I do not own any characters, except my own. The Book of Life and its characters belong to Jorge Gutierrez. Kubo and the two strings belong to Laika.


Age 7

It was the event that Fermina, Graciela and Kubo had been waiting for the past six months had arrived. The children would be going first grade field trip to the park next week! However only one thing could possibly ruin the trip, deciding who would be who's partner.

"I want Graciela to be my partner!" Fermina yelled as she shoved Kubo in the chest.

"Well, I want Graciela to be my partner!" Kubo shouted as he shoved Fermina back. Just as Sariatu came out her room with "Children! What are the both of you doing?"

At once, both Fermina and Kubo stopped fighting and stared at Sariatu for she rarely left her room aside from, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

"Why were the both of you fighting over Graciela? More importantly, how was this fight so important that the both resorted to shoving each other?" Sariatu demanded in a no-nonsense tone in Japanese.

For a moment, both Fermina and Kubo were quiet. Then Kubo broke the with "Mother, what does 'resorted'' mean?"

Sariatu had to resist the urge to laugh as she said "I'll tell you later. For now, why don't the two of you tell me why were the both of you even fighting in the first place?"

Seeing that she would not be dissuaded, Fermina said "Kubo wants Graciela to his partner for the first grade trip, but I want her to be my partner for the trip."

"Why do you want Graciela to be your partner, Fermina?" Sariatu asked as she knelt down to the two seven years old's level.

Fermina thought about it for a moment, before she replied with "She's been with me since I was born, so she should be my partner in everything."

"Just because she's your twin, doesn't mean she should be your partner in everything." Kubo muttered in an annoyed tone.

Fermina began to growl, but Sariatu cleared her throat and Fermina became silent. Turning her attention towards Kubo, Sariatu inquiried "Now why do you want Graciela as your partner Kubo?"

Kubo put his hand on his chin and thought for a good long while before he said "Well...Graciela is my...best friend. That's why I want her as my partner."

Best friend? Is that what they call it these days Kubo? Sariatu mischievously thought to herself in Japanese. Then she quickly pulled herself out of thoughts and said "Well, you both have good reasons for wanting Graciela as your partner for the trip, but in the end, only Graciela can decide for herself who she wants as her partner."

"Have either of you asked her yet?" Sariatu added.

Neither Fermina and Kubo replied to that question.

"I take your silence as a no." Sariatu said in a somewhat amused tone.

Just then the front door opened, followed by Maria's voice calling out "We're home."

"Hi, Fermina, Kubo and Tia Sariatu!" Graciela's voice added.

"Well, she's back home. Why don't you ask her now?" Sariatu asked.

At her words, both Fermina and Kubo turned to look at each other.


The two seven years silently wished each other luck both they hurried downstairs towards Maria and Graciela.

"Hi, Tia Maria. Hi, Graciela. How was your day out?" Kubo asked extra politely.

"It was fine. It was too bad that you weren't feeling well, Fermina." Graciela said sympathetically.

"I'm fine now." Fermina replied. "Anyway, I would like to ask you something…" she started to say.

"I'm afraid it will have to wait after dinner." Maria interrupted. "Also, Manolo and Miguel will back shortly." She added.

With a smile, Graciela hurried towards the kitchen table.

"Kubo, Fermina, why don't you help Sariatu downstairs?" Maria asked.

"Sure." Both Kubo and Fermina replied.


Sometime later after Manolo and Miguel had come home, the whole family was sitting down and eating dinner.

"How was your day?" Manolo asked his family.

"Well, I mostly stayed home sick all day with Kubo and Tia Sariatu to keep me company." Fermina explained.

Kubo nodded in agreement he and his mother each ate a bit of their foods.

"What about you and Mama, Graciela?" Manolo questioned as he turned to his other daughter.

Graciela looked up from her plate as she replied "Well, Mama and I walked town and did some shopping for food and supplies for the trip."

"Have I told you thank you yet, mi amor?" Manolo questioned teasingly.

"Only about several times." Maria answered in a flirty tone.

At the sight of Manolo and Maria flirting, all four children at the table let out a cry of 'Ew!'

All three adults shook their heads in amusement as Manolo said "One day, you'll feel very differently about being lovely dovey, children."

Suddenly a idea came to Kubo. This is it. Now's the time to ask her. He thought to himself.

Pulling himself out of his head, Kubo looked at Graciela and asked "Graciela, would you like to be my partner at the first grade field trip?"

"Hey, that's not fair! I was going to ask her!" Fermina protested.

"Fermina, no yelling in the house." Maria scolded her daughter.

Graciela looked at her sister in a way that was somewhere between annoyance and pity. Then she turned back towards Kubo as she said "Kubo, I would love to be your partner for the trip."

Fermina looked as though she was ready to cry, but then, almost as though she sensed her sister's mood, Graciela took Fermina's right hand and said "You'll always be my sister, but I need to spend time with my friends too. Still, I'll always be with you, I've been with you since we were born."

At her words, Fermina smiled and pulled both Graciela and Kubo into a tight embrace.

Then the moment was interrupted as both Manolo and Maria let out sighs of sweetness, which caused all three first graders to break apart and hurry upstairs towards Sariatu's room.

"Oh kids." Both Manolo and Maria said at once with a smile.


I'm sorry I took so long to update, I hope this chapter made it worth the wait.

Anyway, what do you think?

Please leave a review.