Page 79 of All Wrapped Up
‘We’ve never done anything like this before,’ one mum told me. ‘The children were so excited to pick their pumpkin for Halloween fresh from the field, rather than out of a box in the supermarket. We won’t carve it yet, though, and I’ve still no idea what to do with the flesh. I usually just bin it.’
‘Don’t do that this year,’ I told her. ‘I’ve got a great soup recipe at home. I’ll post it on the festival online page later and you can give it a go if you fancy it.’
‘Oh yes, please,’ she said. ‘I’m keeping up with the online chat and that would be great. You’re Clemmie, aren’t you? The festival organiser?’
‘One of them,’ I modestly said.
‘Well,’ she smiled, ‘you’re doing a brilliant job. We’ve loved everything so far.’
I had a spring in my step by the time I reached the gate and took in the sight before me. There were people swarming all over the field and next to the gate, there were a range of different sized pumpkins with prices painted on, along with a huge wooden bin full to the brim that customers could buy from direct if they didn’t fancy doing any actual picking themselves.
Looking at the state of some of the people, I could see it was a bit of a mucky pursuit and I was pleased I wouldn’t have to carry both Pixie and my pumpkins back to the farm.
‘Clemmie!’ Jake called and I headed over to him.
‘How’s it going?’
‘Not bad. I’ve got someone else watching the road now and we’ve got enough volunteers to cut the pumpkins when the customers have settled on which ones they want.’
I hadn’t thought about that aspect of it.
‘And what about the parking situation?’ I asked. ‘Have you had any complaints? The drove is still heaving.’
‘A very quick random visit from the local plod just now, who I have a feeling that Jason might have encouraged to come along, but I placated the officer with a huge pumpkin.’
‘Well done you!’ I laughed.
It felt good to get one over on Jason who was determined to ruin everyone’s fun.
‘He said he’d overlook the situation today, but going forward, we will need a better system in place.’
‘Amber said you might consider doing this again next year if it’s financially worthwhile.’
‘It already is,’ he grinned. ‘So, yes, next year will definitely be going ahead and with proper planning in advance.’
‘Jake!’
We both turned around and I felt my heart thump hard in my chest. It was Ash who had called him and he looked as taken aback to see me as I was thrown off guard to see him. Obviously, I had known he was about, because I’d parked next to his truck, but I hadn’t spotted him in the field when I arrived and felt that my body’s reaction to seeing him – my tummy had taken a bit of a tumble, along with my heart picking up the pace – was rather over the top.
‘How much for this one?’ he shouted to Jake and pointed at a massive pumpkin that was going to take some shifting.
‘That one’s not for sale!’ Jake called back. ‘It should have a sticker on it.’
Ash shook his head, having not caught the tail end of what Jake said.
‘Jake!’ called someone else.
‘I’ll tell Ash what you said,’ I offered and walked off towards him, thinking it would be easier to start a conversation on the back of what Jake had said, as opposed to from scratch. ‘Hi.’ I swallowed when I reached him.
‘Hey,’ he said, looking at me, but only for the briefest moment.
‘So, how much is it then?’ asked the man standing next to him.
‘I’m sorry,’ I told him, ‘but Jake said this one isn’t for sale. It’s supposed to have a sticker on it somewhere.’
Ash looked on the ground around it.
‘Oh, here it is,’ he said, picking it up. ‘It must have fallen off. Any pumpkins with these stickers on aren’t for sale. Sorry, folks.’
