photo from amazon.com images

Granny Adams picked her way carefully through the market stalls. Tuesdays were her days to buy apples. She loved Braeburns and the produce manager had promised today was the day.

Tsking and shaking her head, Granny made sighing noises as she picked over the apples. “Too big. Too small. Too soft. Brown spots. Bruised. Johnny, don’t you have some good apples hidden away for Granny?”

Behind the fruit Johnny looked up and smiled at the old woman. “Granny, I got-ta just what-ta you need!” He pulled out a brown bag and carefully chose 5 beauties from behind the counter for the woman.

“Thank you, Johnny. These are perfect for my strudel. How’s Rosa today? Is she home with the children?”

Tears formed in the corners of Johnny’s eyes and he dabbed at them with the corner of his green apron. “Oh, Miss Granny, I don’t know what-a to do. Our boy, Johnny Jr. is such a disappointment to his-a Mama. He sits around all day doing a-nothing but a-playing on his eye-phone. He is so lazy and it-a breaks Mama’s heart.”

Granny looked up and patted Johnny’s broad shoulder. “I know, Johnny. My August was just such a boy. He was idle all through his early twenties. I told him he had to move on. He could not live with me and not help out like that. It broke my heart. He was such a good – little – boy.”

“Si, si, Miss Granny. Junior is such a boy. What-a can we do? What-a can we do?”

“I will pray, Johnny,” Granny told him. “I will pray your Rosa finds peace and that Junior finds his way.”

“You’re a good woman, Miss Granny. Here, you take-a these apples and you have a good day. No charge-a for you. I will see you next week.”

Granny Adams left carrying her apples and a new burden for her friend. “Kids these days,” she muttered. Their idle hands will be the death of us.”
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The Trifecta challenge this week is to write 33-333 words using IDLE in its third definition. These are my 333.

The winners this week will be chosen by “community” vote. I encourage you to read all the entries and then vote for your top three faves. I will be doing the same thing.
🙂

7 responses

  1. Atreyee says:

    Such a sweet story with hidden life lessons:-)A god turn deserves another & there are always some bad (idle?) apples on every (family)tree!As usual,a great read:-)

  2. Joetwo says:

    I liked the simplicity of the story. It felt real. Well done!

  3. steph says:

    I like the use of dialect. And the story itself is sweet. Kindness begets kindness.

  4. JannaTWrites says:

    I like the dialect. I read it Italian 🙂 The interaction between the two felt real. Really enjoyed reading this one!

  5. yerpirate says:

    That was a touching story about human kindness – I enjoyed the authentic feel through the dialogues. Thanks very much..

  6. Patti says:

    Very sweet story, Barbara. I liked it

  7. Is this Granny Smith?

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