By the way...your head is actually a pumpkin

Book II of the Popul Vuh recounts the decapitation of one of the heroes, Hunahpú, and the ensuing story of its reattachment. The version given in the Reader describes the improvised head as a turtle, however, I believe that this is an error in translation. Rather than a turtle, the makeshift head is actually a gourd, or some sort of squash. The depiction given of the artificial head is incoherent within the context of the text. For example, the treatment of the turtle after its use has expired does not correspond to the treatment of animals in the rest of the work. Other animals bargain with the two boys and are rewarded when they help the twins, such as the rat and the messenger hawk. In contrast, Xbalanqué shows gratitude by shattering the shell of the turtle with a stone, essentially killing it. The supposed turtle receives the worst treatment of all the animals, though its job of assisting in the restoration of one of the heroes is arguably the most important. Moreover, the shell breaks “into a thousand pieces like seeds” (153). At the mention of seeds, the idea that the turtle is really a pumpkin conforms more logically. Also, the father of the two boys faced the same dilemma. Like Hunahpú, Hun-Hunahpú’s head was taken and placed in a tree, upon which fruit magically grew. To fully avenge their father, it seems fitting that the twins would reverse the process by beginning with a fruit-head and concluding with the complete body. Finally, the squash was domesticated in Mesoamerica. As one of the few things domesticated in that region, it would seem that the Maya would be proud of their accomplishment and include it in their story, like they did corn.