Touching a pregnant woman’s belly is believed to transfer good luck to her and the baby

Setting:
A cozy café in Seville, late afternoon. The two friends are sipping coffee and eating tarta de Santiago. Lucía has just returned from visiting her cousin, who is six months pregnant.

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Lucía: (grinning ear to ear)
You’ll never guess what I did today, Mateo.

Mateo:
If it involves garlic under the bed or chasing away spirits with rosemary, I give up.

Lucía:
Worse! I touched Clara’s pregnant belly—for good luck. You know the tradition, right?

Mateo: (chuckles)
Oh Lucía, not this again. Do you seriously believe that rubbing her belly will give the baby good luck?

Lucía:
¡Por supuesto! My abuela always said it transfers positive energy. She even made strangers touch her belly when she was pregnant with my uncle Ramón. And look—he owns three bakeries and sings like Julio Iglesias.

Mateo:
That might have more to do with genetics and business sense than belly rubs.

Lucía: (playfully poking his arm)
Science boy always has to ruin the magic. What’s next? Are you going to tell me candles don’t work for wishes either?

Mateo:
Only if you’re lighting them next to a fire extinguisher. But listen, I’m not trying to ruin anything. I just think you’re giving too much credit to coincidences. Touching a belly doesn’t change a baby’s future. That’s not how biology—or probability—works.

Lucía: (sipping coffee thoughtfully)
But don’t you think some things can’t be explained by science? Like… vibes? My tía Lola says when someone with bad energy touched her belly, her son kicked violently. But when her best friend touched it, he was calm.

Mateo:
That could just be random fetal movement. Babies kick all the time—sometimes because the mother had spicy food, sometimes because they’re reacting to sound. You can’t measure “bad vibes,” Lucía.

Lucía:
Sure, but you also can’t disprove them! What if it’s like Wi-Fi signals—we can’t see them, but they’re real.

Mateo: (laughs)
Did you just compare your cousin’s belly to a router?

Lucía:
Only the deluxe model—comes with future blessings!

Mateo:
Okay, but seriously. Let’s say touching the belly worked. Then why don’t doctors recommend it? Or why don’t we have double-blind studies on lucky belly rubs? You know I love data. Where’s the data?

Lucía:
Mateo, you need to learn that not everything valuable in life can be charted in Excel.

Mateo: (raising an eyebrow)
Says the woman who checks her horoscope and the weather app before leaving the house.

Lucía: (grinning)
Exactly! Balance. I believe in both. Listen, I know you think it’s silly. But what harm does it do? Clara smiled, I felt hopeful—it brings people joy.

Mateo:
I agree, there’s no harm if it’s done with love and permission. I just worry when people rely only on superstition and ignore real things—like prenatal care, proper nutrition, or avoiding stress.

Lucía:
Fair enough. So maybe next time, I’ll also bring her some folic acid supplements… and then touch her belly.

Mateo: (laughing)
Deal. Just don’t go touching random pregnant women on the street. That’s how you get pepper-sprayed.

Lucía:
Ay Mateo, always ruining the fun with facts! But fine, I promise only consensual belly touches—with a side of science.

Mateo:
That’s the spirit. See? We can mix tradition with reason. Like… churros with avocado toast.

Lucía:
Gross. But I get your point.

(They toast their coffee cups.)

Lucía:
To science and superstition.

Mateo:
To friends who keep each other slightly less crazy.

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[End Scene]