Predict

Will Dinero also fool Astuto?

But Dinero Martínez wasn’t through with the Chicharrones. A few days later, he showed up at the house of Astuto.

“Buenas tardes, young señor. I am ready to make you a great offer on your land and house.” Dinero straightened his tie.

Astuto listened because he was polite. He also smiled because he knew what his land was worth.

“Thank you, Señor Martínez, but I am not interested in selling,” Astuto said.

Dinero upped his offer.

Astuto felt deep down in his pudgy stomach that this Martínez in the hairy gray suit was trying to cheat him.

“Again, no thanks,” the brother said.

Dinero’s eyes became red slits of anger. “You are making a mistake, Chicharrón.”

“That may be,” Astuto replied, “but you are the one leaving empty-handed.”

Dinero got in his sports car and zoomed away.

From the other direction came Pereza and Gordo, walking with their suitcases. They had lost all their money betting and had had to sell Gordo’s car for food.

“¡Hermanos!” Astuto called out happily.

At supper, Gordo and Pereza told their brother how they had failed to listen to their father’s advice and had lost their homes to a wolf who showed up at the door.

“I deserved what I got,” Pereza said. “I was too lazy to keep my land or money.”

“Ay, yi, yi.” Gordo slapped his head. “I wanted to take the fast road to a good life. I gambled and lost.”

Then and there, Pereza promised to work hard and Gordo vowed never to make another wager.

“No, my brothers, you haven’t lost everything. We have each other,” Astuto said.