Louise Hudson

One afternoon after lunch, Grandpa Tom walked into the kitchen to find Molly sitting at the table with a notebook and her pencils. Her older brothers were outside playing soccer in the backyard, and Grandpa Tom thought Molly might enjoy some fresh air as well. 

He pulled out a chair at the table and sat down next to her.

“What are you drawing?” he asked.

“Vegetables,” Molly answered, concentrating on her picture. “Like the ones that Mom is going to use to make dinner.”

“Very good,” Grandpa Tom peered a bit closer at the picture. “What are the orange ones?”

“Carrots, Grandpa Tom!” Molly said with a giggle.

“Oh yes, of course,” Grandpa Tom smiled at Molly who grinned back at him, her pigtails swaying as she turned back to her drawing. “I have to go down to my community garden this afternoon, do you know why?”

“Why?”

“I have to pick some vegetables for your mom. And she’d be really happy if we brought back some carrots, don’t you think? And it’s very sunny outside, it would be great to take a walk together.”

Molly turned to look out of the backdoors,  she could see Joshua and Alex kicking their ball around on the grass. The sun was high up in the blue skies and there were a few fluffy white clouds scattered around. She thought that going for a walk with Grandpa Tom sounded like a wonderful idea.

“Can we take Logan with us?” she asked, pointing to the dog who was lying on the mat next to the back door, looking like he really wanted to go outside and play in the sunshine. 

“Oh yes,” said Grandpa Tom. “I think he would like that a lot!” 

They said bye to Molly’s parents, put Logan on his lead, and then they left. Grandpa Tom picked up a wicker basket on their way out the door. Molly took Grandpa Tom’s hand as they crossed the street – they waited for the light to turn green.

“Grandpa Tom?” she asked. “What’s a community garden? You go there all the time.”

  I suppose I do, yes! I enjoy being outside in the fresh air. But to answer your question, a community garden is a little garden just down the street where I grow flowers and vegetables. Sometimes my friends come down to help me. I have made a lot of friends there.”

“How long does it take to walk there?”

“Oh, not very long. About ten minutes. Do you have your sunscreen on?”

“Of course!” Molly said,  smiling at him. ”

It was very warm that day. He carried the basket over one arm.

They turned left onto the next street and Grandpa Tom pointed at a beautiful, green, leafy garden at the end. 

“There it is.” Grandpa Tom said proudly, “You see? That took no time at all to walk here now did it?”

“No! It didn’t take long at all,” replied Molly pausing to have a look, “Come on boy!” she said, gently tugging on Logan’s lead, “We’re almost there.” 

They walked through some big iron gates and down a path until they reached Grandpa Tom’s patch in the garden. Molly could see some pretty pink and yellow flowers, and lots of green leaves. Grandpa Tom pointed out strawberries, potatoes, and tomatoes, then he knelt down on a little mat next to the row of carrots. He told Molly to put the basket in between them and together they started to gently pull the carrots out of the ground. Molly was impressed by the bright orange vegetable dangling at the end of the delicate green leaves. Logan sat down happily next to Molly.

“What do you know about carrots, Molly?” Grandpa Tom asked as Molly shook the dirt off another carrot and dropped into the basket. “Do you like to eat them?”

“Yes, they’re one of my favourite vegetables!” said Molly, pulling up two more by the leafy green stalks. “I like how mom cooks them, they always taste so good. And they’re really good for me!”

“They are very good for you,” Grandpa Tom agreed. “Can you think of some recipes that mom might use these carrots in?”

“Hmm!” Molly thought for a moment, handing Grandpa Tom another carrot. It was a bit of a strange shape and Molly thought it looked really funny! “Soup! When it’s cold in winter, mom makes really yummy carrot soup.”

“She does! I really like your mom’s soup. What else does she make with carrots?”

Molly thought for a moment, then one of her favourite foods popped into her head. “Carrot cake!”

“Carrot cake!” Grandpa Tom agreed. “Can you keep a secret?” Molly nodded. “Your mom told me she’s going to make a really great carrot cake tonight if we bring enough home. Do you think we can do that?”

“Yes!” 

Molly turned back to the vegetable patch with a determined look on her face. She wanted to gather as many carrots as possible so her mom could make the very best carrot cake for them all to enjoy after dinner tonight. She picked two more and brushed all the dirt off  before putting them in the basket. 

“Oh dear!” Grandpa Tom said suddenly. “Molly, what’s Logan doing?”

Molly looked for Logan, and covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. Logan’s nose was covered in dirt, and so were his paws. He had dug a big hole at the end of the row, and next to him was a small pile of carrots, some of them broken in half. He looked up at Molly and Grandpa Tom and barked happily.

“Logan wanted to help!” Molly laughed. “Can we take his carrots home, too?”

“Yes, of course. Go and fetch them then we should start walking back. Your mom needs lots of time to make us a great cake doesn’t she?” Grandpa Tom winked at Logan, and soon they left the garden and walked home in the afternoon sunshine. They had sixteen carrots in the little basket.

That evening after dinner, when the whole family was sitting around the dining table, Mom got up and went into the kitchen. 

“I’m coming back with a surprise!” She called, and Molly exchanged a secretive look with Grandpa Tom. When Mom put a big plate down in the middle of the table with a huge carrot cake on with lots of creamy frosting, Molly couldn’t help but giggle. She felt very happy that the carrots she had picked with Grandpa Tom were in the cake that mom had made.

And mom made sure that Molly got the biggest slice!