Just a Minute, Mexican Trickster Tale

From the rich traditions of Mexican culture comes a trickster tale of Grandma Beetle. She gets a visit from the skeleton named Senor Calavera, who requires her to leave with him right away. The grandma promises to do so in ‘just a minute.’ She still has one, two, three…things to do.

One day, while the Grandma Beetle was sweeping the floor, she heard a knock at the door. She opened the door and to her surprise she saw a very skinny gentleman. He tipped his hat and introduced himself, “I’m Senor Calavera. It’s time for you to come with me.”

“Just a minute, Senor Calavera,” responded the grandma. “I have ONE house to sweep.”

“UNO house to sweep,” said the skeleton as to himself. “Well, I have extra time today.” So he waited patiently sitting on a chair and sipping cold drink.

As soon as the grandma was done with sweeping, she sneaked to the kitchen. The skeleton followed her right away. “Just a minute, Senor Calavera,” announced the grandma. “I have TWO pots of tea to boil.”

“DOS pots of tea to boil shouldn’t take long,” responded the skeleton. “It won’t hurt to wait a bit longer.”

As soon as the Grandma Beetle boiled the water on the stove, she turned around to the table. “Just a minute, Senor Calavera, I have THREE baskets of corn to make into tortillas.”

Now, the skeleton was beginning to lose his patience. He looked at the TRES baskets, drummed his skeletal fingers at the table TRES times and put his hat back on his head as about to leave.

“Just a minute, Senor Calavera,” insisted the grandma. “I have FOUR fruits to slice and will go with you right away.”

“CUATRO fruits: pine apple, melon, pear, mango.” The skeleton saw that it was clearly taking longer than he had expected.

“Just a minute, Senor Calavera,” continued the grandma. “I have FIVE cheeses to melt.”

“CINCO cheeses to melt. It looks like I have to give you a hand.” He put on an apron and melted the cheeses on a stove.

Meanwhile, the grandma added more pots on the stove. “Just a minute, Senor Calavera. I have SIX pots of food to cook.”

The skeleton threw his hands up in the air and said, “SEIS pots of food. I hope they turn delicious.”

When the savory smell filled the kitchen and the skeleton thought this was it, the grandma said, “Just a minute, Senor Calavera. I have SEVEN pinatas to fill with candy.”

He shook his head in disbelief and opened the door for the grandma to carry SIETE pinatas outside. Maybe this was the chance to get the grandma out and be on their way. But as soon as he thought so, the grandma said, “Just a minute, Senor Calavera. I have to set EIGHT plates on the table.”

“OCHO plates,” the skeleton couldn’t take this any longer. He turned around and was ready to leave, but when he opened the door NINE children stormed in.

“NUEVE children,” exclaimed the grandma. “Oh, I have to add one more plate.” However, after a short pause, she said, “Actually, I have to add two more plates.”

“That’s TEN,” pointed one of the grandchildren.

“But it’s only NINE of use,” protested another.

“No, no. It is DIEZ,” confirmed the grandma. “Here is our special guest.” She pulled a chair for Senor Calavera and introduced him.

The Grandma Beetle’s birthday was celebrated as planned. At the end she blew all the candles. It seemed as the skeleton disappeared in the dust with all the blast from the candles.

Now, the grandma was content and announced, “I am ready, Senor Calavera.” But, he was nowhere to be found. The only remnant from the skeleton’s visit was a note, “Dear Grandma Beetle, I had a blast. I will be back for your next birthday party. Sincerely, Senor Calavera.”

Source: ‘Just a Minute’ by Yuyi Morales