Serpentine

by J.P.S. Brown

They have grown up poor in material goods but rich in theirMexican heritage and in their faith in the God and holy saintsof their elders. Because of this, although they have learnedstreet smarts, they have kept their innocence.They are on the eve of their teens, probably the last year oftheir innocence. They are fleet of foot, enjoy sharp instincts,good looks, suppleness, and strength, but are still physicallyvulnerable to grownups. Their goodness, however, is more thana formidable match for anyone who would hurt them or thepeople they love. The average American tourist who visits theshops of a border town might see these children as too dirty,disheveled, too hurried, and too bold as salesmen. A visitormight fear that they are dangerous, prone to thievery, untruth,and disrespect. The average visitor is prone to suspect thatevery Mexican they meet on the street is probably dangerous ordishonest. The average Mexican is probably as poisonous as aviper, so their children must also be so. The children, likeharmless grass snakes, suffer the opinion and contempt that theforeign visitor holds for the viper.Because of Mexican drug traffickers, the little, non-poisonous serpents suffer the reputation and treatment of thepoisonous ones. This fear of all snakes has endured in mankindsince Adam and Eve.Into this climate the four boys in this story have been born.They are active, curious, and hungry for great adventure. Theyare brave and good at a time when the worst kind of humanviper has begun to take over their town.

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2012