Page 91 of Cadenbury Town Does Halloween

“Having fun Princess?” I ask picking her up. I make sure the blanket is still around her and sit her on my lap, so she can watch everyone and holding her little gloved hands, wave them around and make her giggle.

“Less than ten minutes,” I announce.

“I’m finished,” Enoch says, turning his pumpkin round so the carving faces me.

It’s a lot like mine, but better. “Nice Enoch.”

“I’m done,” Nora says, turning hers to show me.

“Nice Nora,” she carved a cat face. She did most of it by herself, which is impressive with her broken arm. I did see Cam help her a few times, but I’m sure no one minded, I know I didn’t.

One by one everyone finishes and turns them all to face me. Ben is the last to finish, with one second to spare.

“Just in time Ben,” I tell him, grinning.

“Let’s see them all,” Nora says, walking around the table. “Wow,” she exclaims.

Everyone comes to look. I stand up, still holding Connie.

Some of the carvings look like works of art. With town scenes, wolves, dragons, cats. They are all amazing.

“Who gets to pick the winner?” Xander asks.

“Connie can,” I say, turning her to look at me. “Now Princess, we need to pick a winner. I’ll walk you past all the pumpkins and you point to the one you like the best.”

I walk slowly showing her all the masterpieces and explaining them to her, and she really looks like she is thinkingabout it. I walk her back along the line and she holds her little hand out at one.

“And Grandpops is the winner,” I say. “Good choice, Princess.”

Pa gets congratulations from everyone. His pumpkin really is amazing. He carved the bookshop. I have no idea how, but he has some skills.

Pa takes Connie out of my arms. “Thank you, Princess,” he says, blowing a raspberry on her cheek.

She laughs and pats his cheek.

“Let’s set these pumpkins up along the path and put fake candles in them. Sly, Ebby, are you and the boys taking yours to your house?” Adhan asks.

“Yes, we totally are,” Xander says before his brothers can.

“In that case, one of you can carry mine to the front,” Pa says.

“And mine,” I add.

“Once done, we have hot cider, hot chocolate or coffee inside,” Emily tells everyone.

It doesn’t take long to get the pumpkins situated and for me to tidy the garden, which I do with magic and then follow everyone into the kitchen to warm up and have a hot chocolate, stuffed full of cream and marshmallows. Yummy.

CHAPTER 37

“Ican’t believe today is Halloween,” Temp says. “These past two weeks have gone so quickly.”

We all agree with him. The haunted farm has been a huge success. Once we stopped the dark witch magic, everything settled down and all of us witches went to the farm and used magic for fun, to make everything more exciting.

But tonight, the event finishes which I’m actually sad about.

“They really have,” Sal agrees. “It will be a shame when Elliot and his family leave.”

“We know they’ll be back next October though,” I say.