The Pumpkin Smasher

Bryce was determined to pick and carry his own pumpkin. He set himself up well, by choosing only a moderately heavy one, but the stem was quite attached. Having just observed Phil do a smooth twist and snap to get me the perfect pumpkin (which was later bestowed upon Opa), Bryce attempted a twist and flick of his own; to no avail. Frustrated, he was on the slightest of edges. Trying to help him recover himself, Phil bellowed, "Just smash it!"  
It, of course, to anyone else would have meant the stem. To our Bryce it was a carte blanche to stomp the pumpkin. Luckily we didn't end up having to purchase a pumpkin corpse--though strong, the pumpkin held its own against Bryce, until Phil and I could stop laughing long enough to say, "No, Buddy. Smash the stem!"