The stub-book

-          Pedro Antonio de Alarcon, Spain (1833-1891)

I. Literal Comprehension

            Context: This story is written by Spanish writer and diplomat Pedro Antonio de Alarcon (1833-1891).

            People of Rota are known in Andalusia as pumpkin- and tomato-growers because of their hard work and the quality of the fruits and vegetables they produce. They look after every single plant in their fields as if it is their own child. Uncle Buscabeatas was one of those gardeners. He was sixty and had already had the experience of working in the field for forty years. This year he had grown pumpkins in his field. He knew each of them by color, shape, and even by name. One afternoon, he decided to take the forty fattest and yellowest pumpkins to the market at Cadiz, thirty-eight kilometres away from Rota. He couldn’t sleep whole night because of his love for his pumpkins. But the next morning, he found all his forty pumpkins robbed. He guessed anybody who had stolen the pumpkins might have taken them to the market at Cadiz. He remained in his field for twenty minutes more, and reached the market by hour boat. He found in the market that a vendor was about to sell his pumpkins. But the vendor denied his claim and said that he had bought those pumpkins from another gardernes of Rota called Uncle Fulano. When the market inspector asked Uncle Buscabeatas for proof, he called each of the pumpkins by its name. He took out all the stubs of the pumpkins for a sack while the crowd was watching him curiously. Meanwhile, the supposed thief Uncle Fulano, out of his curiosity for the crowd, arrived at the scene and was caught. Uncle Buscabeatas showed everyone which pumpkin belonged to which stem. The spectators were amazed to see that the stems really fitted the pumpkins exactly, and delighted by such strange proof, they all began to help him. Finally, the thief was compelled to return the fifteen duros (unit of currency) to the vendor. The money was given to Uncle Buscabeatas instead. He returned home happily with the money.

II. Interpretation

This story might be trying to tell us that hard work is never wasted. Uncle Buscabeatas worked so hard in his field that he had unbelievable attachment with every single plant or vegetable. He had given every pumpkin a name and its own identity. It shows us how much one should love one’s work and be fully devoted. The story might also be trying to tell us that a wrong-doer can never outsmart an honest person. Uncle Fulano, the thief, had no proof that the pumpkins were his, but Uncle Buscabeatas had enough proof that they were all his. He presented the stems of the pumpkins as proof and made everybody present there surprised with his creative idea.

III. Critical Thinking

I appreciate the story’s message that one should be fully devoted to one’s work. But is the event that occurs in the story possible to take place in the real life? It’s a kind of thriller story. Another question is also in my mind, i. e. why was the thief not punished even after he was found guilty after uncle Buscabeatas had proved that the pumpkins were his.

IV. Assimilation

After reading the story, I have understood the value of hard-work and devotion to one’s work.