Meet the Reinforcements

by The Casual Californian

Six new classes are introduced: two for Offense, two for Defense, and two for Support. While the RED team isn't happy about it at first, they begin to make friends with the new recruits. It's now time to Meet the Rocketeer, the Assassin, the Outlaw, the Weatherman, the Femme Fatale, and the Bodyguard. Now includes updated info on all six classes (and a revised Introduction).

36. SS - Los Campanilleros

SHORT STORY

Los Campanilleros

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December, 1968

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games."

This song would've been proper for such a holiday, if only Scout was NOT the one singing it. The RED mercenaries kept covering their ears with their hands whenever the Bostonian opened his mouth to sing. Demoman wanted to shove a Sticky Bomb right into Scout's mouth, but he just couldn't do it. When Scout wanted to sing again, Heavy and Bodyguard told him to keep his mouth shut, or else they would sit on him for the rest of the week. That certainly shut him up. But the melodies of Christmas carols didn't end there. Outlaw brought his acoustic guitar with him in the barracks. Half of the RED team joined him as he began to sing a Spanish Christmas carol. It was a traditional composition titled "Los Campanilleros." He began with a soft Tango-like intro as he plucked the strings on his guitar. And then, he sang:

"En los campos de mi Andalucía los campanilleros en la madrugá
me despiertan con sus campanillas y con sus guitarras me hacen llorar,
me hacen llorar...
me despiertan con sus campanillas y con sus guitarras me hacen llorar.

"Los gitanos que van por el monte cantando y bailando al amanecer
van tocando zambombas, panderos, cantandole coplas al Niño de Dios,
al Niño de Dios...
van tocando zambombas, panderos, cantandole coplas al Niño de Dios."

He began to play faster on his guitar.

"En la noche de la Nochebuena, bajo las estrellas de la madrugá
los pastores, con sus campanillas, adoran al Niño que ha nacido ya,
que ha nacido ya...
los pastores, con sus campanillas, adoran al Niño que ha nacido ya."

The volume of the guitar grew louder and louder.

"En los campos de mi Andalucía los campanilleros por la madrugá

me despiertan con sus campanillas adoran al Niño que ha nacido ya.
Que ha nacido ya..."

When he finished, Sniper complimented him on his guitar playing. Scout wanted to sing another Christmas carol, but Heavy gave him an inquisitive glance. Scout didn't say anything else after that.

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More Christmas stories coming soon…

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Note: The actual song, "Los Campanilleros," can be found on YouTube. Find the one that's sung by Ismael Serrano, since it's one of the best versions that I've heard.