Farmer Ben worked hard every day on his small farm. He lived in a little red house with a green roof, surrounded by fields and animals. Each morning, Ben woke up early, fed the chickens, milked the cows, and watered his crops. His life was simple, but Ben always wished for a little more luck.

One sunny morning, Ben walked to his orchard to pick some apples. He noticed something strange—three shiny apples glowed in the sunlight like gold coins. He scratched his head. “I don’t remember planting these.”

Just then, Old Granny May, the wisest woman in the village, appeared from behind a tree. She had a crooked stick and a big, friendly smile.

“Hello, Ben,” Granny May said. “Those apples are special. They can grant wishes. But be careful—magic is not always what it seems.”

Ben laughed. “Oh, Granny, that sounds like a fairy tale!”

Granny May winked. “Sometimes, stories come true.”

Ben didn’t believe her, but he took the apples home anyway. “What could it hurt?” he thought.

That evening, Ben sat by his fireplace, looking at the apples. His cat, Whiskers, jumped onto his lap. “What do you think, Whiskers? Should I try a wish?”

Whiskers just purred. Ben held one apple and made a wish. “I wish my farm was full of crops and my barn full of animals.”

The next morning, Ben stepped outside, and his jaw dropped. His fields were overflowing with corn, pumpkins, and tomatoes. His barn was filled with cows, chickens, and sheep. “Wow, it worked!” Ben shouted, dancing around with joy.

But then, things got a little messy. The animals were everywhere, and the crops were growing out of control. The cows mooed loudly, the chickens clucked nonstop, and weeds began taking over the farm. Ben tried to manage it, but it was just too much.

Granny May strolled by again, chuckling. “Looks like you’ve got your hands full, Ben.”

Ben sighed. “I guess I wasn’t careful with my wish.”

Granny May nodded. “Magic always comes with a twist, my dear.”

Ben thought hard. He decided to use the second apple to fix his wish. “I wish my farm was neat, tidy, and just right.”

Poof! Suddenly, everything was perfect. The crops were neatly lined up, and the animals were calm and happy. Ben smiled, feeling proud of his farm. But as the days passed, he realized something was missing.

His farm was so perfect that he had nothing left to do. He missed working hard, getting his hands dirty, and caring for his animals. “This is too easy,” Ben grumbled. “It’s not the same.”

One evening, Ben sat under the stars, holding the last apple. “What should I wish for now, Whiskers?” he asked his cat. Whiskers meowed softly and curled up beside him.

Ben stared at the apple, thinking of all the things he could wish for. Riches? Fame? A fancy new house? But none of it felt right. Then, an idea popped into his head.

The next morning, Ben went to the village market, holding the last magic apple. Granny May was there, selling her herbs and potions.

“Hello, Ben,” she said with a knowing smile. “Made your final wish yet?”

Ben shook his head. “Not yet, Granny. I want to get this one right.”

He saw a little boy looking sadly at the fruit stand. His clothes were torn, and his pockets were empty. The boy picked up a bruised apple and sighed.

Ben felt a tug at his heart. He walked over and handed the shiny magic apple to the boy. “Here, you can have this one. It’s a special apple.”

The boy’s eyes widened. “Really? For me?”

“Yes, for you,” Ben said. “Make a wish, but remember, use it wisely.”

The boy grinned and whispered his wish. Suddenly, his ragged clothes turned into bright, clean ones, and his hands were full of fresh food. His face lit up with joy.

“Thank you!” the boy shouted, running back to his family.

Ben watched, feeling happier than ever. Granny May patted his shoulder. “That was a good wish, Ben. Sometimes, the best wishes are the ones we make for others.”

Ben smiled. His farm was just as he liked it, a little messy, a little busy, but full of life and love. And from that day on, Ben knew that he didn’t need magic apples to be happy. All he needed was his farm, his friends, and a little bit of kindness.

The magic was not in the apples, but in the hearts of those who shared it.

And that was the best twist of all.