The CigarsThump, thump! “Pedro, open the door!” said Tee-Tee. It was a surprisingly cold day in Mexico and there was a light breeze. Pedro opened his window. As it creaked, dozens of bluebirds perched on the saggy clothesline fluttered away. He took a big breath of fresh air and looked down into the street below. Many vendors were already putting out their merchandise and goods for the day’s sales.
Today was Monday and Pedro and his sister Tee-Tee were selling their handmade blankets in the market. Their bird, Cecil, chirped loudly from the other room, meaning it was precisely 7 am. Pedro opened his door just as Tee-Tee was about to pound on it once more. He caught her hand in his and lowered it down to her side. Tee-Tee smirked and limped into the kitchen. From the icebox she pulled out a metal container. Inside was a dirty wad of money, and a few cigars. She closed the box and they sluggishly left the house.
They walked slowly down the dirt sidewalk, avoiding the increasingly large crowds and children playing with marbles and other toys. At the end of the street stood their business. Pedro took count of all the blankets, making sure they were all there, and opened up. Tee-Tee unlocked the moneybox and removed the cigars. She placed them next to a sign that read, “The Best Cigars in the World. Only 100 pesos each.”
Their first customer was a man in his mid-thirties named Gonzales. He walked up to look at the blankets, but his eyes fell on the cigars. He examined them, smelled them, and decided to buy one. Tee-Tee took his money and gave him the change. He took the cigar, and after pondering about possibly buying a blanket, the man walked away.
Another man names Jesus was walking briskly by and happened to notice the cigars as well. He halted and came back to examine them. After seeing how fine they were, and noticing the surprisingly cheap price, he bought one. Tee-Tee said goodbye as the man walked away.
After selling blankets all day, Pedro started to count the money they had made, and Tee-Tee began closing up. They were just about to put the last cigar back into the box when an elderly man hobbled up. His name was Poppy. He was covered in hair and smelled strongly of whiskey and cigarettes. He could barely peer over the counter, but managed to see Pedro holding the cigar in his hand. Without hesitating to think, the man slapped some money down onto the counter. He said he wanted the cigar, so Pedro gave it to him and took his gritty coins. Pedro said goodnight to the hairy old man and he and Tee-Tee left for home.
On their way home they stopped by a merchant, who was selling cheap, but delectable food. They counted out 300 pesos, enough for three days of lentils and split peas. After purchasing their food, they unlocked their apartment door, and put their groceries away. Their bird was hungry, but they had nothing to feed it, nor the money to buy food for it, so they gave her some of their lentils.
The first man named Gonzales arrived home that night and lit up his cigar. He screamed at his children and wife as he peered out his window. Outside the birds were going to sleep, the sun was setting, and the crickets were chirping their last few notes of the evening. All of a sudden his doorbell rang and he answered it. A cat appeared and attacked him until he passed out and was taken to the hospital. He refused to touch a cigar ever again.
The second man named Jesus arrived home and had just come from the local bar. He began to smoke and thought his dog was a murderer and beat him. As he smoked, he suddenly stopped breathing and choked. His cigar fell to the ground, smoldering a part of the rug, but not doing too much harm. He managed to live and decided to never smoke a cigar again.
After purchasing his cigar, Poppy grunted his way home. When he got there, he kissed his wife on the cheek and helped her wash the clothing and hang it on the clothesline. His wife complained about the smell of his cigar and she was worried about his health. So he stopped smoking and lived a content life into old age.