Pumpkins And Trickery

by D. S. Mowbray

  While I remain alone, I ruminate over the situation that occurred at the pumpkin patch. I could not have been part of this mystery, but for some reason I am, and I cannot help but dig deeper into this. It’s not just the fact that I’m somehow implicated to it for having found the remains of the man in the shop; there’s almost something mystical about a mystery that drives you to it. You have to know who did it, and the reasons behind it. And I know that I have to pay a brief visit to the shop; not only to get the pumpkins that I didn’t purchase, but also to check the situation by myself.

  Chapter Four

  The amazing scent is here as always, but now I am not very attentive to it as I would be under normal circumstances. Of course, I am very excited to have to pick up vines for my yard decorations, but I’m very eager to find why this murder happened in the first place.

  “Ainsley, somehow I expected to see you here again,” Alyvia points out, when she gets in my way, while I’m entering the shop.

  “Hey, Alyvia,” I try to look amicable, though I won’t deny it that I’m holding everyone here as latent suspects. For all I know, everyone at the shop could be my prime suspects to the list. There’s just no way that a man would hide beneath a vine composition that requires a lot of forbearance and time to compose without the shop crew knowing. “How is it going?”

  “You know,” she shrugs and then brings her shoulders back to place with a sigh. “As expected. Detective Cassidy took turns asking each of us about the murder. We told what we know. And even though I know I had nothing to do with it, I still can’t explain why I feel so blameful.”

  My mind drags back to what happened over a month ago. It’s only normal you would feel like this when you’re part of a murder investigation. It’s just unsettling to know that people are seeing you as a latent delinquent, even though you know you’ve done nothing wrong.

  “Would you think someone here is involved in this?” I ask her. I know that Alyvia can’t hurt anybody. And I also know that it’s wrong to judge people based on impressions, but I can tell for sure that she doesn’t strike me as someone who’d do something like this.

  “I don’t know,” she shrugs again, warmly. “I don’t want to point fingers at anybody, but I know that under my surveillance nothing bad has happened. I’m so sorry you had to be a part of this by the way.” She looks at me compassionately.

  And it’s weird, because I would be saying the same thing about her.

  “Mr. Grantham is enraged about it. We only got the shop back this morning, and it seems like the clientele has already started to slacken off.”

  I remember when the murder happened at my shop at the party. It only helped my shop get popular. I think I got lucky.

  “Can I talk to him?” I ask her, not sure whether I’d be getting a positive response.

  “I don’t think that he’d be willing to do that. He’s avoided talking to everybody since the murder, and it only helped him get more miffed. Anyway, would you like browsing for vines I think you’re the only customer around.” She pores over the place, longingly.

  “That’s what I’m here for,” I lie. Well, partly lie, because I’m here to do that…and more.

  Meanwhile, I waddle around the place and stop when I come across the compilation.

  It all comes back to me and I’m not sure whether I’d be able to browse through it anymore for my pumpkins. Maybe I should start looking in other parts of the patch. After all, the store is filled with vines all around.

  “It must be unsettling, huh? To stand in front of the one place that someone was killed.” The voice comes from behind me and I turn around to face the man who is talking to me.

  “Jayvion,” I mutter, and I’m holding my hand on my precordium as though trying to keep myself together. “You scared me.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. We’re all acting strange after what happened. I mean, I don’t know how not to. I keep waddling around the place organizing the vines, and all I can think about is that somebody might be hiding underneath.”

  “I know this must be hard to everybody. With the investigation going on and a murderer on the loose, it’s only normal you’d feel distressed.” I try to reason.

  “I mean, it was you,” he seems to totally ignore what I’m saying, staying focused on his thoughts. “But it could’ve been anybody. It could’ve been me, or somebody else who might’ve come across the remains. How can you have a body in your store and know nothing about it?”

  “I know, it’s strange. And it’s just pointing back to the pumpkin patch. You know, everyone is thinking that those working at the store should know something about it. I mean, do you?” I know that I’m probably crossing a line with this, but I cannot stop myself. I’m not thinking that Jayvion is involved in this in any way, but after all, someone ought to know something about what hid under the vine composition. And remembering this, it strikes me. The new member of the crew told me he was the one who arranged the composition. So after all, I should be having this conversation with him instead.

  “I’m just as clueless about this as you are. And I know that I’m expected to have noticed something strange, but for some reason it must’ve slipped by me.”

  “Do you know where the new recruit is right now?” I ask him, in hopes that he would be collaborative with it.

  “I’m not sure. He must be around though. Why?”

  “Last time I talked to him, he told me he was the one who composed the vines together. How come he didn’t notice the body beneath the compilation?”

  This time, Jayvion leans closer and lowers his voice. “I know that it’s probably wrong to say this, but I always thought that Jaylon was a little strange. He was rude to the customers and…” before proceeding, Jayvion pores around us, and once he’s made sure no one’s around to hear us, he keeps going. “I think that he must be on meds or something. Maybe he’s trying to keep a disorder under control. I don’t know,” he shrugs.

  “What makes you think that?” suddenly I seem to find these details interesting.

  “Well, I’ve caught him a bunch of times getting these pills from his little flask. He always gets angry before having the pills. He’s trying to control his anger maybe?”

  Jayvion just provided me with details that are making for a better view to the full picture. And I believe in what he’s saying because I was there when Jaylon (luckily, I know his name now) started yelling at me for cluttering up his vine composition.

  “Since after the murder, he’s avoided just about everyone that is not a customer. I even greeted him this morning and he turned the other way. I was uncertain at first. Like, what did I do to him? But then it hit me; he’s just weird like that.”

  I glance around the area hoping that I’d spot him somewhere, but without result, I turn back to him. “Where would you suggest I start looking for my vines?” I thought that asking for his perspective regarding the best pumpkins in the store would help me move along faster and more proficiently.

  “The corner at the end of the patch. That’s where we keep our best items. I should probably get back to work now and let you do your browsing. So…” he smiles boyishly, and tries to poke fun at it, somehow alleviating this strained situation. “Happy browsing.”

  I smile at his attempt at being mirthful, all the while glazing at him moving away and encumbering to his work. Meanwhile I head for the part of the store that he recommended me to do my shopping. But I stop in place.

  Around the corner, in front of another composition of vines I spot Jaylon. I call out his name and I have to howl a little since the patch is quite spacious and there’s a lot of cabinets and vines on the way. He doesn’t respond, so I have to call out again.

  This time he swings around and peers at me. As soon as he notices me, I can see freight in his face, as though I’m about to attack him or something, and suddenly I feel like a delinquent. Not a nice feeling.

  I approach, trying to get near, but before I’m able to get at him, he flees behind th
e composition. When I make it to the place when I spotted him prior, I look behind the pile of vines, but unfortunately, he’s nowhere to be found. And the patch being too spacious and intricate doesn’t help much in my looking for him.

  Maybe it’s best if I start looking for my pumpkins instead; after all, I haven’t got all day, and I need to still save a little time to indulge in my crafting afterwards.

  I get back to my shopping, and start gratifying myself in the process of picking up pumpkins. The modality of picking just provides you with some kind of empowerment, coming from the idea and the luxury of plentitude and the self-indulging belief that it’s you who get to do the selection based on your own individual recognition.

  So while I’m at it, I convince myself to get the most out of this little luxury of mine. What I’ve learned from life so far, is that you have to pay attention to the little pleasures along the way. After all, it’s these little details that give life the complete, required refinement.

  “Would you like some tea, sweetheart,” I hear the mild voice from behind me and I recognize immediately the person that is talking to me.

  “Kelsey,” I say, without properly turning around to face her. “I don’t think so.” I remember the moment when the mug shattered to bits into the ground, last time I was here. I don’t want to bring those memories back, or rather, I don’t want to relive everything again.

  “I get it. I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” She says, and somehow their subtlety is touching me. The shop crew are the ones affected by the murder the most, and yet they find the space to console me too.

  “It was so unexpected. I mean, the vine compilation at to pumpkin patch where you purchase all your harvest decorative items is the last place where you’d expect to find a body, right?” I smile, somehow amused, somehow terrified by it.

  “And yet that didn’t stop you,” I think she was trying to poke fun at it, but it didn’t come out right. Like, this is a murder mystery. However you try to sugarcoat your way out of it, it still remains terrifying, nevertheless.

  I find this moment cringe-worthy, so the soundless moment that passes after the last comment makes Kelsey realize that she probably better head away.

  “I have to get back to work now, though it was nice meeting you. And P.S: this is where we keep our best vines by the way.”

  I look at the compilation and ponder. They’re probably right. All the shades of tangerine are so adorable and piled together artfully. Maybe I have to pick up the most bizarre pumpkins I see and go away, because my desire to prolong this segment of relish as much as possible is starting to vanish little by little.

  I pick up a classical, glistering, symmetrical vine, a bizarre khaki one with jade green stripes all over it, and a bunch of other not-so-impressive pumpkins form the compilation and call Jayvion to help me with carrying them over to my car. As I’m about to make the payment, I decide to postpone it, when I come across something that intrigues me.

  I move along, approaching to Jaylon who is putting a bunch of vines into order. I sneak from behind him, so he won’t be able to run away from me this time.

  “Jaylon, I just want to talk to you for a moment. I’m not here to do anything wrong,” I note, remembering of the things that Jayvion told me earlier about him probably being mentally troubled.

  “I didn’t do anything,” he howls scared, as if I am attacking him, gathering the attention of the customers that have just arrived. I’m a little discomposed, but I won’t let a trivial thing like this get on my way.

  “I’m not saying that you did anything,” I say firmly, yet trying to sound mild to him. “I’m just here for some answers is all.”

  “What do you want?” he howls rudely, and I’m starting not to like the attention that I’m drawing to myself.

  “You told me you were the one who composed the compilation that day when I came browsing. Is that so?”

  “I don’t want to talk to you about it,” he keeps looking scared. And that’s just something I don’t like. It’s not such a ravishing feeling to know that people are scared of you. And to think that I didn’t do anything to scare him off in the first place!

  “But I think that you have to. We’re all involved to this mystery, and I think that if we’re all willing to help with what we know, that’s the only way how we’re going to be able to get to the bottom of this.”

  “I told you. I don’t want to talk about it.” He yells louder this time, and I think that even the people out on the street might’ve heard.

  I realize that I should probably step back, since from what I’m gathering it’s not that much that I’d be able to get out of him as it is. And besides I don’t want to be charged with harassment wrongfully. I go back to paying my pumpkins and then with a smile I leave the store, still trying to ditch the inquisitive looks of the other customers.

  When I make it to my car, I spot something around the other part of the parking lot. And I know what detective told me about stepping back, but it’s so hard to do that when you are involved into the mystery. I just have to find the truth about this mystery, and I think that the pumpkin shop is the right place to do that.

  “Mr. Grantham,” I call out and run to him. At first he doesn’t listen, but then, on my second call, he turns around and once he faces me, he puts the scolding face on.

  “Ainsley,” he says unaffectedly. “What is going on?”

  “I stopped by the store for my pumpkins, and I saw you here and thought to say hi.” It feels like I have to make an explanation for my greeting him, being that he’s standing there with his poker face, and distant attitude. “How are things going on for you anyway?”

  “Well, busy as always.” He tries not to let anything regardful slip by.

  “I reckon with a murder investigation going on, it isn’t getting any better, right?” I thought I should be bringing it up by myself, considering that he just keeps his unaffected attitude up.

  “I don’t think now it’s the right moment to talk about it.”

  “But things are dredging up for all of us, and I think now it’s the best time to talk about it. How come your pumpkins encrust the remains of a man and you know nothing about it? I mean, you don’t, right? It is very upsetting for a customer to go to a shop and find a body instead of the sought-after items.”

  “I’m not going to answer any question to anyone who isn’t an authority.” He says firmly and tries to move away, but I ward off his way.

  “I came across a body, at your shop,” I emphasize the latter. “I think at least you owe me an explanation.” I demand.

  “I don’t owe you, or anybody, anything.” He looks enraged, and I’ve never seen him like this. He’s always been nothing but nice to me, and to have him harsh on me is really concerning and thought-provoking to say the least.

  “I’m making a statement today,” I let him know. “I won’t rebuke them on the details.” I just want him to know that his grudging behavior won’t go unnoticed.

  I don’t like threatening anybody, and treating them overpoweringly. But how could I not, when this man is not letting me with any other reason that I can hold on to and believe that he’s innocent?

  When I’m not able to stop him anymore, I watch him as he makes his way inside the pumpkin shop. I cannot stop but think how strange it really is to have people change their behavior around you drastically.

  Never would I have thought that Mr. Grantham would be treating me like this, or that I would be trying to put him up against the wall. And yet here I am.

  But at least I have this bunch of pumpkins to gratify me for the time being. I just need to get my mind off of things, and I guess that my craft work would help me with that.

  So all I want to do meanwhile, is fast track to my home, and indulge in seasonal handicraft.

  Chapter Five

  Peering around my yard, I admire the lights shining off of the holes on the pumpkins and everything looks just so peaceful and perfect for a moment.

  W
ith Coral waddling against my feet, I let myself relish in this little magical moment and think that just for a second the world is nothing but a perpetual gratifying frequency that I’m trying to render around to.

  “Wow, quite the award-winning ornaments you got there,” a man’s voice directed at me, gets me all startled for a moment, interrupting me from my distraction.

  “Oh,” I smile when I see the face of the new neighbor over the fence. “Hey, there.”

  “So, what else are you good at, besides helping strangers get settled in, baking cupcakes, solving mysteries and crafting the best decorations in town?”

  For a moment I’m a little surprised by how much he knows about me, but then I realize that he must’ve done some research since after we met when he moved here.

  “I just like to make the most out of the season, and harvest it’s one of my favorites.”

  “That I can see,” he peers around the yard, taking stock of every single pumpkin around every single corner. I’ve decorated either sides of the stairs with tangerine vines; so in a systematical order, there are two vines on either sides of each stair on my porch, giving such a cozy seasonal vibe to it. “I’m going to have to drop by your shop one of these days; trying to check whether your cupcakes live up to their reputation.”

  “Did you make yourself comfortable with the area already?” I ask, suddenly adjusting to the abrupt changes, with a new neighbor that I’m trying to make friends with. Or vice versa. Anyway.

  “Well, it’s a quiet street, but I wouldn’t say that I’ve gotten around to checking it yet.”

  I take delight in my craft work displayed in my yard for a moment, and then I come back at him with another question.

  “Why Lazulville, out of all the towns in the world?”

  “Well, it was such an impulsive idea. Came across the town, fell in love with it in spur of moment, and I jumped at the idea without giving it much of a second thought.”

  I can tell that he’s just a little bit older than me, but that’s not very conspicuous, really. And I haven’t seen anybody else around the house, besides him, so his coming here is getting me a little startled to be honest. But then I realize that I’m just starting to look suspiciously at just about everything as of late. And I really need to stop doing that.