The Little Sergeant and his disciples. Amen.
By
Virgilio Pagliery Read Spanish Version
The
Master told him: "In truth I tell you that tonight, before the
rooster crows, you will deny me thrice." Just like the prophecy
was formulated, it came to pass. Two centuries later, this incident
is repeated, but this time in the West, specifically in Florida.
Perhaps that’s why they say history is cyclical. This time, another
master — a master of deceit and lies — pronounced the same words.
What a coincidence! It may be necessary to clarify that this incident
was not exactly the same as the previous one. This new master was
denied a thousand times, not three, as the Sacred Scriptures say,
before the feathered one announced the arrival of dawn.
Thus
begins the tale of this Little Sergeant, at a time when some of his
comrades are fleeing from him in fear, to avoid any association with
him or his brother. To deny him has become almost a sport around
here, in the past many days. Nobody wants to be seen near the
brothers; they don’t want to be burned — not even the ones who are
already burned. People are waking up and things have become
complicated for the Little Sergeant’s family. He cannot yet believe
that his right-hand person, his chosen disciple (Little Bleached
Curls), has denied him, like Peter denied Jesus. To save their skins
and the elections, even the bravest of his minions is willing to
throw in the towel. Hiding behind a sofa, she trembles every time she
hears the crowing of a rooster. If asked, she says a hundred times
that she doesn’t know the Little Sergeant.
That’s
not all for the master, a special envoy of the forces of evil. In
addition to his lady disciple hiding from him, a Judas has appeared
who has betrayed him, or involved him in something that’s not
convenient for him at this time. Well, there are Judases everywhere
and at all times. The price for his compatriot was paid not in
currency (vile stuff) but in something more spiritual, more internal,
we might say — it was paid in ego. This Judas likes television —
rather, loves it impassionedly — and will do anything to appear on
the screen, even to say the first thing that comes into his head
(even the truth) without thinking about the consequences. The most
important thing is to appear before the camera. The rumor is that he
videotapes all the programs in which he appears and watches them at
home, five or six times over, until he falls asleep.
As
a good traitor — I mean, as a good Judas — now that it became
apparent that he stuck his foot in it, involving the Little Sergeant
and his disciples, he feigns forgetfulness, claims he "never
said anything." The press is abusive, trying to find out or
verify the fact that Judas said something about a letter sent to the
Governor, to support him in his nonprofit campaign called "Let’s
Destroy the Family." The organization was born in his mind when
he was an infant in the New York barrios, growing up among the most
feared mafias.
It’s
not that he wants to talk about it or is ignoring the journalists’
questions or is trying to avoid the topic. No, nothing like that. He
has just become deaf. Untreated catarrh and ear infections have that
effect. I think the press will have to pose questions to him in
writing. Hmm. Perhaps if that happens, he will suffer temporary
blindness. Better to leave him alone, because being deaf and blind
will ruin his next appearance on "American Idol." (see gallery)
