In the golden expanse of the Arabian Peninsula, where the wind sweeps over sand and palm, people often tell stories that mix laughter with wisdom. Among them is the tale of a curious pumpkin, a tale of magic and mischief, of how ordinary things can outwit the proud and reward the clever.
There once lived a poor widow and her daughter in a small village at the edge of the desert. Their home was humble, a single mud room shaded by a fig tree, where the mother spent her days spinning wool and the daughter tended to the goats. They had little but their laughter, and in the long evenings, they would tell stories to make their hunger lighter.
One morning, the daughter went to the village market carrying a few eggs to trade for flour. The road wound through date groves and narrow paths, where women chatted beside clay jars and children played by the wells. Among the vendors sat an old woman selling pumpkins, bright, round, and glistening under the sun.
The girl stopped to look at them. “Mother loves pumpkin stew,” she said to herself. “I’ll buy one and surprise her.”
But when she handed over her eggs, the old woman smiled strangely. “Choose carefully, child,” she said, “for one of these pumpkins is not what it seems.”
The girl laughed, thinking it was just market talk. She picked a medium-sized pumpkin, smooth and golden. But as she turned to leave, the old woman called after her in a voice that seemed to echo oddly in the air:
“Throw your pumpkin, and pick me up!”
The girl frowned, puzzled, but said nothing. She hurried home, the pumpkin tucked in her arm.
That evening, when her mother cut the pumpkin open, she gasped, for inside there was a shining coin, hidden within the flesh. Then another, and another, until a small heap of silver lay on the table. The two women stared in wonder.
“Blessed be the old woman,” said the mother. “She gave us a gift.”
From that day, their luck began to change. The widow bought better food; the daughter’s clothes were mended; even their small house seemed brighter. Yet the strange words the old woman had spoken would not leave the girl’s mind:
“Throw your pumpkin, and pick me up.”
Some weeks later, word of their good fortune spread through the village. A greedy neighbour, who lived nearby, came to visit. She was known for her jealousy, and when she saw the coins glittering in a clay bowl, her eyes gleamed with envy.
“Where did you get these?” she asked sweetly.
The widow tried to be modest. “A kind woman in the market sold us a pumpkin,” she said. “That’s all.”
The neighbour hurried home, dragging her lazy daughter with her. “We will buy a pumpkin too,” she hissed, “and see what fortune lies inside!”
The next morning, they found the same old woman sitting behind her basket of pumpkins. The neighbour, greedy and proud, pushed forward. “Give me your best pumpkin,” she demanded.
The old woman’s eyes glimmered. “Do you know what to do with it?” she asked softly.
“Of course I do,” said the neighbour. “You cut it and take what’s inside!”
The old woman chuckled. “Then remember, when the time comes, throw your pumpkin, and pick me up.”
The neighbour snatched the pumpkin and stormed home. Her daughter helped her cut it open, expecting gold and silver to spill out. Instead, a thick cloud of smoke burst forth, and from the pumpkin’s hollow came a wild laughter.
The frightened daughter dropped the knife. “Mother, what is that?”
Before they could move, a stream of muddy water poured out of the pumpkin, flooding the floor. The coins they had laid aside were swept away, and the house filled with chaos. The neighbour cried for help, but no one came, for everyone was too busy laughing at the noise and shouting coming from her door.
By the time the flood stopped, her home was ruined, and the pumpkin had rolled out into the street , glistening under the sun like a mocking smile.
The widow’s daughter heard the story and remembered the old woman’s words. She went again to the market, but the old woman was gone. Only a dry leaf sat where she had been, glimmering faintly like gold.
From that day, the villagers said that some pumpkins grow with blessings inside, and some with lessons.
Moral Lesson
Greed blinds the foolish, while gratitude and patience bring hidden blessings. Fortune favours the humble who act with sincerity, not those who demand it through pride.
Knowledge Check
1. What is the main theme of “Throw Your Pumpkin and Pick Me Up”?
The tale explores how humility and honesty attract blessings, while greed leads to ruin.
2. Who are the central characters in this Saudi folktale?
A poor widow, her kind daughter, a mysterious old woman, and their envious neighbour.
3. What magical element appears in the story?
A pumpkin that contains silver coins and another that releases water and chaos.
4. What cultural values are reflected in the story?
Saudi and Arabian values of generosity, gratitude, and the belief that divine justice rewards good hearts.
5. What lesson does the greedy neighbour learn?
She learns that trying to imitate good fortune through envy brings only misfortune.
6. How does the story use humour to teach wisdom?
The flood of water from the pumpkin creates a comical yet moral punishment for greed, blending laughter with learning.
Source: Adapted from “Throw Your Pumpkin and Pick Me Up” in Folktales from the Arabian Peninsula – Saudi Arabia: Magical Stories, collected by Nadia Jameel Taibah.
Cultural Origin: Saudi Arabia (Arabian folklore)
