Lizzie had grown her very own pumpkin in the community garden.
She had watered it regularly.
She had used compost to help the pumpkin grow big and strong.
She used mulch to help retain water and keep the weeds away.
“It’s finally ready!” she cheered.
Lizzie walked past the chicken coop carefully.
CLUCK. CLUCK. CLUCK.
Even the chickens like my pumpkin, thought Lizzie.
Dad was impressed with Lizzie’s pumpkin.
“This is a huge pumpkin. What shall we do with it?”
Lizzie had a bright idea.
“Let’s carve the pumpkin for Halloween. And we could also make some pumpkin soup.”
Soon, Dad carved the pumpkin and put it into a pot. Lizzie helped by adding some thickened cream and gently stirring the pot of soup.
Dad noticed something on the kitchen bench.
“There are lots of pumpkin seeds left over,” said Dad.
“Let’s keep them,” suggested Lizzie.
Lizzie washed and dried most of the pumpkin seeds. Later, she drizzled them with some oil and seasoned them with a few spices.
She also set aside some to plant in the community garden.
“This is the best soup in the world,” said Lizzie. “Can I give some to our neighbor, Mrs. Perera?”
“Of course,” said Dad.
Mrs. Perera was happy to receive some pumpkin soup. Lizzie and her father often shared food with her as she lived alone
“What are you going to do with the carved pumpkin?” Mrs. Perera asked.
Lizzie smiled. “It will be our Halloween decoration.”
The following day, Pumpkin Jack was placed on their doorstep.
“Jack looks sweet, not scary,” said Lizzie.
“If the pumpkin soup was anything to go by, Jack is a sweet pumpkin,” said Dad, with a chuckle.
That night, Lizzie dressed up in her favourite Halloween costume… a Jack-o-lantern.
“Do I look scarier than the one we made?” Lizzie asked Dad.
“You’re petrifying! You’ll scare the whole neighborhood,” Dad joked.
Lizzie went trick-or-treating with her father. The entire street was adorned with spooky Halloween decorations.
They passed Mrs. Perera’s house. She was handing out homemade milk toffee. Milk toffee was a tasty sweet made from condensed milk, sugar, and cashew nuts.
Lizzie took one bite of the milk toffee and almost went back to Mrs. Perera’s house for more.
Lizzie and her father traveled from door to door. Together, they passed children who were dressed spookier than a ghost story around a campfire.
Soon, Lizzie had collected a bucket full of treats.
“Would you like one, Dad?”
Dad nodded. He picked out some wrapped candy.
“It’s not as tasty as Mrs. Perera’s milk toffee.”
The next morning, Lizzie helped Dad remove the Halloween decorations from their front doorstep.
“I wish we could keep Jack for the following year,” said Dad, with a sigh. He cut up the remainder of the pumpkin.
Lizzie gave Dad a hug.
“Don’t worry. I have some pumpkin seeds left over.”
Lizzie and Dad planted the pumpkin seeds in their community garden.
“Let’s make a scarier Jack-o-lantern next year,” suggested Lizzie.
“As long as the pumpkin is just as delicious,” said Dad, with a grin.
“What are we going to do with the remainder of the pumpkin?” asked Dad.
Fortunately, Lizzie had the perfect plan.
Soon, Lizzie fed the chickens before collecting some eggs.
Anything leftover was put into the compost bin.
“I can’t wait until next Halloween,” said Lizzie.
Dad smiled. “Speaking of Halloween… do you think Mrs. Perera has any more of that delicious milk toffee leftover?”
Lizzie chuckled. “We can go over and ask her. I collected some eggs for her anyway.”
