I knew when the leaves became the colors of red and
yellow and orange that the time was near.
Soon Granny would be coming to help Mother.
It was late October and it was time for the harvest and after
the harvest my birthday. The garden had aged. It had
transformed from summer thickness to fall
sparseness. Or so it appeared. The garden seemed
scary and looked like it was dying. But it was very much
alive. Mostly Underground. Potatoes, carrots, beets,
radishes, onions, turnips, & sweet potatoes. The
squash, cabbage, cauliflower & pumpkins I could see.
Gone were the strawberries, blackberries,
blueberries, melons, peas, tomatoes & corn. The sun
had caused them to flourish and the sun had caused
them to falter. I sometimes wondered about this at
night when it was to hot to sleep. I'd get out of bed go
down the stairs thru the many rooms and go out back
to the garden and just think. Lollipop always followed.
She'd lay beside me and sleep. Never to hot for
Lollipop to sleep. I never did figured it out but one
thing I was sure of. All the goodies were gone. Except
for the pumpkins. One other thing I was sure of.
Granny would be coming soon to help Mother with the Harvest.
The leaves had become the colors of red and
yellow and orange. And so had the pumpkins. Soon
Pop-Pop and I would carve them. Soon Granny and I
would cook them. Both ways were good. And both ways
were a fringe benefit of aging. Kinda like the pumpkins
from an aging garden.
Carved Pumpkins By JESSE KOZEL
