After a nice and relaxing slumber in the crisp autumnal air I thought a proper drink was in order. Apfelkorn! But where? I set out with a revived bounce in my step to find adventure and a beverage to quench my thirst. I've been meeting so many helpful creatures along my way, like Moose and Bear and Giant Ant, I couldn't help but be excited about the idea of seeking advice about where to find my beverage of choice!I found that making sure to always keep my chin up makes a big difference while I am out wandering. Like today, at first I thought I was just seeing another cloud, but when it said hello to me, I knew my eyes were playing tricks. "Hello," it said again in a deep friendly voice. When my eyes adjusted I saw a great White Bear roosting high above the ground. "Hello up there! Maybe you can help me with something." I explained to the giant White Bear that I was on a long journey and right now I was in the mood to sip my favorite beverage.
"Apfelkorn? I bet you could find it at the apple orchard just up the way!" I commented about how I bet he can probably see everything from where he was. "That's right! You asked the right bear for help. I can see the apple orchard from here, in fact. It's not too far!"
I continued in the direction White Bear told me and while I was imagining what kind of view he has all day long and how different it was from my view, I was interrupted by a loud swish-swish noise. "Oh!" I said, startled. I almost walked right into a long, bony leg!
"I thought I would warn you, but was afraid if I mooed it would just plain scare you away, and I didn't want that! Though it looks like I frightened you anyway. So sorry." It was another giant animal! This time it was a cow and she was quite curious. "If you don't mind my asking, what is a little fellow like you doing out and about?" I explained to the giant black and white cow that I was on a long journey and right now I was in the mood to sip my favorite beverage. "Am I still on the right path to the apple orchard?" "You are! In fact, you haven't much further to go. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun there. I like to sneak into that very apple orchard late at night and eat my fill of apples while everyone is sleeping." And she mooed and laughed at her confession until long after I was on my way.
To keep myself occupied during my walk I thought about all of the enormous friendly creatures I kept meeting and, little did I know, I was just about to meet yet another gentle giant.
A very large beak kept bobbing down to the ground in front of me, so quickly that I could barely see anything but a blurry yellow and red rainbow. "Excuse me, please slow down. I'd like to say hello!" This giant fellow could not talk or move without bobbing his head. This was quite fascinating to me, as the slight sudden movements caused his wild hair to shake and shimmer in the sun. "Hello," the giant rooster replied. He looked at me for a moment, but couldn't be bothered to stop pecking for food on the ground. I explained to the giant orange and yellow rooster that I was on a long journey and right now I was in the mood to sip my favorite beverage. "Am I still on the right path to the apple orchard? "Just follow the corn," advised the giant rooster. Sure enough, just a few steps away, I saw enough corn to feed a giant bear, a giant cow, AND a giant rooster all at once!
I found an entrance to the corn field under a broken, poorly spelled sign. I'm sure it's supposed to say Apfelkorn, I thought to myself. And with that, I walked into hallways made of scrumptious looking corn! The way to the apple orchard was not well marked and sometimes it was hard choosing which way to turn. I had to rely on my nose! I started following the smell of apples and soon I found the orchard! I immediately found an apple that I wished I could bring back to the giant black and white cow. And saw pumpkins the color of the giant rooster's feathers! I saw an apple tree sagging under the weight of apples. "I bet this place is absolutely overflowing with Apfelkorn!" I found my way to a small cafe. By this point I was so hungry for everything made with apple I didn't even look at the menu. I just said, "One of everything please, but I want four apple drinks!"
I ate an apple muffin, apple turnover, and apple pie in anticipation of saving the best -- the Apfelkorn -- for last. But my excitement was dashed. The cafe gave me coffee, apple cider, and an apple cider float. "Sorry, no Apfelcorn," said the lady behind the cafe counter. I felt like I was back on Sesame Street again. Along with my stoop adventures, my search for Apfelcorn continues as well.
On my way out I heard the sound of a machine and decided to have a look. Inside I saw thousands of apples, not on trees, but moving quickly and smoothly across the room! I was bewildered! I couldn't believe that this machine was not turning those apples, not even a small fortunate few of them, into Apfelkorn. All I could do was stare in amazement.
