Hot Cranky People

Today at the local produce market I bought a fruit I’d never seen before, the pummelo.

It’s like a mutant grapefruit. I should have taken a photo of it to show you that it was about as big as my head. But I didn’t. So here instead is a photo of some other woman with a pummelo.

Apparently the modern grapefruit is actually a cross between the pummelo and the orange. Arlo keeps calling it a “pummelope”, but I pointed out that a “pummelope” would most likely be a cross between a punching bag and an antelope. That doesn’t sound too tasty.

Anyway, I was mesmerized by the pummelo and had to bring one home. We cut it in half and ate some this afternoon. Tasted pretty much like grapefruit. It has a crazy thick rind with a disturbingly spongy texture. Arlo thought the rind might be suitable for making earplugs.

This evening I found myself sitting in the living room, while Arlo went into the kitchen to make tea.

Me (from the living room): Sweetie? Watcha doing in there?
Arlo (from the kitchen): Nothing. *boyish giggling*
Me: What’s that carving sound? I thought you were making tea.
Arlo: Um, yeah… *more giggling*

Yes, faced with half of the giant fruit left, Arlo made the only logical choice, which was to carve a face into it using the pumpkin carving kit my mom bought us yesterday “as a treat”.

And thus begins a new Halloween tradition. For generations to come, families will gather around the kitchen table, tiny plastic saws in hand, for the annual carving of the pummelo. “Earplugs for everyone!” Grandpa will yell, as he sculpts the carved out chunks into a custom set for each kid.

Good times.