The Stolen Smell

A Peruvian Folktale

There once was a boy named Pepe who lived with his family in a village beneath a snowcapped mountain in Peru. He had a worn poncho and a hole in his sandal, but he whistled as he watched over his family’s llamas each day. Pepe enjoyed singing songs for the llamas. But what he really wished for was a set of panpipes to play for them.

At the end of the day, Pepe passed the villagers in the market, packing up their wares. He was fond of stopping to visit with the Weaver Women and the Food Sellers, but Pepe’s favorite stand by far was the Instrument Maker. The Instrument Maker sold whistles, flutes, and copper bells. But the best instruments of all were the panpipes. Each evening, the Instrument Maker played a tune for Pepe on the pipes and Pepe thanked him for the music.

No one in the village had much to give, but they shared what they could. This was true for all except one.

Next door to Pepe lived the wealthy Baker. Every day he baked maize cakes and Chancay bread — sweet, anise-flavored buns with a fluffy texture. But if there were cakes or buns left at the end of the day, the Baker did not give any to the hungry children. Instead, he fed them to the pigeons.

“Let people pay for their food,” said the Baker as he tossed crumbs to the birds.

Pepe would have loved to eat a warm maize cake, but he did not have the money to buy one. But each day, Pepe would stop to breathe in the smells that floated from the Baker’s shop. His favorite was the smell of the fresh, hot Chancay buns.

One day, as Pepe stood near the Baker’s wall smelling the delicious smells, the Baker leaned out his window, his hat nearly flying off his head.

“Stop that right now!” ordered the Baker.

Pepe looked around, afraid that his llama had wandered into the Baker’s yard.

“Stop that!” the Baker ordered again.

“What have I done?” asked Pepe.

“You are stealing the smell of my baked goods!” roared the Baker.

Pepe began to laugh because he thought surely the Baker was joking.

“You have been stealing smells from me every day. I demand to be paid three silver coins for the pleasure you have received from my goods!” yelled the Baker.

“I have no money to give you,” said Pepe to the Baker.

“Then be prepared for the Judge tomorrow!” yelled the Baker.

Pepe was afraid. For although he knew the Judge was fair, he also knew the Baker was powerful in their village.

That night in bed, Pepe thought about what to do. Finally, he sat up and smiled. He had an idea that just might work. 

The next day, Pepe woke up early. He headed straight for the Instrument Maker’s stall.

“May I borrow three silver coins for the trial today?” Pepe asked. “The Baker demands them as payment for smelling his breads. I promise to repay you.”

“I will lend you the coins,” said the Instrument Maker, “because I know your heart is true.”

Pepe was so delighted he skipped a little dance in a circle. 

When he arrived at the Judge’s court, a large crowd of villagers, including his friends from the market, had gathered to hear the Baker plead his unusual case.  

“Pepe has been stealing the smell of my baked goods for a very long time,” said the Baker. “Now, I demand to be paid with three silver coins.” 

“Pepe,” said the Judge. “What do you say in return?”

“It is true that I have enjoyed the smell of the Baker’s cakes and buns,” said Pepe, “and I have never paid for that pleasure.”

“I see,” said the Judge.

“And, Your Honor,” Pepe continued, “although I have never taken a bite, I have brought three silver coins to pay the Baker.”

“You have?” said the Judge. “But I… ”

“Now I will be paid!” yelled the Baker before the Judge could say anything. 

Pepe took the three silver coins and shook them in his hands.

“Baker,” said Pepe, “can you hear the sound of the silver coins clinking together?”

“Yes!” said the Baker rubbing his hands in excitement.

“And do you like the sound of the coins?” asked Pepe.

“Yes, oh yes!” said the Baker barely able to stand still.

“Then I have paid my debt in full,” said Pepe, “if, Judge, you think this is fair.”

The Judge smiled. Then the Judge began to laugh.

“What?!” yelled the Baker. “I have not been paid! I demand the coins!”

The Baker waited. The crowd waited. Pepe waited.

“Baker,” said the Judge finally, “Pepe has indeed paid you in full.”

“I enjoyed the smell of your cakes,” said Pepe, “and now I have paid you with the sound of my coins.”

“Then all is settled!” proclaimed the Judge.

Pepe returned the coins to the Instrument Maker who gave Pepe a beautiful set of clay panpipes of his very own as a reward for his cleverness. That evening, Pepe walked home happy indeed.