Joel,” she said, “how do think you’ll like pumpkin harvesting?”
“I think I’ll be all right, ma’am,” Joel said between gulps of the lemonade. “I’ve done it before, after all. I just need to make sure it’ll be all right with my mom.”
“Well of course,” Mrs. McClafferty said, “and I’m happy to talk with her on the phone if you’d like.”
“Thank you ma’am,” Joel said.
“Oh and Aaron,” she said to her son, “I’m afraid the pumpkins in storage are shifting a bit … it makes for a lot of noise in the showroom. Can you see to keeping things a little more quiet for me?”
“Sure, Ma,” Aaron grinned, “no problem!” He ambled off to the cellar with a mallet, which Joel thought was unusual.
“Looky here,” red-headed Hezekiah said, nodding at a rapidly approaching convertible.
“Your brother’s a little early,” Mrs. McClafferty said, “and it looks like he’s brought company.”
Joel narrowed his eyes. The other brother was none other than Ian Samuels … and the company was none other than Polly! Ian pulled his shiny silver convertible into the clearing and hopped out. While Joel could see some of the family resemblance, Ian was not as hairy as his brothers.
“Afternoon, all, Mother,” Ian said.
“Did you bring my nutmeg and critters, son?” Mrs. McClafferty asked.
“Of course,” Ian replied, “Polly wouldn’t let me forget. He handed her a large brown bag. “Oh, this is Polly, by the way, the friend from school I was telling you about.”
Aaron emerged from the cellar with the mallet and tossed it aside.
“Yes, Polly, how lovely to meet you at last,” Mrs. McClafferty said, taking Polly’s hand as she emerged from the car. “Might I say that you’re quite a brave girl to ride along with my son here. He’s got quite the lead foot, you know.”
“Mother,” Ian said, his big lips curling in a smile around huge white teeth that Joel was sure looked almost wolf-like.
“Nice to meet you,” Polly said.
“These here are Ian’s brothers … Aaron, Hezekiah and Ezekial,” Mrs. McClafferty went on. It was clear that the boys seemed to change up a bit around Polly. They were all looking at her as if they almost wanted to eat her.
“And here’s our newest worker,” Mrs. McClafferty began.
“Joel,” Polly finished, “what are you doing out here?”
“Like she said,” Joel replied, “I’m working.”
Polly frowned a bit.
“But Joel,” Mrs. McClafferty replied, “it’s nigh to two thirty. You said you had to get back to town.”
“Uh … right, thanks,” Joel replied.
“I’ll be calling your mother tonight to talk more about your work schedule,” Mrs. McClafferty said.
“Thank you ma’am,” Joel replied.
“Oh no, thank you,” she said, “we’re very happy to have you on board.”
“Joel,” Ian jumped in, extending his hand. “I think I’ve seen you around school, haven’t I?” Ian’s grip, predictably, was like a vice. Joel couldn’t count the number of times he had been at the mercy of Ian’s power during practice sessions of tae kwon do. He almost felt tears leap to his eyes. “Just kidding of course. A happy heart doeth like good medicine—that’s in the Good Book,” Ian grinned, “and of course I know one of my most earnest students.”
Joel would have rolled his eyes had the pain not been so sharp. Ian had to rub in the fact that even though there couldn’t be two years between them, he still regarded himself as the teacher and Joel as the student; and while that was what they were, Ian’s attitude got to Joel.
“Great demonstration today in school, Franklin,” Ian went on. “I think we’ve drummed up a lot of interest in the Tae Kwon Do Club!”
“If you say so,” Joel managed to get out.
“I didn’t slam you too hard, did I?”
“Not at all. My little brother hits harder.”
Polly stifled a laugh and Ian turned red. “Funny guy.”
“How are you related? I thought your last name was Samuels,” Joel managed to to spit out.
“I’m adopted,” Ian hissed back, tightening his grasp, “want to make something out of it?”
“No,” Joel coughed, fairly certain that his hand was now a blob of clay.
“Cool,” Ian said, “glad you can help out Mom and my bros here.” He smiled mirthlessly down at Joel. “We’re planning big things here at the end of the month, you know. Can’t get enough help to make it a success.” He finally let go of Joel’s hand, smiling triumphantly at the fact that he had squeezed it to a pulp.
“Well,” Joel said, “I’d better be going.”
Joel felt strange as he went back into the farmhouse to deposit his boots and gloves. He felt doubly strange that he was leaving his ex-girlfriend behind in a situation that Joel wasn’t sure of, but that felt almost perilous.
“And Joel, once you’re fully hired, we can prorate the hour you spent today for your salary,” Mrs. McClafferty called after him.
“Yes, thank you ma’am.” Joel smiled uneasily, not really sure what she meant by “prorate”. Lost in his swirl of thoughts and emotions, Joel tripped up the stairs. There was a guffaw, which Joel thought was from Ian, and he quickly scrambled up and into the farmhouse, eager to get on his bike and make his way back to town. He felt all of their eyes on him as he wheeled his way out of the farm. Then he began to wonder just what he had gotten himself into. He would have had even more cause to wonder if he had seen Aaron sidle up to his mother’s side and heard him mutter, “You sure about this, Ma? He won’t get in the way, will he?”
“Oh dearie, he’s harmless,” Mrs. McClafferty replied. “I wouldn’t trouble my mind. Not when there are other things that are far more important right now…like first getting all these pumpkins cleared out and unloosing the critters into the field before All Hallows’ Eve and secondly, welcoming new and useful acquaintances to our bosum,” Mrs. McClafferty turned to Polly.
“You’re a very pretty girl, Patsy,” she said.
“It’s Polly,” Polly smiled.
“Of course it is,” Mrs. McClafferty said. “And look at your luxurious hair, it’s simply breathtaking, wouldn’t you say?”
That was weird, Polly thought as Mrs. McClafferty went on. “Ian, why don’t you show young Polly here around the farm and then treat her to some of our pumpkin roll?”
“Oh
