Wanda's Apples

A "When I Was A Little Boy" Story

When my children were small, I read books to them and, occasionally told them a “When I Was A Little Boy” story. These soon became their favorites and often, when I reached for a book, they would plead, “Tell us a ‘When I Was A Little Boy‘ story!” Now with my grandchildren, history is repeating itself.

There is something about the connection it gives them to the story itself that makes it more interesting. It is my story, a true story that they can re-enact in their minds. They often interrupt me with questions and the story grows larger.

It finally occurred to me to write them down. Here is one I recently told my granddaughter, Evie. She asked me to repeat it three times…

When I was a little boy we lived across from a railroad station. Some days my friends and I would bike past a grove of apple trees on the way to The Horn, an off-track storage place for rail cars, a short walk from our house. There were two ways to reach The Horn, by walking the tracks across from our house or by taking a dirt road from the other side of the neighborhood. The rail cars were unattended and empty. They became forts for us as we acted out the Wild West battles we had seen on television. There was also a tall water tank with a ladder which became a lookout for us.

Back to the apple trees though. It was autumn and the apples were red and ripe and more alluring than usual. One day, instead of driving past the apple trees, we stopped to check them out. The grove was owned by a woman named Wanda. She was a mystery to us. She had no family, lived alone and drove a big, light blue Chrysler Imperial with a black top.  She only left her house occasionally and, if we spotted her outside, she never waived or talked to us. 

Her apple trees provided two things boys love: trees to climb and ammunition for an apple fight. We took full advantage of both. I climbed to the middle of one tree with apples in hand. From my perch I could see the enemies well, hiding behind two other trees. Before they could climb to safety I let loose and re-loaded with the apples within my reach.

Midway into the battle I noticed a woman making her way through the trees, slowly and sternly. It was Wanda. Suddenly there was a cease fire as she came closer and stood, glaring at us. “Come down out of that tree,” she said to me. My buddies dropped their apples while I made my way down. We stood in a line before her as if standing before a firing squad.

“You didn’t ask my permission to be here! If you had I would have gladly allowed you to and you could have had all the apples you wanted. Here, take these,” she said holding out paper bags, “take as many as you like and bring them back home. They’re better for eating than fighting.”

Then something amazing happened. She smiled. 

We apologized, and proceeded to fill the bags. Once filled, we thanked our new friend and wobbled back home on our bikes. My mother who, as it turned out, was friendly with the mystery lady, heard my story and said, “This is what we’re going to do. We will make an apple pie and deliver it to Wanda as a thank you. Then you will say you’re sorry for what you did.”

OK, sounds like a plan. We baked that pie, and once it cooled, we piled into our Dodge Dart and made our way to Wanda’s house. My mom knocked on the door and Wanda opened it. Seeing the pie and us, she stood, arms folded, and smiled a second time.  

“Thank you so much for the wonderful apples,” my mom started. Then she nudged me and I repeated the words I had practiced, “I’m sorry I climbed your trees without permission. It won’t happen again.”

Wanda bent down and gave me a hug.

That day changed me. I still played in the rail cars and climbed the water tower but never climbed another apple tree. If I saw Wanda when biking by, I waved and she smiled. I remember shoveling snow for her in the winter and raking leaves in autumn. The mystery lady was now my friend.

Remember never to pre-judge people you do not know. Treat everyone - friends and enemies - with respect. Some of those “enemies” may become friends.

“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”(Proverbs 16.7)