The Pumpkin That Saved Halloween

Kirk Carter@ Chew Bear Productions@ Copyright 2015

THE PUMPKIN THAT SAVED HALLOWEEN

Farmer Jim spent a good part of his life farming crops down in Waco, Texas.

Although he raised mostly beans, corn, and a wide variety of vegetables. 

His biggest thrill was when he got around to putting in his fall crop around late summer.

Pumpkins were his speciality, and competition-sized jumbo pumpkins was his pride and joy!

Having settled for third and fourth place several times, he was sure that this time he could eventually beat old Farmer Bob from just down the road.

Bob was a 3 time winner, and placed 1st place with every attempt.

Farmer Jim could only hope that this year he would hold the coveted Texas State Fair Blue Ribbon. He prayed that it would be his turn.

Soon enough, it was the beginning of October and Farmer Jim had already picked out the biggest pumpkin out of his harem of orange monsters.

After loading several dozen smaller pumpkins for the Children's Orphanage to carve out for Halloween, he worked on the dilemma of getting the giant pumpkin loaded, too!

Getting it onto the back lip of the truck required the use his old tractor.

As he placed it onto the back bed, you could hear the creak and strain of the suspension as it accepted the load. At this point, he had no idea how much it weighed, he just knew it just had to be a competitor for "Best In Show!"

As he got to the fair, he immediately spotted Farmer Jim with his chromed out Silverado with it's own matching pumpkin tractor. Farmer Jim could only grimace as he had to use the utility rental supplied by the fair.

They both took their prized loads to the official Pumpkin Inspection Station for check-in and verification. This was important as some contestants would cut the bottoms out and place extra weight in the cavities to cheat the scale.

Hours would pass, but finally the weigh-in was underway. Farmer Brown from Tyler weighed in his pumpkin at 824 pounds. Then came Farmer Jim, with fingers crossed...his came in at

843 pounds. Jim was feeling confidant, but now for Farmer Bob's entry.

The three time winner smiled as the scale show a perfect 845 pounds.

Jim could only look at the ground, shaking his head in disappointment.

"A measly two pounds...how could this be?", he thought.

Farmer Bob chuckled back, "Got ya again boy...better luck next time!"

As Jim loaded his 2nd place pumpkin back on the end of the truck, he still stopped and thanked God for the $250 dollar cash prize which he already decided to donate to the orphanage, along with the other 24 pumpkins cradled in the front of the bed, he headed onto the road toward the orphanage.

As he rounded a tree line curb, approaching an old country intersection, complete with yellow blinking lights and 4-way stop signs, he slowed up to look both ways.

Suddenly, a truck load of intoxicated country boys who were also coming from the fair, caught up to Farmer Jim's overloaded truck.

Not seeing the blinking yellow lights, nor the truck in time, they plowed full speed into the back of Jim's truck. The force was fully absorbed by the giant pumpkin dangling on the truck's edge.

The pumpkin exploded, sparing the drunkards, Jim, and the 24 small pumpkins to it's front.

As the driver was lead away to jail, Farmer Jim realized that his truck was just fine. Gazing around the road, seeing only tiny pieces of what was left of his giant monster.

He thought, "It sacrificed itself, it gave it's life for the good of others...it was truly a blessing, a winner after all!"

As he pulled into the orphanage, he could see the kids screaming and waving as he approached.

Handing out the pumpkins, he soon saw Sister Ann. Giving her a big hug and the check for 

2nd place, they settled in for pie and coffee.

After he told her of how his giant pumpkin saved the day Sister Ann replied, 

"Truly amazing...It's the pumpkin that saved Halloween!"

May you all be thankful and truly blessed, Happy Halloween...

Kirk Carter

October 31, 2015