The Fruit Adam and Eve Ate

I grew up in Dallas, TX, watching and listening to my dad preach and teach from the King James Version of the Bible.

All my life, I've witnessed professionally dressed ushers hand out Kleenex and paper fans to people 'filled with the holy ghost' as they passed a collection plate between the aisles. I sat confused as the deacons lifted a white sheet covering juice and bread on a gold table that read, 'Do this in remembrance of me.'

One night I'll never forget is the conversation I had with my dad on a Saturday night at his desk in the dining room. He was by himself, and the only light was shining down on his Bible and journal. It was the first time he ever asked me a trick question.

Without looking up, my dad asked, "What kind of fruit did Adam and Eve eat off the tree in the garden?"

"Oh, that's easy, Dad." I smiled and answered, "An Apple."

"Prove it."

My smile faded.  With a hard look of confusion, I replied, "It's in Genesis, Dad. When Adam and Eve were in the garden." 

"Show me."

I didn't understand why I felt the need to prove to this Bible-carrying, bald-headed man that Adam and Eve ate an apple from the tree in the Garden of Eden, but I opened my orange and blue Zondervan Teen Study Bible that I begged my stepmother for, and I flipped through the book of Genesis, looking for the Forbidden Fruit. 

"I'll give you a hint." His sudden voice pulled me out of deep reading mode. "Look in Chapter 3." 

Frantically, I shifted back tot he second page of the bible and read  Chapter 3 three times before I finally declared, "It doesn't say apple dad." 

"Oh really?" His eyebrows shot up. a shrewed, toothless grinned crossed his face.  "Then what kind of fruit was it?"

I was stunned.

"A Banana?" I answered nervously.

"I didn't find a banana in chapter 3." 

"Well, maybe it was an orange." I shrugged my shoulders. 

"Don't guess, Taylor. Read it again."

"I did read it, dad." I was getting frustrated. "It doesn't say what kind of fruit it is." 

"So," His look became deathly serious. "What kind of fruit did Adam and Eve eat in the Garden of Eden?"

"I don't know anymore, Dad." I was finally giving up. I had lost to the bald-head-bible-thumper. "What's the right answer?"

"I'll tell you tomorrow after church. Go get in the bed."

I was furious, but I didn't show it. "Really?!" 

"I love you. Good Night."

I closed my Bible and walked up the dark stairs to the room I shared with my oldest sister.