Since Miguel's Adventure from the Land of the Dead, Mama Coco had been telling many stories about her padre to her family. Memories of him ranging from playing lullabies to her before bedtime to singing with her at church. After so many years of being silent, it felt riveting to talk about her father to anyone.
One day, the whole family gathered around in a circle in the living room. They were eager to listen to another story of Papa Hector from Mama Coco.
"Papa was born on November 30, 1900, in a pueblo village, Perez, which was close to Mexico City," the old woman explained. "His padre, Senor Fernando Nazario Rivera, was an owner of a family silver mining company. His madre, Senora Maria Consuelo Rivera, was a socialite, who hosted parties."
"Papa Hector era rico!?" Abel interrupted. He was shushed by Tio Berto.
"Si, you could say that," the woman smiled, not bothered by her eldest great-grandchild's abrupt question. "But Papa didn't enjoy being rich. He rarely got to see his father who was so busy and his mother who was always at parties. Everyday, he'd sneak out of the mansion to visit the town plaza. That was where Papa first heard music! He was so mesmerized by the mariachi musicians that he yearned to one day, play beautiful music like them!"
"Tal como yo!" Miguel beamed.
"Si, Tal como tu!" Coco chuckled, caressing the boy's cheek.
"How did he know he wanted to sing and play a guitar?"
"One day, he came to the plaza for the umpteenth time…,"
Flashback
A huge crowd gathered around a stage in the center of the town plaza. A band of mariachi musicians strummed their guitars and sang a ballad. A ten-year-old boy stood still as he listened to them. He wore a white shirt with tan pants. The boy fixed his eyes on the musicians, as he swayed to the tune.
When the performance was over, the crowd broke out into an applause, as the band bowed.
"Gracias, gracias!" thanked the band's leader. "Mi amigos and I are going to take a break. Come back in an hour for our next performance!"
Most of the crowd scattered in different directions. Some promised to come back, others went home or shopped in stores.
Only the boy stood there. He quickly walked up to the band leader, who was sitting on the steps of a stage.
"Oye Senor!" the boy greeted. "That music was beautiful!"
"Aye, gracias chiquito!" The man grinned, ruffling the boy's hair.
"How do you become a musician?"
"Well, let me ask you one thing: why do you want to be a musician?"
"I want to create music that is so sweet and so beautiful like yours," Hector answered, truthfully. "It makes me forget about my troubles, and brings me a sense of serenity."
The musician smiled, relieved that this boy wasn't someone who wanted fortune or fame, just someone who wanted to play music for the sake of having fun.
"Well, if you want to be a musico," the man explained. "You have to know the basics! Learn the notes of your instrument and songs, and keep practicing all the time!"
"That seems like a lot of work!"
"Si, but the question is, are you willing to do it?"
"You bet!" The boy beamed. Then his face scrunched up into a frown. "Pero...what instrument should I play?"
"Why, there are many kinds of musical instruments!" the man answered, proudly. He called his band mates over. When they did, he told them about Hector's musical interest. Each band member presented their tool for the boy to try. The violin was too big for him to hold. The flute wouldn't produce lovely notes no matter how hard Hector blew. The drums hurt his ears! Just when Hector was about to think that there wasn't anything for him to work with, a guitar was pressed in his skinny hands.
"Try it," the man encouraged him. "We'll be your first audience!"
Hector strummed a few strings on the guitar. His eyes widened at how sweet the tune sounded. Feeling a rush of joy, he continued playing.
Impressed, the mariachi band swayed to the beat.
Villagers heard the sweet melody and when they saw it was from Hector, they gathered around him. Whoever this boy was, he has a talent for playing.
Once Hector finished the last note, an applause broke out. The boy smiled shyly, not used to attention.
"HECTOR JOSE GARCIA RIVERA!" a booming voice shouted across.
The boy's eyes widened the moment, he saw his father and mother coming toward him. Maria's face was of worry but Fernando's face was as red as a tomato.
Those who had just seen the couple, quickly scattered off. Everybody knew not to mess with Senor Rivera, for he had a nasty temper. If it weren't for his reputation as being the owner of a mining company, they wouldn't be scared of him!
"Papa! Mama!" the chico gasped. How did his parents find out?
Once they came right up to them, The boy wished he would disappear.
"What are you doing associating around with these peasants?" Senor Fernando snarled at his son.
"They're not peasants!" Hector replied, defending the band. "They're musicians and they played the most beautiful music ever!"
"Si, well, too bad, making musica doesn't make a good living!"
"Your Padre is right, mijo," Maria spoke, softly. "Vadamos!" She quickly, motioned her son to come to her. The last thing she wanted was for her husband to cause a scene. The boy did, having no choice but to obey her.
"You peasants keep away from my son!" Fernando snapped at the shivering band.
"Pero Senor, we were just-"
"Callate! I have plans for my son to run my silver mining industry and I don't need you guys to fill his head with crazy ideas of making a living with music! Buenos tardes!"
Then he gave the musicians a deadly glare before leaving with his family.
End Flashback
"As you might have figured it out," Mama Coco spoke, sadly. "Papa didn't get along with his parents-especially his padre."
"Por que?" Miguel innocently, asked.
Mama Coco gave a weary sigh before proceeding her story.
"Abuelito was a proud man, hard to please. He wanted his son to follow his footsteps of running his business. But Papa wanted to be a musician. When he told his father about it, Abuelito exploded!
Flashback
"QUE!?" Fernando exploded. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT TO BE A MUSICO!?"
The family was sitting in the study room. Fernando had been reading a newspaper while his wife focused on her book. Their son came into the room, because he wanted to tell them something. Something that he believed they should know.
"Music is my passion," Hector responded, firmly. "Whenever I play,, I feel happy! And I can make up songs-"
Ayyyyy!… ¡No me digas eso!"
"Por que?" The boy dared to question. "Why can't I be something else instead of running the mine business?"
"Mining silver is your future!"
"Por que? Do I really have to own the mine business?"
"Hector, I don't think you should be asking so many questions," Maria warned.
"Si!" Fernando barked in an angry voice. "It was something your madre and I have planned for you since birth!"
"But I don't find the idea of mining fascinating-"
"Hector I don't care!" Fernando interrupted.
"Fernando, Por favor!" María begged. "Listen to the boy!"
"Silencio mujer!" her husband yelled. "Hold your tongue when I am speaking!"
Senora Rivera closed her mouth immediately.
Senor Rivera turned back to his son.
"I will give you a choice: You will follow my footsteps to work in mines and work your way up to own the business. Or leave and chase your musical fantasy!"
"It's not a fantasy!"
"Well whatever it is, you have to decide because I cannot have you be both!"
That didn't sit well with Hector. He couldn't understand. Why did he have to choose? Why couldn't he be with his family and play music? Overwhelmed, he got down on his knees and put his hands together as if he was saying his prayers.
"Oh Por favor Papa!" He cried. " Don't make me choose! Either way, it's more than I can bear to lose!"
"Callate!" Fernando shouted. "Didn't you hear what the hell I said!? You can't have both! I will NOT let my son grow up to be a musico estupidia in my household! What will the village say about that? Our reputation will be ruined! It's either mine or music! Which one? HUH!?"
The boy shook and sweated. He never meant to make his father upset over music! Why couldn't he see that this was his interest, not working in mines?
"I thought so!" Fernando growled, knowing what his son had decided, and it wasn't working in the mines.
End Flashback
"Papa tried to make his parents understand but Abuelito wouldn't have it" Mama Coco narrated. "He didn't care that all Papa wanted to do was to play music for him and Abuela. When Papa chose music over mining, Abuelita and Abuelito told him to never come home!"
"That's terrible!" Luisa gasped.
"I can't believe someone would disown their child just like that!" Enrique said gravely.
"I can't believe that your abuela didn't do or say anything to protect your papa!" Elena shouted. "Why if I was there, I'd show that hombre-"
"Elena, Elena!" Coco shushed her gently. "That was how women acted in those days. They were not allowed to speak in a man's presence-even when her husband was acting irrational!"
"What happened to Hector after he was disowned?" Tio Berto asked.
"Before Papa left, his household servants totaled up their payments and bestowed them to him. They felt very sorry for my Papa and thought it was unfair of what happened to him.
After Papa bade the staff farewell, he boarded on the next train that was leaving from Perez. He didn't know where he was going exactly, but he hopes to find a place he could call home….,"
Flashback
At the train station, a conductor was selling train tickets to customers. After the last customer left, satisfied with a ticket, a scrawny ten year old boy came up. It was Hector Rivera.
"Where are are you going, muchacho?" The conductor asked politely.
"Yo no se," Hector answered. "But anywhere but here. I am looking for a place where I can find a new home."
The conductor frowned, believing this boy was alone. 'He must be an orphan!' He thought. "How about Santa Cecilia? I hear that town is a great place for homes!"
"Okay!" Hector smiled, softly. Any place would do, as long as he can play music freely.
After buying his ticket, the boy hopped on the train. Walking in the hall, he found a seat that was empty. He took it and sat by the window. The train started and off, it went! Hector looked at out the window, as the village shrank, followed by farms and crops.
"Time to start a new life," he sighed sadly. Softly, he began to sing to himself.
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
Anything to help me cope with the fact that his parents kicked him out of their mansion. If his parents really loved him, they would have let him play music. The boy didn't want to leave them, but his father didn't care.
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream
Maybe the young inspiring musician can find acceptance in Santa Cecilia. After all, wasn't that village known for loving music?
I have a dream, a fantasy
To help me through reality
And my destination makes it worth the while
Pushing through the darkness still another mile
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream
Maybe he will play for the town. Maybe he will play for a pretty girl. Either way, he hopes that his music will bring people together so they can laugh and sing along with him.
I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream
I'll cross the stream, I have a dream
The train stopped at one of its stops to let in new passengers (and perhaps drop off those who wanted to get off).
A boy, who looked to be 14, stepped inside Hector's car.
"Hola," the boy greeted. "Is this seat taken?"
"No, go ahead!"
The boy sat across from Hector.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Santa Cecilia," Hector answered. "I hope to find a home where I can play music as much as I want! How about you?"
"No manchas! I'm heading that way, too!" The older boy exclaimed. "I too, want to play music!"
"De verdad?" Hector asked, happily. He couldn't believe that he met someone who shared his musical interests!
"Si, I want to get away from my boring old town and find excitement!" The older Chico smiled proudly. "Someone who would appreciate my music, unlike my family! Were you kicked out of your own house too?"
"Yes,," Hector said sadly, looking down at the ground. He didn't want the boy to see his eyes glistening with tears. "I didn't want to leave them at all but my father gave me no choice. It was either music or the mines!" He shuddered when he said his father's profession. "I wish I can play music and keep my family!"
"Well, you can't always have both for everything!" The older child stated. "Sometimes you have to choose one thing, only and when you do, choose carefully." He offered an encouraging smile to the young scrawny boy. "Look on the bright side, amigo! Now that you are following your dream, this is your chance to seize your moment!"
"Moment?" Hector was confused. The phrase sounded vague to him. "What moment?"
"Why your moment to become a great musician, of course!" The older boy answered. "Say, since we both have the same dream, how about we team up?" He offered his hand out for a handshake.
Hector pondered on this offer for a bit. They both are the same goals: Go to Santa Cecilia and play music. Wouldn't that be fun?
"Okay, let's do it!"
Both boys shook hands.
"By the way, my name is Hector Rivera! Como te llamas?"
"Ernesto de la Cruz."
End Flashback
"So that is how Papa Hector met Ernesto De La Cruz!" Miguel said in wonderment.
"Oh si, Chiquito!" Mama Coco grinned. "Papa Hector and Tio 'Nesto became friends that day! They were like hermanos!"
All children except Abel yawned.
"I think it is time for everybody to go to bed," Elena announced.
"Aw, but I want to hear more about Papa Hector!" Miguel pleaded.
"Yo tambien!" Rosa agreed. "His life seems so exciting!"
Her twin brothers, Manny and Benny nodded, wanting to hear more about their great-great grandfather.
"No children," Luisa said gently but firmly. "It is time for bed, you have school in the morning."
"Si Senora," the children obeyed. They all left to go to bed, except Abel.
"Abel, don't you have school, too?" Franco asked.
"Si, but my lecture doesn't start until noon," the college student clarified. He had been taking college courses at a university, which was not too far from the family home and workshop.
"Gracias for sharing with us about Papa Hector, Mama Coco," Luisa said hugging her great grandma in law.
"Oh it was a pleasure," the old woman beamed hugging her back. "I hope you find his life fascinating!"
"Si, except the part where he got disowned," Abel added. "I can't help but think that we mistreated him the same way his father had done!"
"None of us know that Papa Hector didn't truly abandon us," Tia Carmen assured her eldest son.
"Pero how come he never came back?" Tio Berto asked. "There must be an explanation or something!"
"We don't know how," Enrique answers gravely. "But I have a feeling that he died while trying to come home."
Everybody gasped.
"I know," Enrique continued. "But when Miguel and I found his corpse by the hotel where he and Senor de la Cruz last visited, I have a strange feeling that something was up. I cannot help but feel that something terrible must have happened to him!"