The Perfect Pumpkin [ s ]
Today was the first day of the season that actually felt like fall was here. The cool air blew across her face as she tipped her head back, letting her eyes close momentarily as she smiled. Astrid loved this time of year, and even with the other things going on in her life, she refused to allow the dark consume the light. She was driving just out of the city to the little family owned pumpkin patch to pick out a few of the pumpkins, not just for her home, but to decorate around her office too. Going out to the patch would let her find a few pumpkins that would accommodate what she had in mind instead of just the pretty ones that made the cut to be sent to the city to be sold. Letting those thoughts flutter away with the wind, she turned onto the small dirt lot adjacent to the fields of pumpkins.
There were a few families already milling about the rows of green peppered with orange, triggering a small pang bolt through her chest. She missed her family, and while she didn't go home for fear of her ex, her adopted brother often came up to the city to check on her. She wondered if her Nana had started painting her pumpkins yet, or if her father was helping her Papa hang the fake ghosts along the porch. There was nothing like a holiday in a small town, and her small town always went above and beyond. There were so many people that had so little, but still managed to manifest the spirit of the season. Before her mind could start to wonder if they missed her as much as she missed them, she cleared her throat and headed for the first aisle.
Astrid didn't think this out as she should have. By the time she made it half way down the row she had fount three that she wanted. She mush have looked a little lost because not two whole minutes later, one of the owners of this charming farm was walking up with a wheel barrel and offering her some assistance. She laughed softly, "Thank you so much, I really should have planned this better." It wasn't lost on her that her entire company was based on her ability to plan for ever eventuality, but that was the duality of her. She could keep seven thousand plates spinning for an event, but something as simple as picking up pumpkins brought out the dreamer and stifled the planner. It only took her another forty-five minutes to fill the wheel barrel and start the task of getting her bounty home.