Chapter 3—Stranger in a Strange Orchard
Oh, hey there lovelies, Cherry here. I see Applejack has told you about how we first met. I think I'll take over for a while and give my darling AJ a break. If she's going to go where I think she is, I think it'd be best if I talked about this. Apple, dear, is it okay if I take over for a bit?
“Okay, sure,” she replies. “I need to take a bit of a rest. How about that water you were going to get me?”
Oh yeah, the water. I give AJ the water and take my seat next to her. I put my cherry lemonade in the cup holder in front of me and lean back. It's still a while to Ponyville, so we do have time to take in the scenery and reflect back on what happened in our lives.
So Applejack has mentioned her failure on the rodeo....or so she says. To be honest, until that rodeo, I never saw anyone win so many ribbons. I know they weren't 1st place ribbons, but still, she won so many that it would take others years to accumulate. I don't think I need to tell any of you that I was very impressed with her abilities. Of course, that wasn't only thing about her that drew my attention, but I think y'all can guess what those are.
Now why was I there, you ask? I went there to sell my cherries and cherry treats...or at least, I tried to. While I did make quite a few sales, I didn't get as many as I thought. My only guess was that cherries and rodeos don't mix. As my helpers gathered my remaining goods ready to shipped back home, I noticed the woman who unknowingly would become a part of my life. Although she had won those most ribbons, she looked like she didn't win any.
“Excuse me, young lady?”
The lady faced me with a look of sheer rejection on her face. If I didn't know better, I could have sworn she lost someone dear to her. Despite this, I had to admit she was quite the sight to these eyes in many ways. Even though I had cherries to pack, I ran up to her to get her attention.
“You're Applejack, right? Do you mind if I talk to you?”
The look I recall seeing on her face was a face that seemed to say, “don't talk to me.” But as I found out, it was a ruse. Applejack, clearly in the arms of disappointment, said, “Sure, why not? Ain't got much else to do.”
At this point, I was very concerned. Sure, this gal was a complete stranger, but from what I saw from her tone of voice and body language, I felt that I should help somehow. To be honest with y'all, all I really wanted to do was give her a hug, but since we didn't know one another, I thought better.
“Why so glum, dear? Look at all them medals you won,” I said to start the conversation.
Apple let out a sigh as if said medal didn't really matter. “I know, but none of them are 1st place medals. I promised them I would win it all and get the prize money.”
“Promised who?”
“Everyone back home. I said I would use the money to help fix City Hall, but I got nothing. I don't know what to do.”
“I see. Oh, where are my manners? I'm Cherry Jubilee. I own the Cherry Hill Ranch in Dodge Junction. If there's anything that has cherries in it, chances are I'm the gal behind it. If you don't mind my asking, where are you from?”
“I came here from Ponyville. Say, how did you know my name's Applejack?”
“Well, I did take some time to watch the rodeo and your name was announced.”
At this point, it was obvious AJ realized the obvious and I swear to this day that I saw a blush form on her face. “Uh, yeah, right....” But it didn't take too long for her to come back to her senses, “Look Miss Jubilee, it's been nice to talking to you , but I gotta figure out how I'm gonna get that money.”
It was at that time that I had the idea that, unknown to either of us then, that would start us on our path toward a life together. “I have an idea,” I said to her, “I noticed you have quick hands and a strong back. I could always use someone like that at the orchard. What do you say? You could get the money you need to fix that city hall.”
Applejack took her finger and tapped it on her lips obviously deep in thought. “Well, I do need that money. And a change of scenery would be nice, too. Okay, Miss Jubilee, you got a deal.” AJ put out her hand, but I couldn't hold back my hugging urges. “Uh, not that I mind, but is this how Dodge Junction people greet someone they met for only five minutes?”
“Oh, oops, sorry 'bout that.” I let her go, straightened my outfit, and got back my composure. “I apologize for that. I guess I got a bit too excited. Anyway, you got any family or friends you should need to tell?”
“I can't, not until I get that money.”
I admit I was rather puzzled at that statement. How could anyone walk away from their family and friends, even if it is for money? I'm sure there was a reason, but I wouldn't know that for some time. “Well, you did say you needed the money and I guess I could understand that.”
“Miss Jubilee, we're ready to go,” one of the help shouted in our direction. I recall motioning for Applejack to come with me so we could get back to the orchard. “Listen everyone, this here is Applejack, the big ribbon winner.” My crew erupted in a slew of hellos, howdys, and other such greetings. “She's going to be helping us in the orchard for a while. When we get back , let's make sure we all give her a warm Dodge Junction welcome.”
As I watched the guys get board the train, I faced Applejack and told her, “Since you're the new girl, you get to sit with me in the lead car.” As we approached the car, I swear to this day that I could see AJ gawking from the corner of my eye. As you can imagine, she denies this. The driver opened the door and we got in and got seated in our seats. As the train departed from Canterlot, I was personally glad to be leaving. There are too many uppity people there for my taste. I know that if it weren't for me being the top cherry provider, they would turn their noses at me. From what AJ has told me, the princesses would treat me like a human being if we met. It would be quite some time before I found that to be true since the Rodeo would be the last time I would be in Canterlot until my big day years later.
After a several hour train ride, we arrived back at Dodge Junction with our newest employee. I instructed the guys to get the cherries back into storage and throw out any bad cherries they find. When they went off, I took Applejack on a tour of the orchard. “As you can see, we have a lot of cherry trees around here. Right now, we gottta get the rest of the cherries ready for the year's last harvest and market.” I turned around and saw that AJ looked like she was impressed by what she saw. “You like what you see here, dear?”
“Actually,” she replied, “I do. It does remind me much of home. I help run an apple farm with my family. If I'm thinking right, it'll be just like back home, only with cherries.”
“Well then,” I replied, “I shouldn't have to take too much time...training you.” Yeah, you could say there was a double entendre, but at the time, AJ didn't catch on. I think it was that she was too busy taking a look around the orchard. In any case, I took her to the middle of the orchard. “See all those baskets around? Your job will be to harvest the cherries from these tress and get them into those baskets so we can get them ready for market. Normally you would have other people helping, but with many of them leaving for their homes for one reason or another, I'm afraid you're the only one I've got who can harvest this area. I do apologize profusely for this.”
“Nah, no biggie,” Applejack replied. “I've harvested this many apple trees by myself. How hard could this be?”
I will admit I was rather shocked by her reaction. Most people would have been disappointed or tried to make some flimsy excuse to leave. But still, I couldn't leave the new girl to do a job alone. I thought of the only thing I could at the time. “Tell ya what, I would usually go to my office for paperwork, but since we're in short supply for manpower, I'm gonna help you out—show you the ropes as it were. But before that, let me show you where you'll be sleeping.”
Applejack picked up her bags and we went toward the worker's quarters. Along the way, I pointed out the mess hall. “This is where we all gather for meals. Of course, you will get breaks for lunch and dinner at the end of the day. Just so people don't think I'm all uppity and that, I often will eat along with you all just so we can be one big family. Now here's where you'll be sleeping.” The worker's quarters is your basic sleeping grounds. They have beds—nice ones, not those with rotten stands and broken mattresses—along with drawers and every basic need for people to lay their heads at the end of a day of cherry picking. “Ah, here we are, room 3. This will be your room.” I open the door and show AJ to where she'll be sleeping until such time she decides to leave. “Why don't you get comfortable here for now? I'll come by in the morning to show you what you'll be doing. Good night, sugar....erp!” I quickly cover my mouth in shock. I couldn't believe I just called someone who I only met for a day “sugar”. I felt the heat build in my face and I knew I was as red as my cherries. “I'm so sorry, “I stammered, “I didn't mean to say that. I'm so very sorry.”
Applejack surprised me once more by smiling and waving it off. “No big deal, Miss Jubilee. I started calling my closest friends 'sugarcube' when I first met them. It really ain't that big of a deal.”
“Oh, uh, alright, “I reply, “but I still gotta be careful. I gotta to be a professional, that's all. Anyway, sleep tight and I'll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, Miss Jubilee.” As I closed the door, I swear I could hear AJ sniffle. Maybe it was because she couldn't go home and missed her family and friends...at least, that's what I thought at the time. I now know she truly missed everyone she loved back in Ponyville. Little did I know that it would not be the first time I would go through this, but I'll save that for another time.