Annie sat on the farmhouse porch, her boots muddy and her cheeks flushed with excitement. She watched as the animals drifted lazily into the barn, their day just beginning, and breathed in the sweet scent of apples drifting from the orchard. The sky overhead was a pale blue, brushed with wispy clouds, and the promise of another busy day hung in the crisp autumn air.
Mother and Father worked side by side, their hands moving with practiced ease. Father stood tall on a wooden ladder, reaching into the leafy canopy to pluck the ripest apples, his flannel shirt bright against the green. He handed each apple gently to Mother, who inspected them and passed them down to Annie. Annie nestled each apple in a straw-lined basket, careful not to bruise their shiny red skins.
Mother rolled out dough while Annie peeled apples, the two chatting quietly about their favorite recipes. "Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without your apple pies, Annie," Mother said with a wink, sprinkling sugar over the fruit. "And your apple jelly for muffins! I can't wait to try your new apple cake recipe," Annie replied, scribbling notes in her recipe book.
Father carried in a tray of white powdered doughnuts, setting them beside Mother's apple muffins. Annie poured cups of apple juice for her friends, beaming with pride as people sampled their family’s treats. "Looks like our orchard’s the toast of the bake sale again," Father declared, nodding at the emptying platters.
Annie[/@ch_1] and her parents walk between the trees, examining branches and testing the soil. A gentle breeze ruffles the leaves, and the air smells of earth and lingering fruit.]
Annie knelt by a tree, feeling the cool, rich soil, satisfied that the roots were healthy. Mother checked for pests while Father watered the youngest saplings. "I love how the trees seem to bow when the wind blows, almost like they're greeting us," Annie mused, her voice soft with affection.
"We’ve built something special here," Father said, his voice full of pride. "Our apples bring joy to so many—especially you, Annie," Mother added, squeezing Annie's hand. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right?" Annie grinned, taking a big, satisfying bite of a delicious, red apple.
