The Apple Tree

I wrote this story about a year ago. I have been reviewing it for the past week, with the expectation of posting this as part of my weekly The Question Guy newsletter. Since I wrote it, I have neither added nor taken from it. I like the story, and I think it stands on it’s own merit. I would love to know what you think.

Nonetheless, as we approach Autumn (North America, USA), I very much look forward to the change in seasons from hot to cool. With September now here, and with few months remaining in 2022, I wish all of you a happy change of seasons. I, for one, like continual change. Too much hot is no good. Then, too much cold is no good either. Plus, the flavors of foods change as well. And I love apples. Thus, this story.

The Story

A majestic apple tree stood large and tall in an old orchard down in the valley. Its fruit grew large and plentiful, and the branches reached long. She was a beautiful sight! During the day, the sun graced her beauty, giving her light and life.

The seasons passed, and it was time for harvest. The men, women, and children from the village gathered their baskets. They walked to the orchard and saw the wonderous apples ready to be picked. Each tree in the orchard stretched out its branches, and the villagers picked the apples all day and into the night.

They picked from every tree except the one tree – the tallest tree with the most majestic apples.

The tree would not lower her branches to allow the men, women, and children to pick the fruit from her.

“Why do you not give us your apples?” a young boy asked.

“My apples are too beautiful to be touched,” said the tree.

The young boy was sad by what he heard and walked away. When the boy’s mother asked why he had no apples in his basket, the boy told her that the large tree would not share her apples with him.

Astonished, the mother, with her young son, walked back over to the tree.

“Why do you not share your apples with us?” the mother said.

“My apples are far too delicious to be shared with you,” said the tree.

The mother, sadden by what she heard, walked away from the tree, her son walking behind her.

“Why do you have no apples from the tree?” asked her husband.

“The tree said her apples were too delicious to share with us,” said the wife.

The husband, concerned, walked to the tree. His wife, and his son, followed.

“Why do you not share your delicious apples with us?” asked the husband.

“My apples are too majestic to share with you,” said the tree.

The husband looked up at the tree. He saw that her apples were beautiful and majestic. And they looked delicious to eat.

“Who told you that your apples are beautiful, majestic, and delicious?” the husband asked.

“Each year, all of the villagers come down to the orchard and pick the apples from the trees,” the tree said.

“And all of you tell us how wonderful our apples are,” she continued.

“Since they are so wonderful, I have decided not to share mine this year,” said the tree.

The man listened.

He continued to look up at the tree. For some time he stood there. His wife and son looked at him, then at the tree.

“How long do you think your apples will look so wonderful?”, asked the man.

“My apples will stay beautiful forever!” exclaimed the tree.

“I am sorry, no,” said the husband.

“Do you know why we pick the apples from the trees each year?” the husband asked.

“Because the villagers take and do not give back,” said the tree.

“No,” said the husband.

“We pick the apples because they are ready to eat.”

“Do you know what we do with the apples each year?”

The tree thought.

“You eat them, of course,” said the tree.

“Yes we do,” the husband said.

“And we share them throughout the land,” he continued. “People across the country know how delicious your apples are! You feed many people, young and old. You give us what we need to live.

The tree thought about the words the husband was saying.

“Do you know what would happen if we did not pick the apples from the trees?” the husband asked.

“No,” said the tree.

“They would grow old and die,” said the husband. “The apples will rot. You will no longer have beautiful apples hanging from your branches,” he continued. “And over time you will produce fewer apples until you produce nothing.”

The tree thought about what the man had said.

Then, at once, she lowered all of her branches to the men, women, and children of the village.?

The Moral of the Story??

If you found a moral to the story, please share in the comments. If you like my approach to story writing, I would love to know that too. Stories are such an incredible way to communicate with people.

If you have an idea for a story, send me a direct message. Let’s talk about it. Maybe I can help you bring out the storyteller within you. If not, I always appreciate a good conversation.

Happy day everyone.

Thanks for reading!??

Credit for images: www.pixabay.com