Allen sat on the couch in front of the TV eating his lunch and watching a Mexican Telenovella. The Televovellas were, to Allen, wonderful stories of Love and Heroism. He had just gotten home from school. He had one hour before he had to go to work selling donuts to Gringos in front of the water store in his village. His Mama made the donuts every day. She made sugar donuts and custard filled with chocolate topping.
“Guadalupe,” Mama said, “10 minutes and the donuts will be ready. 5 sugar, 5 custard. Just like every day. Let us see if you can sell them.”
“ Mama, please call me Allen. It is my new name you know,” replied Allen.
His Mama always said the same thing when this issue came up, “You will always be Guadalupe to me.”
“Allen. Please Mama.”
“Guadalupe to me.”
“I like Allen.”
“Allen, I like Guadalupe.”
Then they both laughed. Allen got up from the couch and washed his dishes from lunch. He was good like that for an 11 year old boy. He didn’t want his Mama to work too hard to raise him and his brother Alfonso.
Allen then walked down to the water store. The water store was the place where purified water was sold in 5 gallon containers to the locals and to Gringos who lived in this area of southern Baja. It was only about a 5 minute walk from Allen’s house. He took up his position next to the door to the water store. Allen waited. He held a red plastic bowl with a cloth towel cover, filled with 10 warm donuts, under one arm like a football.
After a little while an older Gringo couple drove up in a late model SUV. The man got out of the car and went around to the back of the vehicle, pulled out 5 empty water jugs, and started moving them into the water store. The woman stayed in the car. That was the signal that Allen needed. He walked over to the passenger side of the SUV, armed with what he called Donut English that he had learned plying his trade. The window was down.
He held up the red bowl, moved the cloth cover aside, letting the aroma of the warm donuts enter the car through the open window. He whispered, “Donut?”
The women in the SUV said, “Como, what is that?”
Again Allen whispered, as if it was a magic word, “Donut?”
The woman looked at the donuts. They certainly smelled wonderful. And they were large. She asked, in Gringa Spanish, if he was selling these donuts. “Se vende these donuts?”
“Si,” Allen said, “8 Pesos each.
The women said “Yes, Yo will take one. Una sugar donut.”
Allen wrapped the donut in paper and gave it to her. She gave him a 10 Peso coin, including a 2 Peso tip. That was the first sale of the day.
Allen only sold doughnuts for one hour per day. He had to go home to help Mama and to do his school homework. In that hour he had sold 8 donuts. He would have to take the rest home and sell them to his friends for the cost of the ingredients. But he began to worry. He very much needed to sell all 10 donuts to help his mother with the household expenses. Allen was under great pressure. His uncle, Tio Balderman, who was like a father to him as he had none, would make him go to work at the Carwash of the Virgin if he did not have better success with the donuts. Tio Balderman owned the Carwash of the Virgin. Allen did not want to wash cars, even if he would be washing them under a giant mural of the Virgin of Guadalupe. That is why he changed his name to Allen. Every time he was called Guadalupe he thought of washing cars. So it was his new name Allen that carried, for him, no allusions to a possible unpleasant fate. It was upon these thoughts that he built a plan.
“Mama, I did not sell all the donuts again.” he said as he went through the door to his house. “But I think I can change that. I have an idea to sell more donuts. I have written it into my Notebook of Ideas.”
Allen always carried a small notebook for ideas. And also to keep track of characters on the Telenovellas. Some of the stories were very complicated.
“What is your idea?” asked his Mama.
“I will move to the Shoe Shine Store to sell the donuts”
“That is good. Why not? It may be a good place to sell donuts. So many Gringos go there now that Pasqual is stocking Gringo food.” his mother answered.
The Shoe Shine Store was a mini super in Allen’s village that sold food and household supplies. It was behind the bus stop on the main road, and was a very busy place. And it had a 2 seat shoe shine stand, with a plywood shade roof, next to the entrance. No one had their shoes shined in this small town. The people of Allen’s town did not wear shiny shoes. They wore huaraches, sandals, and work boots. It was used as a gathering place for Compesinos of the local farms as they ate lunch bought at the mini super. It was also an elevated platform from which to watch the comings and goings of the store and a good place to hear gossip.
“But, Mama, something is bothering me about our donut business,” said Allen.
“What is that, son?”
“None of our friends or the people of our town buy the donuts,” answered Allen. “They all know that they are the best donuts in the town and maybe the world. They look under the cover, take a sniff, sigh, say No Gracias, and go on their way.”
“Why do you think that is?” asked Mama.
“I know why. It is because of the Tiny Snicker Bars,” declared Allen.
“What do you mean by the Tiny Snicker Bars? How do Tiny Snicker Bars prevent our neighbors from buying a donut?”
Allen sat down at the kitchen table with a serious look on his face, “You must have seen the Tiny Snicker Bars that are being sold at the XXO store at the gas station?”
“Yes, I have seen them.”
Allen looked up at his Mama, “Well, the townspeople buy these Tiny Snicker Bars. I have bought, with my savings, a Tiny Snicker Bar. They are wonderful. Not quite as good as your fabulous donuts, but very good. And, Mama, they cost much less than the Giant Snicker Bars that the Gringos buy. The Giant Snicker Bars cost a small fortune. They are only for the rich.”
With that Mama sat down at the table too. “Do you mean to say that we should make Tiny Donuts? And that is because our Big Donuts are too many Pesos for the people of our town?” Mama had put together Allen’s meaning for him.
Allen smiled broadly. “Yes, Mama, that is it. Would you mind making, for me to sell tomorrow, 10 Big Donuts for the Gringos and 5 Tiny Donuts for our people that do not have enough Pesos?”
The next day Allen went to the Shoe Shine Store at his normal time to sell donuts. He sat on the shoe shine stand, on the side near the entrance to the store. He did not want to take up the whole Shoe Shine Stand as he knew that the people from the fields would come there at lunch time.
As usual Allen sold the Big Donuts to the Gringos. They seemed, to Allen, to be very happy about his new location. And it was true that more Gringos came to the Shoe Shine Store every day than came to the water store.
Typically a Gringa would walk up to Allen on her way to buy papaya, tortillas, or beer from the Shoe Shine Store. “Hay donuts? Is there donuts?” the Gringa would ask. Allen, in his usual manner, would show the Gringa the red bowl and lift the cloth cover to allow the delicious aroma of fresh, Big Donuts to escape. The aroma of fresh Tiny Donuts escaped also, but the Gringas and Gringos are rich were not interested in Tiny Donuts.
As was his habit as a young gentleman he said good morning to all of the townspeople as they walked into the Shoe Shine Store. He also uttered, “Donut Pequeño? Tiny Donut? to the townspeople. Everyone in the Village knew that Allen sold donuts. They knew him as Guadalupe of course. But they did not know that Allen/Guadalupe sold Tiny Donuts. The Villagers were curious.
A man that Allen knew, Jose Luis, having inspected the Tiny Donuts, asked, “Cuánto cuesta un Diminuto Donut? How much does a Tiny Donut cost?”
Allen replied, “Tres pesos, or Cinco peso por dos, Three pesos, or 5 pesos for 2.”
“Ok, dos Diminuto Donuts para mis ninos, por favor, Ok, two Tiny Donuts for my children.” Allen had made his first sale of a Tiny Donut to a Villager.
The day went on and Allen sold all of the Big Donuts and almost all of the Tiny Donuts. His Tia Rosa Maria bought one for his cousin. Maria Isabel, the teacher of the 2nd grade, bought a Tiny Donut. Juana, one of his friends, bought one Tiny Donut for her mother as it was her birthday. Allen had, in his bowl, only one Tiny Donut. He had also only five minutes to go before he had to go home to help his mother and do his homework.
All afternoon Allen had noticed that strange thoughts were coming into his head every time he sat on the Shoe Shine Stand for a moment between sales. They were not bad thoughts. Just thoughts. They came in Whispers. They seemed not to make any sense to him. Yet there they were, dancing into his head.
5 gallons of yellow paint
Twins
A can of sugar in the dresser
A big house
These thoughts were seemingly random. Allen did not know what to do with them. So he wrote them down in the Notebook of Ideas that he always carried in case he had any good ideas. And to keep track of the characters in the Telenovellas. He did not know why he wrote them down in his notebook. But he did.
And at last a Villager, an older lady named Abuela Esperanza, bought the last Tiny Donut. He thanked her, then Allen whispered, “A can of sugar in the dresser” Abuela Esperanza said, “De nada,” with an odd look on her face. She did not know what he meant by the can of sugar.
Allen did not know why he said that. But he did.
When Allen returned to his home to help his mother and do his homework he told his Mama, “I sold everything. Please for tomorrow make for me to sell 10 Big Donuts and 10 Tiny Donuts.
Mama was very happy, “Son, that is wonderful. I will make for you more donuts to sell.”
“But Mama, something strange happened to me,” Allen said with a puzzled look.
“What happened, Son.”
“I heard a voice in my head. Whispers. This happened when I sat on the Shoe Shine Stand. One Whisper was ‘A can of sugar in the dresser.’ “When Abuela Esperanza bought my last donut I Whispered this to her. I do not know why.” replied Allen, again with a puzzled look. “But I did.”
His Mama responded, “I do not know what this voice is, but I am sure it is not harmful. Perhaps Saints are Whispering to you. Strange things happen sometimes, you know.”
“I know Mama. I have read of this,” replied Allen. “It may be nothing. So I will do my homework now.” Allen did not tell his Mama that he wrote down the Whispers. He felt it was not important.
The next day went well for Allen. He sold all of his Donuts in only one half of an hour. But he had many thoughts come into his head, many Whispers. Dutifully he wrote them all down. Sometimes he spoke them to the Villagers as they bought a Tiny Donut. Then he went home to his Mama and Brother.
On the 3rd day Abuela Esperanza walked up to him with a broad smile on her face. As she bought a Tiny Donut she said to Allen, “Thank you for the reminder of the can of sugar in the dresser’”
Allen did not understand but said, “De Nada.” He did not want to ask her why. It was not his position to ask. Abuela Esperanza told him anyway.
“I saved many Pesos for my grand daughter’s Quincenera and hid it somewhere, but I could not remember where. After you whispered to me about the sugar can I remembered. I looked in the back of my dresser and there it was. Thank you.”
“De Nada,” replied Allen again.
That night Allen thought about this. He had heard so many Whispers. What did they mean? Then he remembered Fortune Cookies. He had only one Fortune Cookie in his life but that was enough. He decided that, maybe, the Shoe Shine Stand was Whispering to him Fortunes for the Townspeople. The Whisper “A can of sugar in the dresser” certainly proved to be a Fortune for Abuela Esperanza. He had written many down in his notebook. Now he would cut them into to strips with one Whisper Fortune on each strip and put them in a bowl. He thought to himself, “Why not give them to the villagers when they buy a Tiny Donut. Perhaps it will improve my sales. Also, I believe, anything can happen.”
The next day Allen gave out one Fortune for every Tiny Donut. If a Villager bought two Tiny Donuts that Villager would receive two Fortunes. Allen chose them at random from the bowl. The Villagers looked at their Donut Fortunes and smiled at Allen.
Every day, for a week, Allen handed out Fortunes with every Tiny Donut.
The rumor got around the Village that Allen/Guadalupe was giving out fortunes. The true rumor got around the Village that Abuela Esperanza’s Whispered Fortune had come true. Her grand daughter would have a great party at her Quinceniera.
One day, Jose Luis, who had bought many Tiny Donuts, said to Allen, “I have bought many Tiny Donuts for my children. And I have read many Fortunes. I have come to tell you that one came true. My fortune was ‘Brand New Tires’ I looked at the tires on my truck that day and, it is true, I have needed new tires for quite some time. Yesterday my rich uncle, Juan Lopez, who lives in a big house in the city, came to visit me. He knew I needed tires and he brought me “Brand New Tires.’” He had bought these tires for his truck, for very cheap, but bought a new truck instead. He decided, as I am his favorite nephew, to give me the ‘Brand New Tires.’ I appreciate your talent with the Donut Fortunes.”
Allen/Guadalupe replied, in his humble manner, “De Nada, Jose Luis.”
More Donut Fortunes came true. Most of the true Donut Fortunes were of the people who had bought a Tiny Donut on the first day. Abuela Esperanza, of course, found her special Pesos. Jose Luis received his ‘Brand New Tires.’ Maria Isabela, the second grade teacher, found her fortune to come true. Maria Isabela was a homely, kind lady who always dreamed of being married to a kindly man. She received a fortune written “A Kindly Man”. A Kindly Man had come into her life. She believed that he would ask her to marry. She believed that he did not think that she was homely. She believed that he thought she was kind.
One Donut Fortune that was Whispered from the Shoe Shine Stand to Allen many times was “Five Gallons of Paint.” Sometimes the color was named in the Whisper, sometimes there was no color mentioned. Finally, though, Tia Rosa Maria received “Five Gallons of Paint” from her neighbor who built houses for the Gringos. And just at the right time. Her daughter, Allen’s cousin, was to have a birthday soon. Tia Rosa Maria wanted to paint the front of their humble home for the party and now she could, with the help of her neighbor who was and excellent and very quick painter.
Allen’s friend Juana received a Donut Fortune that was written “Puppy” She didn’t think anything of it. It was just a silly Donut Fortune. But her father was going to get a new puppy from a litter born of a neighbor’s dog. The puppies had not been born yet. The fortune was still to be fulfilled, but it was a True Donut Fortune.
Allen was very happy. It seemed to him that the only Donut Fortunes that came true were those of Villagers who had the need or want of the Donut Fortune. It did not happen that a man received a Donut Fortune for “A New Purse” and got “A New Purse”. Nor had it happened that a young girl had received “A Hammer” of the Donut Fortune that came with her Tiny Donut. The True Donut Fortunes were always fair and right.
On Friday of the fourth week, on the day of his Patron Saint, Allen was selling Giant and Tiny Donuts from the Shoe Shine Stand. He thought, “It is a Grand Day.” He had only 2 more Tiny Donuts to sell.
He looked up from writing, in his notebook of ideas, some new Whispered Donut Fortunes. The five, original, Customers and Friends of the first day of selling Tiny Donuts were standing in front of him. There was Jose Luis, Tia Rosa Maria, Maria Isabela of the Kindly Man, his friend Juana, and Abuela Esperanza.
Abuela Esperanza spoke, “Guadalupe, it is the day of your Patron Saint. We, who have benefited of the Donut Fortunes and are your Friends, wish to bestow on you a special designation. Abuela Esperanza presented him with a framed paper on which was drawn a picture of the Shoe Shine Store with a special detail for the drawing of the Shoe Shine Stand. On the Shoe Shine Stand was a drawing of Allen with his red bowl. The title for the drawing was “Guadalupe, Village Fortune Teller of the Shoe Shine Stand” with the date.
Allen looked up after reading the paper and smiled at the small crowd of his Customers and Friends. Juana started clapping. Soon all of the original five Customers and Friends were clapping. Then everyone at the Shoe Shine Store, including the Compesinos having lunch on the other side of the Shoe Shine Stand, were clapping. Gringos were clapping, as were Gringas. People at the Bus Stop in front of the Shoe Shine Store were clapping. There was a giant bus parked and the bus driver descended from the giant bus and began clapping. Allen noticed a car going by on the road. The people inside were clapping. A brown dog, that lived in front of the Shoe Shine Store and was the well fed favorite of all, appeared to be smiling.
It was then, amidst the clapping of the People and the smiling of the brown dog, that Allen decided to change his name back to Guadalupe. He knew that his Mama would be very happy. He split the last Tiny Donuts between his Customers and Friends when they stopped clapping. Then he walked home to do his homework and help his Mama.