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 rock in front of their house and thought about how they could make the day more exciting.
"You know what I don't understand?" Peruso asked, turning a corn cob between his hands. "Why are there so many different kinds of corn, but they all taste the same?"
"Maybe because you just stuff everything in your mouth before you think about it," Perusa teased, grabbing a cob of corn.
"Well, maybe we should invent a new kind!" suggested Peruso, biting into his corn cob. "How about if corn... could explode!"
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Perusa frowned. "Exploding corn? What's the point of that?"
"Just imagine!" Peruso said excitedly. "A kernel of corn that goes boom! in your mouth and then grows huge!"
“That sounds like a mess,” Perusa replied, “but somehow also exciting.”
Suddenly Perusa had an idea. "Hey, do you know how hot the sun is? Maybe it could heat up the corn kernels somehow and... maybe that would bring us closer to your exploding corn."
“Or we can throw the corn kernels into the fire!” Peruso shouted excitedly and stood up. “Let’s make a small fire!”
Perusa nodded. "That sounds like an experiment! Let's get started!"
"The Experiment with Corn and the Unexpected Explosion"
The two quickly found some dry branches and made a small campfire - not far from their house so that no one could catch them. They put a few kernels of corn in a bowl and placed it directly over the fire.
“Okay, now we wait,” said Perusa, eagerly watching the corn kernels.
"What if they really explode?" asked Peruso, who was now getting a little nervous. "Maybe we should... seek cover?"
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But before they could think about what might actually happen, they heard a bang! Then another bang! And another! The corn kernels jumped wildly around in the husk and suddenly became... big, white and crispy!
“What is THAT?!” Peruso shouted, stepping back in shock.
"It's... popcorn!" Perusa exclaimed triumphantly. "I think we've invented something!"
Peruso grabbed one of the freshly popped corn kernels and tasted it. "This tastes... incredible! It's light, it's crunchy... it's like I'm eating clouds!"
"We have changed the world!" said Perusa proudly. "Now no one will have to eat boring corn - 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, and soon the neighbors were standing outside their house wanting to try the "new corn thing."
“How did you do that?” asked an old woman, curiously looking at the white, puffy popcorn.
"It's very simple," Peruso explained importantly. "You put the corn in the fire and... boom! The popcorn is ready!"
“Can you teach us how to do this?” asked a young man from the village.
“Of course,” said Perusa proudly, “but only if you bake us the biggest corn cake in the kingdom!”
It wasn't long before popcorn was known throughout Cusco. People loved it because it was so crunchy 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 is driving everyone in the kingdom crazy?" he asked as Perusa and Peruso stepped in front of him.
"This is popcorn, great Sapa Inca," Perusa explained proudly. "It's like corn, but... better."
"It explodes!" Peruso added, making a big gesture with his hand. "And then it gets big and crunchy!"
Pachacútec took a handful and tasted it. Then he smiled. "You two have invented something very special. From now on, popcorn will be served at every party!"
"And maybe we should also think about passing it on to other peoples," said Perusa thoughtfully. "So that popcorn becomes known throughout the world!"
“Exactly!” Peruso exclaimed. “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, crunchy corn miracle. There was popcorn in all variations: salty, sweet, even covered in honey!
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Perusa and Peruso sat in the front row, pleased with themselves and their discovery. "You know what, Perusa?" Peruso said with his mouth full. "That was the best idea we ever had."
"Yes," Perusa agreed, "but next time we should maybe work on making it llama-proof too. Otherwise Wolli will eat everything!"
They laughed while Wolli actually tried to steal a few popcorn kernels from the floor. So another adventure ended and the world had something new - popcorn, the popping wonder of the Incas, invented by two curious children who never stopped trying new things.
