Pumpkins and Orange Paint
by Katie
One cold autumn's day long, long ago a man was getting ready for his holiday feast in his wigwam in the woods. He was painting on a large deerskin a beautiful full painting of bright orange leaves on a strong oak tree. He had four different paints. One was as brown as a brown bear's nose, one was as blue as a summer's sky, one was as green as an emerald that the settlers had brought and the last was the strongest orange anyone had ever seen. Back then pumpkins were green. This man's name was Silver Moon. He loved the dark and rich color of fresh pumpkins. He was curious how pumpkins would look if they had the skin of his orange paint.
"I will just try one." said Silver Moon
But then he decided not to spoil the pumpkin's color. As soon as he started to paint the beautiful orange leaves, though, he could not help it. He colored every pumpkin orange and he loved them. A bit of brown splashed on them. He loved them so much that he took them to his wife.
When his wife, who was making maple sugar candy, saw what he had done to his pumpkins, she smashed three of them on the ground.
"What did you do to my pumpkins? She was so furious! Silver Moon did not know what to do! The paint would not wash off! Then he had an idea!
He went to the great Tabaldak. When he reached him he told him his story.
Tabaldak said, "I can only help you, you Lenni-Lanape, or Genuine Person. I cannot fix your mistake."
"Oh," said Silver Moon. He said this in the group Unami's language.
"You must catch four moose, as I know you are good hunters. If you and your male guests (for women don't eat meat) can't eat them all, then pumpkins will start out green and forever turn orange when they ripen."
"Oh, thank you! I am very grateful!" sighed Silver Moon
But when the meat had been finished Silver Moon realized that he could not eat bone and that is why pumpkins turn orange.