Pumpkin Carving

  Alan set the last of the pumpkins he’d purchased for carving on top of the table, which he’d covered with old newspapers beforehand to make cleaning up a bit less troublesome later on. He looked back over the group gathered in his apartment kitchen, which was pretty decently sized for such a thing, but it was still crowded with amphas. Diyan was his housemate, he’d specifically invited Joey, and whether or not Diyan had specifically invited Carmelo he’d kind of expected him to show up. What he had not been expecting however was Stry and Valentine to be seated in his kitchen, carving pumpkins right along with them.

  “They love Halloween though, why would I not invite them?” Diyan had questioned back when Alan had asked him about the unexpected guests.

  “No reason, Diyan I just wasn’t expecting them is all.” He’d elected not to mention the fact that both of Diyan’s new friends intimidated him a little bit, and that he wasn’t fully sure that at least Stry and Carmelo liked each other very much. So long as no one actually tried to start anything he supposed it was fine.

  “You can use pretty much whatever tools you like, just please be careful with them.” Alan told the room at large as he shuffled into his seat and selected a knife for removing the top of his pumpkin so that he could scoop the insides out.

  Working carefully and with intent Alan got a bit lost in his work, moving into using a thin marker to draw out his pattern before beginning to cut it out. The noise of the others around him faded into background chatter that could be easily ignored as he focused on the lines he was laying onto the surface of the gourd.

  “He’s taking this pretty seriously.” Valentine spoke up, interrupting whatever Carmelo had been attempting to say, the rest of the table turned to look at where his eyes were. Only to find Alan, mostly hidden behind his pumpkin as he continued to work steadily, not even noticing the stares.

  “He does that when he’s getting artsy.” Diyan said simply.

  Joey nodded. “Always has. He gets really into whatever he’s doing and he kinda forgets about everything else that’s going on. Sometimes I had to call him like ten times before he’d come to dinner when we were little. I think it’s kinda cool though right? Like he’s really focused.”

  “He looks less stressed than usual too.” Carmelo noted and was met by several nods.

  “Now I’m curious what he’s working on.” Valentine murmured while he played idly with the pile of pumpkin guts on the table next to his hand.

  Beside him Stry shrugged. “We’ll find out when everyone is done.”

  “That’s true.” The pink ampha sat up a bit straighter and went back to his own pumpkin carving project.

  After several hours everyone had finished their pumpkins and returned their carving tools to the middle of the table to be cleaned up later, Alan being the last one to place his down. When he noticed he was the last one done he shifted in his seat a bit and looked back down at his hands, resting on the table in front of him. “Sorry that I took so long.”

  Valentine waved a dismissive hand at him from across the table. “It’s not a big deal, let’s get on to the part where everyone reveals their work though, I’m tired of waiting.”

  Alan wasn’t really sure if that made him feel any better, but he gave a little nod. “Um, does anyone want to go first?”

  Joey practically jumped out of his seat in excitement, causing Alan to startle slightly. “I wanna go first!” He announced, waving a hand in the air as though someone else was attempting to vye for the honor of going first as well.

  “Go for it Joey!” Diyan encouraged, his own excitement visible.

  Joey plopped back into his seat and then shoved his large pumpkin around so that the others could see the face. It was a rather typical thing, with triangle eyes and a wide grin with simple little vampire teeth; however it then also sported a drawn on mustache, monocle, beauty mark and eyelashes. “I finished carving first, so I got a little bored and added some more stuff.” Joey admitted without looking the least bit sheepish about it. “Their name is Reginald Von Spookyface and they are a very gentlemanly vampire, and I love them.” He gave the side of his pumpkin a pat.

  “I love them too!” Diyan gasped. “Awesome work Joey!”

  Alan gave a fond smile. “Good job, they look great.”

  “I agree, also it’s a very original take on it.” Carmelo offered.

  Stry and Valentine chuckled at the pumpkin and gave a thumbs up each which Joey accepted with the same proud smile that he had the others. “Thank you very much.” Satisfied, he sat back in his chair and turned to Diyan.

  “Well, it was supposed to be something else at first, but I sorta messed up and cut out too much, so now it’s this.” Diyan spun his pumpkin to reveal a wide jagged mouth that was maybe a touch higher than one would expect and eyes with little slices so that when placed on the ground the pumpkin should seem like it was looking up as passerbys.

  There was another round of congratulations along with several people reassuring Diyan that his pumpkin still looked very cool even if it wasn’t what he’d intended.

  “My turn next.” Carmelo volunteered, already moving his pumpkin to face the others.

  “What is it?” Valentine leaned forward to squint at the pumpkin.

  “It’s Diyan.” Carmelo huffed out, his cheeks a touch warm.

  Stry tilted his head to the side. “Are you sure?”

  “Of course I’m sure, I carved it didn’t I?”

  “I think it looks amazing!” Diyan offered.

  “Me too!” Joey chimed in.

  Valentine and Stry looked at Alan as if expecting his support. Alan ducked his head and scratched at the scraggly facial hair across his chin. “Um, well it . . . looks like you worked really hard on it, Carmelo.”

  Carmelo gave a nod and then turned to face the two who had called out his masterpiece. “Let’s see what you two have then, since you’re such pumpkin carving experts.”

  The both of them returned to their original laid back slouches in their chairs.

  “Well mine,” Valentine began as he turned his pumpkin. “Is dead.”

  Stry picked up a knife from the table and slipped the handle onto a hole in his own before turning it. “And mine is the murderer.”

  They might not have been the most elaborate carvings, but together their pumpkins made quite the impression. Valentine’s with X eyes and a split where he’d placed leftover pumpkin guts to look like gore and Stry’s with a crazy grin and a hand carved into it to hold the knife. Carmelo made a sour face at the display.

  “They’re very spooky.” Diyan and Joey both congratulated the other two amphas.

  “Alright Alan, it's your turn.” Carmelo said, looking away from the display.

  Alan felt everyone look over and swallowed nervously. “Okay, but uh . . . mine doesn’t really have a face.” His pumpkin was turned and into view came an elaborate pattern filled with flowers all carved at different depths so that the glow from inside would illuminate them in varied amounts.

  “That’s so cool, it’s so pretty, Alan!” Joey practically squealed.

  Diyan clasped hold of one of Alan’s hands and shook it excitedly in his grasp. “It’s gonna look so cool all lit up!”

  “Oh! I’ll go get the lights!” Joey dashed off from his seat to go find the little fake candles.

  “It really does look exquisite.” Carmelo sighed a bit, but had a smile on his face still. “Showing everyone up tonight are we?”

  Alan opened his mouth to protest but Valentine’s voice cut him off. “Mm, just means we’ll have to think bigger next year. Maybe some more guts or something.”

  “For sure.” Stry nodded.

  Carmelo scowled at the pair that only looked pleased with themselves. Joey burst back into the room then and shoved small lights into everyone’s hands. The lights were placed inside and the room was darkened so that the carvings could really shine. Everyone stood admiring the collection of carvings and murmuring to each other.