“But … but it doesn’t make sense!” Grandad stood wide-eyed. “I mean, I know … I know the tea is helping, the bananas and the pee…”

“Oh my God, Grandad, it was pee?”

“Of course it was,” said Grandad distractedly, “but I’ve never known a pumpkin to double in size overnight.”

Marty racked his brain.

“I gave it some tea, and then…” Marty tried to think. He tried to think. He’d been thinking about Gracie, he remembered that. He remembered talking to it … saying that he wished … Marty’s mouth dropped open. Grandad looked at him.

“What? What is it, Marty?”

“I … I was talking to it … and…”

He felt faint. He did feel weird whenever he was around the pumpkin. He felt things. He felt its energy. He felt something trembling inside him. He felt alive …

“What, Marty? Tell me…”

“I was talking to it … and…”

It made no sense at all, but somehow Marty knew it was true. Then Marty set off at a run.

“Marty!” he could hear his grandad shout behind him.

He shouted over his shoulder. “I’ll be back in two minutes!”

Marty ran across the allotments, jumping over netting and wire and plants, rousing shouts of “Oi! What are you doing?” and “Marty, is that youse?” everywhere. He ran in a straight line toward Gracie’s house and jumped over the hedge. He ran up the concrete path and prayed that Gracie was home. He opened the door and ran straight in.

“Gracie?! GRACIE!”

His voice echoed in the tiled space.

“Gracie? You here?”

He heard footsteps, then saw Gracie coming down the stairs. She stopped halfway. She looked at him standing there, his muddy shoes making a mess all over the pristine floor.

“You’ve got to come with me…”

“What on earth are you doing here, Marty?”

Marty’s chest was still heaving.

“Come on … come with me…”

Gracie shook her head.

“I’m not talking to you, remember?” She crossed her arms.

“Look, I know I screwed up. I know I was horrible. None of that matters now. Please come with me?”

Gracie’s resolve was wavering. She’d never actually seen him like this before, so full of energy. His cheeks were bright red and his eyes were shining. He was holding his hand out to her now.

“Come on…”

Gracie found herself pulling on her boots despite herself and following him out the front door, which he’d left wide open.

She ran after him until they reached the allotment, where Grandad was still looking at the enormous pumpkin and scratching his head.

“Talk to it,” said Marty breathlessly. Gracie looked at him.

“What?”

“Tell it … tell it your dreams…”

“Are you nuts? Have you actually gone and lost it this time?”

“No, listen to me.” Marty’s face was serious now.

“You have to tell it … your wishes … your dreams … I don’t know anyone with bigger dreams than you.”