“Good morning, Ms. Ann! Want some apples? I got these very juicy and fresh apples this morning. ” “Sure, please give me six of them.” “No problem, I’ll pick out some good, red ones for you.” “Wait a second, there are also yellow and green apples over there. I want to go and take a look at those. I will be back in a minute.” “Of course, but remember me warning you that those apples are bad kinds.” “Why? Are they not organic?” “They are yellow and green apples!” “I know, and does that make a difference? They do look delicious.” “Well, the red ones are always lighter in flavor. Green apples usually taste sour, and the yellow ones are as you know, tasteless. You’ll see once you bite into the flesh.” “Sounds like you’ve eaten those apples before.” “No, I haven’t at all. I’ve only eaten my own red apples.” “Then how do you know the taste of other kinds of apples?” “I look at their colors. That’s how I know they won’t taste as good as the red ones, which are the best kind.” “Does that matter?” “It’s not only about the color. Texture! Texture also matters! Green apples have really hard and thick skin, and the yellow ones have spots on the skin.” “But they are all apples, aren’t they? No matter what color they have, there shouldn’t be a so-called ‘best kind.’” “You may be right. However, I want to tell you that in the region where I come from, we plant, sell, and eat apples that are red. The green and yellow kinds are just unpopular, and there must be a reason for that.” “If there must be a reason, then it should be yours. To me, appearances are meaningless. Apples may look different, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are apples, that they contain the same nutritional value. They taste different, but what’s wrong with that? There are certainly people who like green and yellow apples, making their existence mean something. You know, sometimes if we judged the world around us in a smarter and more tolerant way, there would be less arguing and disputes. Accepting differences should be something we learn from birth and should have nothing to do with personal prejudices.” “How much I wish the world could be like what you said.” The apple seller takes his cap down hesitantly, showing a wrinkled, dim face, “If the world could be like that, I would live a better life, a life that’s much better than sitting in a hot, small corner by a pile of fruits, and not seeing where my destination is. I would have had more friends when I was at school, and my family would be invited by other families to a popular restaurant during weekends. The only place that belong to my apples is my stall. You see?” “How would I know about your life, Mr. Apple seller?” Ann says, and reaches over to grab a bag of apples. “Anyways, have a good day and remember to put your cap back on.” “I certainly will, Miss,” the apple seller watches her back as she walks away. “As always.” | 