The neighbours had a quarrel about the apple tree. At first they both wanted to bring a lawsuit against each other, but then they thought it over and came to the conclusion that they would compromise themselves by involving a court in such a ridiculous argument. Therefore they found a mutually acceptable compromise; they both accepted that obtaining some of the apples compromises the foliage and the shade from the tree. Thus the apple tree no longer compromises their neighbourly relations. They share and share alike the rough and the smooth of being the owner of an apple tree now.