Chapter 9: Pumpkins
*Author's Note: Thanks for all of the coments and feedback. I read every one and try to make adjusments when I can. I hope you are enjoying this story.*
The following morning after I finished eating breakfast there was a knock on the door.
"Well good morning Mrs. Thompson," Rob's cheery voice sounded as he entered the room with his hands full. "My uncle grows gourds, and I thought you might like some to decorate the house and cook with. This is a pumpkin pie pumpkin." He said handing her a medium sized, light orange, almost tan pumpkin. He set a basket down that was full of tiny little pumpkins and squash before heading back out and returning holding a rather large pumpkin.
"Wanna go outside and carve a pumpkin Bobby?" he asked as my mom gushed over Rob's gifts.
"Thank you sweetie, you shouldn't have, but I love it! Tell your uncle thanks." Mom said before placing a kiss on Rob's cheek and turning around to examine her stash.
I followed Rob to the picnic table out back where he had already placed a large knife, a small knife, and a fine tipped permanent marker.
"My mom is going to want to date you if you keep this up." I said laughing as I sat down across from Rob. Rob smiled as he deftly removed the top of the pumpkin. He walked over to the creek and dumped the contents into the water before heading back taking his seat across from me.
"Do you want a scary or happy pumpkin babe?" He asked as he handed me the marker and placed the pumpkin in front of me. I removed the cap and started to draw, Rob moved to my side of the table in an effort to see the face I drew.
"Can't go wrong with classic triangle eyes." He chuckled at my unoriginal design. I laughed and handed him the marker.
"You don't like it, you do it." I said sliding the pumpkin in front of him.
"I was just teasing babe. I don't care what the pumpkin looks like. I was just trying to spend some time with you, thought this might be fun."
I squeezed his thigh before saying, "It is sweet and any excuse for me to be with you is fantastic. I'm just not a very a good artist." He looked like he was going to touch my cheek, but I shook my head after I saw the pumpkin guts on his fingers and he laughed before looking at the pumpkin. He studied it like it was a slab of marble and he was Michelangelo trying to find the David hidden inside. He quickly scribbled a square nose and a goofy buck-toothed mouth before placing the cap back on the marker and releasing a satisfied sigh.
"You wanna cut it out babe?" he said handing me the tang of the smaller knife. I carefully cut out the eyes and the nose.
"You better do the mouth Rob, I wouldn't want your creation to lose his only two teeth." He grinned at me and skillfully removed the remaining bits of the pumpkins mouth. I stood up and kissed the top of Rob's head before I grabbed the water hose and rinsed off the table. He rinsed his hands before helping me wind the hose back up. We walked up to the house with our pumpkin creation. Mom came out with a couple small candles and matches. It wasn't midday yet, and the sun was shining brightly, but apparently Rob was eager to see his new friend come to life. He placed the pumpkin beside the top step, removed the top, lit a candle, placed it inside the pumpkin, before sealing the top of his head. Mom came down the steps with us and laughed at the buck-toothed pumpkin.
"It's perfect." Mom and I said together as Rob chuckled.
"Well I gotta run some errands. I'll see you later Mrs. Thompson, Bobby."
"Thanks again sweetie." My mom called after Rob as he walked to his truck. She squeezed me by the shoulders as we waved him off. Mom gave me a knowing smile as we headed back inside.
***
The middle of November brought with it a lingering cold rain. I had a track meet cancelled, but the football team played in a freezing, sloppy mess of a field. I shivered huddled up on the bleachers and watched the team win 10 – 0.
The next week all of the students and teachers were in Holiday mode. We would have a half day Wednesday, and then off through Friday for Thanksgiving. On Monday as I walked into school with Rob we learned that there was an assembly for the seniors first period in the cafeteria. Rob and I sat next to each other looking at the tables full of pamphlets and the handful of adults standing around.
Our guidance counselor informed us that this was a meeting to discuss plans after high school. She told us about the many advantages and disadvantages of traditional 4 year schools, community colleges, job training programs, and apprenticeships. I knew I wanted to go to college, but this is the first time I realized that I had no clue what Rob wanted to do, as we had never talked about it.
I noticed Rob paying close attention to the speaker from the Newport News Apprentice Shipbuilding School. After the several presenters had finished, we were allowed to get up and collect information on various things that were offered in the state. I grabbed 4 college pamphlets that I thought I was interested in they were: The University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, The College of William and Mary, and James Madison University. Rob was holding a pamphlet and speaking excitedly with the shipbuilding school representative.
Tuesday night after school and practice I started a video call with Rob. I could tell he thought we were going to have a little fun as I watched him pull off his shirt, exposing that delicious, sculpted, furry, makes me want to lick it, chest. I shook my head both to clear my thought and let him know that this wasn't one of those chats....at least not yet.
"What's up babe?" He asked noticing the worried look on my face.