She won’t remember. 

Diana stood on her toes and pulled an apple from a branch.  Long wavy blonde hair cascaded from under her wool beret and down her back.  Matthew watched her. The dress was tighter then he would have expected. It held the shape of a beautiful young woman.   

It was almost easy to forget.  

“I wish we were here in summer. Father’s orchard is just amazing when it blossoms, don’t you think?” 

She looked up at him. 

“It is quite a sight to behold.” He paused before responding. 

“Father has eight orchards.” 

“That is a lot of land.” 

“Your father is quite wealthy too, is he not?” 

“He is quite.” 

“You’re also quite handsome. This was a clever idea.  We make a good match.” 

You didn’t always think so. 

The orchard led to a walled garden. 

“Here, take a bite.” She held a red apple out towards him. 

“Oh no, I know where that leads.” He held his hand up in front of the apple. 

“Where does it lead?” 

“Knowledge of good and evil. Cast out from paradise. Not at all a satisfying end.” 

“Are you saying I’m Eve, or the snake?” She moved nearer to him. 

“A bit of both I would guess.” 

She hit him on the chest playfully. He laughed. 

“Very interesting.”  

“It could have a rotten core, full of worms.” 

“But it’s perfect on the outside.” 

She doesn’t remember. But I do.  

“Of course, it could lead to an everlasting sleep. Waiting for true love’s kiss to awaken me.” 

“So, I am the hag then?” 

“You said it not I.” 

“Am I to be your true love’s kiss as well?” 

Never. 

“No, that would be my prince charming. You don’t qualify unless you have more under that dress then I had assumed!” 

“You’re positively scandalous!” 

“You’re the one offering an apple. And all that it entails.” 

“What if an apple is just an apple?” 

“My dear hag, an apple is never just an apple when it is offered by someone.” 

“You’re atrocious!” 

She looked upon the apple. 

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“You see all that in this?” She held it up. 

“And more. Dear hag.” 

“An apple is just an apple. A tree is just a tree. Grass is just grass. Why do you pick things apart?” 

“Why do you look at the world like a shallow one-dimensional thing?” 

“You didn’t answer my question!” 

“You didn’t answer mine either.” 

“You’re incorrigible!” 

And dumb and fat or so you used to say. 

“I am indeed.” 

The pair continued their stroll through the garden.  They walked a path of red earth.  She was the shorter of the two, wearing a brown, orange and gold fall dress.  He was dressed in a nice black suit; his white shirt was freshly starched. The sun shone through the fall leaves casting shadows and streams of light over the red path. 

“Your dress is beautiful.” 

“For a hag you mean?” 

“I think it might even suit a beautiful young woman.” 

“Oh, I am a beautiful young woman now?” 

“Unless you are my prince charming in a dress.” 

“You are the most vexing boy!” 

“And it drives you mad for me.” 

“Not the words I would choose.” 

“What words would you choose?” 

“A girl never speaks such words.” 

“Well, you’re not a girl.  I thought we’d already determined you’re some manner of snake, hag, or prince charming.” 

“Does this sort of behavior usually work for you with girls?” 

“No, am I addressing such?” 

“Yes!” 

“Oh, then, pleased to meet you, girl.” 

“You know very well my name is Diana!” 

Piggy, piggy, so fat he rolls in the mud, smells like a piggy piggy. 

“And what a name it is, I once had a pig named Diana.  Horrible, sloppy pig, dumb as a post, but endearing.” 

“You are infuriating, Matthew Cobb!” 

“Why would you insult me thus?” 

She brought them to a halt in the center of the garden by a fountain. She turned to look up at him. 

“Insult you? Insult you?” 

“You’re repeating yourself, dear Diana, are you feeling very well?” 

“You called me a pig!” She stepped away from him. 

“I did not. I would not.  What sort of gentleman of good breeding would call a girl that?” 

“You just did, you said you had a pig named Diana!” 

“No, I was just reminiscing that the name Diana reminded me of one of our treasured farm animals.” 

“My name is Diana!” 

“It is not my fault your parents used the same name as I used for one of our pigs.” 

“Are you trying to ruin this courtship?” 

It took three days to clean the mud out of my hair and ears.  Three weeks for the bruises to heal.  The memory still haunts. 

“Were we courting? I had no idea!” 

“You know that is why our fathers set this up!” 

“Hmm, this is quite a shocking development.” 

“You are! You’re trying to ruin this!” 

“Why would I want to ruin a possible courtship with such a well-spoken, well-heeled beautiful young lady? Your father is the richest man on this side of the island.  I see no reason why a sensible person would do such. They would be quite mad. Positively Mad.” 

“Then why did you call me a pig?” 

“I did not do so, I would not do so, you called yourself a pig.” 

“I did not!” 

“You are very contrary Ms. MacNab.” 

“Contrary! Considering who is talking I take that as a compliment!” 

“So, I have found out how to compliment you.” 

“You are the most insulting boy I have ever spoken with!” 

“You’re the one that offered me an apple.” 

“Take your stupid apple!” 

Diana took a bite of the apple and threw it at him. Matthew caught the fruit in his right hand.  

“I always liked you.  I just teased you to get your attention. I didn’t want the Wilson boys to beat you up, but they did.  I thought you had forgiven me.  It was so long ago, we were just children.”  

She stormed off, out of the garden, up the red road. 

She remembered.  She liked me. 

Mathew watched her go, hands falling to his side. Anger from of a fall day seven years ago fading. He opened his mouth to speak but no words would come. 

What have I done? What would I say? What could I say? Is this what pyrrhic victory feels like? 

When she had disappeared, he turned and took a bite from the apple. His wet eyes on the path, he walked out of the garden, through the orchard, down the red road.