The Fickle Pickle (and a bunch of grapes)

There once was a pickle, who was very fickle, and he rode his bicycle to work almost every day. Sometimes he would not go to work at all, but somehow he never got fired. He did not have any friends, as he could never decide on who he liked and did not like. In his spare time, which he had a lot of, he enjoyed long walks on the beach although he was not sure what his zodiac sign was. Sometimes he would get lonely and regretted the fact that he lived a lonely life.

Then one day, he met a bunch of grapes who knew how to change shapes. This interested the fickle pickle because at one point in his life he had also changed shapes. He used to be a cucumber and used to know lots of other cucumbers.

 The fickle pickle had not interacted with others in a long time, so he was not sure how to approach the situation. However, after long consideration, he decided to talk to the grapes.

“Hello. My name is Pickle. I see that you are a bunch of grapes. What shapes do you turn into?” Again, he did not have much experience interacting with others.

“We turn into raisins, once we dry up. We shrivel up and no longer look like grapes.” They did not mind answering his question and embraced the fact that they would all turn into raisins someday.

“I used to be a cucumber, so I know a bit about changing shapes. I am now an old pickle and I would advise you to enjoy your time as young grapes.”

“Thank you for your advice.” They all said at the same time. They did not know what else to say because they already were enjoying their lives as young grapes and were not concerned about turning into raisins, although they knew that they would someday.

The pickle was not done yet. He wanted to pass on his knowledge to these grapes, mostly because he did not have anyone else to talk to.

“Hold on to the good things in your life. All the things that make you happy and everyone you love. Remember that, before it‘s too late. I used to know a lot of cucumbers, but my fickle habits turned them all away. I did not trust them and they did not trust me. I am now old and lonely.”

The grapes grew up in a bunch and were never alone, and although they would occasionally get into arguments, they never parted ways. They planned on staying together until they shriveled up into raisins. They did not know anything about being lonely. They appreciated the pickle’s advice but did not feel that it applied to their situation.

The fickle pickle could sense this by the way they looked at him and at each other. He knew they did not understand and he felt the need to make sure his message got across to them. They were young and naïve, that was all.

“I know that you grew up together as a bunch of grapes, but that makes no difference. I spent my life with other cucumbers, but they all left and never came back. It could happen to you as well.”

The grapes sympathized with this pickle and were starting to understand his point.

“Perhaps we can help you become less lonely. Do you think that would help?”

As soon as he heard this, the pickle became very hesitant. “But you are grapes and I am a pickle. I am a vegetable and you are not. I have only known cucumbers my whole life.”

The grapes ignored this statement. They began to realize that even in his old age, he was still very naïve. “What do you like to do in your spare time, Pickle?”

“Well, I enjoy long walks on the beach, although I do not know what my zodiac sign is.”

“We enjoy long walks on the beach as well. And your zodiac sign, whatever it may be, does not matter to us. Would you like to join us on our walk?”

Still very hesitant. He really wanted to turn down the offer, but since he was lonely, he decided to go along with it.

The pickle and the grapes, who all knew how to change shapes, began walking on the beach. It does not matter how they got there or where it was located. They enjoyed walks on any beach. They walked and talked and sometimes were silent when there wasn’t anything to say. They talked about their lives and their experiences, the good ones as well as the bad ones.
At this point, the pickle felt that the grapes were starting to become his friends and he felt that he could learn to trust them. They were friendly and accepting and did not seem fickle at all.

As the sun began to set, it was time for them to part ways. They all appreciated the knowledge they had shared with each other on this day. The pickle gave the grapes very important advice on growing older and not taking their lives and each other for granted, and the grapes taught the pickle to become more open minded. He also now understood that even though his life had often been unpredictable, there was no need for him to be so fickle.

“We are very glad to have met you, Pickle, and we enjoyed this long walk on the beach. We would very much like to continue taking walks on the beach with you, or anywhere else for that matter.”

“I would like that too. I have never been friends with grapes before and I am glad to have met you as well. I am now no longer lonely and I think we can learn a lot from each other.”

So they agreed to meet again the next day.

The next day came, and sure enough the pickle joined the grapes on their walk. Years passed, and the grapes eventually all turned into raisins. They all stayed together and never parted ways, not even with the pickle, who no longer considered himself to be fickle.