Very early one Saturday morning Sugar Plum got up to get me a cup of coffee and Thumper curled up on her pillow. When Sugar Plum pulled the drapes in the bedroom to wake me up, she exclaimed, “What a beautiful fall morning! The leaves are starting to turn yellow, red and gold. Let's go for a walk. Thumper can join us; she'll love it!”

“Oh, Sugar Plum, it's Saturday. Can't I just stay in bed for a couple hours?”

“Tracker, you promised to get some things done in the garden today. There are weeds to be hoed, fences to be mended and fruit to be picked. If you pick the fruit, I'll make you a pie tonight.

By the way, how is the peach tree you planted three years ago? Isn't it time to take the wire cage off so it can grow?”

“Sugar Plum , I put that wire on to protect the tree from deer rubs while it's young and from them eating the leaves and stunting its growth. But you're right, it has outgrown it. I'll remove it today if the peaches are ripe so you can pick them. The holes in the wire are too small for you to stick your hand in anyway.”

“OK, Tracker, let's get moving! Come on, Thumper, you have squirrels to chase.”

After downing my third cup of coffee, I grabbed my wire cutters and pruning shears and headed out to the orchard. Thumper tagged along. She tracked every animal scent in the orchard; it must have been a busy place last night.

“Holy Hannah, Thumper! There are not very many peaches; I count 15, but boy are they big! They look dead ripe.”

I had been nurturing this tree like a baby hoping to show up Frank. He insisted you can't grow peaches in Idaho .

Snip, snip, snip. I cut the wire and the tree breathed a sigh of relief. The branches, which had been cramped in the cage, popped open. The tree had grown considerably in the last year, more than I imagined.

I reached over to gently squeeze one of the peaches and could not believe the aroma. They were ripe.

“OK, Thumper, I get the first bite.” As I bit into the peach, the juice exploded and ran down my chin. Thumper licked the juice off my shoes, wagging her tail and whimpering as if to say, “I want some.” So I saved her the last bite. She licked her chops and begged for more, but I let her know I wanted them for homemade pie.

These peaches were going to make the best pie. Sugar Plum would be so proud of my efforts. I planned to save three of them for the county fair this weekend. They were blue ribbon winners, for sure, if not grand prize peaches.

“Thumper, I can't wait to rub that blue ribbon in Frank's face.”

I continued with my chores, picking bushels of apples and trimming the branches as I went. It was getting near lunch time and I needed a break.

“Tracker, are the peaches ripe?”

“Are they ripe? They are the best darn peaches in the state, not just the county.

“You'll have to pick them today; they are perfect! Don't forget to save three for the county fair.

Is it lunch time yet? I am famished.”

As I enjoyed my homemade bread with fresh vegetable soup, I could only think about that peach pie I was going to have for dessert tonight.

“Sugar Plum , that little tree sure did a whole lot better with the wire around it. Those pesky deer couldn't get anywhere near it. Those are the best peaches I ever tasted in my life.”

“Tracker, it's great you were so successful with your gardening project. Your fruit got a chance to ripen. Remember my broccoli a few years ago. As soon as I had determined it would be ready to pick, the deer had a salad bar.”

“Well, Sugar Plum, I guess I am just smarter than you.

Thanks for the great lunch; I have rested for half an hour. Now Thumper and I have to get back to work. Come on, girl.”

As we went outside, Thumper started growling. The hair on the back of her neck shot straight up. “ Grrrrrrr .”

“What is it? What's the matter, girl?”

Boy, something was making her angry. I wondered what it could be. But, I didn't have to wonder long. As we turned the corner of the house, it was obvious.

I had to grab Thumper by her collar. I instantly burst in to tears. I was so upset. I couldn't believe my eyes.

All choked up, I looked down at Thumper who had alligator tears. “Thumper, I am sorry. Life isn't always fair.”

“Sugar Plum !” I screamed. “Come here, quick!”

Sugar Plum came running in a panic, wiping her hands on a dish towel.

“Tracker, what's wrong. Are you all right? Why are you crying? Thumper, what is it?”

I was so upset, I couldn't explain it. I just pointed toward the orchard.

“ Tracker ! Tell me what is wrong! You let out a blood curdling scream and scare me to death. You and Thumper seem to be OK, so what is it?”

Blubbering, I stammered, “ Mmmmmmyyyyyyy peaches. . .”

Sugar Plum followed my finger and realized I was pointing at my precious peach tree, the one I had babied along. A doe and her twin fawns had stripped the lower part of the tree of all its leaves and were now dining on my blue ribbon peaches. There were raccoons, squirrels, magpies and a porcupine scarfing up the scraps the deer dropped.

The critters realized we were focused on them, but it didn't seem to bother them. When they had their fill, we walked over to the tree and found most of the peaches half-eaten on the ground.

“Oh, Tracker, I am so sorry. I think I can scrounge enough to make you a pie. I'll just clean up what they left behind.”

As Sugar Plum worked, I examined the tree.

“Holy Hannah! Sugar Plum , my luck is holding. There are three perfect peaches up there in the tree just out of reach of the deer. I can enter the fair and get my blue ribbon.”

That weekend, the peaches were judged “Best of Fair” and I got my blue ribbon.

“Tracker, what are you crying about now?”

“I am so happy that I won and can prove Frank wrong!”

Aly Matthews Bruner

     
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