>>
>> Um. Was that because it's the neighbor's tree?
>
> Yes. He is senile and lives alone. I have no way of explaining why I
> need to cut a branch off one of his trees. Free pruning for him, smoke
> wood for me :-)
>

Apple isn't exactly a topiary where a couple branches will be noticed. IME
apple grows crazy if it isn't pruned heavily, so it sounds like you're doing
the old coot a favor. ;-)

-John O