Let's get to know our Mis-Heroes

Pancake: Her name implies some sort of roundness... and softness. This would be in her cheeks. She'd hate you for bringing any sort mention to them, but in reality they keep her face youthful. Pockets of innocence as it were. Never an unkindness could cross those cheeks unless, of course, you were to mention them. Quiet until she had something to say and when she spoke, you listened. That's the way about her. Her softness was easy to see. A gentle spirit wafted off Pancake as pleasing as a bakery smells. This contrasted mightily with Pumpkin. Her face rested easy in a hardened scowl. Natural it was, but beyond that Pumpkin was nothing but mushy goo.



Pumpkin:  People only ever really consider pumpkins once a year. For pies. For cooking. For carving. Once a year, millions roam over rows and rows of pumpkins, reaped from the patch. Pick one up. Touch it. Feel it. Knock on it. Judge it based on its physical character. Discard it and forget it. Pumpkin was one of the overlooked, that is until the end, flaws clearly evident and not nearly the best in the batch, but there are some good qualities to consider. After spending some time inspecting Pumpkin, you'll see a friendly gleam that outshines the deep divots and caked dirt. You'll take this flawed squash and you can create something beautiful out of it. Buy this flawed squash and find something more.

Pumpkin had brought Pancake to Korea. Korea's magic burned brighter half way around the world. Pumpkin was instantly disillusioned and immediately voiced her acknowledgment of this. Pancake, fighting a lot of battles herself, kept quiet. Silently agreeing, but afraid that if two voices were cursing their decision, they would lose all resolve for their endeavors. And this time together, this experience would slip through their fingers. Fearing most that she would be back on a plane heading to Foggy Bottom, without a snail's clue of what to do. So she kept quiet while Pumpkin raged. Pancake's patience was never ending, so it seemed. Korea will test that. And everything else.

Korea was a stepping stone to living abroad. The rest remained veiled in darkness and uncertainty. But this was the fastest, most accepting way get out into the Great Wide Somewhere. Patience, Pumpkin didn't have. Children, she didn't like. Pancake had all the patience and that easy way with children. So she'd just have to come along and help see Pumpkin through this mess.


Pancake and Pumpkin had grown up together, in  the years that matter most. The years where you discover who you are on the inside and stop listening to the clatter on the outside. Your opinions are your own and not those of regurgitation. You become yourself. The young years are vital to this process, but they're "you" suppressed. To appear normal. To be accepted. Those help shape us to become us. It's because of this bond that the two tumbleweeds have very little need of talk and say more in silence than most do with words. Moods are sensed with eye blinks and aversions. Words are their weakness. But through it all they know they will always be able to reach out to each other. Spending more time away from each other has done little to reverse this. Pancake and Pumpkin will continue to
plod along come hell or high water, come love or isolation.

Views: Heather Kline
Words: Kate Lehman