--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On the third day, she smelled the fruit…" description: "\"“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach was radiant, dusky rose and gold,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/allegra-goodman-11384_flowers_on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-a_61.jpg" --- # On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she… ![“On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach was radiant, dusky rose and gold, its skin so plush she thought her fingertip might bruise it. This was the day, the very hour to eat- and she had come prepared, but she didn't want…” quote by Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/allegra-goodman-11384_flowers_on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-a_61.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/allegra-goodman-11384_flowers_on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-a_61.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7f3/allegra-goodman-11384_flowers_on-the-third-day-she-smelled-the-fruit-a_61.jpg) > ““On the third day, she smelled the fruit as soon as she came in. She followed the scent to the kitchen, and the peach was radiant, dusky rose and gold, its skin so plush she thought her fingertip might bruise it. This was the day, the very hour to eat- and she had come prepared, but she didn't want Concepcion to see her. She waited until the housekeeper shouldered her leather-handled canvas bag and left. Then Jess unwrapped the organic peach she'd bought that morning. Slightly smaller, slightly harder, but decently rosy, the peach listed left- just the right direction- when she set it on the table. Leaving this changeling for George, she washed his ripe fruit, and bit and broke the skin. An intense tang, the underside of velvet. Then flesh dissolved in a rush of nectar. Juice drenched her hand and wet the inside of her wrist. She had forgotten, if she'd ever known, that what was sweet could also be so complicated, that fruit could have a nap, like fabric, soft one way, sleek the other.”” [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A woman secretly enjoys a ripe peach, symbolizing hidden pleasures and the complexity of desire, contrasting sweetness with danger. **In simple terms:** Secret indulgence reveals hidden complexity. Key Takeaway Embrace hidden joys cautiously. Themes desire secret sensory complexity Mood sensual thoughtful Type narrative descriptive When to use this quote - intimate moments - culinary experiences Key Concepts taste memory danger Questions to Reflect On - How do hidden desires affect relationships? - What does the peach symbolize? A Different Perspective The act may be illegal or nonconsensual ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flowers/) [Fruit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fruit/) [Jess-bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jess-bach/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) ## Related quotes > [“A peach, slightly unbalanced, so that it listed to one side, its hue the color of an early sunrise. Had George remembered their conversation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/a-peach-slightly-unbalanced-so-that-it-listed-to-one-side-its-hue-the/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“She knew she was overextended, but she couldn't help herself. Student, tree lover, citizen of the Earth, she was busier than ever as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-knew-she-was-overextended-but-she-couldn-t-help-herself-student/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“She had never seen the Tree House at night. Vast and dark, lit with candles for the occasion, the rooms looked magical, the staircase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-had-never-seen-the-tree-house-at-night-vast-and-dark-lit-with/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“Jess herself had not eaten fowl or roast or even fish in years, but the books awakened memories of turkey and thick gravy, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/jess-herself-had-not-eaten-fowl-or-roast-or-even-fish-in-years-but/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“I prefer feeling insignificant," said Jess. "I don't believe that." "I didn't say worthless, I said insignificant, as in the grand scheme of things."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/i-prefer-feeling-insignificant-said-jess-i-don-t-believe-that-i-didn/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“The sisters' voices were almost identical, laughing mezzos tuned in childhood to the same pitch and timbre. To the ear, they were twins; to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/the-sisters-voices-were-almost-identical-laughing-mezzos-tuned-in/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“I used to write poetry when I was younger," Jess said. 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She had imagined finding a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/the-woods-are-lovely-dark-and-deep-jess-intoned-as-they-took-the-path/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“Yorick's Used and Rare Books had a small storefront on Channing but a deep interior shaded by tall bookcases crammed with history, poetry, theology,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/yorick-s-used-and-rare-books-had-a-small-storefront-on-channing-but-a/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“To make a tarte of strawberyes," wrote Margaret Parker in 1551, "take and strayne theym with the yolkes of four eggs, and a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/to-make-a-tarte-of-strawberyes-wrote-margaret-parker-in-1551-take-and/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“Who are you? She asked silently, as she laid away the collector's quotations, his drawings, his scraps of famous poetry: "Come live with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/who-are-you-she-asked-silently-as-she-laid-away-the-collector-s/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“She turned the next several pages and found a black-ink drawing on a slip of typing paper, a nude woman holding a round fruit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-turned-the-next-several-pages-and-found-a-black-ink-drawing-on-a/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [The Only Way To Have Peace is To Teach Peach… ¥](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-way-to-have-peace-is-to-teach-peach/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm always amazed by those people who get up at 5 and write till 8 and then eat a peach and walk their canary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-greenberg/i-m-always-amazed-by-those-people-who-get-up-at-5-and-write-till-8/) [Richard Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-greenberg/) > [I like to make pies. That's kind of my new obsession - peach, blueberry, apple, strawberry. I make a really good pumpkin pie with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morgan-saylor/i-like-to-make-pies-that-s-kind-of-my-new-obsession-peach-blueberry/) [Morgan Saylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morgan-saylor/) ## More by Allegra Goodman > [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. 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Just as wines opened at the table, so the friends'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/the-wines-were-great-and-better-by-the-minute-even-as-the-drinkers/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“Who are you? She asked silently, as she laid away the collector's quotations, his drawings, his scraps of famous poetry: "Come live with me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/who-are-you-she-asked-silently-as-she-laid-away-the-collector-s/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“She was surprised because she was Emily, and she did not share Jonathan's frank assessment of coworkers as losers, whiners, bozos, sharks. No, she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-was-surprised-because-she-was-emily-and-she-did-not-share/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [I do not think novels are necessarily more worthwhile than games. A novel can be a trivial waste of time, and a game can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/i-do-not-think-novels-are-necessarily-more-worthwhile-than-games-a/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [The new one actually reads, but only to pass judgment. This is the way kids learn today. Someone told them how you feel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/the-new-one-actually-reads-but-only-to-pass-judgment-this-is-the-way/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [I do think some games are works of art, although their medium is visual rather than verbal. Both games and novels allow the reader/player…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/i-do-think-some-games-are-works-of-art-although-their-medium-is/) [Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/) > [“Jess gazed at the apples arranged in all their colors: russet, blushing pink, freckled gold. 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Leaving this changeling for George, she washed his ripe fruit, and bit and broke the skin. An intense tang, the underside of velvet. Then flesh dissolved in a rush of nectar. Juice drenched her hand and wet the inside of her wrist. 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