A Mexican Fable
There was a man who owned the finest
restaurant in the village. Though no name adorned the establishment, the
villagers dubbed it La Guaca.
The man, as well, had no name, at least none that the villagers
knew. He was a complete mystery, a man
apparently with no family, no origin, no history. They called him El Huérfano.
One evening, as the villagers gorged
themselves on enchiladas, tamales and
other delectable dishes, El Huérfano rose from his usual seat at the corner
table and cleared his throat. The room
fell into silence.
“I plan to take a bride,” said El
Huérfano to the startled villagers.
“But,” he cautioned with a raised, elegant finger, “she must be perfect
in every way.”
Most of the families had at least one
unmarried daughter because the Revolution had taken from this earth most of the
village’s eligible young men. So, this
announcement raised great hope in the hearts of the parents and their
daughters. “I invite all of the
village’s Señoritas to feast here tomorrow night,” said El Huérfano.
“No one else may come. And I will
choose my wife from among the guests.”
“How will you choose?” an older woman
asked. But El Huérfano turned and
disappeared through a back door. A great
cheer filled the void because this mysterious but wealthy man would make
someone’s perfect daughter a bride.
The next evening, all of the
village’s single women swarmed La Guaca dressed in all their finery. Though El Huérfano was not the handsomest of
men, times were hard and there was little chance of living a comfortable life
without a marriage of convenience. Remarkably,
all of the women found seats in La Guaca and they waited. The tables sighed
with great platters of food and bottles of fine brandy. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, El
Huérfano appeared.
“As you know,” he began, “I search
for the perfect wife.”
The room murmured in anticipation.
“Before you sits a great feast,” he
continued noticing one particular beauty who sat motionless amidst the
others. “But it is poisoned.”
A horrified gasp rose from the young
women.
“The poison is so potent, it will kill
in a matter of minutes.” El Huérfano now
whispered: “But it will not harm a perfect woman. If you wish to leave, please do. Otherwise, enjoy your dinner.”
Only one woman stood and left. The others slowly served themselves and
commenced eating each believing that she would survive. After a few minutes, the first victim
fell. And then there was another and yet
another. Finally, only the most
beautiful woman was left. She stood and
walked to him.
“You shall be my wife,” he said as he
moved his lips to hers.
She leaned forward and they
kissed. El Huérfano could taste the
wonderful feast from the beauty’s lips.
But then his eyes bulged and he fell back.
“No!” he sputtered as he dropped to
the floor.
“Yes, my love,” said the beautiful woman. “Yes.”
1 comment:
Nice twist.
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