There are places in this world that somehow manage themselves to take your breath away. That is the case of my parents’ house a place located in downtown Mante, Tamaulipas. It is a good size property located in a corner, the advantage of living in a corner is that instead of having the next door and in-front neighbours you got plenty more and so it creates a circuit interrupted by traffic, which ends up being the disadvantage when something’s up, there are more eyes and ears to be taken care of. All the traffic and numerous accidents have left a very strange vibe going on; I grew up on this corner, Paniagua and Clavijero, and if it was not enough, my father opened a little store there, so add more people to the salad, despite that, the place is quiet and windy, blistering hot in the summer and freezing cold in the winter week. The almond trees in the area are THE place to nest for little birds, the brown ones we all know. I love their singing and so they love the food my mother provides; every once in a while a hock or an eagle or even a possum come here for lunch.
Since I left, when I was fourteen, I can recall every occasion I returned. Not plenty obviously and less and less it is. Fausto and Franka guard the house, noble stud and bitch, are quite noisy when required and peaceful clowns when in need of attention. The afternoon wind moves the leaves of the trees and so a charming sound begins, no cars, no motorcycles it is peaceful and quiet, I am in Neverland.
The drapes dance to the wind flow, the birds sing and the dogs look at you wondering when something is going to happen. Nothing ever happens, never at this time, amazing, the town sleeps and nature blooms. The sunset begins and the colours in the sky change from deep blue, to soft lilac and then to bright orange, then all the purples come and fade to darkness. Long clouds cross the sky; pink, yellow, red and purple are the colours of the season…suddenly the wind stops and you hear nothing but whispers, we all wait for the wind to return and so it does, it is like a spasm, like arrhythmia, then we all smile again. It’s magical, looking at the trees and watching them dance. If you look carefully you can see the birds going back to the nest with food for their offspring, the ants march towards their hole, the lizards appear looking for the soft sunset light to warm them up a little.
Finally, the cars return, the noise is not that much, and so I close the windows, light the garden and my mother brings fresh fruit from the kitchen. We love to eat, and we love to eat in good company. Plums, peaches, grapes and mangos on the table, fresh flowers are presented to make my little sister present when she is not available to come and visit. The family has changed; two members are not there, we do not even talk about them, as my older sister and my self become single again. Men go to the patio and discuss important stuff, soccer games, soccer players drafting, soccer coaches, national soccer team, national soccer team coach, mafia, politics, religion and of course I bring the gay point of view, everybody seems ok with it, a different opinion and it is welcome. Three year old Andrea G. comes out of the house and her sweet little voice announces dinner is on the table. Sopes, tostadas and taquidos, water and coca-cola (light and zero) are on the table, I push play to hear a disc of Huapangos, and then we all sit at the table, a few of us close our eyes for two or three seconds to whisper ‘Thank you God’. Ever since the Narcos and the Zetas have taken control of the state, and have somehow threatened my family’s stability, all music from Sinaloa, Durango or even Nuevo León has been banished from our house.
Katia M. and Luis M. (Niece and Nephew) were not there and that makes you realize how important they are for us, we miss you guys, I know you are fine with your father, and still breaks my heart.
