‘Snug’ circumference of portal to better times tucked in shadows behind Applewood Plaza deemed exclusionary, welded shut

The so-called “portal to better times,” long tucked behind Applewood Plaza in the alley where only the bravest ventured, is no more. City crews welded the circular opening shut yesterday, citing accessibility concerns and what one official delicately described as “its unreasonably snug circumference.”

For years, the portal’s tight fit was a source of whispered complaint in Applewood. While spry teenagers and wiry dog-walkers could slip through, the average local—laden with takeout, groceries, and perhaps a few decades of suburban comfort—found the passage less welcoming. “Exclusionary,” muttered one councillor, “and not in line with our city’s inclusive vision.”

Some residents applauded the move. “Honestly, it was like watching people try to butter themselves through a keyhole,” said one plaza worker. Others lamented the closure, insisting that whatever lay beyond—even if only dumpsters and a better mood—had been worth the squeeze.

Now, the once-mythic ring is sealed in steel, a reminder that in Applewood, nostalgia must sometimes yield to the realities of girth and governance.

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G Papa Tango, please pen a synopsis of a sci-fi movie involving portals between a McIntosh apple and a Northern Spy.

Between the Apples

In the not-so-distant future, geneticist Dr. Liora Vance discovers an extraordinary anomaly: certain heirloom apples act as microscopic wormholes. Testing her theory, she pokes a McIntosh with a silver probe—and suddenly glimpses the interior of a Northern Spy apple in a parallel orchard.

When she accidentally steps through, Liora finds herself in a mirror version of her world: cities hover above apple trees, and humans live alongside intelligent, sentient fruits. The McIntosh and Northern Spy are revealed to be ancient custodians of inter-fruit portals, holding the delicate balance of multiple realities in their crisp, juicy cores.

But all is not well. A shadowy corporation from Liora’s original world seeks to commercialize the portal network, threatening to collapse the timelines—and the apples themselves. Teaming up with a sharp-tongued Northern Spy and a wise-cracking McIntosh, Liora must navigate impossible gravity, talking fruit diplomacy, and the occasional wormhole hiccup to save both worlds before the fruits’ cores—quite literally—rot from the pressure.

Part adventure, part philosophical musing on choice and consequence, Between the Apples asks: what if the fate of the universe rested in the peel of a fruit?

As they journey from one world to the next, the Parkers soon realize that their fate is intertwined with the fate of the multiverse itself. And with time running out, they must confront their fears, forge unlikely alliances, and confront the mysterious forces that seek to control the portal for their own nefarious purposes.

In a thrilling race against time, the Parkers must navigate a maze of intrigue and betrayal to unlock the true power of the portal and ensure the survival of not just their family, but all of reality itself.

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