Chapter 2: November

1st November,2017

Papa Hector, I don't mind including Mama Coco in my letters, in fact, she is one of the most important people in the family and one of my 'anchors' to keep me going chasing my dreams. Without her, I don't know who else I can talk to without getting scold and discourage constantly beside Dante ( it doesn't count since it probably don't understand what I'm talking about). According to abuelita, the music ban has occurred for few generation ever since you left Mama Imelda. No one dare to disobey the rule or else they will get 'Chanclaed' (I have some rather bad experience on it, took me few days to ease the pain physically). Mama Coco is the only one in the family who don't judge and will always listen, even though she doesn't talk much, but I can always feel the warmth and support she gives me through her smile and body language. She is literally part of my life.

It's a long time ago ever since I heard Mama Coco sings until this morning, I was like 4 the first time she sung. One time I got really sick and she hummed a song to me to make me feel better, even my memory is really vague, but I still remember the feeling and the hope it brought. Ever since then, I fell in love with music and constantly trying to contact it despite my family's objection. She continued to sing occasionally when no one but me at home until few years ago after she turned 93, she started to become forgetful and often mixed up with names, doesn't seem to aware where and what year she was on. Since then, the only place I can hear and play music freely is in the plaza and a hideout I set up to practice my guitar respectively while learning music through watching films from my former idol De la Cruz. Even I'm alone during these years, but with music, Dante and De La Cruz's motivation, I managed to stay positive and determine to follow my dream, I still tell Mama Coco my 'secrets' even she no longer sings.

All of us are so relieved and happy to see how lively she was then usual, I have never see her smile as brightly as today. I wish Mama Coco could stay like this forever…

5th November,2017

It's the second day Abuelita grounded me for the Día de Muertos runaway, time passed slower than expected and it reminds me a lot of Land Of The Dead (skipping the part where I almost got turned into a skeleton). I can't leave the house till tomorrow. Most of my family have gone out to work/play and no one but Mama Coco in the house, Dante has sneaked into the house to join me in the 'Time-Out-Zone', with his company, I feel slightly less lonely (with a little annoyance, please don't mind if my handwriting is messier than usual and some water marks on the paper, Dante was trying to get me play fetch with him for the 10th time). School started few days ago after the holiday and it is busier than I thought, I might have to minimize the frequency on the letter and change the format slightly: Instead of writing twice a week, I will combine all the interesting events happen in the month into one letter, it can at least make Dante even less stressful and I can skip all the boring stuff in life, showing the highlights. Speaking of highlights, my family (especially abuelita) didn't seem to hold against music as much as before after seeing what I did few days ago, they started to ask me how long I have been playing and where did I learn how to play your original version of 'Remember Me', I indirectly told them by saying a 'friend' taught me, abuelita even apologized to me for breaking my guitar and promised not to do it again (long story short, she broke my guitar into pieces after she refused to let me enter a music contest and we got into an argument, this was also the reason I have to steal your guitar and got cursed in process). It's a relieve yet unexpected turn for my family to open up for music, even I feel slightly not comfortable with the sudden change, but with given time, I'm sure my family will love it. After all, music heals and bring people together, how about you? How's your recovery? Do you manage to resolve everything with others?

Write soon!

P.S. I have told Dante to send this letter directly to you and don't get spot by others, hopefully it will understand what I mean…

Love,

Miguel

-X-X-X-X-

Mijo, you don't have to push yourself to write and reply letters in a specific time- period. If you are busy, just finish what you need to do. Time does not matter too much here and I can always wait, what matters is you carry on with your life and do not let the letters affect too much. Like I said, just write anytime you want.

While your family is undergoing some changes, we are also going through similar process. Imelda and I have sort of make amends for the past and she introduced me to the family members who I never have a chance to meet. The whole process is kind of awkward but we slowly getting to know each other: Your tia Rosita usually responsible to cook for the whole family while Imelda and the rest manage the shoe shop, my Coco has married to your papa Julio and have two daughters, one of them is your tia Victoria (there is still a lot of catch ups to do including asking them about Coco's wedding, really wish that I can witness and attend it). Some things never change though like your two tio Felipe and Oscar, still as mischievous like before. Yet I noticed they have become more mature and grew taller, only slightly shorter than me. It is going to be a long process for me to bond with the family, but like you said, given with time, I will 'officially' become one shortly.

See the box? Inside contains your red jacket that I found nearby De La Cruz's place while everyone was helping me back home, Imelda have taken good care of it and you can wear it right away. Speaking of her, looks like I can never sneak past Imelda's eye(sockets) despite 90+ years of conman experience. She caught me halfway through writing this letter and took me a long time to convince her, allowing us to continue (with my unfading charm, still works well especially on ladies).

*I still do not like this idea, only allowing this because of the jacket which belongs to Miguel not because of your charm.

(Mi Armor…I'm kind of having a conversation with mijo here…)

*It is relevant and necessary, do not mislead him.

(I'm just stating the fact, if it isn't my charm, why do you allow me to continue writing this letter and not just send the jacket straight away?)

Well…I 'totally' just realized Imelda and I have wrote down some of our conversation here, please don't mind it mijo, looking forward for more of your letters and pleased to know my Coco is happy… (have to end this abruptly, I think I may be in a little trouble but no worries!)

Papa Hector (ft. Mama Imelda)

Note:Miguel can't stop grinning after reading the letter and his family become quite concern of his sudden act. His cousin Abel later comment that he will show him some 'good stuff' once he get older and ask him to 'drop it' for now.