Fall Writing Frenzy: The Patchwork Pumpkin Patch

It’s that time of year again! I’m participating in the kidlit contest, Fall Writing Frenzy, which is this year hosted over on Lydia Lukidis’s blog. I was inspired by the image below, and the challenge is to write a story in 200 words (!!), for any age reader, board book through YA. Check out the amazing judges and prize donors for the contest here.

The Patchwork Pumpkin Patch

Nighttime in the pumpkin patch, where nobody was cheery.
“Always the same!” the gourds proclaimed. “Orange is so dreary!”
“No complaints,” the scarecrow huffed, “Honestly, what’s the use?
Orange can never be cyan, chartreuse or even puce.”
“We could! We will!” the pumpkins cried. “Who knows ‘til we try it?”
Whereupon some warty sorts turned amethyst and violet.
The scarecrow appeared gobsmacked, with cheeks flaming scarlet;
giddy, giggling pumpkins sported ruby, plum, and garnet.

Come morning, pumpkin-hunters surveyed the startling scene:
which bedazzling gourd would illuminate Halloween?
Some rejoiced at rose, or jived with midnight shades,
many vibrant pumpkins left, but many others stayed.
“You know,” said one, “today was fun, exploring something strange,
but I’m done with celadon—to orange now I’ll change.”

Across the patch murmurs arose; some argued, some agreed.
“What if,” the scarecrow offered, “everyone picks the hue they need?
If your heart is truly turquoise, then turquoise you should stay,
but if you’re more champagne-inclined, that’s equally okay.
Nobody should hide away the truths that make them glow,
which seems to me something jack-o-lanterns ought to know.”
Today the patchwork patch proclaims with multicolored cheer:
Let your outsides match your insides all throughout the year.