenly. Little dark brown and light brown squares to nibble on—I never tasted anything so good," Chester-Nut said.

"Then what happened? Huh, huh?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"I gave your mom the special signal to join me because there were boxes and boxes of these wonderful treats."

"You know I don't like to run through the snow," Hazel-Nut said. "These treats were so good, I didn't mind getting my belly wet and cold. It was all I could do to get your father to bring some back to our nest. He wanted to stay and eat as many as he could."

"They were terrific, but your mom was right. It was time to think about storing them for later in the winter," Chester-Nut said.

"So we started bring the little squares back to our nest. At first, the snow made it so hard to go back and forth, but we made so many trips that the snow squashed down and it became easier," Hazel-Nut said.

"Did you get all of them?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"All of them! I wish—but you know how our nosey neighbor squirrels are. They could smell the nuts and sweetness too," Chester-Nut said. "The next thing we knew all our neighbor squirrels came to take away the little squares. We worked all through the night and most of the next day nibbling through the packages and carrying away the little squares."

"That winter, none of the squirrels we knew starved and none lost their tales from the cold while trying to forage for food."

"Well why did you name me Fudge-Nut?"

"Well, when Awd-rey saw that we took away the little squares we heard her say My-fudge, My-fudge and she was so happy that she cried. Humans do that you know," Hazel-Nut said. "Since we had many squares for the winter and didn't have to search for food—well your father and I spent more time together and a little later you were born."

"We were going to call you My-Fudge-Nut, but your mom thought that was a little too much—so we shortened your name to Fudge-Nut."

"Do you think that Awd-rey will make more of those squares? Do ya, huh, huh?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"I've been looking everyday, Fudge-Nut, but I don't think they have any nuts this year," Chester-Nut said. "Now that's the end of the story and you promised to go to sleep."

"Yes, but if the humans don't have any nuts for the winter, won't they starve?" Fudge-Nut asked.

Chester-Nut chuckled. "Maybe, but I think humans are pretty good at getting the food they need. Now go to sleep."

Fudge-Nut nestled closer to his mom and felt the heat from her body. Chester-Nut soon fell asleep and snored a little as he always did. Fudge-Nut squirmed again to get closer to his mother's ear.

"What is it, dear?" Hazel-Nut asked.

"I'm worried about the humans," Fudge-Nut said and then whispered to his mom what he wanted to do.

The next morning Susan, David, and Audrey left the warmth of their beds after a good night's sleep. David turned on the Christmas tree lights and played some beautiful Christmas music. Susan put on the coffee pot and helped her mom, Audrey, set the breakfast table. Soon the cinnamon-pecan sticky buns were ready—a special treat for the Christmas holiday.

After breakfast, they left the dirty dishes on the table and gathered around the Christmas tree. Susan played Santa, and passed out the presents to her mom and her husband, David. There were packages from near and far, from friends, relatives and neighbors. There were sweaters and shirts, books and music, and good things to eat. There were piles and piles of wrapping paper and empty boxes. Susan, Audrey, and David laughed as they celebrated the glorious holiday.

Later, David gathered the wrapping paper and a few boxes so they could move around in the living room. He took a double arm-load down to the garage for the garbage collection on Wednesday.

"Get the newspaper, on the way back," Susan yelled to her husband.

David opened the front door, but noticed a small package in torn red Christmas paper on top of the newspaper. "Hey, what's this?" he asked as he tucked the newspaper under his arm and showed Susan what he found.

"It looks like a gift."

"Open it up," Audrey suggested.

David removed the wrinkled wrapping paper from the package and found three perfect acorns.

"Who would leave us acorns for a present?" Susan asked.

Then suddenly they knew. The small package was a gift of love, from the very culprits that took last year's fudge. Susan, David, and Audrey sat among the dirty breakfast dishes and discussed what they would do with the most beautiful gift they received for Christmas. Together they decided to plant the acorns so that sometime in the future, many acorns would fall from oak trees and many squirrels would have food for the winter.

Review by: Lois Stern, author

In The Obvious Answer, David S. Rosenberg brings us a compelling story of competing forces. On the one hand, we have ruthless criminals in the pocket of immoral politicians, intent on augmenting their already overflowing coffers at any cost. No measure is too brutal for them when it comes to achieving their goals. On the other hand, we meet  a corporate head with a noble vision. By utilizing nanochemistry, he believes there is a viable way to harness the earth's heat to create environmentally friendly fuels. If only his  goal can be realized,  his company would be in a position to rid the world of its dependency on the oil industry. As his vision inches closer to reality, his goals pose a decided threat to these evil politicians and their henchmen.   If something isn't done, they will lose their ability to maintain their status quo. Mr. Rosenberg piles action upon action as scenes rapidly shift along with the factions of good and evil. There is never a secret as to who are the "good guys" or the "bad" in this story. It's strength lies in the well developed characters, shifting settings and the horrors we witness, perpetrated merely to satisfy  unconscionable greed.

As we reach its final pages, we are left with several  thoughts to ponder relevant to today: How do some people become so  morally corroded that the means - any means - justifies the end? In the real world, who are some of the people whose lofty goals have been beaten down by the power brokers? Does this book speak to us on another level, suggesting that the true reasons we became embroiled in our current Mid East war have little to do with saving democracy? One wonders if The Obvious Answer contains more layers of truth than fiction. David Rosenberg is a brilliant author. I have been keeping my eye on him and suggest you do the same.

Buzz - Book Review
by John Wolf

The Obvious Answer: Solving the World's Energy crisis

"The Obvious Answer" is a new book by David Rosenberg. This is for those of you who love a thriller. The topic is very current, concerning what lengths the oil industry will go to protect their century and half monopoly on the world's most needed energy source as innovation theatens their mountain top. The spark of invention drops a match into a barrel of oil and sets the book ablaze when Weare Enterprises discovers a process to not only preclude the need for oil from Middle Eastern countries, but provides electricity and cleans the air at the same time.

You won't be skeptical after you read the intriguing technology involved. It could be the answer. The thrills are provided by some nasty characters that don't take prisoners. They feed on anyone in the way of big business and cause "accidents" to any thing that demotes their cause to the shock of their enemies. Money can be made in confused derivitive trading when you know the outcome before it happens. You could have better friends. The problem is they are all so upstanding in the public eye.

Nadir Consulting is a Janus organization: two faced and treacherous. These guys are the gunslingers wearing black hats. This company pays dividends in blood.

As you read, you want these guys to get what's coming to them. David provides unique solutions to your wishes. Great imagination. Let's see this in the movie theaters.

Money breeds corruption and this novel has it all. Our protagonists, Jonathan Weare and his girl friend and chief scientist, Marci Ingram, dodge the political rivals and roadblocks as his powerful mother, Suzanne Weare, owner of Weare Enterprises, uses her instincts to upset the pandits.

David does a brilliant job of keeping the action going to the end, where the twists and turns leave you spinning. "I didn't expect that," I said to myself during the last few chapters.

The book will be published by Xlibris and will be available on Amazon. It can be obtained in hardcover or softcover. It's 314 pages of adventure that I believe you will find excellent reading while under an umbrella this summer.

Go to David's website for details and availability.

The Obvious Answer

A volcano inspires Jonathan Weare, heir to the Weare Enterprises conglomerate. His mother and company president, Suzanne Weare, agrees that his idea might solve the world’s energy crisis. She funds plant construction that uses earth heat and nanochemistry to make expensive liquid fuels. Jonathan convinces Jordan Nash, a renowned environmentalist, that his plant will remove atmospheric greenhouse gases and eliminate transoceanic shipping of petroleum.

Jonathan becomes increasingly aware of mounting political pressure threatening his effort. Nadir Consulting, a company empowered to minimize threats to the petroleum industry and manipulate energy prices for profi t, receives an order to eliminate the threat posed by Jonathan’s new company—Weare Energy. Layer by layer angry citizens learn of sabotage, murder, and widespread corruption as Nadir acts to protect the worldwide energy monopoly. Jonathan seeks help from the ultimate source of power—the people.

Author David S. Rosenberg wrote the following books.

No Shortage of Evil

Infusion of Evil

Extension of Evil

The Hungry Dragon

The Compact Guide for the Creative Writer

Fudge-Nut Squirrel's First Christmas

By David S. Rosenberg

"Fudge-Nut, if you don't stop squirming, I'm going to nudge you outside in the cold," Chester-Nut said. "How can anyone sleep in this nest with all your fidgeting?"

Fudge-Nut looked at his father and trembled at the thought of being outside in the snow and brutal wind.

"Chester-Nut Squirrel, what are you trying to do, give our son a bad dream? You know it's his first winter," Hazel-Nut said, trying to calm Fudge-Nut, who was still learning how to survive as a squirrel and winter hardships.

Chester-Nut's nose curled upwards. It always did that when he was upset. "Maybe he'd like to go live in the human's nest."

"I don't like the humans. I'm scared of them," Fudge-Nut Squirrel said as he nestled closer to his mother.

"There, there Fudge-Nut—no one's going to put you outside," Hazel-Nut said, giving her mate an angry look for terrifying their son. "And I don't think you have to worry about the humans who live in the gray nest. They don't come out much in the winter."

Fudge-Nut's eyes brightened somewhat. "I'm still scared of them. What good are they anyway?"

"All creatures have a purpose," Chester-Nut grumbled. "I have to agree with your mom that those humans seem pretty nice. They don't bother us when were searching in our yard for seeds and nuts."

Fudge-Nut looked at his mom to see if she agreed. "That's right, Fudge-Nut. The human called Day-vid uses a noisy thing that chops up grass. It's much easier to find seeds and nuts when the grass is not too high," Hazel-Nut said. "And remember what happened when you didn't stay on the grass like we told you?"

Fudge-Nut nodded. "Yes, mom, the squirrel flattener almost ran over me."

"That's right, Fudge-Nut, but the one they call, Soosan, stopped the squirrel flattener and let you scamper away," Chester-Nut said. "You were very lucky. Most of the humans roll down between our yards and won't stop their squirrel flatteners."

"And the other human they call, Awd-rey, did something that helped squirrels in every yard. That's really why we named you, Fudge-Nut," Hazel-Nut said.

"I don't understand," Fudge-Nut said, as his nose quivered as it always did when he was curious.

"Awww, save it for tomorrow," Chester-Nut said. "I need to sleep in case it stops snowing."

Hazel-Nut looked at her son and ignored her mate. "If I tell you the story, will you go to sleep?"

"I really want to know," Fudge-Nut's said, as his nose quivered again.

"Last year about this time when the first snow fell, the humans put up all those fancy lights outside their nest."

"Don't forget to use the lights, to warm your paws while you're looking for food," Chester-Nut said, causing Hazel-Nut to sneer at him for interrupting.

"Your father was up on one of the high branches looking into the human's nest. From there he could see what they were doing inside their nest. The humans are most interesting to watch. They actually bring a tree inside their nest and put lights and all kinds of things on the tree."

Fudge-Nut's nose continued to quiver as he listened.

"The human called Awd-rey was right by one of the openings and you know how good your father is at finding nuts. Well, Awd-rey had piles and piles of nuts. Naturally, he wondered if they would share those nuts with us."

"Did they share? Huh, huh—did they share," Fudge-Nut interrupted.

"Get on with the story, Hazel-Nut so I can sleep," Chester-Nut said.

"Awd-rey spent a lot of time putting the nuts and a lot of other things in bowls," Hazel-Nut said.

"It took her all day, and I could smell the nuts all the way up in our tree," Chester-Nut said. "Later in the day, when the bright light in the sky was almost gone, she put dozens and dozens of these little squares in fancy boxes."

"And she wrapped each box in pretty paper," Hazel-Nut continued. "Then you know what she did?"

"No, mom—what?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"She put all those packages out on the back porch. The packages smelled so good, so naturally I went over to look," Chester-Nut said. "I ran down the tree and hopped through the snow and climbed up on the railing to look on the porch. There I saw a little hole in the screen door."

"By this time I could smell the nuts and something else that smelled so sweet, all the way up in our nest. I was a little worried about your father as he made the hole in the screen a little bigger and went inside the human's nest," Hazel-Nut said.

"Weren't you scared, dad?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"Not me! I figured whatever was in those boxes were for us. Why would a human put them on the porch and then make a hole in the screen door if they didn't want us to get to the nuts?"

"Whatddya do then? Huh, huh?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"He nibbled away at the screen to get to those packages to get inside," Hazel-Nut said.

"Yes, after I nibbled away at the packages, it was wonderful. I tasted what Awd-rey made. It was more than nuts. It was sweet and rich, and heavenly. Little dark brown and light brown squares to nibble on—I never tasted anything so good," Chester-Nut said.

"Then what happened? Huh, huh?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"I gave your mom the special signal to join me because there were boxes and boxes of these wonderful treats."

"You know I don't like to run through the snow," Hazel-Nut said. "These treats were so good, I didn't mind getting my belly wet and cold. It was all I could do to get your father to bring some back to our nest. He wanted to stay and eat as many as he could."

"They were terrific, but your mom was right. It was time to think about storing them for later in the winter," Chester-Nut said.

"So we started bring the little squares back to our nest. At first, the snow made it so hard to go back and forth, but we made so many trips that the snow squashed down and it became easier," Hazel-Nut said.

"Did you get all of them?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"All of them! I wish—but you know how our nosey neighbor squirrels are. They could smell the nuts and sweetness too," Chester-Nut said. "The next thing we knew all our neighbor squirrels came to take away the little squares. We worked all through the night and most of the next day nibbling through the packages and carrying away the little squares."

"That winter, none of the squirrels we knew starved and none lost their tales from the cold while trying to forage for food."

"Well why did you name me Fudge-Nut?"

"Well, when Awd-rey saw that we took away the little squares we heard her say My-fudge, My-fudge and she was so happy that she cried. Humans do that you know," Hazel-Nut said. "Since we had many squares for the winter and didn't have to search for food—well your father and I spent more time together and a little later you were born."

"We were going to call you My-Fudge-Nut, but your mom thought that was a little too much—so we shortened your name to Fudge-Nut."

"Do you think that Awd-rey will make more of those squares? Do ya, huh, huh?" Fudge-Nut asked.

"I've been looking everyday, Fudge-Nut, but I don't think they have any nuts this year," Chester-Nut said. "Now that's the end of the story and you promised to go to sleep."

"Yes, but if the humans don't have any nuts for the winter, won't they starve?" Fudge-Nut asked.

Chester-Nut chuckled. "Maybe, but I think humans are pretty good at getting the food they need. Now go to sleep."

Fudge-Nut nestled closer to his mom and felt the heat from her body. Chester-Nut soon fell asleep and snored a little as he always did. Fudge-Nut squirmed again to get closer to his mother's ear.

"What is it, dear?" Hazel-Nut asked.

"I'm worried about the humans," Fudge-Nut said and then whispered to his mom what he wanted to do.

The next morning Susan, David, and Audrey left the warmth of their beds after a good night's sleep. David turned on the Christmas tree lights and played some beautiful Christmas music. Susan put on the coffee pot and helped her mom, Audrey, set the breakfast table. Soon the cinnamon-pecan sticky buns were ready—a special treat for the Christmas holiday.

After breakfast, they left the dirty dishes on the table and gathered around the Christmas tree. Susan played Santa, and passed out the presents to her mom and her husband, David. There were packages from near and far, from friends, relatives and neighbors. There were sweaters and shirts, books and music, and good things to eat. There were piles and piles of wrapping paper and empty boxes. Susan, Audrey, and David laughed as they celebrated the glorious holiday.

Later, David gathered the wrapping paper and a few boxes so they could move around in the living room. He took a double arm-load down to the garage for the garbage collection on Wednesday.

"Get the newspaper, on the way back," Susan yelled to her husband.

David opened the front door, but noticed a small package in torn red Christmas paper on top of the newspaper. "Hey, what's this?" he asked as he tucked the newspaper under his arm and showed Susan what he found.

"It looks like a gift."

"Open it up," Audrey suggested.

David removed the wrinkled wrapping paper from the package and found three perfect acorns.

"Who would leave us acorns for a present?" Susan asked.

Then suddenly they knew. The small package was a gift of love, from the very culprits that took last year's fudge. Susan, David, and Audrey sat among the dirty breakfast dishes and discussed what they would do with the most beautiful gift they received for Christmas. Together they decided to plant the acorns so that sometime in the future, many acorns would fall from oak trees and many squirrels would have food for the winter.