Miguel and Kayleigh followed Héctor down a steep stairway. They examined their own hands, which were now turning more skeletal.
"So, why the heck would you want to be a musician?" Héctor asked Miguel.
"My great-great-grandpa was a musician," answered Miguel.
"What's wrong with that?" shrugged Kayleigh.
"Who spent his life performing like a monkey for complete strangers?" Héctor said. "Blech! No, no, thank you, no."
Miguel looked offended, and frowned. "What do you know?" He merely glanced back at the grand tower. "So, how far is this guitar, anyway?"
Still walking, Héctor turned to face them. "We're almost there," He jumped from a stairway towards the ground. His bones scattered in each place, but then reassembled. "Keep up, chamacos (kids), come on!" He whistled for Miguel and Kayleigh to follow.
The stairway in front of the three opened up to a small section of town covered in dust. The shimmering brightness that lit up the Land of the Dead seemed to have skipped this particular area.
Miguel and Kayleigh gazed at passerby. They were dusty and drab like Héctor, lacking the bright decorations and clothing of the Rivera ancestors.
A group of dingy skeletons huddled around a burning trash can, laughing raucously. When they saw Héctor, they all smiled and hollered, "Cousin Héctor!"
"Ay! These guys!" Héctor greeted back with a big smile, joyfully pointing both hands to them.
"Héctor!" One man greeted. He was playing a jaunty tune on a violin made of coffee cans, twine, and other scraps.
"Hey, Tío!" Héctor called to the violinist. "Qu onda (What's up)?"
"These people are all your family?" asked Miguel.
"Eh..." Héctor stammered a little, "in a way. We're all the ones with no photos, or ofendas, no family to go home to," he explained to the children, showing a hint of sadness. "Nearly forgotten, you know? So we all call each other "cousin" or "tío" or-or whatever." He picked up a nearby champagne bottle.
A frog-like alebrije with rabbit ears hopped right in front of Dante, making ribbit noises. The dog came to a complete stop, started by its appearance. The alebrije continued to hop, until it jumped right into the water, splashing Dante. The dog whimpered at the temperature of the water.
Héctor, Miguel, and Kayleigh approached three old ladies playing cards around a wooden crate.
"Héctor!" One called out.
"Tía Chelo! Hey, hey!" Héctor greeted the old woman, doffing his hat. He flipped the champagne bottle in his hand before showing it to them.
Squealing with surprised and delight, another old women gladly took the champagne bottle. removed the cork with her mouth, and poured some of the champagne into their glasses.
"Muchas gracias (Thank you very much)!" Another old lady thanked Héctor.
"Hey, hey! Save some for me!" Héctor snatched up two of the glasses filled with champagne. "Is Chicharrón around?" He asked.
"In the bungalow," said Tía Chelo. She pointed to a tent behind him and the children. "I don't know if he's in the mood for visitors."
"Ah, who doesn't like a visit from Cousin Héctor?" teased Héctor, as he entered the tent. He held the curtains open for Miguel, Kayleigh, and Dante to enter.
Inside, it was cramped, dark, and quiet. There were stacks of old dishes, a drawer full of pocket watches, and piles of magazines and records stacked high.
Miguel stumbled, nearly knocking one of the stacks over.
Kayleigh quickly caught it before it could fall, and put it back into place.
Héctor placed one of the champagne-filled glasses on a chair nearby a hammock piled with old trinkets and a dusty hat. He lifted the hat, and found the grumpy face of a skeleton man. "Buenas noches (Good evening), Chicharrón," he greeted.
But Chicharrón simply frowned. "I don't wanna see your stupid face, Héctor," he growled.
"C'mon," Héctor tried to encourage him. "It's Día de los Muertos. I brought you a little offering." He placed the hat back on Chicharrón's head, and offered him the champagne.
"Get outta here!" Chicharrón tried to faced away from Héctor.
"I would, Cheech," Héctor placed the champagne next to the other. "But the thing is... me and my friends, Miguel and Kayleigh," he looked at a guitar stacked in the pile. "We really need to borrow your guitar."
"My guitar?" Chicharrón shifted in his hammock, grasping onto his guitar.
"Yes," nodded Héctor.
"My prized, beloved guitar?" Chicharrón asked, skeptically.
"I promise we'll bring it right back," said Héctor.
Chicharrón sat up, incensed. "Like that time you promised to bring back my van?"
"Uh..." Héctor didn't know what to say.
"Or my mini fridge?"
"Ah, you see..."
"Or my good napkins?"
"Uhhhh..."
"My lasso? My femur?" Chicharrón showed him one of his legs, revealing that his femur was replaced with a tool.
Kayleigh didn't mean to giggle at that. She covered her mouth with her hand to hide her amused smile.
"No, not like those times," Héctor tried to assure him.
Chicharrón grabbed Héctor's necktie, about to give him a tongue-lashing. "Where's my femur? You-" Suddenly, a golden flicker flashed through Chicharrón's bones, causing him to weaken and collapse into his hammock.
"Whoa, whoa," Héctor rushed over to his friend's side. "You okay, amigo (friend)?"
Miguel and Kayleigh glanced at each other, and watched in surprise.
"Chicharrón let out a long sigh. "I'm fading, Héctor. I can feel it." He gazed at his guitar. "I couldn't even play that thing if I wanted to."
Héctor's eyes darted from Chicharrón to the guitar.
"You, play me something," said Chicharrón.
But Héctor shook his head. "Oh, you know I don't play anymore, Cheech. The guitar's for the kid." He motioned to Miguel.
Chicharrón frowned at Héctor. "You want it? You got to earn it."
"Ay," seeing no other choice, Héctor reluctantly reached for the guitar. "Only for you, amigo." He plucked one of the strings on the guitar, tuning it as he sat down next to Chicharrón. "Any requests?" he asked his friend.
Chicharrón smiled, and chuckled. "You know my favorite, Héctor."
Grinning a little, Héctor began strumming aray on the guitar, playing a lovely, lilting tune.
Chicharrón sighed, seeming suddenly at peace.
Miguel and Kayleigh took a seat on a stool to listen, both amazed as Héctor began to sing:
"Everyone Knows Juanita"
(Héctor)
"Well, everyone knows Juanita,
Her eyes each a different color,
Her teeth stick out, and her chin goes in,
And, her..."
He paused, looking anxiously at the children.
(Héctor)
"...knuckles, they drag on the floor,"
Chicharrón frowned. "Those aren't the words," he protested.
"There are children present," Héctor said, calmly, and continued singing.
(Héctor)
"Her hair is like a brier,
She stands in a bow-legged stance,
And if I weren't so ugly,
She'd possibly give me a chance."
He ended the song with a soft flourish.
Miguel and Kayleigh exchanged another glance. They had no idea that Héctor was a musician too - and a good one!
Kayleigh lightly applauded at Héctor's performance.
Chicharrón chuckled. "Brings back memories," he said. He took his hat off, saying "Gracias," before closing his eyes.
Suddenly, the edges of Chicharrón's bones began to glow with a soft, beautiful light. Finally, they dissolved into dust. His hat fell to the ground.
Héctor looked sad as he witnessed this.
Miguel and Kayleigh were confused.
Dante sadly whimpered.
Kayleigh stroked the dog's head to console him.
Héctor stood up, picked up a glass, raised it in honor of Chicharrón, and drank. Then, he placed it upside down next to Chicharrón's glass, which remained full. He started to leave, with the guitar in his hand.
"Wait, what happened?" Miguel asked, concerned, as he and Kayleigh got up.
"Did he go invisible?" wondered Kayleigh.
"He's been forgotten," said Héctor. "When there's no one left in the living world who remembers you, you disappear from this world. We call it "The Final Death"."
"W-where did he go?" asked Miguel.
Héctor shrugged. "No one knows."
Miguel had another thought. "But Kayleigh and I've met him. We could remember him, when we go back."
"Yeah," agreed Kayleigh.
But Héctor shook his head. "No, it doesn't work like that, chamacos. Our memories... they have to be passed down by those who knew us in life. In the stories they tell about us. But there's no one left alive to pass down Cheech's stories..."
Miguel and Kayleigh both fell silent, in deep thought about their own families' shrine and keeping their memories alive.
Héctor shook his emotions out, and put on a cheerful attitude. "Hey, it happens to everyone, eventually," he said, putting his hand on Miguel's and Kayleigh's backs. He gave the guitar to Miguel. "Come on, de la Cruzcito (little cross). You've got a contest to win."
Héctor slung open the curtain, and left.
Dante followed him.
Miguel and Kayleigh took one last look at where Chicharrón used to be. Then, they headed out of the tent to follow Héctor.