Hour Two - The Nutcracker

It’s 1:30 – time to start writing for an hour.
THE NUTCRACKER
The sun brinked on the eastern side of the world, casting silver rays through the morning dressing of sheer cloud wisps and sleeping pine trees. The rays lit a small clearing where two young men were collecting nuts.
“Just break it open with a rock,” one suggested.
“Nay, we’re civilized people, Tay.” the other mocked half-seriously. “We must use our jaws.”
“A rock is a tool,” Tay countered. “Civilized people use tools.”
“Would you rather die as a result of having a stone thrown at you versus someone’s hands around your neck? I mean, think about the respect we’re paying the nut here, by using our own person, our jaws, to crack it. It creates the feeling within the neck that it is a worthy foe, and that we’re paying it respect by fighting it ourselves. Kind of like the king fighting the victorious gladiator, which, of course, must die before being let loose. The king respects the warrior, and so must fight him himself. See what I mean?”
Tay’s face still showed signs of doubt. “It’s a hazelnut, Will. Just smash it with a rock.”
“You and your tools.” Will shook his head disdainfully. “Why use tools when you have a perfectly good set of tools in your head, man? Use your jaws, man.”
“Why not make a tool that works like jaws?”
“Haha! You mean I could create a little wood manikin with a set of jaws and use those jaws to crack the nut?”
“Well, that’s not really what I was getting at, but sure, that’s an idea. I can even paint it to look like a man, if that eases your conscience about paying the nut respect and all that.”
“Yes! And dress it like a nobleman, to make it even more so respectful.”
Tay shook his head. “You’re crazy, man. But OK.”
Two hours later, they have a small wooden man with a lever to work his jaws. It’s painted to look like a german nobleman.
“What shall we call him?”
“Nutcracker Tool.”
“Sire Nut Cracker it is.”
THE END

It is the year of the Fire Star. It has been since the sudden appearance of the New Moon after the Cataclysm. I, Catham, am Wizard of the New Moon. At the time of this writing, I am in exile from the Great Conclave, which contrary to its name, is all-inclusive (except for dissidents such as myself).