Loving the Rejects

Each morning when walking the dogs, I stop by the apple tree.

For the past week, it's been dropping apples.

I fill my front left jeans pocket and two back pockets with a dozen apples. The right front pocket gets no apples, thanks to a hole chewed by Caeli, the Border collie, in an attempt to get treats.

Upon returning home, I break two apples in half and offer the pieces to Lily and Jet, the Haflingers. By Day Three, they whinny in anticipation.

The rest I take to the chicken yard for the hens.

The hens cluck at the sweet treat and peck away.

For, unlike humans, they do not mind if an apple is misshapen,

or has a bad spot,

or a worm hole.