Bobby and I were just neighborhood kids on summer break from Ripple High School. Many sunny days we would gather with other kids, have bike races, play pitch and catch or fly our kites on a day a gentle wind.
Today seemed different, what Bobby and I had planned was to hike to a lake we had heard of about a mile away. We were well aware that the lake was named Apple-Eater Lake. We both had no idea why the lake had such an odd name, however we did know that the beautiful large crystal blue lake was surrounded by a vast apple orchard, which had been sold for future home sites about seven years ago.
As we prepared for our adventure, we anticipated skinny dipping and enjoying munching on fresh red apples from the old trees. Bobby said ,
“ lets take on our hike 4 red floating swim noodles so we would have the option to just float around and take in the spirit of a new location on a perfect summer day.”
Yeppers – that’s a great idea Bobby. Let me add to your idea; I will carry a screwdriver to make holes through the apples we gather, then lace a rows of apples together to make a floating Apple Raft. Bobby, surely you remember “bobbing for apples” at last years school Fall Festival!
I gathered every shoe lace I could find, plus my dad’s screwdriver from his tool box, found a beach towel to tuck around my waist then through my belt, and headed out my front door to meet up with Bobby.
I don’t know quite how it was that Bobby out paced me as we walked, however he was easy to spot since he was carrying 4 bright red swim-noodles around his shoulders. After several rest stops we could see the tint of crystal blue of the lake in the low-land valley not far away. As we paused we could see in the distance numerous shore-line apple trees, many seemed to be loaded with ripe red apples. The splendid site began to bounce up and down as our pace quickened.
Reaching the shore there were many ripe apples just laying on the ground under the trees. It did seem odd to us that the shoreline was covered with apples, however there were no floating apples to be seen. After starring at the situation, I said with a laugh, “ well, we now know why the beautiful lake is called Apple Eater Lake” !
Hey Bobby lets quickly build our floating raft, surely fresh ripe apples will float easily. Let me just show you right now. I picked up 5 bright red apples from under a huge old shoreline tree turned and skipped toward the waters edge. Hey Bobby they all float easily! Turning around I scampered up the slight incline where Bobby had been threading shoe laces through each apple, until the bed of the red raft was about 16 apples wide. Bobby had already decided to strap 2 red swimming noodles on each side for improved floatation. His progress building the raft was much faster than I expected.
As I approached Bobby, I stumbled over something hidden totally out of sight in the tall green orchard grass. I spread the grass back from a rectangular hard and flat tablet. Gee-Wiz, there must be a grave here, this must be a flat tombstone! Noppers – all there was on this flat was a strange script:
THE LEDGEND OF APPLE- EATER LAKE
TO ALL WHO ENJOY THIS LAKE – BEWARE OF THE GIANT GOLDEN FISH THAT HAS BEEN BLESSED WITH LONG EYE LASHES. THIS UNUSUAL FISH IS HUGE IN SIZE, AND LIVES ON A HIGH-POWERED DIET OF RIPE APPLES. IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING RED IN THE WATER HE WILL CBERTAINLY DEVOUR IT !
Bobby had tears in his eyes as I read the inscription, saying “I just finished our floating apple-raft“! Come on Bobby its just a legend, anyway we will be naked, only the apple-raft and noodle floats will be red.
Well OK, however I sure hope you know how to swim fast !!
We stripped then left our clothes and shoes on the lake bank and pushed or bright red apple-raft out into the warm lake water.
We were having so much fun with our raft, thanks in part to the red floatation noodles, we hardly noticed a bright shimmering golden glow beneath our raft. The glow took over 20 seconds to swim under the tiny raft carrying the now alarmed boys.
All of a sudden a huge golden head erupted from the lake water, giant google eyes and all! A strange chill eclipsed our bodies as the huge fish blinked its eye, an eye which was larger than our apple raft. I was so afraid I could barely speak. I yelped, Bobby look it has eyelashes ! as the giant eye winked again Bobby had already jumped for his life and was swimming erratically to shore. As I also dove in, all I could think about was to exit the lake as fast as possible. Behind me I heard the crunch of the giant golden fish eating all the fresh red apples of our hand-made raft.
As we dried off, caught our breath, we where stunned to see the giant fish pushing 4 red non-edible noodles to shore for us to take home. With one more wink with its huge eye lashed eye it turned and swam away from the shore.
As the lake disappeared behind us. We heard 3 last happy splashes. Lo and behold the huge golden fish even had tail lashes and seem to saying – Blessings boys and good bye !
By Bill Land 9/22,
