“Now that we’ve sorted out everything here, can you take me to Illinois?” Rosalina asks.

“Yeah. You still have the keys to your Audi?”

“Yeah.”

“Cool. You plan on moving out of Spire?”

“No, no. I love that place too much. Just gonna swap out some things.”

“Okay. Do you want me to go with you or just drop you off?”

“You can just drop me off. I want to stay a while anyway.”

“Alright then. Just let me know when you’re ready. The Apple family asked me to help them out. They’ve got a large bumper crop this year, so they need an extra delivery driver.”

“That’s great news! We’re all done here as far as our parents are concerned. Stuff we inherited from their will that needs to come with me goes to Hawaii, and what doesn’t stays in Illinois.”

“Yay. I also understand you want to switch Hawaii stuff around.”

“I do. Change two of the cars, but houses stay the same.”

“Sure. You want to go shopping now?”

“I have some tentative listings already. My Mercedes will stay on Maui, for Kauai I purchased Pauline’s old car, since she won’t be around here much anymore, and for the Big Island, I’m going to take a page out of your book and get a Jeep.”

“Good choices all around. Though I am surprised that you want to keep your 30 mile commute on Maui, and that you want a Jeep.”

“I need it for the rugged big island, and I don’t mind the commute. It’s down time for me, where I can do my thinking.”

“Fair enough. Wanna take care of everything after my Arkansas trip?”

“Yeah. I don’t plan on heading back for a little while anyway.”

“Okay. It wouldn’t hurt to at least have them there right?”

“Sure, but I think it’ll be easier to just take them when each cycle comes, that way we’re not hopping around so we can focus on one island at a time.”

“Sounds better than my plan, so… alright then. Lockie, you want to join your sister when I come back in a week?”

“I’d love to, but work calls.”

“No problem. I don’t expect more than a week in Arkansas, but I’ll let you know.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Ready?” I ask after filing KAMA PNH V12 MMB J26 JOT V8 CGT KSMG, flown by N212HA.

Parked at A1, I mate the jetway, deplane, and hang around for a couple hours. Rosalina takes a few laps with her Audi S4 to rejuvenate the oil and fuel lines. After she leaves, I text Applejack,

“Hello, when would you like me to show?”

About 5 minutes later, AJ responds, “howdy sugar cube! Anytime is good! Our lunch break goes from 11 to 1, so that’s best for us!”

“Look forward to seeing you again!”

“So do we!”

With that, I set an alarm and stay here in Illinois for the night. The flight should take just under an hour, so there’s no need for me to show terribly early.

KSMG NEWTT V173 SPI J101 STL J8 SGF J105 RZC V13 FSM KFSM. Cruising at FL280.

“Apple 314, Fort Smith tower, in sight. Runway 25, cleared to Land.”

“Cleared to land 25, Apple 314.”

50.

40.

30.

20.

10.

Touchdown. Spoilers up, brakes on, 2 in reverse.

45 knots, disengage reverse thrust. “Apple 314, turn right on A. Taxi TAC Air via A, remain this frequency.”

“Right A, A to TAC, stay with you, Apple 314.”

“TAC Air Unicom, Apple 314.” I call on the second radio.

“Apple 314, TAC Air, go ahead.”

“Apple 314 is the Hawaiian A321neo. Can I get a wing walker?”

“You got it.”

A few minutes later, I text Applejack, “just landed. Come to this address.” I send a second text with the FBO Terminal address just as my wing walker communicates.

When all’s said and done, the winglet and jets have plenty of clearance. After communicating with other linemen, they check the aircraft position so as not to hog all the ramp space. Good where it is, I set the parking brake and shut everything down. I then back out my truck, a Screaming Eagle Ford F-250, license plate ‘5 TO 9’, order a couple hundred gallons of fuel, and check in with the desk. I make sure I’m on the list for ramp access, pay for the fuel and landing fee, and wait for Applejack to show up.

After about 15 minutes, a blue Ford Raptor rolls in. The windows tinted just a shade too dark, I wait for the driver to reveal herself, and I get a little nervouscited when she does reveal herself walking towards the terminal.

When she walks through the entry doors, I smile and open my arms which she reciprocates so that when we embrace in a hug, her grip is almost vice-like.

“How you doin’?” I ask slightly muffled by her hair in my face.

“I feel great! Been workin all day, it’s nice to take a break, and to see you too!” She says as we release from the hug.

“I’m ready when you are. I just landed about a half hour ago. Oh! I forgot something. Can I go airside?” I ask the desk worker.

She nods and opens the door for us, to which I reply “thank you” blindly.

“Really Max, Airbus?” She spits as she follows me up the air stair.

“Never took you for an airplane gal.” I say as I walk into the cabin.

“I ain’t, but ain’t you a Boeing by name?” She asks as I step in to the cockpit.

“Split Scimitar aren’t exclusive to Boeing.” I say as I prop the cockpit door open.

“I meant your other name, Max.”

“Eh? You’ll be pleased to know that this ship is the very first A321neo to roll out of the Mobile factory.” I say after grabbing my phone.

“‘Bama?”

“Yep.” I reply as I latch the main door.

AJ groans disdainfully as I head for my truck. When I leave the FBO behind, Applejack leads the way to Sweet Apple Acres.

Soon, we reach the farm, where she kicks up plenty of dust in their driveway, blinding me to the point where I actually lose her, with only her tail lights to make sure I don’t go off the trail or hit either her or a tree. When we park, the chime of a backup beeper pings as I go through reverse to get to park, which catches Applejack by surprise.

“You put a backup beeper on your truck?”

“Yep.”

“Why?”

“I lost a parallel parking bet to a friend a while back, and I’m a man of my word.”

“You make ridiculous bets, you know that?”

“Well, duh!”

When I step in the house, Apple Bloom comes down to hug me.

“Hi Max! What brings you here?”

“Your sister invited me.”

“Yeah? She finally admitting to what happened in Chicago?”

“No!” The elder snaps back. “I asked him to help you with deliveries.”

“Oh! That’s real nice of ya!”

“Eeyup!” I hear Big Mac from behind me.

“Big Macintosh, great to see ya!” I bellow as we shake hands.

“It’s high time for the early spring harvest, and we got a good bumper crop this year!” AJ cheers.

“Eeyup!”

“Wonderful! Where do I start?”

“We’re just having lunch, so please join us.”

“Oh. Yay.”

A beautiful assortment of meats, bread, and fixin’s lie before us. Granny Smith then comes out of the kitchen with a big pot of soup, it smells delicious.

“How are you?” I ask as Granny Smith and I share a hug. “Is that Corn Chowder?”

“Yea. Recipe from my cousin. A childhood staple for these three.”

“And here I was thinking you lived off of apples.”

“Oh, we do got plenty of those!” AJ shouts.

“Dessert?” I smile.

“You betcha! We hold pie eating contests every family reunion.”

“When do you hold those?”

“Usually midsummer, or the off-peak/offseason of whoever’s hosting. There’s no regular timeframe, it’s really just when all our schedules and seasons align.”

“Okay! Where-else-abouts you got family?”

“All over the place. We’d be here for hours if I could name ‘em all.” Granny Smith answers for her.

“Sounds like all your roots go deep and far.”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac smiles as everyone takes their seat.

“Where can I wash up?” I ask. “I’ve got grease and jet fuel all over me.”

“Second room off the right over there.” Applejack replies pointing towards a hallway.

After I wash myself and clean off, I join the family for dinner, taking light portions compared to the others, which garners some remarks.

“Eat up!” Granny insists. “You’re scrawny!”

“Thank you. I used to be fat, so being called scrawny is more of a compliment than I’m sure you intend.”

“Dang city folk.” She hisses back.

“Don’t worry about it. She means well.” AJ whispers.

“I’m sure. I’m not offended. I’d rather be called thin than fat. I used to be bullied for it.”

“I’m sorry, sugar cube.”

I laugh it off as we clean the table saying, “it’s okay, I’m used to it.”

After she takes my plate, Granny tells me, “Alright Max, Applejack said you’re accompanying Apple Bloom on the delivery run. She’ll give you instructions and directions.”

“Thank you kindly for your hospitality, Ms. Smith.”

She smacks me with the pan in her hand and snaps back, “none of that! You’re family now!”

“Thank you, I’m honored.”

“Now get to work!”

“Alright, Alright, Alright!” I respond just as Apple Bloom calls me outside.

“Alright, Max! Here’s how it goes: I have our delivery addresses and information. Some of these apples go to warehouses for shipping, some go direct to the residence. I’ll keep it easy on you and give you the warehouse run.”

“Thanks. I don’t think any of your clients would take kindly to an Asian delivery man.”

“Horseapples!”

“Where are the crates?” I ask after laughing in response to Apple Bloom’s outburst.

“Oh, we haven’t gotten them yet. Big Mac and AJ just finished the morning’s orchard pickin’.”

“Do we drive to each pickup point?”

“Yep. Follow me.”

Firing up our trucks, AB texts me a map of each orchard, with each designated pickup area marked.

“AJ’s in the south orchard today. You can go there.”

“Yay.” I roll my eyes at her snickering at her remark. “You laugh as if something could actually happen.”

“That’s exactly why I am!”

“Doesn’t she want kids though?”

“Yeah, to pass the farm onto.”

Chuckling, I roll into the orchard and find AJ picking apples. I park in the designated loading zone and join her.

“Morning.” I respond from beneath her ladder.

“Howdy Max.” She responds with an air of busyness.

“Ready when the crates are.”

“There’s a few ready to be loaded over in the bay.”

“Cool.” I respond as she wipes sweat from her brow.

After I load the crates into the bed and wait for further instructions, Applejack returns with a couple of filled crates. As she loads them in the back, I stand around wondering if there’s anything I should do, so I ask.

“AJ, is there something I should be doing?”

“Uh, as far as I can see, no. All you need to do is deliver. Apple Bloom got you on the warehouse run?”

“I guess.”

“I figured. She loves chatting to the neighbors.”

“Yeah, and your clients probably wouldn’t take kindly to an Asian delivery driver.”

“Horseapples!”

“Is exactly what she said.”

“She does love the local deliveries more.”

“They not friendly at the warehouse?”

“They are, but I think she likes the sense of community here.”

“I wouldn’t argue with that. [I’m a] city boy though. Simple greeting and smile is sufficient for me.”

“Fair enough.” She says as she seals two more crates. She exclaims “whew! Sometimes, I wish I could just kick the tree and have all the Apples fall out at once. Would cut labor in half!”

“Problem is, given how apples are attached to the tree, you’d snap it at the trunk.”

“What?”

“If you tried to buck apples like that, the tree’d snap at the trunk. Hence twist or pull.”

“I think that’s it from this orchard.” She says ignoring my statement.

“You don’t want to pick the ones over there?”

“Those ain’t ripe yet.”

“Oh alright then. Next orchard?” I ask.

“Eyup!”

“Let’s go!” I say as I open the door for her.

Author's Note

I currently drive a 4-door Jeep Wrangler, hence why it’s a page out of my book.

The backup beeper joke is a joke amongst some Filipinos. A former pastor of mine had one, but instead of the usual chime, it would say, “Attention please, this car is backing up!” on loop.