Even Grandad was looking confused by now.

Marty was focused on Gracie. Waiting for her to say something.

“Go on…”

Gracie shook her head.

“No.”

“Gracie, please. Tell it about your competition. About how you want to be a dancer.”

Gracie looked worried now.

“It can’t happen. You said so yourself … it was a stupid dream.”

Marty shook his head.

“I was wrong, Gracie. I was so utterly and completely wrong. It is possible…”

He walked toward her and took both her hands.

“You can be a brilliant dancer. You will smash this competition, and I … me and Grandad are going to sail to Paris in that pumpkin…”

Gracie looked at him. He was positively glowing.

“You’ve got to trust me! Just tell it. Believe it. I promise you … it’ll be brilliant.”

There was something in his eyes that made Gracie nod. She turned. Nodded again and walked toward the pumpkin. She looked back uncertainly at Grandad and Marty. Swallowed down hard.

The pumpkin sat, beautiful and round in the warm sun.

“I … I dream of being a dancer…”

Her voice was small. Marty watched carefully. There was no movement.

“I want to be a dancer. I want to dance in this competition,” she said again, and then she felt stupid. Self-conscious. Talking to a pumpkin in the middle of the allotment.

“This is stupid! Nothing’s happening!”

Marty shook his head. Nothing was happening. Nothing was happening at all. The pumpkin sat immobile. His face fell. Gracie was looking at him now, her face full of confusion and embarrassment.

“I can’t believe you made me do that.” Gracie looked as if she were about to cry when there was a loud groan behind her. Marty looked over. The creaking came again. Gracie turned back slowly to look at the pumpkin. A shudder now, and then another. The pumpkin was growing. Right in front of their eyes. It was swelling. Getting fatter. Grandad reached up to his head and slowly took his hat off in reverence. They watched as it plumped itself out. Exhaled. Let it all hang out. They watched and waited, and then, with creaks and shudders, it stopped. Grandad studied the pumpkin in wonder. He tried speaking. Nothing came out. He tried again; his mouth was dry. Eventually, his words came from somewhere …

“I have never, ever seen anything so utterly and wonderfully more brilliant!”

Marty laughed. He laughed and laughed. He jumped up and whooped.

“It can hear us!” he shouted.

Gracie and Marty and Grandad started to dance around hand in hand, and the pumpkin just sat there listening and growing and knowing.