Episode 29: Into the past part 2

"Rodolfo? Rodolfo!" Manny called.

"Over here!" A voice called from a locker.

Manny picked the lock and pulled him out.

"Look Rodolfo remember what I told you yesterday? Well I was wrong you need to date Maria."

"Why?"

"You love her don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Then don't let her go."

"But I'm a wimp."

"True but with my help you can gain confindence."

Maria walked by carrying her books.

"Okay now go talk to her."

Rodolfo swallowed hard and walked toward her.

"Hi Rodolfo." She said. "What's up?"

"Uh...uh...I don't know! Sky! Birds! Trees!" He stuttered.

"Um." Maria said.

"I gotta go!" And he ran away in fear.

"Rodolfo! Come back!" Manny said following him.

Frida decieded to put in a good word for Rodolfo. So she walked over to Maria.

"Hi I'm Cristina."

"I'm Maria are you new?"

"Yeah and my friend Pablo just made friends with that nice kid who ran away."

"Rodolfo? Yeah he's very nice and cute."

"Do you like him?"

"Maybe." She said blushing. "I wish he would ask me to the dance this weekand."

"Hmm interesting."

"Come on Rodolfo! Come out of the closet!"

"No! I just want to stay here until I graduate."

"Rodolfo! Guess what!" Frida said. "I talked to Maria and she said you're cute."

"Really?" He said coming out.

"Yes and she wants you to take her to the dance this weekand."

"She wants me to ask her!" Rodolfo jumped up and down with joy. "But how will I ask her?"

"Just be yourself."

The three of them went into the gym where the students were putting up decorations. Maria was standing on a ladder trying to hang up a banner. But her foot slipped and she fell off. Thinking fast Rodolfo jumped up, ran to the ladder and caught Maria.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"You saved me." Maria said smiling.

"I did? I did!"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome...do you want to go to the dance with me?"

"I thought you would never ask! See you Saturday night."

She picked up her books and left the gym.

"I got to be a hero and Maria is my date! This is the best day of my life!" Rodolfo skipped happily all the way home.

"Frida, you follow Mom and make sure she doesn't change her mind while I get Dad ready." Manny said.

"Okay."

Manny followed Rodolfo home and spied on him through the window.

"Mama! Papi! Guess what!" Rodolfo said running into his house.

"Rodolfo keep it down!" It was Grandpapi when he was 42. "You're mother needs her rest. You know how sick she is."

"Sorry."

"Oh don't be silly Darling." Said a woman coming out of the bedroom. "You know I always have time for my boy."

"I just saved someone!"

"Noooo!" Grandpapi said. "Where did I go wrong?"

"Oh let it go Dear." His wife said.

"It was Maria Remeriz and now she's going to be my date." Rodolfo cried.

"That's wonderful Miho." Then she started to cough hard.

"Mama?"

"Come on honey let's get you to bed." Grandpapi said.

"Papi? Is she going to be okay?"

"Yes Rodolfo she just needs more medicine."

"It's sad isn't it?" Manny turned around and saw Miguel. "She won't live but for another 3 months."

"You said she died of old age."

"I lied, the truth is your grandmother died of leukemia when your father was that age." Miguel said. "It broke the poor kid's heart and sent your grandfather into a depression."

"Poor Dad and Grandpapi."

That night at the dance Rodolfo and Maria talked and danced.

"This is going pretty well." Frida said.

"Hey!" The teacher said. "Who put a soap bomb in my office?!"

"Hi ya Gramps." Emiliano said. "You look clean."

"Why you little criminal!"

"Let's get out of here babe!" He said to Carmela.

"Oh you're always causing trouble!" She said. "But that's why I love you."

She kissed him and they ran off. Then Bryce walked in and stomped toward Rodolfo and Maria.

"Hey dork!" He said. "What are you doing with my girl?"

"I'm not your girl." Maria said.

"I didn't think you were interested in losers."

"For your information I like Rodolfo."

"You do?" Rodolfo said.

"Yes."

"Blow him off! Maria!" He grabbed her arm.

"Get away!" She said.

"Leave her alone!" Rodolfo said.

"Did you say something? Dork!"

"Yes! Leave her alone!"

"Yeah right." Bryce tried to kiss Maria and Rodolfo tackled him.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!" Everyone cheered.

Rodolfo punched Bryce over and over again.

"Get him Dad!" Manny cheered.

"Listen to me!" Rodolfo said. "If you ever touch Maria again I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish! This I swear!"

Bryce got up and ran away in fear. Maria smiled at Rodolfo.

"You saved me again." She said. "You really are a hero."

"Well um I wouldn't say that."

"Here." She pulled the ribbon out of her hair and gave it to him.

"I'll keep it forever." He put it in his wallet.

"Kiss me you fool!" Then she grabbed Rodolfo and kissed him the same way Frida kissed Manny the first time. When the dance ended Miguel appeared.

"Did it work?" Manny asked.

"See for yourself." He pulled out the time machine and pressed a button on it. The clock projected an image of Maria lying in bed with a swollen stomach and Rodolfo was right next to her. She was sweating and breathing hard, Rodolfo held her hand and pressed a cloth to her head.

"Okay you're doing great honey." Rodolfo said.

"Ahhh!" Maria screamed.

"Push! Push!" He said.

"She's giving birth!" Manny cried.

Manny and Frida covered each other's eyes then they heard crying.

"It's a boy!" The doctor said.

The nurse walked over to Maria and Rodolfo carrying a blue buddle. She placed it in Maria's arms. She unwrapped the bundle to reveal a curly haired baby boy.

"Oh he's perfect!" Maria said with tears of joy.

"My son." Rodolfo said smiling at the baby.

"What should we name him?"

"Manuel."

"That's a lovely name." Maria kissed his little head. "Do you want to hold him?"

"I don't know-."

Maria handed little Manny to Rodolfo.

"Hi. I'm your Papa." Rodolfo said. "And I love you so much. Manny, let's call him Manny."

The image faded.

"Let's go home." Manny said. Miguel sent them back to the present. Manny went home and saw that his mom was visiting. "Hey Dad can I see your wallet?"

"Why?" He said raising his eye brow. "You're not going to steal it are you?"

"No."

"Oh just give it to him." Maria said.

Rodolfo gave Manny his wallet. Manny opened it and pulled out a pink hair ribbon.

"My ribbon? You kept it?" Maria said.

"Um...well I meant what I said when I told you I'd keep it forever." Rodolfo said blushing.

Maria held the ribbon.

"I haven't seen this since the dance." Maria grabbed her purse and got ready to leave but before she did she kissed Rodolfo on the cheek and he fainted.

"Dad? Wake up!"

"Manny how did you know that I kept your mother's ribbon?"

"Um it's a long story."