PUKON, CHILE - A Short Story

Continuing my theme of writing a story to go with photos from my recent South American trip. Here's the third one in the series. 

‘I’m fed up doing this, Maria. I don’t belong in this park selling these stupid things to the kids.’

‘Stop complaining, Diego, we’re making money.’

‘And the bird isn’t helping.’

‘What are you talking about? The parrot draws in the tourists.’

‘It’s always trying to bite us.’

‘Stop complaining, Diego,’ said Santiago. ‘Do you know how sore this harmonica makes my mouth after busking every day? And for what? Peanuts, that’s what.' 

Santiago wagged his finger at two other buskers who had just joined them in the park. 'Now take Alonso and Vicente. They’re the ones who make money busking along the roads where all the tourists sit outside to eat and drink.’

‘Not to mention the car drivers who pay them to get out of the way,’ said Diego with a laugh.

‘Oh, very funny! Do you have any idea how sore my legs get after dancing up and down the streets?’ said Alonso.

‘And do you have any idea how sore my back gets, carrying and banging that drum?’ said Vicente.

‘Stop complaining, the lot of you,’ said Maria. ‘Be happy that the tourists are here and you can make some money. That’s all that matters.’

 ‘No, Maria. We're earning a pittance. We need better ideas,’ said Diego. ‘So, ask yourself: why do the tourists come to Pukon?’

‘To see the volcano, of course.’

‘Nah,’ said Santiago. He played a little sea shanty on his harmonica. ‘They come for the lake.’

‘Exactly,’ said Diego. ‘We need to run boat tours on the lake.’

‘But the lake already has a big tourist boat,’ said Maria.

‘Yes, a stupid Duck Boat. I have a better idea: pirates!’

Maria rolled her eyes. ‘You’ve been watching that idiotic pirate movie again haven’t you?’

‘I’m going to use it as a theme for boat trips on the lake.’

‘But… the Duck Boat has already cornered the market.’

‘The Duck Boat is toast. I’m going to do up my uncle’s old boat and call it The Black Pearl.’ Diego turned to Santiago. ‘Are you in?’

For a reply Santiago played the opening bars from the movie.

Diego grinned. ‘Alonso? Vicente?’

Vicente joined in with Santiago on his drum and Alonso pretended to climb the rigging.

Maria shrugged. ‘Oh, why not? Let's do it,’ she said.

'Really?' said Diego. 

'Aye, aye, Captain,' she said, laughing.

Do let me know if you're enjoying this series of short stories and I'll see you again in a couple of weeks.

GAUCHOS IN PATAGONIA - A Short Story

It was an annual event. A chance to do a little business.

A chance to meet old friends.

A chance for the local ranches to showcase the quality of their meat.
Who doesn't like a barbecue?
Matias and Pedro couldn't carve the meat fast enough for the hungry attendees.

Matias paused. It wasn't even midday and he was tired already.

Pedro looked around, wandering when the rodeo was going to start.












He spotted his cousin strutting across the cordoned off arena. Did this mean they were preparing to begin?

Pedro grinned in relief. This is why he was here, never mind the family get togethers, it was the horsemanship he wanted to see.

More gauchos were keeping their horses' fidgets under control by riding them around the arena.

Would the rodeo ever begin?

Pedro got word that they were waiting for the stand-by ambulance to arrive. Nothing was allowed to start until the ambulance was on-site. 
Pedro grimaced, 'it's quite something that Health & Safety has spread it's insidious net to the arse end of Patagonia,' he thought.



I hope you enjoyed the second story in my South America series and I look forward to reading your comments.