(First published in Gravel Magazine)
“You’re proposing in an apple orchard?
It’s unlucky.”
“It’s apple picking time.
as American as apple pie,”
he said smiling confidence.
“What about
Snow White and the poison apple?”
“Apples to oranges.”
“Adam and Eve. Forbidden fruit?”
“The bravery of William Tell.”
Tilting her head in a flirty challenge,
“One bad apple spoils the barrel.”
“It’s Isaac Newton smart,”
he said, pleasure filling his eyes.
Showing the frustration fist, she said,
“Russet!”
“Apple bobbing,
an apple a day . . .”
“But maybe
Crab apples,
know how to polish the apple,”
she said with emphasis.
“Don’t upset the apple cart,” he said.
“Caramel apples,
apple dumplings
apple butter.
“Round as an apple,” she said with concern.
“The Apple Dumpling Gang.”
Looking away, her voice soft, she said,
“Granny Smith.”
“Golden Delicious,” he countered,
with soft eyes and an engaging smile.
“Then there’s apple cider,
applejack
Winesap,” she paused,
What about
The Pink Ladies?”
“Jonathan?” he said with menace,
and his lip twitched.
“Rotten apple!”
“Think:
Johnny Appleseed
Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter,
apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,
wassailing, blessing the apples,
apple of my eye.”
She took a step closer.
“Apple for the teacher?
Applewood burning in the fireplace?”
“A is for apple!” he said brightly.
“What about the Big Apple?
Fuji?”
“Rome?”
“Apple Blossom White?”
“It’s for better or worse.”
Taking his hand, she said,
“Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.”
— Georgann Prochaska
I have been homebound for the most part since March 10th 2020. I am not known to be a homebody. For my protection, my daughters requested that I restrict my travels to not just within town, but also visits to my extended family which includes 54 plus in and out of town. Although this was totally out of character for me, I decided to honor their caring and abide by their request/rules.
Carol Cosman’s first novel “Dissonance” is planned for publication in spring, 2021. The novel traces a young woman’s efforts to save her father from death in a Russian gulag. Carol holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and a Master’s Degree in Teaching. A former educator, she taught creative writing to children and teens.
The Barrington Writers Workshop is happy to announce the addition of this community blog page to our website. The blog is by members, for members and those interested in learning more about our group. Each month the blog will highlight a BWW member, offer writing prompts , and call for inspirational essays related to the writing life. We want different voices heard on the blog so don’t be shy. Do keep the focus on the writing community if you wish to submit anything.