A Chicano Christmas Story

A Two Year Old's Chicano Christmas

 

 By Little Frankie

 

You’re not going to believe this,

but I was born sitting at the kitchen

table with a tamale already in hand.

Of course, some say, that I was born

on a pool table, but that’s another

story.

I still remember the hogs head

simmering in a pot as my uncle

Louie and his buddies sat listening

respectfully as my grandfather

spoke about times gone by.

My uncle didn’t notice, that I was

busy sinking my two front teeth

into his pachuco hat, man I would

eat anything back then.

They say when I was two years old

I took off to town wearing only my

grandfathers hat and a diaper. Good

thing my mom noticed, as I was

walking right in the middle of a

busy road.

Ever since I was little, I always loved

Christmas, not because I would get

presents but because it was a special

time for family to get together.

The smell of the capirotada wafting

in from the kitchen, and all those new

wingtips and chuco hats to chew on,

man it just couldn’t get any better.

Of course some of my uncles buddies

also,didn’t take kindly to me messing 

uptheir newly shined shoes but I just

thought that’s what a spit shine was all

about.

My uncle Louie and his buddies were

pretty laid back, at least until my sister

came in with all her pretty friends. You

should have seen them chucos tripping

all over their selves trying to impress

those rucas.

Personally speaking, back then I wasn’t

impressed at all by rucas. Maybe it was

just that I was more mature than the

chucos. Or maybe it was that chewing

on a tamale or a pachucos brand new hat

was more within my nature back then.

Anyway, Christmas will always be my

favorite holiday, the Christmas lights,

the decorations, family, food, friends.

Now, if I can only remember where I

left the tamale? Hope it wasn’t in uncle

Louie’s hat, because he’s wearing it!

Frank Solis Copyright 2023

All Rights Reserved