scrambled pumpkins (calabazas revueltas): a telenovela

scribophile united pumpkins contest — week one

#1: The Cedar Chest

Carrie rummaged through her cedar chest where she’d stored the stuffed toys of their youth — puppy surprise, doodle bears. Leave those out for Anacita.

Madam Georgia had called. “Are you ready for an outcall? It’s for Halloween. Ten grand.”

“Nevada Day, my birthday, sure I can do it. Who and where?” please don’t be a politician.

“He’s a professional golfer from Queensland.”

“I hate golf.”

“I know you do, sweetie. He wants a tour of Calzoncillos.”

Carrie dug past their toys and baby blankets to her costumes, Elvira, French maid, strapless silver lame gown.

That one’s to die for.

#2 — Mis Hermanas: My Sisters

I was the youngest of triplets. My oldest sister, Stephanie, is a time traveler and a single mom to Anacita, 6.75 years old. Carrie Ann is an author and a working girl.

We love kids and dogs, hate politicians and billionarios. I was helping Carrie bury a councilman in our front yard. My flip flop broke. I tripped and fell on the garden rake, my head on the up-turned tines. An Aussie writer was visiting us at the time. He dumped me in the compost bin.

After that, mama moved back from Acapulco. The whole family is together, except me.

#3 breathe deep: the fragrance of leather

stephanie: i’m sure we could live in his store if the landlord kicks us out.

anacita: but, mama, abuelita owns our little casita. we donnae have to move.

stephanie: you’re right, princesa. i forgot.

anacita: you need to stop hanging out with the cowboys at the archery range. you’re in the sun too much.

stephanie: but can you imagine, dragon, living en la tienda de alberto, immersed in the fragrance of leather shoes, belts, jackets, wallets. we could stay there all winter, get snowed in.

anacita: it’s like being in heaven. like tia katie?

stephanie: yes, bebe, she’s in heaven.

#4 on a moonless night

we’d hiked in the hills all day with ziggy and lucy furr.

i tucked in anacita, gave her my sister’s doodle bear, then fell into bed exhausted.

at 2:00 a.m., the dogs ran out of the house, barking wildly.

i grabbed the flashlight and the whistle.

“¿que pasa?”

a dark shadow played across the wall of the shed, reminding me of our hand puppet game when we were little. a dog-like face and ears.

the shadow turned toward me.

my heart skipped a beat.

the dogs attacked, but playfully. not a coyote.

all three romped toward me, tails wagging.

“scooby?”

#5: Anacita’s Pumpkin

We planted your seed when Anacita came home from kindergarten. She gave you water every day and told you stories of her time traveling.

Soon, el sol grew hotter. 45 C, 50. You were the size of a baseball when lightning struck the mountaintop. The fire spread and smoke engulfed us.

We saw you through the smoke and ash, scorched, your shell bleached white. You cried out to us day and night. Still you grew, your vine stretched to reach the back door. knock. knock.

I put on a mask and headed out to give you your share of water.

#6: understanding tricker treat en nevada

no entien —

ingles, anacita.

i donnae understand tricker treat. i spend all me life at mama’s bedside en acapulco when she have her medium.coma. billie tol’ me i need a costume and a plastic pumpkin, go to strangers, and get candy. i hate candy corn. it makes lousy tortillas. Then parade cuz it’s nevada day, and . . . estoy confudido. i wish mama was in a coma again. it was easy. i could sing to her ‘fairy shocka’.

then that’s what you’ll do, anacita. for halloween weekend, you wear your fairy costume and you sing ‘fairy shocka’ to everyone.

#7: a new golf course for calzoncillos

queensland john was a total surprise. i tagged along with him to all three of the city golf courses. i askt him, “why cannae we have one hole for mini-golf? and one hole for a skate park? and another for volley tennis, basketball, and batting cages? there is nothing for children here anymore.”

he was impressed by my ideas. and my cleavage. by the end of the day, he’d bought the ormsby house for $15 million, and we stayed in the penthouse that night. in the morning, he tol’ me, “not going to happen. golf has to have 18 holes.”