Apples of Gold

By Lisa Samson, re-typed and re-edited by Gloria Ernita

          Once upon a time, in a faraway village, lives a very wise governor who ruled over the village. His name is Governor St. Juste. Now one day, 2 girls approached at his door, wondering what thing that had brought them to meet the wise governor. These 2 girls are named Kate and Liza, the daughter of the carpenter who has been very good friends with the governor and has served the governor for generations. Finally, Liza and Kate entered the Governor’s grand room. The medals that hung around his next didn’t express the kindliness and strength of this wise governor, not even the tables and chairs surrounding him.

“Good morning, young ladies”, said the Governor. “Good morning, m’lord”, replied Liza and Kate together. “I have something to give you”. The girls sigh with relieve, knowing that they had done nothing really bad. “In a week’s time, my eldest son, Claude will be coming home from his duty with the royal navy. And I have this…” The Governor reached his drawer and pull out 2 large wine red apples. Beautiful, shining, perfect specimens of fruit. Both of the girls have never seen so wonderful fruits like that. “Oh my, that is one beautiful apple; I would know that the flesh would be as sweet. I couldn’t wait to try one.” said Kate. “Oh, but this isn’t for you, I’m sorry, Kate. This fruit is for my son, Claude. I would ask each of you each to take care of this fruit, and when Claude arrived next week by the noon, he will choose either one of you to take care of his new household.” So each girl took an apple. Liza went home as fast as she could and brought back a basket with a blanket inside it to put the apple in while Kate show the apple off to everyone about her apple and let one of her friend named Ian to touch it and admire it. Too bad that Ian’s finger prints left a mark in her apple. And no matter how hard Kate tried to polish them, Ian’s finger prints were still there, making a spot.

            Along the week, Kate put her apple in the centre of the kitchen table and let everyone who passed by to take a look at it, touch it and admire it. And on one day of the week, Stuart, one of the most handsome navy fellows came over and wanted to take a bite of the apple. At first, Kate could say no to Stuart. But Stuart’s charm has gotten into her and all of the sudden there was a bite mark was left, growing dark on one side of the apple. At first Kate was worried, but she expects that the governor’s son wouldn’t think about rotting the apple but her charm. So she cares for herself more than she ever did. While for Liza, the week had stretched very long like a lazy river. Liza kept her apple tucked inside her room, and brings it out every morning just to polish it and make it shine. She didn’t share it with others because she knows that this is a very special apple. Kate says that it is selfish of Liza to not share the beauty of her apple to anyone else, but deep down inside Liza realized what she had done is correct.

            At last, the seventh day arrived.  Both Kate and Liza prepared themselves as they never did before. Even though Liza doesn’t feel as pretty as Kate, she believed that the thing she had is the most important thing more than the look. After breakfast, at eleven o’clock, the sisters go to the new house waiting for the Governor’s son. Liza brought her apple in the same basket when she received it, and Kate brought her apple in a little bag tied to a ribbon and carry it behind her. And at the last, at strike of the noon, a carriage appeared. It was Governor St. Juste arriving with his son, Claude St. Juste. After the small talk knowing each other, everyone goes into the house and have a small tea before the apples are being seen by each other.

            Bad thoughts have been going through Liza’s mind, and it bother her a bit to think that she will be the victim and Kate got all the attention from Claude and everything. The time finally come for the girls to present their apples. Kate goes first. She started to cry when she presented her apples and try to make as many excuses she could find to please Claude and hope if there is a tiny bit of light that Claude would have just accept her with her imperfect apple. “I can make it up for it. I promise I’ll do anything. I’m sorry” said Kate. “But Kate,” said Claude “if you could not keep this apple shining for only a week, how can I trust you with my heart?” Kate was so sad for Claude’s reject of her rotting apple and fled away with tears and anger of herself.

            Now it’s Liza’s turn to present her apples. “Liza, I know you love your sister, but she didn’t do it well. So may I see that you have done a good care for my apples?” Said Claude. “Of course, m’lord” and then Liza opened her basket and a shining red apple glowed in the middle. And guess what, Claude have one golden apple of his own to give to her. And after the big apple ceremony, Claude asked Liza a question that Liza would never imagined she would heard from such a noble and handsome man, that is.

            At last, the big day had arrived. Both sisters arrived at the church door and Liza got married with Claude. How interesting and surprising it was. Even though Kate fail in this term, she was still happy for her sister and would have tried better the next time an apple comes by her.

THE END