Pumpkin Head
It was a rainy afternoon, the roads were empty and looked as if it was haunted. The rain poured down as the strong wind forced its way through the empty streets. Everyone who lived in this small town were sipping hot tea and sitting in front of the fire.
However, Raiaan and Aiham were stuck in the rain. They both day dreamed of their cozy home as they waited in the small shelter of a little roof that extended just enough to keep them from drenching.
“Please stop raining, Raiaan said in a nasal voice.
“Stop that’, Aiham immediately shot back.
He was annoyed. After all it was because of Raiaan that they were stuck in the pouring rain. If it wasn’t for him, Aiham would be at home, drinking hot chocolate and listening to his grandpa’s story.
Suddenly Raiaan saw the lights of the corner shop light up. His eyes grew wide as his eyes rested on the humongous pumpkin that was placed in the center of the shop. A goofy smile slowly spread over his face and as if he was in a trance, he took quick little steps and broke into a run.
When Aiham saw this, he looked up into the sky, raised his hands and screamed, “WHY?”
When he looked down, Raiaan was entering an empty shop that looked as if it would fall down any minute.
“I’m not going in there Raiaan and when the rain stops, I’m going to go home”, Aiham said.
But Raiaan didn’t even seem to be aware of what Aiham have said. He just dashed into the empty shop, laughing like a maniac.
When Raiaan entered the shop, the door slammed behind him with a loud thud which shook the door frame violently. He quickly looked around to see whether there was anyone in sight. When he couldn’t find anyone, he smiled proudly to himself and all most screamed with joy as he skipped towards the humongous pumpkin. As he touched the pumpkin, the lights suddenly went out, leaving the place in an eerie darkness and he felt even more excited. He threw his head back and laughed straight from the belly. He stopped laughing when a yellowish orange light slowly started to spread over the whole place. He blinked his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming and he thought of pinching himself too, but since he didn’t want to let go of the pumpkin, he kept on hugging it.
He stopped laughing when he realized that he was not in the shop anymore. He looked around and realized that it was a farm or perhaps a field. Just then he heard a wicked laugh of an old woman. He couldn’t find anyone and then suddenly a black shoe fell from the sky. He looked up and saw a witch in a broom flying over him cackling away like a mad woman. She was accompanied by about a thousand witches who cackled just like her and then they lowered their broom like an experienced pilot to land on the ground.
As soon as their feet touched the ground, they stampeded towards different directions screaming, "Lets find that boy".
"Ooooh, boy, boy...oooh', Raiaan cried unaware that they were looking for him!
He climbed the pumpkin and tried to get a glimpse of the boy the witches were looking for. They searched everywhere and then suddenly, one of the witches saw Raiaan standing on the humongous pumpkin.
"There he is", she screeched and all the witches rushed towards him.
"Oooh witches", Raiaan looked at everyone unaware of the danger he was in.
The witches zapped him one by one after chanting a spell. Just then , out of the blue, Aiham fell from the sky. He saw Raiaans head placed on top of a huge pumpkin. When he saw the witches chanting the spell and zapping him, he knew that they were turning him into a pumpkin.
He attacked the witch who looked really frail and took away her broom and magic stick. He just pointed the stick and zapped at all the witches who charged at him. After about five minutes there weren't any witches around. he looked at the pumpkin near him and lightly tapped his finger on it.
"Don't do that, it hurts", Raiaan cried.
Aiham realized that Raiaan was alive and he was so happy.
"I'll try to change you back', he said in a shaky voice.
He kept on zapping Raiaan and he managed to get his hands and feet but he was unable to get his head back.
"I'm so sorry Raiaan, I cant change you back", Aiham said sadly.
"Don't worry Aiham, you know I love pumpkins, I don't mind having a pumpkin for a head."
They stood together, holding each others hand and closed their eyes. When they opened their eyes, they were back in the old building.
From that day on wards Raiaan was known as the Pumpkin head and everyone loved him because he scared the crows from everyone's farm. For his great kindness, they all rewarded him with a pumpkin and he was as pleased as punch.
They destroyed the old building in the corner because they found out that witches from another dimension used that building as a station to lure kids to their world and practice their zapping skills. Aiham and Raiaan remained as best friends and they lived happily ever after.
