Mexikid: Chapters 9–11

Simón was always the first kid we'd see whenever we visited Pegueros. He was always smiling and was more polite and gracious than any of us could ever muster.

Simón was always the first kid we'd see whenever we visited Pegueros. He was always smiling and was more polite and gracious than any of us could ever muster.

When we lived here, we used to bring the pigs in and out of the back corral along this hallway.

That's why the floor slopes into the center where there's this drain.

You all look like a bunch of unkempt goats!

You need to get cleaned up before you go see your abuelito. You don't want him to think he has more livestock than he remembers.

This time of day the town smelled like fresh tortillas and wet dirt. In a good way!

C'mon man, know your Mexican crooners.

The federal troops closed all the churches and banned all religious services. But the priests would not give up, so they celebrated mass in cases. Literally underground!

He stumbled into a nearby town and was quickly stopped by a band of militant Catholics who were looking for government soldiers.

He's obviously a government soldier. Just look at his modest haircut! We need to question him.

They tried to desperately to hold him down...but they could not withstand his awesome strength!

They tried to desperately to hold him down...but they could not withstand his awesome strength!

He's too strong! Call out the vaqueros!

They feared your abuelito would get loose and crush them under his might fist, so they worked quickly to subdue him!

But just as they were going to hang your abuelito, the rosary he wore under his shirt fell out!

Don Felipe used it to disinfect his neck.

I was nervous to see him again, now that I knew he could fight off a whole angry mob.

When we finally got to where Abuelito was, he looked way bigger than I remembered. He looked like a giant. It made me wonder, "Am I destined to become a giant like him?" After all, I'm his direct descendant. Maybe he's the metaphorical gamma rays or vat of chemicals that I need to be exposed to to unlock my true potential.

When we finally got to where Abuelito was, he looked way bigger than I remembered. He looked like a giant. It made me wonder, "Am I destined to become a giant like him?" After all, I'm his direct descendant. Maybe he's the metaphorical gamma rays or vat of chemicals that I need to be exposed to to unlock my true potential.

When we finally got to where Abuelito was, he looked way bigger than I remembered. He looked like a giant. It made me wonder, "Am I destined to become a giant like him?" After all, I'm his direct descendant. Maybe he's the metaphorical gamma rays or vat of chemicals that I need to be exposed to to unlock my true potential.

When we finally got to where Abuelito was, he looked way bigger than I remembered. He looked like a giant. It made me wonder, "Am I destined to become a giant like him?" After all, I'm his direct descendant. Maybe he's the metaphorical gamma rays or vat of chemicals that I need to be exposed to to unlock my true potential.

When we finally got to where Abuelito was, he looked way bigger than I remembered. He looked like a giant. It made me wonder, "Am I destined to become a giant like him?" After all, I'm his direct descendant. Maybe he's the metaphorical gamma rays or vat of chemicals that I need to be exposed to to unlock my true potential.

Grab all those bales and throw them onto the back of that truck.

Wow! Abuelito is strong, I guess the stories are true!
Oh yeah! And he's a cunning warrior too!

He vanished and the mule is gone too!

Abuelito took advantage of the bandits' disorientation.

Whoa. Is that where "The Look" comes from? Is it a Mexican Jedi trait?

Our time in Pegueros wasn't all just work and road fighting. It was also a place to find love and besos (kisses). The best way was the traditional "Serenata," or "Serenade." It's an activity that helps lovers find each other and enjoy music and candy!

Our time in Pegueros wasn't all just work and road fighting. It was also a place to find love and besos (kisses). The best way was the traditional "Serenata," or "Serenade." It's an activity that helps lovers find each other and enjoy music and candy!

Women walked around the town plaza in one direction while the men walked in the other direction!

When a guy found a girl he liked, he'd give her candy or toss confetti into her hair.

Weirdly, I was kinda excited to try my hand at this classic Jalisciense matchmaking tradition.

I was never really good at "girls," but now that I knew I was the grandson of a Mexican Jedi/holy rage-monster, I felt like I had a competitive edge.

Suddenly, in his pan dulce assortment I saw the biggest puerquito cookie I had ever seen.

That is a display piece my wife made for Christmas...That's not for sale. I don't even think it's edible.

Mexican money is wildly colorful, and I'm not 100% sure how much each color is worth compared to the USA greenbacks. But I get the gist. I'm no dummy.

Mexican money is wildly colorful, and I'm not 100% sure how much each color is worth compared to the USA greenbacks. But I get the gist. I'm no dummy.

Simon took his knife and ran it across the icing, scraping off as many flies as he could while decapitating several of them in the process.

We sat there and quietly ate that disgusting cookie and battled the flies for dominance.