Mejores Amigas

Isabela could only watch as her parents took Tío Bruno away. The expression on her mother’s face was nothing short of grim. Abuela was looking down at her hands, which she had folded in her lap. Isa’s worry increased when she noticed Abuela was whispering something as she rubbed the locket she received from Abuelo all those years ago.

Mirabel was frozen in place, torn between following her parents or joining Abuela. Isa put her arm around her little sister and said as they walked toward the bed, “It’s going to be okay, Mira. Mamá is with him, and she can cure anything, right?” Mirabel’s brow furrowed, but she nodded and sat down on the bed. Abuela put an arm around Mira and whispered assurance to her as Isa moved to the other side. There came a gentle knock at the door, and it opened just enough to show Dolores’s worried face. That must have been what Abuela was doing earlier, calling Dolores.

While they talked more than they used to, she and Dolores were still not the friends they’d once been. Isa missed that. Truth was, they had not been to each other’s room since the whole Mariano thing started. Dolores looked at Isa questioningly. Isabela smiled and waved at her to come inside. Dolores slipped all the way in and closed the door behind her. She was wearing a nightgown with a light-yellow robe. Though her hair was in a bonnet, a few curls peeked out. She was doing her best to take it all in, then she noticed everyone was extra colorful. She let out a squeak, and Isa flushed when she realized what Dolores was reacting to. As she came over, Isa said, “I will explain all this later.” She made a giant toadstool for herself right next to the bed and guided Dolores next to Abuela.

Dolores still looked worried and uncomfortable. Isa sighed; Luisa had pointed out to her Dolores’s continued absence during the rebuilding, even after Mira had introduced Dolores to Mariano. Isabela thought that should have taken care of it. Mirabel did mention that maybe Isa should apologize too. Isabela dismissed this idea, since she was done with worrying about the things, she had had no control over. When nothing changed, Mira flat out told her if she truly wanted them to be friends again, she would have to start by covering the gap between them, whether she dug that hole or not. Isa loathed apologizing, but Mira had a point. She would have married Mariano if things had not changed so drastically, but she had been too afraid to speak up.

That’s it, Isabela scolded herself, quit being a baby and be the woman you dreamed you can be. Isa then adjusted her position, so she could hold both of Dolores’s hands in hers. Dolores now had a startled look, but she did not pull away. First steps are always the hardest.

Abuela said in a gentle voice. “I’m sorry to have dragged you from your bed, Dolores. But you need to know this as well. Now, where to start…”

“What happened? Was Tío having a vision?” Mirabel asked.

“Yes, it was a vision. What you saw is what he calls a spontaneous vision. Your Tío’s Gift, at least that aspect of it, has never been fully under his control.”

Isa could see now why Tío always seemed nervous and skittish around other people. With that hanging over your head, how was he even able to function? That was surely compounded with the townsfolk treating him like a leper. It’s also probably why he had rarely left the Casita, instead he would often stay behind watching over his nieces and nephew.

“That sounds horrible. It looked like it was hurting him,” Isa said.

Abuela’s expression was unreadable, she seemed to remember something at that moment and said, “I believe it does, but he’s never admitted to that, and I don’t know if he was ever able to discover what causes them or why they are so much more intense than his ‘regular’ visions. That’s why it was good your mother was here, Isa. Your Tío loses all sense of himself and his surroundings. Your mothers are the only ones who have ever been able to reach him when he’s like that. Over time, Julieta discovered the longer he slept after an incident, the harder it would be for your Tío to bounce back. It’s why he has so many rituals linked with using his Gift, and partly why he eventually shied away from using it. But don’t worry mi vidas, Julieta’s gotten very good at waking her brother up and chances are he’ll be up and around soon.”

“I wonder what he saw?” Dolores asked.

“Please don’t ask him.” Abuela said. “He will tell us when he is ready. The reason I have you here now is that these things mostly happen in three’s and can happen very close together. I would like it if you would keep an eye out, just in case. Isa, I want you to tell Luisa and Dolores, you can talk to Camilo tomorrow. Mirabel, please ask Antonio to check in with Bruno’s little friends. And if any of you see one of his pets, make sure it’s not trying to get your attention.”

They all nodded and Abuela sighed as she said, “I think I will be going to bed now. Thank you for-”

There was another knock on the door and Isa got up and opened it. For the second time that night, her father was there. He looked in at the collection of women and did not so much as raise an eyebrow.

“Papá, is Tío feeling better?” Mirabel asked as she rose from the bed.

“He’s awake and probably giving your mother a hard time about the taste of her tea.”

Isa found the tension in her shoulders ease as Mirabel smiled then and visibly relaxed. Abuela looked relieved as well and was also up. Dolores, however, stayed where she was. This made Isabela happy. She really wanted, no needed, to talk to Dolores. Once the three of them were out the door, Isa turned back around and found Dolores was right behind her.

“Tell me you’re not leaving too.”

“Actually, Isa, I was going to suggest we go to my room. It’s so much quieter.” Isa became aware of the insect sounds and agreed they were pretty loud.

“Sleepover?” Isa asked hopefully.

Dolores smiled and said, “Definitely.”

---

Miraboo

Mirabel headed toward her Abuela’s room, but stopped and stared at the door leading to her mother and father’s room. She looked at it, then reached a hand out and touched it. She felt a tingle that was warm and comforting to the touch, which surprised her. It had never felt like that before. She went further down the hall to Tía Pepa’s room and saw her as well as Tío Félix smiling back at her.

“Thank you, Casita, they’re so beautiful.” Mirabel said and smiled. Casita gently lifted the tiles below her feet. Abuela’s door was still blank, so Mirabel turned around to find her Abuela was missing. Only her father was there. Where did she go?

“Papá, where’s Abuela?”

“She went to bed Mira, you should too. It’s late, and we’ve all had more than our fair share of excitement for today.”

“But her door…”

“Look at the doorknob, Mira.”

Mirabel turned around and was surprised a second time. The embossed ‘B’ was not at all what she was expecting to see, but then that would mean, “Papá, why would Tío Bruno’s room be here, I thought his room was in the tower.”

“This is where it was originally.”

“But how did it move?”

“That’s a story for another day. I know you’re curious, but it’s not mine to tell. I’m sure your Tío will tell you if he wants to.”

“True.” she said, and Mirabel turned back and put the flat of her hand on the shining door. Nothing happened beyond the warm tingly-ness, but Mirabel’s apprehension welled up, and she rested her head on it as well and made a selfish wish for Tío Bruno, whispering, “Please Casita, welcome Tío back with care, I need him and tomorrow is his birthday after all.”

She tapped the wood five times with her finger and turned and started walking toward the opposite side. She stopped and turned back to look at the door again. Her father put his arm around her shoulder, turning her around, “Mira it’s late,” he said again as he walked along with her.

“Papá, do you think Tío Bruno is really going to be okay? He seems so...tired all the time.” She wanted to say weak, but that did not seem right either.

“Your Tío is far tougher than you think, Mira, he’s endured a lot in his life, and he’s definitely more stubborn than any of the Madrigals.”

They reached what had been the nursery door, and Mirabel smiled at the line of blue petaled jacarandas. They spelled-out Mirabel. She reached up and touched them lightly and felt the warm tingly sensation again and smiled.

“I wonder, perhaps your sister chose jacarandas because they are supposed to bring good luck,” her father said and smiled. Mirabel cherished her restored relationships with her sisters. They’d drifted so far away from her as the divide that separated them grew wider with each passing year. Now that the magic was back, Mirabel was once again the only Madrigal kid without a Gift. She desperately hoped that rift would never happen again. While the non-shininess of the door did not surprise her, it would be nice to see. She gave herself a little shake, thinking like that would surely lead to trouble. She really was content just as she was. Casita again gently lifted the tiles beneath her feet.

Her father gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze, and Mirabel turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. Expecting to see the room as it looked after the rebuilding, Mirabel was stunned to see the room fold out before her. She took slow steps further into the room and with each she felt that warm comforting tingle between her toes. Was this what everyone felt when they opened their doors for the first time? Everything was definitely larger. From the bed to the window, to just the amount of space. The walls were pale blue, but at the bottom they showed the outlines of trees. The blue deepened gradually as it climbed up the walls. In the distance on every wall, she could just make out the mountains surrounding the Encanto. The ceiling itself was a cloudy night sky. She watched as the clouds moved across until the moon and stars peeked out from behind. She continued further in and saw that there were places for all her favorite hobbies. A desk sat to the right of the window. This room was perfect for her, except it felt a bit empty.

A door manifested to the left of her, and she approached it with increasing curiosity. There was a small iron knocker there. The sign below it said:

Please knock

She was just about to do so when her father said, “Corazón, you should come look at this.” He was looking at the inside of the door. She came back to the door and Mirabel asked, “Casita, what is up with this?” There came a sound of gently rattling wood, and Mirabel turned to the window and said, “What do you mean this was asked for? That explains nothing. Where’s Abuela?” The knocker on the door nearby rattled just enough to get her attention, and after a moment the door opened very quietly.

Abuela was there, in her bed, sound asleep. The door then closed just as quietly as it had opened. Guess it’s not as empty as she thought. She looked back at the door that led to the hallway. While the image still made no sense to her, it was beautiful. In the uppermost corner were a pair of hands. At the end of the fingers was a butterfly. Her father pointed to the opposite corner near the bottom. There she saw another pair of smaller hands lifting a much smaller butterfly. The midsection of the door showed a garden scene with a young tree at its center. This was overshadowed by the branches of a much larger and older tree…or maybe overshadowed wasn’t the right word. Sheltered? That sounded right.

“You look confused, Mira. Come sit down,” her father said, and sat on the overstuffed sofa near Mirabel’s new bed.

Mirabel reluctantly left the door, curled up next to him, and asked, “Papá, what do you think it means?”

“I think Mira, Casita’s trying to show you something important about your future.”

“Future? I barely got through today. This day’s already been weird. I’m still worried about Tío. Abuela said those spontaneous visions would happen again, and we should help keep an eye on him.”

“While that would be helpful, try not to make it obvious. I don’t think your Tío Bruno wouldn't appreciate all the added attention.”

“Okay,” Mirabel said and yawned.

“I also think it’s well past time for you to go to sleep. It’s already past midnight.”

“But…”

“No more tonight, Mira,” his tone was strict, but he was smiling as he rose from the sofa. He held out his hands and Mirabel nodded as he pulled her up. Her father pulled her into a hug and kissed the top of her head, “There will be plenty of time tomorrow to puzzle things out, Mira.”

“Okay, Papí, I will see you in the morning.” Mirabel almost made it to her bed when she asked, “Papá, did you know Tío before you met Mamá?”

“I did,” he said, opening the door to the hall. “But that’s all the answer you're getting,” he said, seeing her open her mouth for another question. “Go to sleep, Mira.”

Casita’s shutters gave a little shake and Mirabel gave in. “Well, if you’re gonna gang up on me. Goodnight Papá.”

“Goodnight Miraboo.”

---

Cuñados

Agustín closed the door and heard a commotion on the other side of the plaza. Bruno was standing stock still looking at his door. Pepa was behind him and Juli was off to the side. While it was good that Bruno was up and about, Agustín was sure Bruno wanted nothing to do with that door. There was the sound of distant thunder, his wife said something, and Bruno took a few steps back.

At this point, Agustín decided to stay put, getting in the middle of those three at times like these could be perilous. Julieta said something else, and Agustín grimaced when he saw Bruno’s shoulders drop. “Miércoles…” Agustín said under his breath.

“Ay, no,” Félix intoned at the same time next to him, causing Agustín to start, but he was so intent on the drama across the way that he did not respond.

Quite suddenly, Bruno stepped up to the door and grabbed the doorknob. Almost as if he were daring Casita to do something to him. The magic hit Bruno hard enough, his hair and ruana fluttered. He immediately pulled his hand off the knob. This caused Juli to jump back a step and Pepa let loose a brief shower. Julieta moved closer and said something else. Bruno only tilted his head slightly, gave the door a cursory glance, he shrugged, then immediately stepped forward and went in. Pepa and Julieta exchanged worried looks and, seeing as Bruno did not shut the door, followed him inside.

“Well, that was anticlimactic,” Félix said and turned around. “I see Mira’s got her own room finally.”

Agustín turned back to the door, “She does, and she doesn’t.”

“Alma?” Félix grunted.

“Yes.”

“The wives know yet?” Félix said and scratched his beard.

“I’m guessing no,” Agustín replied as he turned back to the plaza. “You having trouble with errant children too?”

“Antonio, woke up his mother to tell her what the rats, woke him up to tell him.”

“Ah,” Agustín said, “that’s going to be a challenge to navigate.” He looked at Bruno’s still open door and asked, “You think we should go over there?”

“Why not,” Félix said as he started in that direction. Agustín followed, and Félix added, “I’m curious to see what all the ruana flapping was about.”

“Well, let's at least hope there are not a ridiculous number of stairs. I don’t think my knees can take a climb like that anymore.”

They stepped just inside the door, and Bruno turned around and took both by surprise by not being surprised they were there. Instead, he said, “Close the door, Félix.” Once he had, Bruno gestured for everyone to sit down and said, “This concerns everyone in the Encanto, so I’m going to tell you what I saw.”