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'DO YOU HEAR that?’ Lexie asked with a knee to the ground.
Beams of moonlight trickled through the gaps in the forest canopy, illuminating the terrain in front of her.
‘Of course,’ Caleb replied, crouching next to her. ‘I have ears just like you.’
Lexie turned to look at her older brother. ‘Why do you always have to make jokes?’
Caleb met her gaze. ‘Why do you always ask questions that you already know the answer to?’
‘It’s possible you didn’t hear the noise that I did.’
‘The rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs?’
Lexie nodded.
‘How could I not hear it?’ Caleb said. ‘The only thing louder would be a tree falling in front of us.’
Lexie let out a frustrated breath. She knew it was pointless to fight. Plus, she wanted to focus on the real reason they were there. Pumpkin Pete.
Pete Holcomb, the man’s real name, had died many years ago, long before Lexie was born. But ever since she could remember, he’d risen from the grave each Halloween. He made an annual trek through the woods, starting at the pumpkin patch and moving on to the town square before returning to his resting place for another year.
Lexie and Caleb had a tradition of hiding out in the woods each Halloween night, waiting for Pumpkin Pete to make his appearance. The sight of him always left Lexie a little unnerved, but she’d grown used to it over the years.
A crackling of leaves caught Lexie’s attention, and a figure slowly moved into the moonlight. It was him!
Lexie watched as Pumpkin Pete passed by. He was a portly fellow, but he was different from years past. For one thing, he didn’t have a Jack-o’-lantern for a head. Something else was in its place. He also stumbled through the forest with outstretched arms, which wasn’t his typical behaviour.
A chuckle escaped Lexie’s lips, but Pumpkin Pete didn’t stop. Without a head, he clearly couldn’t see or hear a thing.
‘Can you believe this?’ Thezius said, sitting in his recliner and staring at the massive, flat-screen television.
Thezius was a god. Not a major one in the bigger scheme of things, but he was God of Harvest for the town of Colview. There were thousands like him spread all over the world, each one tasked with a single duty.
Despite being a god, Thezius lived like any other member of the town. But he did have some special abilities. Like being able to watch over the town from the comfort of his own home. More specifically, through his television.
‘Lexie just laughed at Pumpkin Pete,’ Thezius said. ‘Next they’ll be laughing at me.’
Thezius had been in a rut the last few months. He wasn’t as happy as he once used to be, and his mood was having an impact on the town. For example, potatoes were sprouting without their skin and carrots were growing on trees instead of in the ground.
The fall harvest wasn’t a complete disaster. Though the strange crops were an inconvenience for farmers, they still provided Colview with plenty of food. But the thing that bothered Thezius the most was the pumpkin harvest. Instead of producing large, round pumpkins, the entire crop consisted of flattened pumpkins. They almost resembled human feet.
So, now Pumpkin Pete was without a proper head, a pumpkin in the shape of a foot stuck in its place. And a townful of kids couldn’t enjoy Jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween. The thought of it all made Thezius sick to his stomach.
‘It’s okay, dear,’ a woman said, walking into the living room.
It was Thezius’ wife, Abigail.
‘How can you say that?’ Thezius asked. ‘Pumpkin Pete died without a head. He stumbles into the pumpkin patch each Halloween in search of a temporary head during his one-night journey, and he gets something that looks like a foot instead.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’
‘Seriously? If a young girl is laughing at the sight of Pumpkin Pete, then the rest of the town certainly isn’t going to be scared of him.’
‘They’re not supposed to be scared of him,’ Abigail said. ‘He’s harmless. He walks the town every Halloween without bothering anyone.’
‘I know, but it’s a tradition. It doesn’t feel like Halloween without Pumpkin Pete. The real Pumpkin Pete,’ Thezius elaborated. ‘He’ll never make it to the town square at this rate.’
‘Do you want to talk about it?’
‘Talk about what?’
‘You’ve been grumpy ever since Ethan left for college.’
Thezius huffed, but Abigail was right. Ethan was their only child, and Thezius had grown close to him over the years. As happy as he was for Ethan, Thezius felt as if part of him had left with Ethan.
‘It’s nothing to feel guilty about,’ Abigail said. ‘I love it that you two are so close. But he’s happy. And this town is depending on you.’
Thezius shook his head in disgust, a ringing of the doorbell distracting him. Abigail moved toward the door.
‘I’ll get it,’ Thezius said, standing from his recliner. ‘I’ve had enough of the television anyway.’
Thezius walked into the foyer and put a hand to the doorknob. When he opened the door, his eyes bulged.
‘Ethan,’ Thezius said, his lips stretching into a grin.
Ethan held a large duffle bag in one hand. He resembled Abigail with his dark hair and chocolate eyes. ‘Hi, Dad.’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Didn’t Mom tell you?’
Thezius shook his head.
‘I guess she wanted to surprise you,’ Ethan said.
‘That’s just like her.’
‘You’re right. Anyway, I wasn’t about to miss Halloween.’
Thezius raised an eyebrow. ‘Wouldn’t Halloween be more fun at college. With your friends?’
Ethan shrugged. ‘It doesn’t have the same feel there. There’s nothing like Halloween in Colview.’
Thezius smiled. ‘I wish I’d known. I would have picked you up.’
‘Really, Dad? It’s a twelve-hour drive both ways.’
‘It is a long drive,’ Thezius snickered, ‘but it’s never too far to see my son. How’d you get home?’
‘I bought a bus ticket.’
Thezius nodded.
‘Can I come in?’ Ethan said.
‘Sure.’ Thezius stopped Ethan before he could step inside. ‘But not before giving me a hug.’
Ethan dropped his bag on the welcome mat, and Thezius wrapped his arms around his son, squeezing him tight.
‘Come look,’ Abigail shouted.
Thezius pulled away and stepped aside so Ethan could enter. Then Thezius closed the door behind him and walked with his son into the living room.
‘What is it?’ Thezius asked.
Abigail gawked at the television screen, and Thezius followed her gaze. Pumpkin Pete had made his way down Main Street and into the town’s square. And Caleb and Lexie were guiding him. But, much to Thezius’ surprise, the people weren’t mocking Pumpkin Pete. Instead, they were celebrating. Dancing. Being festive.
‘I don’t understand,’ Thezius said.
‘It just goes to show,’ Abigail said, ‘that people will make do with what they have.’
Thezius pondered, eventually bobbing his head. ‘Maybe you’re right. But it doesn’t mean I can’t do better.’
Abigail smiled at him. ‘I know you’ll get back to your old ways.’
‘It’s good to be a family again,’ Thezius said, putting an arm around Ethan and Abigail. ‘I know we can’t always be together, but moments like this will keep me going.’
‘That’s reassuring to know, honey,’ Abigail said.
‘Wait,’ Ethan interrupted.
‘What is it?’ Thezius asked.
Ethan’s brow furrowed as he eyed the television. ‘Is that Pumpkin Pete? With a foot for a head?’
Thezius dipped his head and cupped a hand over both eyes. Even though the townsfolk were welcoming the new Pumpkin Pete, Ethan would never let Thezius hear the end of it. He’d likely be poking fun at Thezius for years to come. |
