CHO! (STFU)

Growing up,
I was never one to argue with grandma,
Then again I wasn't much of a smart ass,
But of the few times I ever gave her lip,
I quickly found out she didn’t take any sass.
The command that came from the little lady,
Was an unexpected and thunderous “CHO!”
It wasn’t Spanish or English, not even Chinese,
More like a coded shut the fuck up now and go!
My sisters and all my cousins also knew it,
At one time or another we felt the harsh blow,
It was like lightning fast reprimand not to argue,
When grandma got pissed off and yelled “CHO!”
And you bet we knew to shut the hell up,
Grandma always had the meanest look,
Still the origin of the word interested me,
Because I never found it in any kind of book.
Years later…
One night when I was frustrated with my boys,
It was past their bedtime and they still weren’t asleep,
After repeated warnings they kept talking in the dark,
I was mad, but this time I would not retreat.
I remembered grandma’s lesson and so I tried it,
I stood quietly in the doorway with a smirk,
And as they talked softly in the dark,
I let out a loud “CHO!” and it worked.

Thanks grandma!