2 February 2026, Freewriters Community Daily Writing Prompt Day 3002: the pear of despair

“Because, see, once you bite into the apple of sin, the pear of despair is next.”

Five-year-old Lil' Robert Ludlow hated a mushy apple and a crunchy pear, and that plus understanding as much as he could about the Fall of Man had led to a fascinating conversation about why the world was so messed up with ten-year-old Glendella Ludlow.

“Because, see, there weren't mushy apples and crunchy pears in the Garden of Eden, but then Adam and Eve messed up, and then God didn't want Cain's mushy veggies – because, see, watery cucumbers and mushy zucchini and then it gets real bad when sinners cook asparagus and broccoli too long –.”

“Ewwwwwwww!” Glendella said. “It was like that time Bad Grandma beat up her chef and then had to cook for a few days, and you sure are right, Lil' Robert – sinners overcooking asparagus because they don't want to do right are bad!”

“But, see, when you get saved, and Jesus takes away your sin, then things get right,” Lil' Robert said, “and you get to where people give you crunchy apples, easy pears, soft peaches, easy nectarines, and don't even force you to eat brussels sprouts!”

“Saved for real,” Glendella said.

“Yeah!” Lil' Robert said. “Since we learned about 'once saved, always saved,' we ain't never gotta eat brussels sprouts again!”

“They truly are a trick from the enemy of our souls, and our tastebuds,” Glendella said.

“OK, no – y'all come into the kitchen and let's work some stuff out!” said Mrs. Thalia Ludlow their grandmother as she was laughing. “The Garden of Eden and messups at Big Discounts for Your Loft are not quite the same thing!”

One hour later, Lil' Robert and Glendella sat down on the sofa to discuss what they had learned.

“So, fruit just gets overripe,” Glendella said. “It's not actually sin or Satan.”

“That's real good,” Lil' Robert said, “because, see, life is tough enough!”

“Yeah,” Glendella said as she put her arms around him. “Brussels sprouts are still a trick of the enemy, though, just enemies that sell them for money to unsuspecting families.”

“Yeah,” Lil' Robert said, “but we are saved for real because Grandma doesn't like them either!”

“That's why she's Good Grandma,” Glendella said. “Gotta have your theology and your position on brussels sprouts right in this world.”

“Yeah,” Lil' Robert said with a smile as he settled into the warmth of his big sister's love and closed his eyes for a nap.

Mrs. Ludlow found both children asleep a few minutes later, all curled up in a sunbeam and smiling.

“No pear of despair for you two, and also, no brussels sprouts,” she purred, and left them there in their rest.