The festive mood in the living room froze at once.
The senior researcher pointed at the carved pumpkin. "Is this… the one-of-a-kind special specimen?"
I bit my lip and nodded.
A moment later, my sister switched straight back to playing the victim.
"Veda, are you reporting me just because I picked the pumpkin?"
Lyndon stepped in first. "It's a holiday. Don't make something out of nothing. It's just one pumpkin. Is it really that serious? I'll pay you back, I'll buy you another one."
The senior researcher glanced at the ruined pumpkin, then looked over at me quietly.
"Should I let your supervisor know?"
I nodded, keeping my eyes down. "Pay me back? How?"
He spoke as if it were obvious, "I'll go to the market and get you the biggest one they have. Two or three if you want. I'
