Author's Notes: Here is another musical number! It's not from ABBA but it is from a musical that is based on the Peanuts comic strip, "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown."
When Victoria and Julio had told Rosita and the twins about Hector's upcoming concert, they asked if they can help. Knowing that Hector was nervous about performing in front of crowds, they agreed that they will sing along with him!
Hector was surprised but happy that his new family was willing to learn music.
So, he held music lessons whenever his family closed the shoe shop for the day. Not everybody participated in the rehearsals.
"Imelda, come and join us and sing!" Hector offered.
"No, Hector," the matriarch shook her head. "You and the others go ahead. I'll just stay out."
"But Imelda-"
"I'm not ready!"
Hector sighed. This was the third time that his wife declined to participate. He wished to have her sing along with him. Ever since he saw Imelda perform at the Sunrise Spectacular concert, he had hoped that she'd be open up to music. But it seemed that she is still nervous about singing. What was stopping her? He felt his wife placing her hand gently, on his clavicle.
"It has been a century since I sang. I just need more time to get used to music before I am ready to perform for a big crowd again."
"I understand," Hector smiled softly. He won't pressure her to sing if she doesn't want.
"I have to go shopping right now before the store closes," said Imelda. "Ceci has an order of twelve tap shoes. Who knew people need metal for their dancing shoes?" She chuckled, at the thought. Tap dancing sounds foreign to her.
Her husband chuckled, thinking it was silly, too.
"I'll see you when I get back, okay?" Imelda gave her husband a peck on the lips.
"Okay," he smiled.
After, Imelda stepped out of the door, Hector was on a new train of thought. One day, they'll perform together, just like how they used to do before Coco was born. One day. Hector was snapped out of his thoughts, when he heard shouting.
"Give me my pencil!" Victoria yelled. "It's custom made!"
"No way, Jose!" Felipe teased, holding the writing tool. He tossed it over.
"It's Victoria!" Before Victoria could catch the pencil, it flew over her head and landed in Oscar's hands.
The twins tossed the pencil back and forth to each other, while Victoria struggled to catch it.
Hector rolled his eyes at the display. The twins may be adults but they still act like twelve-year-olds. Calmly, he walked over to them, caught the pencil (much to the surprise of the twins) and put it in Victoria's hands.
"I believe we have a music lesson to do, don't you agree?" He spoke, sternly. Victoria and the twins nodded, with guilty looks on their faces.
"Bueno," the patriarch nodded, clasping his hands together. "Now as soon as Rosita and Julio finish feeding Pepita and Dante, we should get started."
After Julio and Rosita fed their pets, they joined in the living room where, the singing lesson will take place. Pepita had taken off to check on Imelda, and Dante joined in, wanting to sing along.
"Remember, this American folk song is a mood piece," Hector explained. "We must paint a picture with music and words." He frowned when he heard the twins snoring loudly.
"And, concentrate!" He yelled, waking them up.
"Aaah!" The twins yelped.
The musician strummed a note on his guitar, and gave his family a cue to sing. He cringed, when he heard them singing the same note off key. Oh boy, he thought. We have so much work to do.
"Remember...," he gently reminded them. "Adagio con brio."
"Oh give me a home, Where the buffalo roam, Where the deer and the antelope play..."
("Give me my pencil!" Victoria whispered to Felipe. He had taken it from her again).
"Where seldom is heard, A discouraging word!"
("Not on your after- life!" Felipe hissed).
"And the skies are not cloudy all day!"
("If you don't tell me what you told Rosita-" Felipe hissed, before giving the pencil to Óscar).
"Give me that pencil!" Victoria snapped, at Óscar).
"Home-"("I'm just going to kick you bonehead!" Victoria growled at Óscar.) "Home on the range-"("Sing!" Hector commanded.) "Where the deer and the-"("Give me my pencil!") -"Antelope play!"
("No! Not until you promise-" Felipe pleaded. "What're you trying to do-"Victoria questioned). "Where seldom is heard-"("Not to tell her!" "Stifle my freedom-")
"A discouraging word-"("Of speech?"
("No promise, no pencil, Vicky!"
"Give me my pencil!"
"What pencil?" Rosita smirked, who had grabbed it).
"And the skies are not cloudy all day!"
("No!" Óscar and Felipe yelled.)
"Oh, give me a land
Where the bright-"
("Give me that pencil! Felipe, Óscar! It just isn't fair!")
"Diamond sand flows leisurely!"
("Sing!" Hector yelled.
"Why did you take Victoria's pencil?" Julio asked."Augh!" The twins grumbled, running off).
"Where the graceful white swan
Goes gliding along
Like a-"
("What did Felipe call me? Rosita asked Victoria. "He said-")
"Maid in a Heavenly Dream-"
("He said you were...An enigma!" answered Victoria."An enigma?" Julio wondered. "An enigma?" Rosita asked, puzzled).
"Oh give me a home
Where the buffalo roam-"
("Boy, that makes me-" Julio pondered."What a terrible thing!" Rosita gasped.)
"Where the deer-"("What's an enigma?") "and the Antelope-"(" Never mind!" said Victoria). "-Play!"("Julio, What's an enigma?") (Julio shrugged. "What's an enigma?" he asked Dante. Julio and Rosita left).
"Where seldom is heardA discouraging word-"
("Hey, Óscar's still got my pencil!" Victoria grumbled, running off after her father and aunt. "What an en...!).
Hector was the only one still singing.
"And the skies are not cloudy all day!"
"Oooooooohhhhh!" Dante sang the last verse.
"Good boy!" Hector smiled, rubbing the dog's head, affectionately. "You are a teacher's pet!" He laughed when Dante, happily licked his face. "Hahahaha, okay boy!" After a few minutes of playtime, the two looked up when they heard the doorbell dinging.
"Hola!" Imelda smiled, carrying her shopping bag. "I'm home!"
"Hola, mi amor!" He stood up and hugged his wife.
"How was the singing lesson?" She asked.
"Eh, it was...good."
"Really?"' Imelda raised an eye (she would have raised an eyebrow if she still had them).
"They do have potential but...let's just say they need more practice," Hector smiled, sheepishly. "But not to worry, we still have time before the concert!"