Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Chapter 4

Maple sat at her kitchen table, the warm glow of the morning sun streaming through the window. She sipped her coffee, the aroma of pumpkin spice filling the air, and opened her laptop. With a few clicks, she navigated to Yelp and typed in "Crispin's Pumpkin Patch." As the page loaded, she smiled at the sight of the familiar logo and the cheerful photos of pumpkins, hayrides, and smiling families.

Her eyes scanned the reviews, most of them glowing with praise for the charming atmosphere and friendly service. But one review caught her attention, standing out like a sore thumb among the sea of five-star ratings.

"Disappointed," the review began. "We visited Crispin's Pumpkin Patch last weekend, and it was not what we expected. The pumpkins were overpriced, and the staff seemed uninterested in helping us. We won't be returning."

Maple frowned, her heart sinking a little. She knew how much Crispin cared about the patch and the effort he put into making it a special place for the community. She decided to bring it up with him later that day.

Later, at the pumpkin patch, Maple found Crispin stacking hay bales near the entrance.

 "Hey, Crispin. Got a minute?" Maple waves.

 Crispin was wiping his hands on his jeans "Sure, Maple. What's up?"

 "I was looking at Yelp reviews for the patch this morning. Most of them are great, but there was one... that wasn't so positive."

 Crispin raises his eyebrow. "Oh? What did it say?"

Maple slightly sighs. "It mentioned that the pumpkins were overpriced and that the staff seemed uninterested in helping."

Crispin shrugged. "That's disappointing to hear. We try to keep our prices fair and our staff friendly. I'll have to look into it."

"I know you will." Maple smiled. "Maybe it's just a one-off, but I thought you should know."

 Crispin nodded. "Thanks, Maple. I appreciate you telling me. I'll make sure to address it with the team."

As the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the pumpkin patch, Maple decided to stay and help Crispin with the evening preparations. The air was crisp, and the scent of hay and pumpkins filled the atmosphere, creating a cozy, autumnal ambiance.

Maple and Crispin worked side by side, their movements synchronized as they arranged pumpkins and set up decorations for the upcoming Halloween festival. The vibrant orange of the pumpkins contrasted beautifully with the rich, earthy tones of the hay bales and the rustic wooden signs.

 "This place looks magical in the evening light. It's like something out of a storybook." said Maple, adjusting the scarecrow.

"That's the goal." Crispin grinned. "We want people to feel like they're stepping into a different world when they come here."

 Maple glanced at him. "Well, you've definitely succeeded. I can see why families love it here."

As they continued working, a cool breeze swept through the patch, carrying with it the faint scent of cinnamon and apples from a nearby cider stand. Maple shivered slightly, and Crispin noticed.

 "Are you cold? I can grab you a jacket from the barn." Crispin blinked.

Maple shook her head. "I'm fine, just enjoying the fall weather. It's perfect."

  "It is." Crispin nodded.  There's something special about this time of year. Everything feels more alive, more vibrant."

"I couldn't agree more. And it's even better sharing it with a friend."