The Rural Voice, 1991-11, Page 32t
NOTEBOOK
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? WHAT DO THEY WANT?
EVERY FALL, THE PUMPKIN PEOPLE INVADE
ONTARIO PORCHES, HOMES AND FARMS
Help! We've been invaded! No, I don't
mean by UFO's, or ET. Our farm has been
invaded by Pumpkin People from . . .
where else, the Pumpkin Planet.
From Thanksgiving to Hallowe'en,
these People abound, and they have just
story and photo
by Helen Harris Reekie
dropped in to ow- country store to chew the fat and smoke their
pipes awhile, because they're just plain old hick farmers, the
same as we are.
The Pumpkin People used to only invade the United States,
because it's a lot warmer down there, but the last few years,
there have been sightings in Canada.
I recently drove around Caledon and Erin way and I saw a
few of them lounging around on people's front porches. I also
hear tell quite a few have been seen around St. Jacobs way.
Our little orange cat, Sphinx, decided these funny looking
creatures needed to be investigated, so he climbed up for a
closer look. I think he wanted to know what old Uncle Josh was
smoking in his pipe. Could it be that there pumpkin weed, do
you think?
Aunt Lizzie, she
is a jolly sort, and
the little guy who
brought his rag doll
with him all the way
from Pumpkinland,
is called Pee Wee.
Then there are
old Granny and
Grampa Pumpkin.
If any of you people
have been up to old
Parry Hoot lately,
you'll know that
Sequin Sam and
Sequin Sarah are
our winter carnival
mascots. Every
time we have a
shindig, or a foot
stomper, they turn
up dressed fit to kill
and do a little
dancin', drinkin',
hootin' and all that there carryin' on. I decided to name Granny
and Grampa Pumpkin, Sequin Sam and Sequin Sarah and I set
them up on our vegetable wagon, which we have set up in old
Parry Hoot. They said they didn't mind, it was all in good clean
fun and they liked a little foot stompin' too, now and again.
Well that Grampa, he's mighty quiet, but Granny just talks
yer ear right off, even if she hasn't got any
teeth. Boy can that old gal ever sell
veggies. Especially pumpkins. She sold
more of them bright orange globes at our
wagon than you could shake a stick at, by
golly. but she got kind of cold sittin' out
there on that wagon and she began to fall apart a little.
Granny's kind of puny and frail ya know, so we had to bring her
back to the store at the farm where she was inside and warm.
Granny says she's just not used to the cold we have here in
Parry Sound. It's not that cold in Pumpkinland, you know.
The dog, he doesn't quite cotton to these here you -know -
who's. He doesn't think they should be layin' around
cluttering up our store and eating up all the apples. He steals
an apple now and again himself, but he doesn't want those
cousins to the squash doing it, no sirree.
Old Josh told me a secret the other day. I guess I can let you
good people in on it. The fact is, on Hallowe'en night, a
Pumpkin Witch is flying down on her nuclear powered broom.
She's got a black bag with her and she's looking for little
orange cats.
Apparently, they
don't have any cats
in Pumpkinland.
Do you think I
should lock
Sphinx up that
night? I've often
thought of sending
him to the moon,
especially when he
gets up on my
typewriter and
tries to help me
type. but I never
thought of sending
him to the
Pumpkin Planet.
Do you suppose
they have any cat
food there?
This is your
friendly Pumpkin
Reporter signing
off until this time next year when the Pumpkin People say they
will return, although Granny doesn't know if she will stand up
to another trip.0
(Helen Harris Reekie is a writer who lives near Parry
Sound, Ontario.)
28 THE RURAL VOICE