Read The Little Pumpkin That Could :: Chapter 2 - A Rolling Little Risk-Taker

Years would pass. And in each year, life in the pumpkin would follow a stringent cycle. The plants blossom and grow. The animals eat the lively vegetation. Food is stored for the winter. Seeds are planted for the next harvest. The wildlife hibernates for winter. Rinse and repeat.

Grow. Eat. Store. Plant. Hibernate. Repeat.

‘Twas the natural cycle of life, and many have promptly accustomed to it. Many at least, apart from Joelle, whom didn’t seem to fully understand the ways that garden life assured. Speaking of which, where was that little pumpkin, Joelle? Surely, she must be around somewhere. One concerned fellow is certainly calling to her, desperate to ensure that she is safe and sound.

“Joeelllleee~!” A sensitive voice called out, “Joeeeelllleeee, where aaaarreee yooouuuu?” Within the groves of the lovely pumpkin patch, the motherly pumpkin can be found calling out in search for her daughter. She hopped about the patch, inquiring with her fellow brethren, but they all gave a similar answer. Joelle had not been seen since this morning.

“Oh, the little one is so small…” the mother uttered to herself, “She’s always running off. What if she was hurt? I can’t imagine anything bad happening to my little baby…”

“Oh relax, dear,” The father would calmly intervene, “I’m sure Joelle’s probably somewhere about, playing with her friends. No need to worry.” In fact, if we look outside of the local patch, and away from the further groves of the luscious vegetation patch, we can find a group of fruits gathered together on a short hill of sorts. This little foliage consisted of a pair of tomatoes, a crop of carrots, a lone potato, and two ears of corn huddled together. I wonder what they were are doing…

“U-uh... are-are you sure about this, guys…?” a young voice asked with worry, “wha-what if we get caught…?”

“Oh relaaaaxxx,” responded a casual, gangly voice, “She’ll be fine. Won’t ya’, hon?” As I would imagine. The group of fruits that were gathered on this short, steep hill were nothing but a bunch of wild delinquents… and they’ve got our poor Joelle wrapped into their current scheme! No, no, it’s not like that. It’s just Joelle’s collective of fruity friends, and a tiny tomato. Joelle, The Crackity-Corn Bros., Timmy Tomato, Potty Potato, and the Callous Carrot Crop Triplets were all planning to roll down this nifty hill. This… seemingly dangerous hill now that I look at it. Joelle sat there as she peered her eyes down the hill. From where she stood, it didn’t look so bad. In fact, it looked somewhat safe!

Though silent, she did look to her corn friends with assurance that she was ready. One of the corn brothers let out a joyful shout, while his brother used the long leaves of his britches to turn her to her side. Slowly, the corn brothers rocked her back and forth, inching closer the further they rolled her. The other fruits sat there with eyes widened in anticipation, though Timmy Tomato had kept his eyes closed.

“A-one…. A-twoooooo…” The Crackity-Corn Brothers prepared, “A-THREE!!” Suddenly, Joelle was careened down the semi-steep hill, rolling and flattening the grass that blocked her path. The little pumpkin closed her eyes as to not get any blades of grass in her eye sockets. The little patch of fruits and veggies cheered her on as she rolled far down the hill. Joelle made twists, turns, curves, and dives down the hills various obstacles, all of which she made out, unscathed.

“Wow! She’s really going’ at it!” exclaimed one of the Callous Carrot Crop Triplets.

“Hehe, yeah! She might even beat Potty’s record!” heckled one of the corn brothers, to which Potty scoffed his words and simply watched Joelle roll onward. However, their fun would soon be interrupted once a certain, fully developed squash-plant arrived at the scene. The seven friends would soon hear this elder call to them in a sweet, little voice, saying, “Kids! Oh, kids!” gently surprising them, and urging them to politely respond. Mother Pumpkin had come, looking to them in wonder of where her daughter had run off to. The kids, looking to each other with faces of guilt and suspicion, try to persuade to Mother Pumpkin that her daughter had not come to see them, suggesting that she might have tangled with the cucumber patch or that she was out observing the wildlife. If there’s one thing you should never do, its to try and fool a mother. Mothers know children more than the children know themselves, and this Mother Pumpkin was no different. She cut through the children’s lies like branches, then politely excused herself through their little gathering. There, she observed the dangerous hill, gently pushing the kids back so to which they wouldn’t accidentally stumble and fall.

Suddenly, Mother Pumpkin gasps with a fright! She sees her daughter rolling rapidly down this dangerous hill! She screams as the little pumpkin just continued to roll and roll unbeknownst to the dangers ahead of her. The mother shot her eyes forward, and things only got worse. If Joelle kept rolling, she would have ended up rolling out of the garden’s vine barriers and into the deep forest, a place where no fruit should ever venture! Mother Pumpkin decided it was time to take action. Drooping her brows, and securing her vines, she hurls herself down the hill and chases after her rambunctious daughter. While Joelle was having the time of her life, she was completely unaware that her mother was right on her tail. The vegetable friends peeked over the hill and watch the two of them go, enamored and in awe of these risk-taking veggies. Joelle continued to roll and roll, and inched closer to the protective vines. At the speed she was going, she might even tear through the barrier. Mother Pumpkin watched as Joelle grew closer and closer to the barricade, bouncing and bumping on rows of stones that was in her path. If she wanted to catch her daughter quickly, she’d have to do something and do it fast.

Just then, Mother Pumpkin used the hindquarters of her vine to slow her descent to a complete halt. Then, she used the larger quarters of her thick ropes to latch onto the joyfully rolling Joelle. The two continued to roll dangerously. Both pumpkins collided with the miniscule stones underneath them, but surely enough, their actions ensured that these two would come to a complete stop. Both Mother Pumpkin and Joelle rolled until they were at a comprehensive standstill. Both pumpkins bunged against one another while being but mere inches against the rocks that bandaged them and the vines that blocked their path towards the forest. The mother would slowly open her eyes once the dust had settled. From where she sat, she saw that the two had nestled a long line of grass in their wake, along with seven kids with amazed looks on their faces.

A giggle would be heard to put the mother in her place. Joelle laughed happily as if she’d never experienced such joy until today. That joy would come to a halt, however, once she found her mother staring her down with aggravation. The Little Pumpkin looked to her mother in surprise, having never seen her so angry before. All she could do, especially after seeing her covered in blades of grass and pebbled thrusted into her skin, was smile… very, very, sheepishly. Mother Pumpkin kept her silence, despite her aggravation. Instead, she pointed her largest vine towards the top of the hill, ordering the little scamp to start hopping home immediately. Joelle’s leaves dropped as she lowered her head in disappointment. Her eyes were wide, and her lips quivered, but her mother’s orders could not be budged. Disappointed, Joelle hopped past her mother, making her way back up the steep hill and towards her home. She passed her friends, whom were saddened that Joelle had gotten in trouble.

“Aw, we’re sorry, Joe…” Crackity said gently, “But, that was pretty cool, right…?” Joelle softly smiled, but is then pushed forward by a steamed, motherly cultivar. Joelle and her mother made their way back home, all where Joelle would surely get a stern talking-to on this early Fall afternoon.