Stories

Mexican American Story

Las adventuras de Juan Bobo

The Adventures of Juan Bobo

(Story is taken from the book Leyendas latino americanas by Genevieve Barlow. (1991). Chicago: National Textbook Company. This translation is by Veronica Behn.)

Note to Reader: A "bobo" is an ignorant and awkward person who does not learn from experiences. It is said that tales about bobos originated in India. From there these tales were transported to other countries. This explains why bobo tales in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas are more or less the same. In almost every country there are tales of entire communities whose inhabitants are bobos, such as the Gotham in England and the Lagos in Mexico. Sometimes there is one individual in these towns who is considered to be the most bobo of all bobos. In Spanish speaking America, Juan Bobo is the hero of many legends. Generally, after making a series of funny errors, the young man has good luck without seemingly doing anything to deserve it.

Once upon a time many years ago, there was a boy who was so lazy that he seemed stupid. Although, he really tried to behave himself, he did nothing but say and do silly things. That is why the whole world, except his intelligent and hard-working mother, called him Juan Bobo.

One day his mother told him, "Go to the market in town and sell a fat chicken. With the money you receive, buy a bag of rice."

"Si, mama," said Juana.

"Be courteous and obedient with every person you encounter."

"Si, mama."

Saying this, Juan took the chicken and happily left to go to the market. Soon he encountered a lot of people. Half of them came in a carriage and the other half were riding horses. They had come from a wedding. Walking along the road were the groom, the bride, the family members and the friends who were riding horses.

"Have my deepest condolences," said Juan.

On one occasion he had been with his mother at a funeral and because he had greeted the family in that manner, Juan thought that you had to give this greeting any time you saw a procession of people. Naturally the newlyweds, as well as the friends, became very angry.

The husband said to Juan, "Next time when you encounter a group of people you have to greet them saying, "Viva, viva!

"Thank you very much. That's what I will do," responded Juan sadly because he had confused the greetings.

So the boy kept on walking, and soon he encountered a butcher and his three sons. They had come back from the market, bringing some pigs that they had bought. Remembering the words that the groom had told him, Juan greeted them, saying, "Viva, viva!", as he shook his hat the way that the groom had showed him.

The pigs were frightened by the had waving and by the yelling, causing them to run in all directions towards the fields.

The butcher got very angry and yelled, "You stupid boy!, Next time you see something similar, it is better to say, "I hope God gives you two for each one."

"Thank you very much, that's what I will do," responded Juan and he kept on walking.

Near the market he saw a farmer who was burning a pile of weeds that he had taken out of his field.

Remembering what the butcher had told him, Juan greeted him saying, "I hope God gives you two for each one."

"What is it son? You shouldn't say that."

"What should I say, senor?" asked Juan very confused.

"Next time, you see something like this, it is best that you help instead of saying silly things."

"Thank you very much. That's what I will do," responded Juan. He kept on walking worried, thinking that he was born to make mistakes.

Soon he saw two big and strong men that were fighting in the middle of the road. He remembered what the farmer had advised him. And he ran yelling, "Wait senores, let me help you."

When they saw the boy, the men stopped fighting and started to laugh.

"You shouldn't say that," said the first man.

"So what should I say?"

"You should say, please don't fight senores."

"Yes that's what you should say," repeated the second man.

"Thank you very much for your advice senores. I will remember that."

Saying this, Juan continued on his was, while he repeated, "Please don't fight...."

When he got to the market, he sold the chicken and bought the bag of rice, following the instructions his mother had given him. Then he walked happily around the market. He observed potters making and decorating beautiful pitchers, big and small. In awe, he watched the glass blowers, and he was sad that he didn't have the money to buy a flower vase for his mother. Finally, Juan left the market. He headed home.

But soon he felt tired, and climbed onto a big tree to take a siesta. He settled into a big branch and soon fell asleep. While he was sleeping, they sky turned dark and a storm came in. It started drizzling. The sound of the rain and a murmur of voices woke him up. He saw several thieves that were taking refuge below the tee, but they couldn't see him.

"Here we will be safe from the rain. Nobody will see us while we count the money we stole," said the chief of the band said, while he deposited big pile a gold coins on the ground..

"Don't be stupid, Raco!" yelled one of the thieves. "We shouldn't count the money until tonight."

"Silence!" answered the chief, hitting the man who had questioned him with his fist.

Excited, Juan yelled through the foliage, "Please don't fight, senores." While he was yelling, the sack of rice broke.

"Help! Help!," yelled the bandits. "It is hailing. The God of the storm has discovered us. Run! Run!"

And the bandits ran away hurriedly, abandoning the treasure.

Juan climbed down from the tree and quickly picked up the bounty which he put in his sarape. Then whistling a happy song he ran towards home.

"Here I am, mama, and I bring you a present....", opening up the sarape he showed her the gold coins.

"Ay, my dear Juanito, we are rich!, but explain to me what happened."

"There is nothing to explain, mama, it is easy to get rich if a person is courteous and obedient with everybody," said Juan Bobo the rich.

The Children

(Paraphrased from Yoruba (African) Children's Tales by Amoke Omoleye, Chicago, Ill. 1990)

For a long time the women of the village had been unable to have children. The women were very sad and longed to have children. The village had a meeting and decided to consult the great mother of the village for help.

The women went to talk to her. They went to her house but they could not find her. She was sitting by the river behind her house. When she saw them coming she said, "What's the matter?" They told her their problem and asked if she could help them.

The wise woman said that she would pray for them, and that if their hearts were free of guilt, hatred and deceit then they would have children. She also told them that they must never forget what she had done for them. The women assured her that they would never forget her.

Soon the women had children, and many of the women had twins. This continued for five years. Everyone in the village was happy, but they ignored the wise woman. No one in the village had visited her or helped to take care of her.

Soon there was drought, and all the children fell ill with a fever. The people of the village knew that a special herb was needed to heal them and that only the wise woman knew how to prepare it.

The women went to the find the wise woman, but she was hiding from them. They searched for five days and finally found her. They asked for her help. She told them to get her wild lettuce. Then she told them to get cornstarch porridge. Then she told them to bring her kola nuts. She mixed all these together and made a poultice which cooled the children's fever.

The people of the village rejoiced with dancing and singing. They realized that it was their job to take care of their elders. The women of the village cleaned for the great mother and prepared her food. The men helped repair her house. They never forgot to show her respect. The people of the village learned that children were a great blessing and that they needed to take the responsibility of caring for the children seriously.