Pineapple on Canvas: The Odd Adventures of a Toy in the City

The one about wanting to meet Not Maher.

It was the Friday before William was to visit and Ella and Papple were engaged in a very serious conversation.

"Okay, Papple. Do you remember what we told you?"

"Yes."

"What did we tell you?"

"When Maher younger brother here, Papple quiet as a mouse and Papple no talk."

"Okay, and where does Papple stay?"

After a few tense seconds, Papple acquiesced and muttered, "In Room. But not in Bad Bag. Never Bad Bag."

"That's my good little fruit. Plus Maher threw away Bad Bag a long time ago! Remember? We showed you how we put it in the trash room." Cringing, Ella remembered vividly Papple's hysterics every time a bag came near him the first few weeks after he had been "rescued."

"Show Papple picture again?" the little fruit asked.

Ella fumbled around on her phone and pulled up a picture of William.

"He look like Boy! Really look like Maher. You sure not Maher?" asked Papple, as he scanned the image of William into his head.

"He does look a lot like Maher," agreed Ella. "He is Maher's younger brother. He is not Maher."

"Okay," said Papple. "Me understand. That is Not Maher."

"Correct."

"So Papple no can play with Not Maher."

"Correct again."

"Okay," Papple said, his voice laced with disappointment. "Can Papple just watch Not Maher?"

"Hmmm, no Papple, that may be creepy."

"He stay in Other Room?"

"Yes, why do you ask?"

"Papple sit outside door and just watch. No talk to Not Maher."

"Papple, you can't sit in front of William's room and stare."

"Papple just sit on shelf. No go in room."

"Yes, but it's a little creepy, sweetie. Remember how Maher taught you Good Behaviors and Bad Behaviors? How would you like it if someone was staring at you all the time?"

"Papple no mind this."

"Well, baby, humans don't like it. It isn't polite."

"Why Papple no can play with Not Maher?"

"Just trust me on this on, okay?" she implored, scooping the small fruit into her arms and planting a kiss on the top of his head. "How about I get my sweetest fruit a little mandarin orange and you can go watch Small Room television?"

The idea appealed immensely to Papple, especially because Ella always limited his TV viewing. As soon as he was settled on the couch, his prior thoughts of becoming best buds with William quickly disappeared from his mind, although the lingering curiosity still remained...