The Striped Cousin

I waddled down the sidewalk into town, following the crisp autumn breeze straight to an outdoor produce stand! Resting inside a shallow wooden crate on a low bench was a pile of miniature decorative gourds. Right in front sat a round, bumpy gourd painted in bold yellow and dark green stripes, looking just like a plump little bumblebee curled up for a nap! Convinced I had found a sleepy cousin, I trotted over and gave its curly brown stem an affectionate nose-bump. The sturdy little gourd wobbled, tilted sideways across the slatted timber, and nestled right against my plush tummy. I stood proudly beside my striped new buddy, humming a sunny autumn tune.