Adm científica - taylor

The Green Banana
By: Donald Batchelder Although it might have happened anywhere, my encounter with the green banana started on a steep mountain road in the interior of Brazil. My ancient jeep was straining up through spectacular countryside when the radiator began to leak, ten miles from the nearest mechanic. The over-heated engine forced me to stop at the next village, which consisted of a small store and a scattering of houses. People gathered around to look. Three fine streams of hot water spouted from holes in the jacket of the radiator. “That’s easy to fix,” a man said. He sent a boy running for some green bananas. He patted me on the shoulder, assuring me everything would work out. “Green bananas,” he smiled. Everyone nodded in agreement.

We exchanged pleasantries while I mulled over the ramifications of the green banana. Asking questions would expose my ignorance, so I remarked on the beauty of the terrain. Huge rock formations rose up all around us. “Do you see that tall one right over there?” asked my benefactor, pointing to a particularly tall, slender pinnacle of dark rock. “That rock marks the center of the world.” I looked to see if he was teasing me, but his face was serious. He in turn inspected me carefully to be sure I grasped the significance of his statement. The occasion demanded some show of recognition on my part. “The center of the world?” I repeated, trying to convey interest if not complete acceptance. He nodded, “The absolute center. Everyone one around here knows it.”

At that moment the boy returned with my green bananas. The man sliced one in half and pressed the cut end against the radiator jacket. The banana melted into a glue against the hot metal plugging the leaks instantly. Everyone laughed at my astonishment. They refilled my radiator and gave me a few additional green bananas to take along. An hour later, after one more application of green banana, my pesky radiator and I reached our destination. The