“What’s the difference?”
“Being a good neighbor means thinking about what is fair for everyone, not only what you can claim for yourself.”
Leo considered that.
“He wasn’t being a good neighbor.”
“No.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“We’re waiting for Dad.”
An hour later, Rob came home.
He wasn’t angry anymore.
Or at least he wasn’t showing it.
Instead, he walked into the kitchen carrying a shopping bag.
He pulled out gallon-size storage bags.
Canning jars.
And a huge bag of sugar.
Leo stared at it.
“What’s all that for?”
“Applesauce,” Rob said.
Then he added,
“Apple butter too. Maybe cider if we have enough.”
Leo looked confused.
“We don’t have apples anymore. We gave them to Dale.”
“We gave him the apples that had already fallen,” Rob explained.
He pointed toward the backyard.
“But that tree isn’t finished. I’ve watched it for nine years. The biggest drop happens over the next couple of weeks.”
Maya’s eyes widened.
“More apples are coming?”
“A lot more.”
“So what do we do?”
Rob smiled.
“We collect every apple that lands in our yard.”
“What about Dale?”
“He already taught us what kind of neighbor he wants to be.”
