The story revolves around a farmer who is trying to protect their apple orchard from a group of vampire bats. The farmer, with the help of their friends, tries to use a spell to stop the bats from eating the apples. However, the spell has an unexpected consequence: it transfers the bats' desire to eat fruit to one of the farmer's friends, who then starts eating the apples. The group tries to reverse the spell but ends up losing their friend, who has been transformed into a vampire-like creature. They eventually manage to catch her and reverse the spell, restoring her to normal. The story ends with the farmer reflecting on the importance of standing up for what they believe in and not giving in to pressure, even from friends.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. The speaker is concerned about vampire bats ruining their apple harvest.
2. The bats are attracted to a giant apple that the speaker wants to enter into a competition at the Appaloosa Vegetable Fair.
3. The speaker tries to reason with the bats, explaining that they will provide them with their own apples to eat.
4. The bats are not interested in the speaker's offer and continue to target the apple.
5. The speaker considers using a spell to stop the bats, but is hesitant to do so.
6. The speaker decides to use the gaze of a friend, Flowers, to hypnotize the bats and stop them from eating the apples.
7. The spell is cast, but it appears to have an unexpected consequence.
8. The bats are no longer interested in eating the apples, but Flowers has developed a desire to eat all the fruit in the garden.
9. The speaker realizes that the spell has been reflected and has had the opposite effect of what was intended.
10. The speaker and their friends try to come up with a plan to reverse the spell and save the garden.
11. They decide to use Flowers' gaze again, this time to try and attract the vampire bat and reverse the spell.
12. The plan works, and the spell is reversed, restoring Flowers to normal and saving the garden.
13. The speaker reflects on the experience, realizing that they should have listened to their friend's advice and not let anyone pressure them into doing something they didn't believe in.
14. The speaker and their friends celebrate their friendship and the success of their plan with a delicious, ripe apple.