Of the moment

A story about a timely matter.

20 June 2023

John L. Gronbeck-Tedesco —

Ramón Flores y Gutierrez

No one told Timothy Kerry that our fathers fought and died for this country just like his, and no one told him that we had to be fluent in two languages, and no one told him that Encino and California—the names of where he lived—were Spanish words.  So, when he called Ramón Flores y Guttierez a “black spic,” on the playground of our Lady of Grace Catholic School in 1960, because he had spoken to very white Mary Ann Johnson more than once, Ramon Flores y Guttierez laughed long and large—like maybe Timothy had just told the funniest joke he had ever heard. Then, Ramón Flores y Guttierez gave him his first Spanish lesson: “Eres una puta de gusano.”

We of the same blood, bone and history as Ramón cheered:   “Llora, you cunt worm. Cry, cry, cry!!!”  And, Ramón Flores y Gutierrez kept on laughing as he walked away into a future all his own.

John L. Gronbeck-Tedesco's poetry, translations and stories have appeared in a variety of publications and venues, including Cathexis, the Experiment Will Not Be Bound, Tales of Dionysus, Scintilla, the Connecticut River Review, the Cleveland Public Theatre and Business Casual Productions (NYC).

Photo by Susan Cohen