by JRR

Created on: November 13, 2008

The neighborhood looked like something out of a movie eight year old Austin thought as he walked home one late October afternoon. It seemed to him as if everyone had decorated for Halloween except his family. Kicking a rock at his feet he said outloud as if someone was listening, "I would be happy with just a pumpkin."

Walking in the front door he looked around, still no decorations. "Mom!" he yelled putting his backpack on the couch.

"In here," she called from the kitchen. "How was your day?"

"Fine," he said. "Mom, can we go get a pumpkin for Halloween?"

"I guess we can," she said. "Why?"

"Well everyone else has decorated and it all looks really cool. I know we can't do all they do, but I thought maybe we could at least have a pumpkin."

"I'll see what I can do," she said hugging him.

"Thanks, Mom."

All week Austin thought about going to get a pumpkin. There was a local pumpkin patch nearby and he just knew he would find the perfect one there. He wanted a big one. Big, round and dark orange so he could carve a scary face in it.

FInally Saturday morning came and his mom came in and woke him up early.

"Come on sleepy head," she said. "I thought you wanted to go get a pumpkin."

Jumping out of bed he quickly got dressed. The idea of the perfect pumpkin the only thing on his mind.

Arriving at the pumpkin patch, Austin leaped from the car barely giving his mother time to come to a complete stop. Looking back, waving to his mom to hurry, barely able to contain his excitement.

"You go ahead and look around," his mom said. "I need to speak with Mr. Jones for a few minutes."

It didn't take him but a few minutes to find just what he was looking for. It was perfect, just like he had pictured in his mind, sitting next to the little shed Mr. Jones the owner used as his office. Running over to it he heard his mom's voice drifting our through the open window.

"I don't have much money Mr. Jones," he heard her saying, "but Austin has been trying so hard in school and since his father walked out on us I have really been struggling. I'm not looking for sympathy, I only want to know where the less expensive pumpkins are, or if he finds one he really likes if I could maybe work for you some to pay for it."

"It's only a pumpkin, not a major investment," Mr. Jones said. "We are only talking a few dollars here, depending on which one he wants."

"And I am saying I can't even afford that," his mom said, struggling hard to hold back tears of frustration and embarassment.

"Well all I can say is you better

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