For this prompt, I thought Epel definitely suited the memory of this event the best.

Link to original post: https://old.reddit.com/r/TwistedWonderland/comments/xe5lzy/twstober_prompt/

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“Dagnabit! Why do these apples have to grow so high?” Epel had been jumping and climbing for the past ten minutes. He cursed not getting a ladder (more rather, not being able to carry one out) for work today. His ears tickled when a graceful chuckle swam into one and out the other.

“Thank the Seven for givin’ us plenty of fruit this year.”

“I know what you’re really thinkin’, Darrian. I don’t need the gawkin’ today.”

Darrian pushed her full box of produce aside. “Hold on, Epel, I’ll help ya.” She crouched into a squat and gestured for Epel to get onto her shoulders.

“Ya serious?”

“Do I look like I’m not?”

Epel sighed out of Darrian’s earshot and gave into the offer. He handed Darrian the apple sack and looped his legs, clutching Darrian by the lower shoulders. She slowly straightened her back and legs, hoisting Epel up to the higher branches. He warned her to watch where she was swinging him as Epel almost hit some of the thicker limbs of the tree. Most to Epel’s delight, he was at the appropriate level to observe some of the fruits properly. The apples that weren’t rotten or invaded by bugs, he plucked from the stems and dropped them in the sack Darrian had opened below.

“That’s the way, Epel! That’s the way.”

“Thank ya, Darrian. I think a few more would do it.”

“I thought ya had ta fill the whole thing?”

“I do, but I’ll hurt ya if I stay here for long.”

“I can handle it. Ya do yer work, and I can keep ya company.”

Epel heavily sighed, continuing to drop the apples into the sack below him.

“Your body’s gettin’ heavy, Epel. What’s wrong?”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Not that kinda heavy. Don’t tell me ya jealous of my strength again.”

“Not in that way either.” Epel plucked another healthy apple, but this one had a beautiful shine. So much so that he could see his youthful reflection in it. The reflection irked him. “I’m annoyed at myself is all.”

“What do ya mean?” she asked.

Epel requested to return to the ground, to which Darrian followed through on. “Ya see…The sports clubs at school attend this camp hosted by our coach. Ta teach about survival n’ teamwork n’ stuff. I did so well to keep the Spelldive team goin’, but I don’t know why I can’t do that here.”

“What did ya do at this camp of yers?”

“The usual. Settin’ a fire, huntin’ for food, buildin’ tents and all that. It was hard at first, but we managed it all. It proved to me that I was able to survive out in the wil’ myself. I can’t even do that at home. I still can’t even climb a tree.”

“Climbin’ trees is awfully dangerous, Epel. It’s unwise.”

Epel slumped. “I get it. I’m just imagin’ what it would be like if I was taller and stronger. I could do more and be useful around the village.”

Darrian took Epel by the chin and pulled him to her, so that their foreheads met. “Not everyone is good at everythin’. That’s why we have roles in our little village. Each role is like a gear in a clock. If a gear is missin’, the clock won’t tick. If the clock won’t tick, time becomes lost. If you are missin’ in our clock, Epel, the clock which is our village won’t work the same. The village would be lost. You know what I’m sayin’?”

Epel blushed. “I guess, but…”

“But nothin’. Ye’r the best apple picker, wood chopper, n’ juice maker I’ve come across. Not everyone has the eyes n’ arms that ya do. I sure don’t.”

“Darrian…”

“Ya can be whateva ya wanna be, Epel. That don’t mean what ya have ain’t good enough. Believe in yaself, ok?”

Epel blushed again. “Ya right, Darri. I know I can. Now, let’s get these back home before they spoil.”