Nadia writes down everything that happens at the Marrow Lane allotments. So she's the first to spot it: Mr. Okafor's giant champion pumpkin moved overnight. Not gone, just sitting three plots away in Mrs. Pratt's strawberry bed, plump and shiny with dew. By morning both grown-ups are yelling at each other. Nadia opens her notebook and starts writing.

Nadia decides to keep watch that night. She tells her mum she's reading in bed, then climbs out the window and sneaks down to the allotments with a flashlight and a thermos of cocoa. She hides behind the compost bins and waits, eyes glued to the pumpkin.

Near midnight, two small shapes creep into the allotments. Nadia holds her breath. It's Theo Lim and his friend Priya, giggling and pulling a red wagon. They heave the pumpkin onto it and start rolling. Nadia steps out and clicks on her flashlight.

Theo and Priya freeze in the flashlight beam. 'We just wanted to win the contest for Mr. Okafor as a surprise,' Theo blurts. 'We thought the strawberry bed got more sun.' It was a silly plan, but a kind one. Nadia can't even be mad.