Paul’s Pumpkins

By Ray Goldrup

Based on a true story

The author lives in Utah, USA.

Paul was helping Dad plant a garden. He wished his brother Eric was here to help. But Eric was far away on a mission.

“I’ll never be big like Eric,” Paul said. “How can I go on a mission like him?”

“Don’t worry,” Dad said. “You’ll grow.”

Dad handed Paul some pumpkin seeds. He helped Paul plant them.

“These little seeds will grow into big pumpkins?” Paul asked.

“If you take good care of them,” Dad said.

Paul came out to look at the garden every day. He watered it, and soon tiny sprouts came up. The leaves got bigger. Paul carefully pulled up weeds.

By fall his pumpkin plants had grown. And there were big orange pumpkins!

Paul grabbed Dad to show him. “You took great care of your pumpkin plants!” Dad said.

“Yup! And I’ll take good care of me, so I can get big too.” Paul grinned. “And when I’m big, I can go on a mission just like Eric!”