So, I had tacos once. A long time ago. I had a teacher who brought tacos to school. She had a weird, ancient recipe with creamed corn and tomato aspic. The shells were stale from sitting out all afternoon, and the texture of gravel.
It’s a wonder we kids tried them, but we did. Somehow they were interesting. Besides, our teacher seemed to think they were important.
Tacos remained a mystery for much of my life.
From time to time, I’d hear people talk about tacos; I didn’t tell them that secretly I dreamed about making a taco, too.
There were taco restaurants in my city, and a number of people who had dedicated their lives to tacos. I saw tacos on billboards, heard about them in songs. Every now and then, that happy yellow corn shell image would get to me. I’d wonder if there was a taco in my future. I’d think back to that elementary teacher.
What stopped me? I was haunted by the mysterious rules of taco-making which I would never know.
Then, I passed a taco cart one afternoon, and the scent overpowered me. I gathered up my courage and reached back in my memory. I bought some taco shells, a couple of cans creamed corn and the rest of the ingredients. I took a deep breath, and started making a taco. Yes, I did!
I’m not sure why people looked at me funny when I brought the tacos to my Culinary Adventures class and passed them around. I mean–I was being brave! I was launching out! I was making that taco I’d always dreamed of.
Finally, my teacher, Jasmine Exasperation, said,
“Have you ever thought about trying some of the taco places in your neighborhood?”
“Or,” piped up Edwina Snifter, “you could look up recipes–new, old. Experiment with them. See what makes them work.”
“There’s no hurry,” agreed Matthias Grouse, clearing his throat and making a face as he pushed his taco plate far away from where he sat. “I mean, the worst that can happen–”
“–has already happened,” finished Esther Trout, giving me a pointed glare.
It was a crushing blow. What a thing to say! These people obviously didn’t understand my brilliance.
Well, that’s the last time I’m going to express my artistic taco-making soul in this town, I’ll tell you. Hoo-eee.
Anyway, I never liked tacos that much to begin with.