Selecting the perfect pumpkin for the fall season, to make a jack-o’-lantern, is an art.
Maybe you want a slender pumpkin for a long, pulled face. Maybe you want a full, stubby pumpkin to carve a large, winding smile. Perhaps you even want something in between.
This year, I selected an angular pumpkin to carve into with the vague idea to create something wildly spooky.
My parents and two younger brothers stand around our kitchen dining table, ready to begin gutting the orange gourds. This year, I brought two of my college friends as stowaways home for fall break to participate in our family tradition.
Once the stems are pulled from the orange shell, fibrous strands of gooey pumpkin guts go flying into metal bowls in the center of the table. A few of the white seeds ping and patter as they slap against the rim. My dad has been using a drill attachment to quickly release the guts for as long as I can remember, so the whirring of the drill’s motor overlaps our conversation.
Typically, I adhere to a strict design on my pumpkins: closely freehand drawing a design with, using my favorite carving tool with the perfect handle and pushing out the carved shapes. This year is different. I thought I had an idea, but I completely abandoned it.
I still had to draw my outline with a Sharpie, unable to abandon my guide, but I went with the flow to create a large oval mouth, slanted eyes, angry eyebrows and a very small triangle nose.
I realized as I put the knife down — this was the most relaxed I have ever been while carving pumpkins.
As everyone finished up their work, we took the pumpkins outside to be illuminated by the moonlight. All seven pumpkins lined up on our front porch, side by side, to fit on the concrete slab. With a click of the lighter, each pumpkin became a jack-o-lantern as they shot out light.
My pumpkin appeared to scream out light instead.
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