Column Chronicles: Obituary of Cisco Montenegrow

Obituary of Cisco Montenegrow

Frank Cotolo
February 13, 2025

Cisco Montenegro was born with two mothers. I knew them both. Neither of these ladies lived to be at Cisco's funeral but one of them would surely be happy I am giving the obituary.

One was a gregorious lady. She was full of verve and usually a lot of red wine. The other was a cantankerous mumbler and notorious fiddler. Both claimed to be the mother of Cisco Montenegro. Neither could prove it.

I met Cisco Montenegro on a London street during a Christmas Eve parade. We became friends immediately after stealing the brass instruments of the parade band and burying them in the cellar of a Gentleman's Club near Picadilly Circus.

Our relationship was such that we shared personal information. He asked me how many mothers I had and I said one mother and he laughed. He said he had two. But not natural, I said. He said, yes, I was born of two women. I did not argue. It was no business of mine how many mothers he had.

When I met his mothers I was surprised anyone could claim to have two mothers but Cisco Montenegro called them both mom and I felt it was no business of mine how many people anyone calls mom.

Cisco and I opened a plaid shoppe in Scotland. Everything was plaid. The socks, shirts, tobacco, knickers, dishes, tea pots, coconut wafers, canoes, gloves. He manufactured the items and I sold them. His moms would visit often and admire anything Cisco made.

Decades passed and one day both moms were crushed and died in a train accident. Cisco was crushed too. But emotionally. He cried on my shoulder and soaked his plaid handkerchief. He told me he was leaving the shoppe to find his dads.

While trying to find them he contracted two rare diseases and died. I miss him more now than when I knew him and I am sure all of you feel the same. Rest in peace.

Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.