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p_r_i_s_c_aTitle: The Old Orchard
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 702
prompt: apples
Finished: October 2018
:::
Zeke stopped the GTO near the clearing. „So, what do you think? It's a great place, isn't it?“
Casey let his eyes wander. An abandoned orchard; old trees, peas, apples, and cherries, which seemed to live in harmony with the nature around. Wildflowers on the ground, ivy covered the trunks of the trees. Birds in the branches, squirrels and a little duck family on its way to the small pond at the end of the clearing. Yes, it was a beautiful place in the dawning sun; he could probably take some interesting photos. Still a riddle, though, why Zeke insisted on driving about 100 miles to bring him here. There were other places similar to this much nearer to Herrington.
„The apples are ripe now; they are juicy and sweet. You need to try them.“
„Okay.“ Casey turned around to his boyfriend, slightly frowning. „Since when do you care about apples?“
„Healthy food.“
„Sure. Says the junk food lover.“
Zeke's grin turned into a soft smile. „I was here often when I was a child. The place was part of a farm back then and not so magic. But I loved it to come here; I was free and happy.“ He paused shortly before continuing. „It was my grandmother's farm. She was great and did her best to keep the farm running. Went to the farmers market twice a week to sell her homemade stuff. Marmalade. Apple wine. I remember, once I sneaked one of the jars.“ He laughed slightly. „Luckily, it was a new one with only a little alcohol, but I got a nice hangover anyway. All she did was to bring me to bed and to tell me: 'That's a lesson only the life can teach you.'“
Casey had listened in silence. It didn't often happen that Zeke talked about his childhood, and when he did, it was mostly depressing memories. He had never told anything about his grandmother before and about his obvious love to her.
„Seems as if she is great,“ he murmured.
Zeke smiled and grabbed for his hand. „She was,“ he agreed. „The rare times together with her were the best of my life. Despite my parents, she was always there for me; she believed in me. My life would have taken a different route if I had grown up with her.
But I wasn't allowed to see her often. My father never was close to her; not a surprise, you can't picture two people more different than these two. When I was eight years old, he said that she had too much bad influence on me, and he decided to send me to a boarding school.“
The grip around Casey's hand tightened; it hurt, but Casey didn't pull back. He had noticed the tears sparkling in Zeke's eyes.
„I have never seen her again,“ Zeke whispered. „She died two years later, and I wasn't even allowed to go and see her for a last time.“
Casey swallowed hard. „I'm sorry.“ This was lame, but what else could he do then offering some comfort? It didn't happen often that he felt so helpless.
But Zeke shook his head. „No need to, Case. Yes, I was broken back then. Full of hate and loneliness, I was sure I would never meet someone like her again. Someone who does believe in me no matter what I do. Who can love me like I am. But then... I met you.“
Not able to hold back any longer, Casey started to sniff.
„Hey, stop that, you dumb shit!“ Zeke pulled his face. „I didn't tell you to make you feel miserable.“
„ I know. It's just...“ Casey breathed in deeply while fighting his tears back. „I'm so happy that you are finally letting me deeper into your life.“ He paused, then he put his arms around Zeke. „Hey, I just got an idea. Why don't we pick up some of the apples for my Mom? I'm not sure if she can't make apple vine, but her German apple cake is delicious.“
„Sounds like a plan.“ Zeke grabbed Casey's hand and pulled him over to the old orchard.
Characters: Zeke Tyler, Casey Connor
Word Count: 702
prompt: apples
Finished: October 2018
:::
Zeke stopped the GTO near the clearing. „So, what do you think? It's a great place, isn't it?“
Casey let his eyes wander. An abandoned orchard; old trees, peas, apples, and cherries, which seemed to live in harmony with the nature around. Wildflowers on the ground, ivy covered the trunks of the trees. Birds in the branches, squirrels and a little duck family on its way to the small pond at the end of the clearing. Yes, it was a beautiful place in the dawning sun; he could probably take some interesting photos. Still a riddle, though, why Zeke insisted on driving about 100 miles to bring him here. There were other places similar to this much nearer to Herrington.
„The apples are ripe now; they are juicy and sweet. You need to try them.“
„Okay.“ Casey turned around to his boyfriend, slightly frowning. „Since when do you care about apples?“
„Healthy food.“
„Sure. Says the junk food lover.“
Zeke's grin turned into a soft smile. „I was here often when I was a child. The place was part of a farm back then and not so magic. But I loved it to come here; I was free and happy.“ He paused shortly before continuing. „It was my grandmother's farm. She was great and did her best to keep the farm running. Went to the farmers market twice a week to sell her homemade stuff. Marmalade. Apple wine. I remember, once I sneaked one of the jars.“ He laughed slightly. „Luckily, it was a new one with only a little alcohol, but I got a nice hangover anyway. All she did was to bring me to bed and to tell me: 'That's a lesson only the life can teach you.'“
Casey had listened in silence. It didn't often happen that Zeke talked about his childhood, and when he did, it was mostly depressing memories. He had never told anything about his grandmother before and about his obvious love to her.
„Seems as if she is great,“ he murmured.
Zeke smiled and grabbed for his hand. „She was,“ he agreed. „The rare times together with her were the best of my life. Despite my parents, she was always there for me; she believed in me. My life would have taken a different route if I had grown up with her.
But I wasn't allowed to see her often. My father never was close to her; not a surprise, you can't picture two people more different than these two. When I was eight years old, he said that she had too much bad influence on me, and he decided to send me to a boarding school.“
The grip around Casey's hand tightened; it hurt, but Casey didn't pull back. He had noticed the tears sparkling in Zeke's eyes.
„I have never seen her again,“ Zeke whispered. „She died two years later, and I wasn't even allowed to go and see her for a last time.“
Casey swallowed hard. „I'm sorry.“ This was lame, but what else could he do then offering some comfort? It didn't happen often that he felt so helpless.
But Zeke shook his head. „No need to, Case. Yes, I was broken back then. Full of hate and loneliness, I was sure I would never meet someone like her again. Someone who does believe in me no matter what I do. Who can love me like I am. But then... I met you.“
Not able to hold back any longer, Casey started to sniff.
„Hey, stop that, you dumb shit!“ Zeke pulled his face. „I didn't tell you to make you feel miserable.“
„ I know. It's just...“ Casey breathed in deeply while fighting his tears back. „I'm so happy that you are finally letting me deeper into your life.“ He paused, then he put his arms around Zeke. „Hey, I just got an idea. Why don't we pick up some of the apples for my Mom? I'm not sure if she can't make apple vine, but her German apple cake is delicious.“
„Sounds like a plan.“ Zeke grabbed Casey's hand and pulled him over to the old orchard.