Intro: Pounding bass note and a stirring fanfare of horns. Welcome to another edition of Things To Think About. Here's Stacy. The horns continue with a keyboard note held.
Relaxing piano music is in the background. Welcome to the Things To Think About Podcast where we use fables and fairy tales to come to deeper truths about our subconscious world. I’m Stacy Casson and today’s tale explores isolation. We will dive into this topic in a tale I call, 'The Apple'. And now, get comfortable and relax. Take a Deep Breathe in and exhale. A Deep Breath in, and exhale. A Deep breath in and exhale. And if you'd like, you can slowly...close...your eyes.
Once upon a time, there was a princess who read enough fairy tales to be wary of gifts from strangers. She had run awayfrom her life and lived simply in a cottage in the outskirts; far away from the kingdom. Always doing the unexpected,she felt rather pleased with her ability to hide in plain sight. The sunflowers, fish in her pond, and her cat were all the company she chose to endure. She was generous by nature and got by on surreptitious donations fromthe townspeople who stopped by on occasion for a cup of tea with a generous dollop of wisdom and selling her art from time to time. She did not like the sound of the musical knock at her door. Cautiously she opened the door and studied the bemused eyes of the flamboyant stranger in her doorway. “Princess,” he simply stated in a melodious voice that mocked her yet made her want to smile all at once. “You are mistaken, Sir,” she responded icily and then sneezed daintily. (achoo) Ugh, of course he's magic, she thought to herself.
“My apologies,” he said and bowed again. “Marie, I have a gift for you” and handed her a perfect apple. “Did you think I would fall for a poisoned apple?” disdain dripping from her lips. “I assure you, it is not poisoned. However, once you bite it, you will know pleasure and regret.” “Then, I am afraid you have wasted your time, Sir. I know what apples taste like, please bother some other patsy and leave me be.” He countered, “it is a gift; and you are bound by courtesy to accept a gift from the Sidhe court. It is given in your lands and therefore you will not be bound to enter our lands. You know we do not lie…Marie. Nor can you give it away. You rightly detected the magic and it will not spoil; but like all magic, it will vanish in a fortnight and you will only know regret.” He bowed again and vanished before her eyes.
The princess studied the apple. It was red with gold striations and there was not a bruise or mark anywhere to be found. It was perfectly symmetrical and almost luridly round. The apple drew her attention and focus. She caught herself just staring at it most of the day, wondering what it tasted like. She brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply. It smelled like nothing she had ever eaten and was fragrant. It did not smell like any food she knew; but like wishes, sunshine, laughter, bitter lemon, and the heat of a flame. She did regret smelling it because the food she once enjoyed had lost some of its flavor. Eating became a chore, something to ensure sustenance. Thankfully the apple did not impact her ability to make tea and her patrons enjoyed tea and cookies, but did notice a new depth in the dollops of wisdom. When she held the apple in her hand she marveled that the smooth shiny skin felt like velvet against her fingertips. It weighed heavily in her hand and gave off a strange heat that spread disturbingly in her body the longer she held it. She took to carrying a fan as her cottage because unseasonably warm despite the chill in the air.
When the whispers started, she was at her wit’s end. The apple promised so many things if she would only take a bite. “Taste us,” it implored coyly and alwaysseemed to be breathing encouragement and endearments along the nape of her neck and her ears despite being on the table. She exchanged a favored art piece for a curious contraption from the town’s glassblower. It was a strangely fashioned glass box and would only open if she pressed gently on a barely perceptible indentation in the glass. Gingerly she lowered the beautiful apple in the box and closed the lid. Ahhhh, blessed silence. Despite being imprisoned, the apple still made its unsettling presence known via vivid dreams. She had lost weight due to her food no longer having any flavor and her increased workload as she tried to drown out the apple’s influence. It was the evening of the last day and the princess was feverish. She only had to hold out a little more against the blazing curiosity. What would it taste like? Would she like it? Her finger hovered dangerously close to the indentation in the box. What would you do? Would you taste the apple or continue a drab existence? And now, you can take a deep breath in and exhale. A deep breath in and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. And when you're ready, wiggle your toes, wiggle your fingers, and slowly open your eyes. If you are enjoying this podcast, please subscribe and never miss an episode.
Closing: Closing jazzy keyboard and thrumming bass. Hope you enjoyed today's segment.Tell a friend. See you next time. Music fades.
