OCtober Day 23: Tashelle Maison

Whilst cavorting around the mystical islands of gods and magic, I played it safe so I could stick around a while. With such concentration of global cultures, I’d grown curious about how this affected their customs, or holidays. Time marched on, and soon we reached autumn. The islands were slowly painted over by bronze colours and spooky aesthetics. I’d been especially curious as to what they did with the over commercialised concept of the most spine-chilling holiday of them all.

I was most certainly not disappointed. Turns out they’d developed their own version of the season, calling it Hallowed. It has a similar vibe to Halloween and Samhain, whilst also mixing in aspects of the various cultural equivalents of the locals. I’d spent the month attending various events, whether spiritual, or for silly fun. Today it fell into the latter category; a pumpkin carving competition at the Knask Eller Knep Patch. Someone informed me that it translates from Norwegian to ‘Trick or Treat Patch’.

I know my way around a vegetable knife so thought it would be fun. The patch was located fittingly enough by the nature temple. I was rather impressed by the size of it. As expected, rows and rows of enormous vegetables covered over two thirds of it. Towards the back is a cleared out space with a few picnic tables, and some public amenities. Cute, yet creepy decorations lined the fence. A sign out front advertised the competition, so I knew I was in the right place. Trudging through the dirt in a pair of wellies, entry towed under one arm, I looked around to find some kind of organiser. Closest thing was a family nearby. A mother and father with their daughter, gathered around a substantially large pumpkin. The mother in question was moving her hands in strange ways, causing the vines to twist and turn in amusement to the other two. They laugh and smile, saying something about ‘this is the best one if you grew it’. 

I feel a bit nervous about approaching them, though they also seem approachable so I shuffle over. The father seems to notice, nudging his wife (I assumed, based on the rings).

“My darling flower, this person is probably looking for you”

She stops quite abruptly. Quickly wiping off the mud from her hands, the mother leaves the others to start digging up the pumpkin, striding over to greet me. As she got closer I managed to get a better look at her. Curvy, but with muscles, and quite tall. Dark skin, inked with plant vine tattoos, and brown eyes behind a pair of orange glasses. Her cloudy afro hair waved freely in the evening breeze. She had on a cute, pumpkin themed dress, along with a pair of garden gloves and wellies. Looking over her shoulder, I realise they must have had a family theme going. The father wore a haunted tree costume, and the daughter is a potted plant. 

“Sorry, sorry, got a little carried away. Are you here for the carving competition?” She pipes up, voice full of excitement. 

“Yes, I was looking for someone in charge. Would that be you?”

“Absolutely! My name is Tashelle, or Tash for short. This patch technically belongs to my god Fyren, but I help run it. Come, follow me, I’ll show you to the table” Tash rattles on, eagerly dragging me over. 

I’m brought to the free space at the back of the patch. Several people are already gathered at the tables, their artworks out on display. They’re conversing between them. She guides me to an empty seat.

“We’ll be starting soon, if you need anything else and can’t find me, feel free to approach my husband, Diego, or my daughter Kutu. They’ll know where I am” she explains, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, before running off again.

Shrugging, I plop down my vegetable and turn to say hello to the person beside me. But, I lose the words once I realise who it is. Of course I would end up right beside the nature god himself, Fyren. Or, perhaps I should say Captain Camp, as he dons the drag persona I’d heard much about. The look he’s going for far surpasses any costume in the vicinity. An extravagant black and orange piece, it resembles something of a couture pumpkin queen. Draped in a tiered, gothic dress in black and orange, the makeup is painted to match with plenty of glitter, silky orange hair and a black jack o’ lantern lipstick smile. To top off the look, are a pair of white horns attached to a black veil.

Noticing me staring, he flashes me a charming smile.

“Best of luck darling”

“Yes, you too. Apologies you’re just...quite stunning, if you don’t mind me saying”

Fyren smirks, popping a fan dramatically.

“Of course I am, but thank you still”

He leans close to my pumpkin, cooing over the simple owl design.

“Oh that is simply adorable!”

I glance quickly at his entry. It’s intricately carved, depicting an old fashioned pirate ship under attack by lashing tentacles of a Kraken. Quite different to mine for sure.

Tashelle claps loudly, catching everyone’s attention.

“Alright contestants, let’s get this show on the road. Remember, our winners will receive one of three, differently sized, seasonal hampers. My totally unbiased family and I will now inspect your entries, and determine the top three!”

They all circle round the tables, making careful notes on their devices before grouping back  up to converse. When they break off, Tashelle is the one to make the final announcement. I don’t recognise the name of third place.

“Second place is F-”

Beside me Fyren immediately pouts. Tashelle and I make eye contact. Her eyes plead in that motherly way, so I nod subtly, relinquishing what I assume would have been my win.

“Apologies, I mean to say our second place is M’s owl design. First place goes to Fyren’s brilliant sea battle!”

Fyren’s eyes light up. He proceeds to take multiple selfies with his winning artwork, and the hamper prize. I’m quite honoured that he even gets a solo one of mine, calling it a ‘proud runner up’. Tashelle quickly pulls me aside.

“Thank you for humouring him by the way. He can be...a little immature, but sometimes he needs these little wins”

I wave it off like it’s no problem. At the end, Tashelle offers to take a photo of all of us together. I know I should leave, but after everything I cave, and smile for the camera.