(SSSC) The Pumpkin Carver

A little bit about this story before you read. I wanted to do something very sinister with this piece, yet also something lighter. It's an odd mix that makes for a very disturbing story. I didn't add any graphic violence to his, although I very much could have, I wanted to make it readable for everyone. So without further adieu...

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The Pumpkin Carver


It was a crisp October morning, much like any other so far this month. Today, however, Sean Corbin felt an extra bounce in his step. It was the 21st of October, and it was the day of the town pumpkin carving contest. Sean had been an avid participant in the local affair ever since he could remember. He had also been reigning champion six years running; the longest streak in town history. Yes, today was the best day of the whole year if you asked Sean; it was the day he could showcase his talent for everyone to see and enjoy.

After a quick breakfast, Sean got himself ready for the day and headed out to the farmers market to select the pumpkin he would soon transform into a masterpiece. Pumpkin selection was very serious business, and required great care and consideration. Why, the wrong pumpkin could absolutely ruin a good carving! That’s why Sean always got up at the crack of dawn and headed down to get the best pumpkin available; and this year was no exception.

As Sean drew nearer to the market square, he began to notice an unusual number of people heading his direction. It all seemed very odd to him as he was always the first person to select a pumpkin. Today, however, it seemed as though many people had beaten him to the punch. There were dozens and dozens of people leaving the shop with pumpkins in tote. Becoming slightly nervous at this site, Sean began to jog a little towards the cart where the pumpkins were sold. As he approached he saw an absolutely terrible sight. The pumpkins were gone!

“How can this be” Sean bellowed!

The farmer at the stand calmly explained to Sean that there was a drastic drop in harvestable pumpkins this year. The shortage had been great, and had only produced a select number of choice pumpkins.

“After all”, the farmer said “it’s been in the paper for two weeks”.

Confused and a little upset, Sean started to plead frantically with the farmer to help him. To his great joy, the farmer informed him that he had one pumpkin remaining. Only thinking of his desperate need for a pumpkin, Sean paid the farmer instantly. As the farmer bent down and lifted up with the pumpkin, Sean’s heart fell straight to his stomach.

It was without a doubt the most hideous pumpkin Sean had ever seen. His head began to swim and swirl with terrible thoughts. What if he couldn’t carve a descent pumpkin with this? What if he lost the competition? What if everyone laughed at him?

Snatching the pumpkin from the farmers hands Sean began sprinting towards home. He had to think, he had to do something! He couldn’t just sit by and lose the pumpkin carving competition; it was his favorite part of the whole year!
Reaching home Sean busted through the door and sat the pumpkin down on his kitchen table. He stared intensely at it trying to figure how he could salvage this travesty. It truly was the ugliest pumpkin he had ever seen. It was tall and lean, with a dirty brown tint and a stem that stood tall and crooked from its top. There was surely nothing he could do to win the competition this year.

“Not true” a voice said.

Startled, Sean jumped to his feet. He looked around quickly to see if anyone was in his home.

“Who’s there” he yelled?

“It’s me Sean”, the voice said, “your ugly pumpkin”.

Sean’s mouth hit the floor. Confused and in a state of disbelief Sean fell back into his seat. I’m hearing things he told himself, pumpkins don’t talk; it’s just all this stress over the competition.

“Sure it is”, the pumpkin said. “These competitions are incredibly stressful affairs; especially when you are a sure lock to embarrass yourself”.

Now Sean was beginning to feel dizzy and lightheaded. This pumpkin was really talking to him; it was really hearing his thoughts. Thinking he was losing his mind, Sean sat back up and headed for the door.

“Now where do you think you’re going”, the voice barked. “You have work to do”.

Surprising himself, Sean yelled back. “I can’t win a competition with you, it will never work”!

“Who said anything about winning with me”, the pumpkin asked. “All you have to do is eliminate the competition, and then you’ll win for sure”.

At this point Sean had lost all touch with reality. He began to actually consider what the pumpkin was saying. After all, it was his only choice. He would never be able to show his face in this town again if he entered his pumpkin against those other beautiful specimens. His title of pumpkin carver was everything to him, it was all he had.

“Exactly”, the pumpkin said. “You know what you have to do”.

Nodding his head, Sean began fumbling through his drawers and grabbed a large cooking knife. He turned and picked up the pumpkin and sprinted out the door.

Running as fast as he had ever run in his life, Sean reached the town square in record time. He stopped and observed the scene. There were around 50 people standing in the center of the square, each working on their pumpkins for this evening. They were beautiful too, not even in the same universe of pumpkins as his. He would be hard pressed to win this year even with a descent pumpkin to work with. Satisfied with his decision of what he was about to do, Sean proceeded into the square.

What ensued would later be described as ‘the worst massacre in town history”. It was a bloody event that rivaled even the most graphic horror movies. In total, Sean had seriously or fatally wounded 37 people before the town square was emptied. Most had fled as soon as it began; others were less fortunate.

Panting hard and looking at what he had just done, Sean thought to himself there was no need to worry any longer. His title as pumpkin carver was secure forever now.

Looking down at his pumpkin, Sean asked. “There, are you happy now”?

What the pumpkin said would haunt Sean for the rest of his life; a life spent in solitary confinement at the state penitentiary. What the pumpkin said crushed Sean’s soul in a way he never though possible.

“What are you INSANE!” the pumpkin screamed. “I just wanted you to smash their pumpkins!”

Fantastic! Thats going to be one of my families favorite tales for Halloween. Seriously though how did you come up with the wicked name of Sean Corbin?

Originally posted by antar
Fantastic! Thats going to be one of my families favorite tales for Halloween. Seriously though how did you come up with the wicked name of Sean Corbin?

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. My wife read it last night and didn't know whether she was supposed to laugh or take it seriously. So I figured I did well...

My roommate in college was Sean Corbin. I've known him for years. Just thought his name fit the story (although the person doesn't)

I think the ugly pumpkin should have explained to Sean what he meant by 'eliminating the competition' a little better. Ugly pumpkin was 'a little' vague. Of course, who would have known he'd go out and Whack his competition. But then again, this guy is listening to voices coming from a pumpkin.

I really liked your story

Originally posted by MountainStar
I think the ugly pumpkin should have explained to Sean what he meant by 'eliminating the competition' a little better. Ugly pumpkin was 'a little' vague. Of course, who would have known he'd go out and Whack his competition. But then again, this guy is listening to voices coming from a pumpkin.

I really liked your story

True. I think it's safe to say the best advice is to never take advice from a talking pumpkin.

Glad you liked it as well.

Hummm, most peculiar indeed... Any relationship to the Sean Corbin related to the world famous brain surgeon from the east coast? I too considered using the name for one of my stories, then thought better of it. Several of the names people have used as welll as concepts were among my ideas. We here at ats are far more connected than we could ever possibly imagine, I sense a story here. Oh well I won't mention it again.

Ok one more clue, was his father an engineer from Ca.?

Awesome short! Great ending! NEVER saw it coming!

HILL-AIR-EEE-US!

Cuhail

Originally posted by antar
Hummm, most peculiar indeed... Any relationship to the Sean Corbin related to the world famous brain surgeon from the east coast? I too considered using the name for one of my stories, then thought better of it. Several of the names people have used as welll as concepts were among my ideas. We here at ats are far more connected than we could ever possibly imagine, I sense a story here. Oh well I won't mention it again.

Ok one more clue, was his father an engineer from Ca.?

No, this isn't the same Sean Corbin. This one is a writer, he's actually going back to school at Morehead State (of the new drone fame) where we attended school together to get another degree in writing. He does rather good work, perhaps I should invite him to join us here at ATS.

Originally posted by Cuhail

Awesome short! Great ending! NEVER saw it coming!

HILL-AIR-EEE-US!

Cuhail

That was most definitely my intention. Very please you liked it Cuhail!

Loved it nyk.

No chance i'm ever going to be able to get my kids to eat pumpkin again though. (or me for that matter)

mojo

reply to post by nyk537


Oh no he's a writer! Could be the same... Has he been known to work with marble?

Originally posted by mojo4sale

Loved it nyk.

No chance i'm ever going to be able to get my kids to eat pumpkin again though. (or me for that matter)

mojo

No, no; it's okay to eat them. Just don't talk to them!

Originally posted by antar
reply to post by nyk537

 

Oh no he's a writer! Could be the same... Has he been known to work with marble?

No…he hasn't really been known to work at all!

Hey Nyk this is another good one! I really enjoyed reading it. Cool ending.

Glad you liked it elaine.

The ending was fun to write. I wasn't actually planning on ending it that way but as I wrote I thought; "It would be funny if the pumpkin said...". Then I just wrote it.

Nice stroy! It was funny, I LOVE FUNNY! A star for you my good sir!

Originally posted by tetsujin420
Nice stroy! It was funny, I LOVE FUNNY!

A star for you my good sir!

Thank you, thank you.

You sir are a scholar and a gentlemen.

Note to self... Do not talk to fruit & veg.

Musical beans I can deal with, but talking pumpkins freak me right out.

Excellent!

MonKey

Just wanted to wish you luck on this great Halloween classic. You did a great job and your story deserves to place among the best!

Happy Halloween!

Originally posted by antar
Just wanted to wish you luck on this great Halloween classic. You did a great job and your story deserves to place among the best!

Happy Halloween!

Thanks for kind words again Antar, I really appreciate them.

Keep up the good work on your end as well. As others in your thread have already mentioned; I look forward to Trick or Treat part 2 next Halloween!