This little tale was inspired by living in the countryside of British Columbia with young children. Everyone had a garden, and everyone was an entrepreneur! Harvest Fairs all took place in the village center, which was mostly a small circle of houses. A little red wagon was a useful friend to children selling their wares!
Down a sweet little lane covered with red, orange and yellow leaves there was a small cottage right by a great forest, where Simon lived with his mama and papa. His bed was right next to the window. Outside Simon’s window grew a large pumpkin patch. He could see the round, shiny orange pumpkins peeking from under the big leaves when he woke up each morning.
There were big pumpkins, round and plump, tall and grand, one very big pumpkin, medium sized jolly ones, and many small, very cute little pumpkins. Simon had been growing these pumpkins all spring and summer to sell at the Saturday Harvest Fair coming up in a few days. He was saving money for a bicycle! A red one!
The day before the Fair, Simon got his pumpkins ready. He picked each and every one, washed them carefully, and set them in a row to let them dry. The sun shone brightly on them, and they glowed like little suns. Saturday finally arrived and Simon got up very early, filled his red wagon with all the pumpkins and pulled it along down the path to the market.
The path to the Fair went through the forest. The morning was so beautiful in the woods, sunlight streamed through the trees like golden rays, and the fresh smell of pine needles made Simon feel at home. As he walked along he sang a little song.
Pumpkins big and tall,
Pumpkins round or small,
Come to the Fair to buy them all!
It’s jack-o-lantern time in the Fall!
Simon wondered if he should sing the song at the Fair! So he sang it again to help remember it.
Pumpkins big and tall,
Pumpkins round or small,
Come to the Fair to buy them all!
It’s jack-o-lantern time, in the Fall!
As he pulled the wagon along, he noticed out of the corner of his eye, some of the forest animal friends were peeking out watching him, and listening. Squirrel stopped scampering and watched him through the red leaves of a maple tree. Owl opened one eye from his sleepy roost in the tall Oak tree. Chipmunk, still as can be, peeked around a stone. Mouse stopped making a nest in the fallen leaves and twitched his whiskers as Simon passed.
Ordinarily, Simon would have stopped and said hello to them quietly and gently so he would not frighten them. But today, he was excited about the Fair, selling pumpkins, and that red bike he dreamed about! At last he reached the end of the forest, and there in the village was the Harvest Fair!
What a wonderful sight the market was! People had set up tables with their goods for sale, apple pies and pumpkin pies, knitted caps and scarves, toys made from chestnuts, harvest vegetables from the farms, and now there were Simon’s wonderful pumpkins, just waiting to become jack-o-lanterns! Nearby someone was selling hot apple cider; the cinnamon spice smell filled the morning air.
People came and went, walking along looking at everything for sale. Simon started to sing his song…
Pumpkins big and tall,
Pumpkins round or small,
Come to the Fair to buy them all!
It’s jack-o-lantern time in the Fall!
One little boy with his papa heard the song and ran over to Simon’s table… ‘Look papa, I like this tall pumpkin with the crooked hat! Can we get this for our jack-o-lantern?’ Two little sisters holding their mama’s hands shyly looked at the pumpkins and whispered to mama. ‘We would love two sweet round medium sized pumpkins,’ said the mama. ‘We are making jack-o-lanterns today!’ A grandpa with his small grandson sitting on his shoulders stopped to look too. ‘We will take the biggest pumpkin you have,’ declared the grandpa with a smile on his face. He put his grandson down, and gathered the largest round one in his arms. ‘Thank you Simon, did you grow these yourself,’ he asked?
Simon was so busy with people wanting his pumpkins, all he could do was nod and smile back. All day long he sold his pumpkins, talked to the customers and thought of that red bicycle. At he end of the day, all he had left were the tiny little pumpkins, too small for jack-o-lanterns anyway. He thought about putting them in the Fair compost, but something made him keep them. He put them in his wagon and started the walk home.
The cart was so light now, he skipped a little on the path in the forest. As he smelled the familiar woodland pine smell he remembered the little animals from the morning; his forest friends who were so curious when he walked through with his pumpkins that morning. Simon had a wonderful idea! He took the wee little pumpkins and placed them here and there. One he put by the roots of the maple tree for Squirrel. He reached up and put another on a big branch on Owl’s Oak tree. By the rock pile, he tucked an especially cute pumpkin in a hollow in the rocks for Chipmunk. Simon tiptoed to Mouse’s leafy nesht and carefully put one nearby.
How festive the forest looked with the little orange pumpkins.
It’s nice to share after such a good day at the Fair.
With empty cart, Simon ran along home and could hardly wait to tell his mama and papa about his happy adventures from the wonderful day!
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We have a NEW story writing course for you all, on writing seasonal stories! We go over why they are so important for young children, and guide you step by step on how to create a story you will love to share with the children in your lives! It begins October 19, and you can work on it at your own best times. I will be available to further guide you throughout the course lessons in our community sharing spaces. Click Here for Details
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