the first apple sails by missing him by an inch, as he ducks his head and weaves through the barricaded furniture by the front fate. A second apple whizzes by and hits that nasty postman who explodes in a cloud of letters. Target in sight, he bounds up the stairs and into the first room on the left and delivers his cargo by masters feet: a fresh basket of apples. He’s a good boy.

Exactly, you don’t eat them, you throw them at people. And it’s not limited to apples.
Rocks are a great substitute for apples!