Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 08:34:01 -0600 From: Robyn Herrington Organization: University of Calgary Subject: [WRITERS] SUB: CONTEST: Return of the PUMPKIN! 1. Send your 2,500 words or less entries to Robyn Herrington -- rmherrin@ucalgary.ca 2. Gettem in by midnight, October 17th. 3. Critiques welcome -- send 'em to me at rmherrin@ucalgary.ca --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return of the PUMPKIN! It took two long hours, but Lisa finally found the right pumpkin: not too big, not too small, just the right size. It was hidden between a rickety fence, covered by tall weeds, you know, the kind that makes your skin itch and gives you the prickly feeling on the back of your neck. Well anyway, she would have never seen it, if it were not for the melting frost that covered the round top of the pumpkin like a white top hat. It was perfectly round on top, and flat on the bottom. One thing for sure, it was too heavy to lift by herself. So next, she grabbed a stick and wedged it under the pumpkin, hoping to raise it just enough to jam a rock underneath the pumpkin. Then she figured that she and Jake could carry it with all of their strength into Eloise s car. Unfortunately, the ground was too soft, and the stick shattered into pieces. The pumpkin had not moved one inch. Although, Lisa was already thinking about what to carve into the pumpkin, a large nose, with big funny looking eyes. Lisa thought to herself. Next, she tried another stick. Snap! Finally a brilliant idea popped into her head. I will kick at this rickety fence until a board comes loose. Lisa said out loud to herself. Then she used the board from the fence as a lever, just as Mrs. Hill, Lisa s science teacher, showed them in class, to raise the pumpkin just a few inches off the ground. Come on, you stupid pumpkin! She said out loud. Lisa then reached for a rock to shove under it. What happened next is something unbelievable, and you, nor I will never believe. Eloise, Jake, can I get a little help here? Lisa called pointing to the pumpkin. Gee, why can t my brother and sister do one thing right! Lisa wondered out loud. After we all helped life the pumpkin, we finally, got it off the ground. We next carried it over to Eloise s car and set it in the back. When we arrived home I ran into the living room and turned on the N64. Eloise & Jake went up to their rooms and decided to leave the pumpkin carrying to me. So, I went out to the back of Eloise s car to carry the pumpkin inside. I opened, the door, but wait....No pumpkin! I searched the whole entire car, I just had to find that pumpkin! I stopped searching after some time and then figured out that Eloise must have carried the pumpkin in by herself. Next I went up to my room, to get my guitar, I thought, I better start practicing, since I have lessons tomorrow. I practiced the usual amount of time, twenty minutes, and then put the guitar away in the case. I was about to pick up the phone when, Lisa! Time for dinner! My mother shouted. OK MOM! I replied. I set down my guitar and I raced down the stairs. What s for dinner Mom? I asked. You are favorite, spaghetti! YUK! I answered as I pretended to gag. Jake, Eloise, and I all set the table and started eating mom s not so delicious spaghetti. I was not really paying attention to what was being said at the dinner table. Eloise was talking about some movie, and Jake of course was playing with his food. Anyone for dessert? Mom asked. Sure! Eloise, Jake, I about screamed. My mom got up and walked over to the oven, and that s when we heard the scream. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Mom yelled. She pulled out the apple pie to find tons of worms, crawling and wiggling about the pie. Eloise and I jumped up and ran over to the pie, while Jake stared in disbelief. I grabbed the pie and dumped in the garbage. How did that happen? Eloise asked plugging her nose. I do not know, it was fine when I put the pie in the oven! . My mom exclaimed. We finished cleaning up the mess and got ready for bed. The next morning was a typical one: I was trying to get ready, while Mom had already left for work. I grabbed my backpack and headed out the door. Eloise was already outside waiting in her car, while she tapped her fingers impatiently. I almost forgot my guitar, so I ran upstairs and snatched it from my closet, then I jumped in Eloise s car. She flew up 1st street almost running the light, then she almost missed my school. She dropped me off and then sped away to the high school. I went straight inside the school and to the band room. After I dropped off my guitar, I rushed to my locker and ran right into Science class. Late today Lisa? Mrs. Hill asked. I sort-of over slept. I explained. Before I knew it science class was over and everyone was rushing out of the classroom. I hurried down to the band room and grabbed my guitar case. I opened the lid and screamed. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! I yelled. What, what is it? The band teacher asked. My...my...guitar! I managed to say Oh! She said. I looked down again, only to see the strings were chopped up, the inside was overflowing with pumpkin leftovers, and the odor was sickening. I felt as if I was going to vomit. *** Later that night, I was telling my mom about what happened to my precious guitar. Now, who would do a thing like that? My mom asked. I do not know, I do not know who or what would do it. I said sighing. Well do not worry about it, we will get a knew guitar. She answered. And to top it off I still cannot find that pumpkin! I said. Well, it could not just get up and walk away, now could it? She asked. Maybe you should go up and get to bed, its been a long day, we will search for the pumpkin later. She added. So I headed upstairs. I walked into my bedroom and collapsed on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. RING RING. My alarm clock chorused. Shut up, SHUTUP! I yelled at my alarm clock. After struggling I finally got up, got dressed, and ran downstairs. That s when I realized it s Saturday. Duh, Lisa, it s Saturday. I said to myself. What to do, What to do. I hummed. I will go bike riding! So I grabbed my helmet ran out side and picked up my bike. I jumped on and headed off to the forest. I biked all the way into the forest and then I stopped at my favorite spot beneath the biggest evergreen tree I had ever seen at this age. I saw a baby rabbit, so I decided to have a little fun and started chasing it. When I got back I tried getting on my bike. NOT AGAIN! I yelled. Some had slashed my tires! Ugh! I grunted. So I walked the whole way home, when I got there no one was home or so I thought. I ran up to my room and that s when I saw it. It was round on the top and flat on the bottom, and hey! It was tearing up my room! Hey! I yelled. It looked startled but it did not move. I dodged over as fast as I could, snatched it up and threw it out the window. So, it was the one, I thought, HA! A pumpkin! Looking out the window, Lisa decided the pumpkin would make a very tasty pumpkin pie. So she headed outside to make desert. Lisa never told anyone about the evil pumpkin but watch out, you could be next.... The End -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Robyn Herrington New Currents in Teaching and Learning / InfoServe Phone: 220-2561 Email: rmherrin@ucalgary.ca Story ideas are like rabbits that have ventured unwittingly into view. The slightest noise or movement can spook them and they bolt off into the dark undergrowth never to be seen again. -- Adrian Bedford ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~