Welcome! Explore Natura brings you another book to read at home. Enjoy the entertaining adventures of Andresín and #quedateencasa.

The visit of the King and Queen

The big day had finally arrived!

After many months of meetings, applications, grants, and construction, the District Courts were ready for their inauguration. This was perhaps one of the most important events in recent memory in San Marcos de la Jara, especially since Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain had announced their attendance.

It was a unique and weighty event. All the important figures in the area would be there: politicians, Civil Guard officers, radio and television journalists, and, of course, thousands of onlookers eager to see King Felipe and Queen Letizia.

Don Antonio was very nervous these days. He had a lot of responsibility and had to keep an eye on many things at once, including the Andresín matter. It was one of his biggest worries.

The day before the inauguration, the town was swarming with police officers who repeatedly checked the trash cans and garbage containers. Large vans with enormous antennas were taking up positions near the square where the official ceremony would be held and where the courthouse was located.

At 9:00 a.m., Don Antonio stood by the town hall door. They were waiting impatiently for the red carpet and flowers that would add a touch of glamour to the event. Suddenly, the mayor's jaw dropped, leaving him speechless. The company in charge of the floral arrangements was unloading enormous quantities of chrysanthemums.

"Now, now! What on earth is this? Chrysanthemums? How can you put cemetery flowers at an official reception for Their Majesties?" Don Antonio was red with anger. "Who ordered such a monstrosity?"

"Don Antonio," his secretary called to him, "they were on sale.".

"What are you talking about? Those flowers are all the rage right now, and you need to get some that are up to par right away. Oh, look, the carpet people are arriving. Don't delay with the flowers.".

After seeing how the workers were putting up the red corridor, he felt calmer and went up to the office to call the Judge.

–Name and position, Don Antonio – demanded Andresín's boisterous voice.

"You're just what I needed today." And without paying him any more attention, he went through the door of the Town Hall in search of his office. "And what am I going to do with this one tomorrow? He's capable of causing a huge mess and embarrassing us in front of the whole region." "Don Nicanor, how are you? I'm Don Antonio, the mayor of San Marcos de la Jara.".

"Well, Don Antonio. I imagine you're nervous, but don't worry, my secretary Mari and I have already arrived in town. We're heading to the courthouse.".

Don Nicanor was a judge about to retire, and because he was from a nearby area, he had been offered the position of head of the courts until his retirement. Short, plump, and with his trousers always sagging, he was constantly pinching his belt to pull them up.

His generous nose, wrinkled, reddish, and crisscrossed with veins, hinted at his fondness for Valdepeñas wine. He was a kind man, known for being fair and well-liked among his colleagues. Beside him was Mari, his young secretary, who had been with him since he passed his civil service exams five years earlier.

Mari was very vain and always dressed impeccably. With her green eyes that stood out against her dark complexion and black hair, bubbly and always perched on her stiletto heels, she left no one indifferent.

Don Antonio, who was looking out from the door of the Town Hall, changed his serious expression when he saw them arrive.

–Good morning, Don Antonio and company.

–Good morning, Don Nicanor. Good morning, Mari.

A free elbow from Andresín, who had peeked out because of the novelty, made the mayor turn around because of the unexpected blow.

–What's wrong with you, Andrés?

–Nothing, Don Antonio, ha ha ha, he's just drooling over Mari. She's pretty, isn't she?

Don Antonio, used to the boy's ways, preferred not to answer so as not to prolong a conversation that was going nowhere.

–I will accompany you to the Courthouse.

And heading towards the courts, they began to finalize a few things.

–Don Antonio, Don Antonio –Andresín shouted, approaching them as fast as his tight flesh allowed.

The mayor instinctively closed his eyes and shrugged, like someone expecting a blow to the head. "What, Andrés? What's gotten into you now?"

"Me?" he said, breathing heavily from the effort of covering the twenty meters that separated them. "No fly has bitten me, Don Antonio," he replied, checking his arms for the aforementioned bite.

"Andrés! Look at me, please. You haven't been stung by a fly. It's a way of asking you what the hell you want. You know you'll end up burying me, right?"

–Me? –The young man said in surprise. –Joseíllo the gravedigger will bury him.

The mayor looked up at the sky, let out a big sigh, and said to himself, "What am I going to do about this tomorrow?"“

Mari stared at the scene with wide eyes, surprised, while Don Nicanor choked on the smoke from his cigar and the laughter that the nonsensical conversation had provoked.

–Tell me, Andrés, tell me. And stop staring at your arms, it's making me really nervous.

–Your secretary says that Mr. Grabiel, the notary, called.

–Don Gabriel –He corrected him.

–Hey, Don Antonio, Don Grabiel.

–What is Gabriel, Andrés?.

–Gabriel Andrés? He only ever called me Don Grabiel.

The mayor turned his gaze to his companions. Mari still stood with her eyes wide open and her lips pressed tightly together, trying to stifle her laughter. Don Nicanor coughed and coughed, but made no attempt to hide his laughter. That nonsensical conversation between the mayor and the doorman was priceless.

Don Antonio looked at Andresín again –What does Don Grabiel want?

The boy stared at the mayor. "I don't remember, Don Antonio. You're confusing me.".

Now Mari was crying with laughter as she offered a sip of water from a small bottle she carried in her bag to the judge, who, from coughing and laughing, had begun to change color. Now the skin of his face was dark red.

–Ah, yes! I remember now. Don Gabriel is coming this way.
The mayor nodded his thanks. Fifteen minutes of his life wasted on a simple ten-second errand, and he felt embarrassed in front of the judge and his pretty secretary.

"I'm sorry, Don Nicanor, Mari, this boy is a master at making my life miserable. There's no other way. The best thing to do is agree with him and let it go.".

"Ha ha ha," the judge continued laughing, "that was amusing, Don Antonio, you don't need to apologize. Now, every time I see it coming, I'll take the cigar out of my mouth. If it weren't for Mari, I would have choked.".

"Oh my!" exclaimed the girl, holding back the tears brought on by laughter, carefully keeping her mascara in place.

The three of them entered the courthouse premises to try to finalize the last details of the protocol.
At four in the morning, Don Antonio had come up with an absolutely brilliant idea to get rid of Andresín during the opening ceremony of the Courts.

"I'll tell him to go to the Hermitage of Hope and check which key is right for the lock. I'll give him a good bunch of the wrong keys, and if he leaves here by nine, he won't be back until the afternoon." And crossing his fingers, he lay back down, a smile spreading across his face as he closed his eyes.

–Andrés, please, you have to replace a City Hall employee.

–Yessss –The boy replied excitedly.

"You have to go to the Hermitage of Hope and find out which one is the key to the door," he said, and with that, he dropped about fifty old keys strung on a wire into his hands.

"Don Antonio, the Hermitage is eight kilometers away and I don't have a car or a motorcycle. I'll miss the King and Queen's visit.".

"Then don't dawdle," he said, placing his hand on his shoulder and urging him to start walking. "You're perfectly capable of going and coming back before they arrive." And glancing sideways at the sky, he thought, "God forbid.".

He was calmer now. A major problem would be about four or five kilometers away when the event began.

Glamour and elegance filled the air. All the City Hall employees were dressed in suits and ties, and the women showed off the perfumes and dresses they had bought for the occasion. The streets were adorned with small Spanish flags that zigzagged between the balconies, overflowing with red and white geraniums. The square was spotless, the trees neatly trimmed, and the City Hall's railings freshly painted.

And forming a "V" was the red carpet that connected the public ceremony venue, the Town Hall, and the Courts. On a stage, the Municipal Band played, and next to the mayor, Don Zacarías, was the parish priest of San Martín de la Jara, armed with the holy water sprinkler for the blessing that would conclude the ceremony.

San Martín de la Jara had been designated as the seat of a judicial district, as it was located in the center of a large region in La Mancha, surrounded by other towns with smaller populations. San Martín was a fairly small town and was about to become the first to have a courthouse. That was the reason for the presence of the King and Queen of Spain at the event.

Locals and onlookers from nearby towns applauded and cheered the members of the Royal Family as they walked down the red carpet. Don Antonio, Don Nicanor, and Don Zacarías escorted Their Majesties to their seats: two antique armchairs with carved backs, upholstered in elegant navy blue velvet. Once everyone was seated, the mayor began the ceremony by thanking Don Felipe and Doña Letizia for their presence.

He hadn't even finished three lines of his speech when something caught his attention and a bad feeling crossed his mind. Andresín, amidst shoves and trampling, made his way through the crowd until he managed to position himself among the City Hall staff behind him.

–Come in, come in, excuse me, I'm going to see, can you let me…?

He even stood next to Don Antonio, who had just passed the floor to Don Nicanor.

"You look so well-groomed and elegant, Don Antonio," he said, giving him a gentle nudge in the ribs.

–But what are you doing here? Didn't I give you instructions on what to do?

"You see, Don Antonio, since I wasn't going to have time, instead of going to the hermitage, I went to the house of the woman who cleans it, and she gave me a copy of the key. By the way, none of the ones you gave me work. It's a good thing I didn't go. What's the queen's name?"

"Doña Leticia," said the mayor, still amazed by the intelligent
The act that Andresín had just performed. Every day it surprised him more.

And nudging him again, he said: "Well, he can't take his eyes off Mari's high heels. I bet he'll buy himself a pair just like them tomorrow.".

"Andrés!" the mayor shouted under his breath, while the City Hall employees who were nearby tried to hold back their laughter.

"Stop talking nonsense! I'm going to tell the chief of police to arrest you.".

"Yes, sir, Don Antonio. How can you arrest me for that? Look, look. The King is speaking and all she does is look her up and down and stare at her heels. I bet she'll buy herself a pair tomorrow.".

The mayor glanced briefly at the queen. It was clear he hadn't taken his eyes off Don Nicanor's secretary. To tell the truth, he thought to himself, "The girl looks very elegant.".

–Andrés! Shut up and stop talking nonsense, this is very serious.

The event unfolded without incident, except for Andresín's constant stomping on those near him, who gradually gave way around his body.

When everyone had finished their speeches—which Andresín found incredibly boring—about the importance of Justice and the Laws of the State, and how the crowd was quietly protesting their disagreement, it was Don Zacarías's turn. Since he was older and the event had already dragged on longer than expected, he had no intention of being the one to make it last any longer. So, with a cotton swab in hand, they headed towards the courthouse.

–Don Zacarías, shall I take it to you? –Andresín asked.

In a reflexive act of survival, and after having that unruly boy as an altar boy, the parish priest dabbed the aspergillum and holy water on his body. He even paused for a moment to check that nothing was missing. With that earthquake raging around, anything could happen.
pass.

–Don Antonio, with that little water, Don Zacarías won't have enough to bless the entire courthouse.

–What a little rascal you are, Andrés Pérez. Just a few drops are enough for our Lord to bless this house.

–Ahhh!.

Finally, all that remained was the official souvenir photograph of Their Majesties the King and Queen with the entire staff of the Court and the City Hall, accompanied, of course, by Mr. Manuel from the Civil Guard, Mr. Kiko from the Local Police and the parish priest.

Needless to say, young Andresín had been sent to the furthest corner from the King and Queen, something his particular nature wouldn't allow. So, kneeling down, as if he were a tunnel boring machine, he managed to poke his head between King Felipe's legs, and the photograph was captured for posterity in a way that Don Antonio could never have imagined.

Andresín, lying on the ground, the mayor looking at the boy with a face of horror, two bodyguards trying to pick him up, Don Nicanor lifting up his trousers, the queen with her eyes fixed on Mari's heels and the priest, calling the King's attention, who was trying hard to smile at his subjects.

–Mari, Mari, Mari –Andresín shouted, addressing the secretary.

–Tell me, young man –she said with a Leonese accent.

"When the King and Queen arrive in Madrid this afternoon, the Queen is sending the King to buy her shoes just like yours. She hasn't taken her eyes off you!"

Andresín smiled.

–Ha, ha, ha –Laughed the young secretary, blushing.

These and many more adventures are brought to you every day by exploranatura.es/. Don't miss them!

Antonio Pestana

Antonio Jesús Pestana Salido (Cabra, Córdoba, 1970) es ornitólogo y fotógrafo de naturaleza andaluz, especializado en aves y en la interpretación del paisaje mediterráneo. Desde niño ha estado vinculado al estudio y observación de la fauna, y lleva décadas recorriendo los espacios naturales de Andalucía, especialmente la Subbética cordobesa.

Es fotógrafo de naturaleza premiado a nivel nacional, ganador del primer premio del concurso de fotografía de naturaleza Carl Zeiss (IV edición) con una imagen de digiscoping de piquituerto común, además de otros reconocimientos en concursos especializados de fotografía de aves.

Como ornitólogo de campo ha participado en proyectos de seguimiento y conservación de aves, especialmente rapaces y aves esteparias, y ha sido coordinador provincial en Córdoba de los censos de aguilucho pálido y aguilucho cenizo. También es presidente de la asociación naturalista Abanto, dedicada a la divulgación y conservación del patrimonio natural.

Es autor de varios libros sobre fauna ibérica y cultura popular publicados por editoriales especializadas, entre ellos “Las aves ibéricas en la cultura popular” y “Las rapaces diurnas ibéricas en la cultura popular”, obras que recopilan refranes, creencias y tradiciones relacionadas con las aves en la cultura popular.

Además de su trabajo como autor y fotógrafo, desarrolla actividades de divulgación y educación ambiental, guiando salidas de naturaleza, impartiendo talleres de fotografía de aves y colaborando con centros educativos, asociaciones y proyectos de turismo de naturaleza.
She regularly works with schools, designing wildlife observation activities adapted for primary and secondary school students. She also collaborates with companies and associations on birdwatching tours, teaches nature photography courses, and participates in the design of natural areas.