Marty was sure he had recognized one of the figures dancing in the darkness, but he just couldn’t put a finger on who it was. And then the figure moved in front of him. It was Mr. Garraway! In a kilt!

Marty jumped up.

“Hello, sonny!” Mr. Garraway smiled.

“You’re looking very smart, sir!” Marty said.

“Well, it’s a celebration, isn’t it? Your trip was absolutely brilliant, Marty.”

Marty grinned.

“Thanks, sir.”

A woman Marty didn’t know came over and wrapped her arm around Mr. Garraway’s waist.

“I wanted to tell you that I’ve got a new job, Marty.”

Marty’s face fell. “You’re leaving the school?” he asked.

Mr. Garraway shook his head. “No, sonny. I’m your new head teacher!”

Marty looked back at Gracie in disbelief.

“The big ugly hairy one is going…” He winked. Then he suddenly looked serious. “Oh God, she’s not behind me, is she?”

Marty shook his head and laughed.

“It’s what I wished for when I came to see your pumpkin.”

“That’s amazing, sir!”

“It is, isn’t it? Aye, right”—he looked at the woman with him—“we’d better go. I just wanted to say thanks.”

Marty nodded.

“It’s okay.”

Mr. Garraway was about to turn when he looked back at Marty again.

“Oh, and did you give any thought to your choices? What you want to do?”

Marty smiled.

“Yes. Yes, I did actually.”

“Good,” Mr. Garraway said. “Good. Well, I’ll see you on Monday.”

Marty sat down again and smiled at Gracie as Grandad approached.

“WHOOOF,” said Grandad as he sat down, exhausted. He’d been dancing for hours.

Grandad had been handing out a seed to everyone as they left the party. Pressing it into their palms like he was giving them the most precious gift in the world. And in some ways, he was. He was giving them a seed to grow. Some hope. A little seed that could contain anything they wanted to imagine.

“I’ve had a wonderful time,” Grandad said, his voice deep and content.

“So have I,” said Gracie.

“Me too,” said Marty.

“But do you know what?”

Marty and Gracie were looking into the dying flames of the fire as a new morning woke around them. Grandad hesitated a moment, made sure he had Gracie’s and Marty’s full attention.

“I’ve always kind of fancied flying … how much do you think a giant zucchini would weigh?”

Gracie and Marty looked at each other in disbelief. Grandad was tapping his chin with his finger, deep in thought.

“I wonder if we could fit some wings on one…?”

THIS IS A LIST of what Grandad has:

• 687,987,679,090 giant pumpkin seeds (those things have a LOT of seeds inside)
• 1 grandson who loves him very much
• 1 daughter who comes to drink tea with him sometimes
• Lots of ideas

THIS IS A LIST of what Marty has: