The continuing adventures of Pam and Zach. I guess I'm obligated to state that all characters are 21 years of age or older. While embellished for literary purposes, events strikingly similar to these did actually happen.
Apples...The Forbidden Fruit...
For the past two years, when October rolls around, Krystal and I have practiced a short lived tradition of sorts. October is apple picking season and all the local farms and produce stands offer quite a variety of the juicy fruits. We usually spend an entire morning visiting several locations to obtain the assorted selections needed then rush home to begin, what turns out to be, many hours of peeling, slicing, seasoning, precooking and making crusts before turning everything into delicious apple pies.
This year, though, we were going to pick our own apples. It seems one of the volunteers that was working on a Habitat for Humanity project house with Zach got to talking and it turns out that he owns an apple orchard and farm stand. He told Zach about how he opens it up in October so people can pick their own. One problem he has had was that a lot of the apples towards the tops of the trees went unpicked and he had to hire others to harvest them before they rotted. Zach, being 6'4", made him a deal. If John, the orchard owner, would supply a ladder, Zach would spend a day picking apples off the upper branches of the trees, as a way of showing his appreciation for John's volunteering on the house project. In lieu of compensation, all Zach asked for was a basket of apples for free, for Krystal and me, who would also be helping him. John readily agreed.
So one bright warm sunny Sunday morning, the three of us loaded into our van and headed for the orchard. When we got there we were amazed at the number of folks who had already turned out to pick their own apples. The parking lot was almost filled and there was even a bus from the senior citizens center.
We found John and got the ladder and a pile of empty baskets. He also gave Zach, what I can only describe as a sort of canvas bag with a long strap. It reminded me of the type of bag that boys used to have when they delivered newspapers on their bikes. It was so he wouldn't have to drop the apples down to us or hold onto a basket on the ladder.
"I'd like it if you could start out towards the rear of the orchard? That section is always the last to get picked by customers because it's such a long walk," John asked. "We have a tractor-pulled wagon that shuttles customers back and forth, mainly so that they don't have to carry back a heavy basket. I'll have him drop you guys off back there, if that's okay with you?"
"Sure thing," Krystal and I replied, almost in unison. We had applied sunscreen and brought along hats, snacks and a large thermos of ice water, knowing temperatures that day would be reaching into the 80s. We clamored aboard the wagon, dangling our feet off the back as it made its way to the far side of the field.
Hopping off, I remarked, "John was right. There really aren't too many people out this way." Noting that I could only see maybe four couples, Zach set up the dual sided ladder, put the canvas bag over his head and arm and began plucking only the ripe apples from the upper branches. Meanwhile, Krystal and I began doing our part and began filling the baskets.
We worked steadily for about an hour and by the time we were ready to take a break, we all had sweaty tops and shorts, dripping hair and parched throats. We sat down under a tree and took turns quenching our thirsts and munching on protein bars.
"I know you don't care Pam," Zach smirked. "But your top is so drenched your nipples are showing. And you, K, luckily you have a bra on."
I glanced over at Krystal and could easily see her red sports bra through her soaked white T-shirt, the one where the sleeves had been cut off giving one an excellent side view of her unfortunately covered tits. I knew, without looking, that my nipples were quite evident as well, poking against my yellow Dawes concert T-shirt. And Zach was right, I didn't care.
"I guess it's lucky John put us way out here then," I quipped. "Wouldn't want to give any of those seniors a heart attack."
"Or a hard-on," Krystal added, causing us all to laugh.
We returned to our task, and after another ninety minutes, when we had six baskets full, Zach texted John to send out the wagon for a pickup. Krystal and I had been hand picking the really nicest apples and putting them in our separate basket, which at this point was only half full.
The man arrived with the tractor and wagon, which this time had only five people on board with their full baskets. As he was loading ours he said, "John really appreciates this, but he doesn't want you guys killing yourselves. It's pretty warm today."
"It's fine. We're taking breaks and having fun." Grabbing another six empty baskets, I let him know that we'd quit when we had them full. We continued picking as he pulled the wagon away and headed back towards the parking lot.