There are some fruits that have pits in the middle,
and Penelope loved them along with her fiddle.
Cherries and peaches were her favorite for sure,
Plums were not sweet enough to satisfy her.
Penelope the fiddle-playing peach lover,
was searching for some fruit to uncover,
When one day she stumbled on an old peach tree,
Not knowing the owner; she thought the peaches were free.
Eating herself silly, she would stop by that way,
And fill her belly full of peaches everyday.
One day after school she stopped at the tree,
but left her fiddle beneath its green leaves.
Searching the next morning for her fiddle so dear,
she remembered the peach tree and leaving it there.
She dashed out the door and ran down the street,
only to see nothing at the old peach tree's feet.
Knowing she must do something to recover it,
she thought perhaps the owner discovered it.
"I'll just explain myself", she thought,
and on to the door where her fiddle she sought.
As she stood on the rickety porch all alone,
she knocked as if hoping that no one was home.
Hearing the movement from behind the door,
she started to doubt her reasoning from before,
A small little woman came and answered her raps,
and said, "May I help you?", while petting her cat.
"Y-Y-yes", stuttered Penelope, forgetting her name,
"I'd like to come in, if it's all the same?"
"You look familiar", the old woman said to her,
"I thought I knew everyone on this block to be sure."
Penelope sighed thinking about how to tell her,
that she'd been stealing her peaches for most of October.
They had a nice chat about the weather and things,
but she so wanted the freedom telling the truth brings.
Penelope said, as if she was yelling,
"I am so sorry I have been stealing!"
She continued, "I left my fiddle beneath your tree yesterday,
and I fill my belly with your peaches everyday."
The old woman sat back and pondered her confession,
knowing Penelope had good intentions.
The old woman said, "I will give you peaches for free,
I just want a visit, I am lonely you see.
I forgive your stealing and leaving your fiddle here,
maybe you could play for me, my dear?"
Smiling wide Penelope said, "I would love to visit you,
and I have played my fiddle for more than a few.
Thank you so much", said Penelope so kind,
"I will keep eating peaches if you don't mind!"
And with that, the old woman said,
"By all means, go right on ahead!"
They left their chat with much love and laughter,
and Penelope left with more than she sought after.
Lifelong friends they came to be,
but not every story ends this happily.
For stealing is wrong and not just a little,
but if you steal peaches don't take your fiddle!
by J.Ashley Webster
