#pumpom

Once upon a time there was an old farmer. They were very kind and tended to their fields with care. Children would go to their farm and play in the corn feild, and they wouldnt mind, so long as they didnt go in further than the scarecrow.

They were loved by the adults who grew up with them. They remember being children themselves, bringing bushels of apples to their door for cider and asking shyly if they could play in the pumpkin patch. Everybody lovingly nicknamed them Gourdie.

Gourdie loved children. They loved seeing them having such fun, their smiles brighter than the sun and their laughter like music. Sometimes one of them would come to old Gourdie's door with a scraped knee, and Gourdie would patch them up and give them some taffy to bring that smile back.

Yes, Gourdie would make a wonderful parent but they could not have children of their own. They had tried but their partner passes before they succeeded. They longed for a little apple cheeked cherub to call their own, to teach how to quilt, to show the beauty of growing food, to help put up the jack o lantern headed scarecrow up every spring.

One hallows eve Gourdie sat upon their porch, knitting a scarf for the nice boy down the lane who had brought them wool. They rocked rather sadly as they wove the yarn with their needles. They almost didn't see the woman coming up the dirt path.

" Hello Gourdie" smiled the woman. She was very beautiful with pale skin and delicate features. Her eyes were bright blue and her brown hair long and braided with autumn mums. Gourdie looked up from their knitting and smiled.

" Hello there. I dont believe weve met, friend" smiled Gourdie in their welcoming way. Their brown eyes twinkled against tan wrinkled skin, framed by their graying blond hair. " what can i do for you? "

The woman blinked at Gourdie.

" Nothing. I came to ask you of your greatest wish. Ive heard tales of your kindness through Greenbough and would like to return it to you. I am a faerie, you see. I can grant you a magical favor. So please, sweet Gourdie, what is it you desire?" Said the fae.

Gourdie was surpised. It isnt that the people didnt repay their kindness, no. It was just that nobody had ever asked them of their greatest wish. That and they had never been in the presence of a fae.

" Miss, this is very generous of you, but please, before you do, let me at least offer you some spongecake, I made it fresh and i think your kind would enjoy it" They said softly.

The Faerie let herself chuckle, it sounded almost like a small bell.

" You really are the kindest human in Greenbough Gourdie. " She said, placing her fingertips under their chin. She tenderly lifted Gourdies face to hers. " I do not need anything of yours, love. I need only the knowledge of what you want most."

Gourdie couldnt help the blush on their face.

" Well miss...The only thing ive ever desired was a child to call my own. One to pass down my knowledge to, one I can bake for and make nice things for "

The Faerie woman tilted her head a bit. A child? She thought for a moment and then nodded.

" Then a child you shall have. Set out a blanket upon your couch and tomorrow morning you will find a child of your own"

Gourdie was overwheled with tears. They looked down to wipe their eyes.

" Thank you miss, you have no idea how much-" When they looked up, the fae was gone.

That night Gourdie did as they were told, setring out their nicest quilt, a pillow, and despite the Fae's protest, a slice of spongecake.

The Faerie sighed as she walked through the cornfield. A child. How would she bring them a child? What could she possibly-

And then she saw it. A scarecrow, of course.

It stood tall, wearing a potatosack dress, old cloth covered boots, and a cloak. And on top, a pumpkin head with triangle eyes, a small triangle nose and a smile with fangs on the top and bottom.

The Faerie smiled when she saw it.

" You will be the perfect daughter for sweet Gourdie." With that she kissed the pumkins forehead and it changed. The straw stuffing the clothes became flesh and bone, warm and soft to the touch. The scarecrow floated down into the faeries arms. She was a little plump, looked to be about 18 years old. Not a child, but she was sure Gourdie wouldnt mind.

The faerie snuck into Gourdies home and placed the still pumpkin headed child under the quilt. She spied the spongecake wrapped in the cloth napkins and chuckled softly. She picked it up and took it along with her as she quietly left the house.

When Gourdie awoke, they had nearly forgotten the encounter with the fae. They came down the stairs slowly and were startled when they saw the scarecrow on the couch. They frowned sadly. The fae mustve played a trick on them. How foolish they were not to insist they take the-

But the spongecake was gone. And the scarecrow moved, turning under the blanket with a small hum.

They walked slowly to the scarecrow. Her chest was rising and falling with breath, and they could see skin just under the head of the pumpkin. They gently took the gourd and listed it off the childs head. The girl opened her eyes.

Bright orange irises with black triangle pupils stared at them. They had a rather small nose, short red-orange hair, freckles, and a smile with a set of fang like teeth poking out of her top and bottom lips.

Gouldie smiled " Hello there child. What is your name?"

The scarecrow tilted her head.

" Pumpom is my name. Are you my mama or my papa?" She asked. Her voice flowed in a country drawl like honey.

" Just call me Moddy Gourdie, Pumpom. Welcome home sweetheart " They said, with a tear sliding down their cheek.

Pumpom hugged Gourdie with a jack o lantern like grin. She fit into their arms like they always belonged there.

" Thank you, Moddy Gourdie"