The black grape

Terry Miller is a happy farmer. His vineyard was his best friend. It never betrayed him when it comes to yield. This year so far was no different from the others. Terry and his wife Jen are excited for the next season. They are prepared with several contracts in their hands and are sure they would make enough this year for fulfilling their 'dream home' dream come true!

Terry's brother Taylor who goes to college in the nearby town is visiting them. Terry and Taylor were orphaned young and have literally raised each other. They are the closest of siblings and were always there for each other. Taylor was obviously the first one to find out about Jen but not from Terry's mouth but his journal. Terry dropped out in high school to take care of the vineyard as it was then growing fast and needed his full-time attention. When Terry first met Jen Manning at the country fair, he instantly fell head over heels for her but never mentioned about his feelings to her as she was a college-going student and he thought she deserves a more well-read, college grad who can provide her with a more sophisticated lifestyle unlike wat he has to offer.

It was Taylor who confessed about Terry's feelings to Jen without Terry's knowing. Jen who was taken by Terry's good heart and child like innocence was on cloud 9 knowing the feeling was mutual. It was Jen who asked Terry out for a date when she met him at the market an 2 years back today and today is their 1st wedding anniversary, the very reason of Taylor's visit.

At the simple yet classy party that's thrown by the young couple, Taylor was ready with his glass to make a toast exactly one year later. He now thought it's safe to reveal his and Jen's secret as he knew Terry no longer feels inferior and is now convinced that Jen truly loves him and his brother's involvement only moved things faster and the past 12 months have been the most happiest moments of his life.

Even before Taylor clinked his glass he got most of the party's attention which he is used to by now thanks to the gods who were in a good mood when they made him. His perfect jaw line and chiseled body were coupled with a pair of green eyes which have no problem dominating any room he enters, makes one think his only true competition is the god of beauty, cupid himself. When Taylor revealed the best kept secret of his life to their friends like family, it was Terry's turn to gasp and found himself dumbfounded. Everyone including Jen had a hearty laugh the way Taylor pulled his brother's leg describing the poetry he wrote about Jen in his diary. When Terry regained conscious he chased his brother through the vineyard while the anniversary party still couldn't control their laughter. 

The brothers have now run halfway through the vineyard and are gasping for breath. Terry managed to pin Taylor down on his shoulders thanks to his better knowledge on the recent changes in the farm, he knew the shortcuts all too well. Taylor still trying to fight his brother inspite of his futile effort is still laughing when something caught his eye.

The millers owned the farm since ages and it is the sole reason of their income, always abundant which got them through the hardest of times. When you have money, its not hard to find friends even when you lost your family and are clueless. The miller brothers know their farm even before they spelt their abc's. And this is peculiar. In decades of growing green grapes, this is the first time ever they found - a black grape.

Taylor still couldn't believe what he was seeing. How did this happen? He asked Terry if he has seen such a thing before. What Taylor didn't realize is his brother is as surprised as he is. He is scratching his head and browsing through all the memories he had on the farm starting from when he was an year old to find a memory involving a black grape. But, none. Taylor was eager to pluck it and examine it more and maybe taste it but Terry wanted to show it to Jen. Jen who has a degree in agriculture and farming has been helping Terry in using more organic pesticides and a much safer and efficient way of growing the grapes which has increased the produce to 3 times in a year. Taylor was not a fan of the idea but as always he respected his brother more than anyone so waited to hear out Jen's opinion.

When Jen saw the black grape she was worried beyond imagination. Though she is a college grad, she was raised in a family who believed in superstitions and she was not too different from her parents. She said its a bad omen and has to be removed immediately. Taylor was convinced that by agreeing with his sister-in-law he would get a chance to eat it and know how its different from a green grape which he has been containing for a while now. He immediately concurred with Jen. Terry for once and infact for the first time ever was in disagreement with his wife. For his eyes, it looked like 'more money'. Lately he was bored raising the same green grapes and was eager to find out if he is a capable farmer of raising other crops. As he was always a cautious person he did not push himself too much but now the opportunity has come to him, he is unable to deny it anymore.

The discussion of whether the black grape should stay or not remained for days and everyday Terry, Jen and Taylor would take a walk to the grape, stare at it or smell it sometimes and observe it as long as their thirst for curiosity sustained. While on these walks, Jen and Taylor consistently tried to convince Terry to pluck out the black grape. It was time for Taylor to return to college and he found it hard to part with the 'black grape' more than his family. He kept writing letters almost every week to find out about its development.

One day while Terry took a usual walk for the 'observation session', he found the grape missing. He thought he took the wrong path and ran around the vineyard to find the missing grape but it was of no use. The black grape is gone. He immediately took it to his wife and with worry on his face that Jen never saw before explained how he searched for the grape but couldn't find it. Jen though a little surprised by the look on her husband's face was actually very relieved that the bad omen finally disappeared. Coincidentally, the postman delivered a letter from Taylor in which he as usual inquired about the grape and Jen couldn't resist herself but start replying right away that it has disappeared on its own and she is glad it did.

Terry's face suddenly turned all red and he stormed out of the house with a bull like rage. Jen mentioned that in the letter to Taylor how 'funny' his brother looked while fuming like that which is very very rare. Terry's anger hardly lasts a few minutes and all it takes for Jen is to bake his favorite apple pie and he turns instantly to the most calm and happiest person you ever met. Jen got on her heels with the task at hand while waiting for Terry's return. 

The day broke and Jen who fell asleep on the dining table with the pie woke up with a back ache caused by sleeping in the sitting posture all night. She looked around for Terry and shocked to see the front door wide open. She went into the bedroom and found Terry sound asleep on the bed. She kissed him 'good morning' to which he groaned back. She moved on to the kitchen to make some coffee. While she was in the kitchen making the breakfast plate for Terry and just placed a piece of the apple pie, she heard a squeal coming from the living and ran along with the plate in her hands to see who it was. 

Taylor was no longer walking but jumping in excitement. He got something in his hand that he wanted his sister-in-law to guess. While Jen enjoyed playing the guessing game for a while, she was annoyed now that its taking too long and she is almost at the verge of losing interest to even find out what it was. Taylor noticing this tried to grab the pie from the plate throwing a warning that he would gobble it up without leaving anything for his brother if she stops guessing. Jen realized that Taylor mistook the pie for the last piece so played her card. She lied that the piece of pie is indeed the last of what she made and knowing that there is enough for her husband traded it for ending the guess game and revealing what's in Taylor's hands.

Taylor who knew how Jen has perfected the pie knowing that its his brothers favorite accepted the deal. Jen took the pie and placed it in Taylor's mouth while Taylor opened his fist. Terry just entered the room to be flabbergasted to see what's in Taylor's palm and his wife so happy feeding his brother who agrees with her for getting the job done. 

'Job done' thought the fate!