Popcorn – The Incas' Popping Invention
Perusa and Peruso are bored in Cusco. Then a kernel of corn falls into the fire, makes a pop, and suddenly the world is much crunchier.
Boredom in Cusco
It was a quiet afternoon in Cusco, and Perusa and Peruso were bored again. After surviving Ollantaytambo and the great sleeping giant, they thought there was nothing more exciting to experience.
They sat on a stone in front of their house, wondering how they could make the day more exciting.
"You know what I don't understand?" Peruso asked, turning an ear of corn in his hands. "Why are there so many different kinds of corn, but they all taste the same?"
"Maybe because you just shove everything in your mouth before you think about it," Perusa teased, snatching an ear of corn.
"Well, maybe we should invent a new kind!" Peruso suggested, biting into his ear of corn. "What if corn... could explode!"
Exploding Corn?
Perusa frowned. "Exploding corn? What good would that do?"
"Well, imagine that!" Peruso said excitedly. "A kernel of corn that goes Boom! in your mouth and then gets huge!"
"That sounds messy," Perusa replied, "but also kind of exciting."
Suddenly, Perusa had an idea. "Hey, do you know how hot the sun is? Maybe it could somehow heat the corn kernels and... maybe that would get us closer to your exploding corn."
The Experiment Begins
"Or we could throw the corn kernels into the fire!" Peruso shouted excitedly, standing up. "Let's build a small fire!"
Perusa nodded. "That sounds like an experiment! Let's go!"
The Corn Experiment and the Unexpected Explosion
The two quickly found some dry branches and built a small campfire. Not far from their house, so no one could catch them.
They placed a few corn kernels in a bowl and put it directly over the fire.
"Okay, now we wait," Perusa said, watching the corn kernels intently.
"What if they really explode?" Peruso asked, now a little nervous. "Maybe we should... take cover?"
But before they could consider what might actually happen, they heard a pop! Then another pop! And another! The corn kernels jumped wildly in the bowl and suddenly became large, white, and crispy.
"What IS that?!" Peruso cried, backing away startled.
"That's... popcorn!" Perusa exclaimed triumphantly. "I think we've invented something!"
Peruso grabbed one of the freshly popped kernels and tasted it. "That tastes incredible! It's light, it's crispy. It's like eating clouds!"
"We've changed the world!" Perusa said proudly. "Now no one will have to eat boring corn again. Everyone will want popcorn!"
Popcorn Conquers the Inca Empire
Of course, Perusa and Peruso couldn't keep their invention a secret. The news spread like wildfire.
Soon neighbors were at their house, wanting to try the new corn thing.
"How did you do that?" asked an old woman, curiously examining the white, puffy popcorn.
"Simple," Peruso explained importantly. "You put the corn in the fire and... Boom! Popcorn's ready!"
"Can you teach us how to do it?" asked a young man from the village.
"Of course," Perusa said proudly, "but only if you bake us the biggest corn cake in the empire!"
It wasn't long before popcorn was known throughout Cusco. People loved it because it was so crispy and light. Even the llamas had fun chasing and sometimes eating the popped kernels.
Even Pachacútec, the great Sapa Inca, heard about the invention.
"What is this snack that's driving everyone in the empire crazy?" he asked, as Perusa and Peruso stepped before him.
"That's popcorn, great Sapa Inca," Perusa explained proudly. "It's like corn, but better."
"It explodes!" Peruso added, making a grand gesture. "And then it gets big and crispy!"
Pachacútec took a handful and tried it. Then he smiled.
"You two have invented something very special. From now on, popcorn will be served at every festival!"
"And maybe we should also think about sharing it with other peoples," Perusa mused. "So that popcorn becomes known throughout the world!"
"Exactly!" Peruso cried. "And we will go down in history as the greatest inventors of the Inca Empire!"
The First Popcorn Festival and the Grand Finale
A short time later, the very first popcorn festival took place in the empire. People came from all corners of the country to celebrate the popping, crispy corn marvel.
There was popcorn in all variations: salty, sweet, even covered in honey.
Perusa and Peruso sat in the front row, pleased with themselves and their discovery.
"You know what, Perusa?" Peruso said with a full mouth. "That was the best idea we ever had."
"Yes," Perusa agreed, "but next time we should probably work on making it llama-proof. Otherwise Wolli will eat everything!"
They laughed as Wolli actually tried to snatch some popcorn kernels from the ground. So another adventure came to an end, and the world had something new: popcorn, the popping wonder of the Incas, invented by two curious children who never stopped trying new things.
Perusa and Peruso's Popcorn Rule
Corn is good. Popping corn is better. But a llama nearby always means danger for your snack supply.
(c) by PeruMagazin
Perusa and Peruso