El Lonche, 1993, Simon Silva. Oil on canvas, private collection.

I break this news, my mother starts cooking excessively. Her way of organizing the world. My father goes carefully quiet.

Most parents I know would spit out choice curses if their children chose names that hurt their ears. Maybe even smack them. Not mine. Mami and Papi are like two soft doves. They work on a policy of gentleness. They’ve never touched us in anger. Never talked severely. So their silent disfavor hits harder than the sting of slaps.

Tough tortillas. I’m going gringo.