Cheers sounded from the doorway.
"Happy Halloween!"
"Trick or treat!"
Several children from relatives' families stood there, forks and spoons in hand, eager to dig in.
"Aunt Ann said, There's a party, and we can have pumpkin pie!"
They crowded inside all at once.
Mom carried out the last pot of pumpkin soup from the kitchen. "Here you are, dears."
I frowned and stepped forward. "Mom! I told you, no one touched that pumpkin!"
Mom felt she was losing face in front of relatives and ignored me.
"Everything's perfectly fine. Help yourselves to all the pumpkin treats."
I exchanged a look with the senior researcher and rushed to stand in front of the table, blocking them.
"I said, Don't touch it!"
"Veda, how dare you act this way? Food comes first! You grow things, you shou
