We were outdoors picking berries, Russian and me, and not saving a single one for anybody else. Just picking and eating, picking and eating - when we saw two apples lying on the ground under the apple trees. Mind you... our two apple trees are tiny, and our crop is modest. There are just enough apples for everyone to have one.

And yet, here were two whole apples lying on the ground! A third of our overall crop! We picked them up and stared, puzzled. Now, how could this happen? Two sets of identical teeth prints on each apple? What in the world?



I popped them in my apron pocket and brought them to the dinner table later that night. The inquisition began... and then the protests.

"No, no! It wasn't me! I never touched the apples. I don't know how an exact replica of my teeth prints got on there. MAYBE IT WAS A FOX WHO HAS THE SAME ONES!"

And here I was thinking we'd schooled them in the art of honesty when they were little. We are officially CSI investigators. CSI Switzerland investigating apple theft.

An explanation finally did surface and this is what it was: "The first bite is always the best. Plus, it was sour so I tried another one... but that was equally sour. So I just gave up."

And wasn't I lamenting their absence just yesterday? ;)