“ T R U E    S T O R Y ”

    In the southern east part of CIXEMO, live a group of special creatures called “ALUXES”.  They are Mexican Gnomes;  they are very mischievous and playful. Some people fear them but the ALUXES are not bad, they just love to play tricks…….specially on human beings.

    Manuel and Petra Arlodi  have a beautiful farm, just outside UXMAL…in Yucatán, with lots of horses, cows, rabbits and hens. Mr. And Mrs. Arlodi are fine, good tempered people and they love their animals. They take very good care of them.

   One sunday morning, Petra Arlodi went to feed the animals as she always does but…….!!!!!!! What a surprise she encountered.  ALL THE HORSES TAILS WERE BEAUTIFULLY “BRAIDED” !!!!!!!

   Mrs. Arlodi opened her eyes and mouth as wide as she could…and said:

-        What is this ? Manuel must have done it !!! Who else ?

She went back to the farm house and asked her husband:

-        What did you do to the horses tails ?

-        Me ? I didn´t do anything.  What happened ?

-        Come and see for yourself.

  Manuel and Petra went to the stable . He couldn’t help laughing out loud…….

-        Who did it ?

-        I don´t know. Thought it was you.

They unbraided the horses tails and went back to work. Both forgot about the incident. But…….the following

sunday morning…….again !!!   and this time not only the horses tails were braided, also their manes have been taken care of.

     What ? !!!   Again ? !!!   Manuel and Petra couldn’t figure out who could be responsible for this.

A friend of them named Roberto, who lives in a farm nearby told them:

-        Oh ! it must be the ALUXES.

-        The what !!! uttered Manuel.

-        The ALUXES.

-        But, who are they ? asked Petra.

-        They are gnomes and they are very playful and mischievous . They have been to my farm also.

-        And what did you do ? questioned Manuel.

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 -        I placed a bowl of sugar and a jug of milk just outside the barn every Saturday night.

-        And ?

-        They sometimes leave right away, but sometimes they like to stay for a prolonged period of time.

-        What do they look like ? inquired Petra.

-        They are small…….about 50 cms. high. Their body is like a child's but their features resemble those of an adult. They come out at night…….They are the vigilant guardians of the Mayan Temples; but once in a while they venture outside their domains in order to have some “fun”

-        Have you seen them ? asked Manuel.

-        Once I did, but they disappeared in front of my eyes. And that was the last time they came to my farm.

-        We will also put candy and milk for them…….who knows…….maybe we can see them too., said Petra.

    Mr. And Mrs. Arlodi prepared a nice basket full of delicious “acitrón, calabazate, choconoxtle, alegría and trompadas” { typical Mexican candy} and a jug of fresh milk the following saturday evening. They tried to be on guard all night long to see if they could discover the tiny visitors…….but the fell asleep !!!

   The following morning the candy and milk were gone…….the horses had their braids again !!!

      Petra and Manuel still leave candy and milk for the ALUXES hoping someday they will be fortunate enough to see these wonderful creatures………………………………………………………………………………………….

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