drawing by Mark Rogers
In a flash, a kid can go to war with their parents.
I must have been nine or so when I angered my mom and dad. I don’t remember what it was that got them incensed, but they both came at me with leather belts in their hands. I retreated into the corner of my bedroom, cramming myself into the angle where two walls met.
I didn’t have a strategy. I was a cornered rat.
Something magical happened. My mom and dad were too uncoordinated to whip me properly. The belts kept slapping against the wall on both sides of me. I was in a Cone of Protection. Over and over they tried to slap me. After the tenth harmless whap against the wall, I relaxed and smiled at them. If they changed their tactics, they could have kicked me, punched me, reached out and pulled at my shirt.
Neither one of them was in the best of shape. Their anger leaked out and they lowered their belts.
They left my bedroom and I went back to my animal ways.
From the memoir in progress, Fort Rosarito
MARK ROGERS is a writer and artist whose literary heroes include Charles Bukowski, Willy Vlautin, and Charles Portis. Rogers lives in Baja California, Mexico with his Sinaloa-born wife, Sofia. His award-winning travel journalism has brought him to 56 countries. His crime novels have been published in the U.S. and UK. Uppercut, his memoir of moving to Mexico, is published by Cowboy Jamboree Press. NeoText publishes his Tijuana Novels series and Gray Hunter series. You can reach him at markrogers627@gmail.com.