on clowns

The other day I went to look for my colleague Melissa. When I turned the corner of her cube, instead of Melissa, I found this:  

I can't really adequately describe the terror I felt at that moment I saw this. I don't think it's often you're looking for one person and, not only have they been moved from their cube, it's been newly tenanted by an incarnation of your worst nightmare. In the moment I saw it, I felt a full spectrum of emotion. I would have stood there forever if Laura hadn't piped up that "it was way cooler before the balloon deflated and we had to tape it to the wall." I bet it was.  

I never did find Melissa. I'm wondering if the pumpkin had something to do with it.