Some people liked to listen to seashells. Danny liked to listen to plants. They were quiet and undemanding. They were patient. Most of all, they were straightforward. If a plant needed water, it wilted. There was no uncertainty there, no hidden meaning. It was what it was, and if he gave it water, the plant would be happy.

"Are you a happy pumpkin?" he asked the pumpkin in front of him. The interesting thing about pumpkins was that each one had the story of just one season in them. Non-annual plants had seen several seasons at least, and they were much more judgmental about it all. Pumpkins loved everything because they had nothing else to compare it to.

"Danny?" a familiar voice asked.

He stared down at the pumpkin, hoping he hadn't heard what he thought he'd heard. This was why he liked plants. People always wanted an answer right away. Plants would wait hours before expecting you to say anything to them.

"Danny?" the voice repeated, closer. "Are you--talking to that pumpkin?"

"Kendall!" He turned quickly, shrugging to cover his embarrassment. "Of course not! I mean…" She had someone with her, he realized belatedly. "That is--"

"That's so sweet," she interrupted, smiling at him. "This is my cousin, Lily. Lily, this is Danny. He used to work at the flower shop with me."

He was working up his courage to say "hi" to her when Lily interrupted. "Are you going to come trick-or-treating with us?"

Kendall looked a little embarrassed, and she gave him an apologetic shrug. "I--I saw you here and I thought… well, it might be fun."

"I--" It would be fun, more than fun in fact, but then his brain caught up with him. "I can't," he said, crestfallen. "I told Max I'd help with the Halloween Hayride tonight."

"But that doesn't start till later, right?" Kendall looked hopeful. "If you come trick-or-treating with us, we'll go on the hayride with you… how does that sound?"

"That…" He glanced down as Lily put her ear up to the same pumpkin he had spoken to earlier, apparently "listening" for an answer. He couldn't help smiling. "That sounds great," he told Kendall happily.