Indeed, wars are very profitable. Most likely the so-called bean-counters make a careful review of the potential profits prior to the instigation of some military conflict as well during and even after the conflicts, there are profits to be made. Literally a killing!!. Pun intended.

With a tad of research, any man can find his way into the organizations that sell the leftovers of the war. 

I was a child at the time, and was exposed to a place where large amounts of military surplus were everywhere.

A large storage area was dedicated to storing all sorts of equipment, from axels and differentials, gear boxes, et cetera including but not limited to the so called Anti-Riot Hand, LIVE! explosive devices. Those devices came as bundles of mangos or grapes, as many as 20 in each bundle.

My brother aged 9 and I age 8 were roaming around all those devices. It did not take too much time for us to notice the red canisters so, we proceeded to take some of the explosive devices and under the protection of our Guardian Angels, we self-taught ourselves how to disarm the devices without explosions.

It is not necessary to dwell on the subject of how to disarm such an explosive device.

We learned to unscrew the whole system and separate the small container filled with black powder. 

We used to make little piles of black powder and light them with matches and a very short-lasting fire was our amusement until we finally became bored with the whole affair.

Inside the red canister there was a yellow powder that was the irritating compound used to make tear gas that makes people cry and control the rioting.

The agent would make us cry yet we did learn to amuse ourselves safely. most likely by the overtime working of our Guardian Angels.

Mother’s Day is taken seriously in Mexico.

In the late 40’s the make up used by women was not indelible, hence women at the time were very meticulous and prevent the smearing of their makeup.

I have no idea of how I decided to disseminate my yellow anti-riot power on the very front of the school stage, also close to the front row of seats dedicated to the mothers, but I did.

Young girls at the time were not allowed to wear make up unless they were in their early 20’s. However, during VERY special circumstances such as Mother’s Day, the young girls could use some make up under the direct supervision of the mothers.

As the dances and singing was taking place so was the obnoxious fumes of the anti-riot gas and soon, everyone was crying, the mothers, the children, the nuns, everyone and the makeup of one and all was smeared all over their faces and the show had to be interrupted.

The girls were tearing from both, the anti-riot fumes and the frustration of not being able to show off how they looked with their first make-up.

And I was the one who did it.

Sister Esperanza with her recently acquired plastic rod, was banging it on top of one of our desks demanding to know who was responsible. 

There was a very pleasant classmate, quite tall for his age. Taller than everyone of us and the nun blamed him for the disaster of Mother’s Day.

I was pulling the coat of the teacher/nun calling for her attention until she finally turned to me and asked me; What do you want?

I said, I did it. I brought the crying powder. She was quite surprised. Her recently acquired new plastic rod was applied to me, and it broke making her more unhappy. My parents were of course summoned, et cetera.

Not too long afterwards, the nun / teacher asked me for some of my tearing powder so that she could put some on the windows sills of the gym to prevent the passing boys from peeking in the rehearsal rooms of the girls. It worked out perfectly.

Moral of the story:

When you must handle live anti-riot grenades from the army surplus, you must exercise significant caution. be very careful. 

Best yet, if at all possible, do not handle live grenades particularly where children can find them.

A good thing that today’s makeup is almost indelible but have some disposable tissues just in case.

Do tell the nun/teacher that you did it and prevent unjust punishment to the other kids in the school.

C U next Wed.