~ Rivera Hacienda

Everyone cleared the abandoned room, and the back of the Hacienda, and helped Chelo put the equipment tools inside. Héctor, and Imelda were very eager to learn shoe making as Coco watched them with her huge eyes.

What could be so exciting about shoe making? Ernesto thought as he struggled to get a pair done while the twin already started experimenting with their design, what happiness could Héctor possibly gain from any of this?

And after two months of trying… Ernesto finally succumbed to the fact that he can't be a shoemaker. So Imelda let him handle the decorations of the packaging instead, and it went pretty well. The routine was simple: once the lesson's done, he'd pay the red-light district a visit as Héctor took every possible gig he could find, and then together they returned home by sunrise.

Imelda ordered the leather, nails, tools and a sewing machine for the workshop as the twin started designing the front shop.

"Hey! Paint it larger! GUYS!" Imelda shouted as Chicharron, and the twins were painting the sign on the outside wall.

"Yes… Mamá." Chicharrón croaked.

"Hey!"

"It kinda fits you, Imelda." Óscar laughed.

"¡Mamá Imelda!" Filipe joined the laughter.

"You devil!"

The twins dropped their paint brush once Imelda started taking off her shoe. Ernesto watched Héctor smile at the sight of his wife chasing after the twin with her boot. I don't understand at all...

~ Rivera: Familia de Zapateros, desde 1921.

Everyone stood outside as the twin helped Chelo, and Chicharron put their luggage in the caravan. Chelo gave Imelda a hug as Héctor shook hands with Chicharron.

"You still owe me my good napkin, you know?" Chicharron looked at Héctor sternly.

"Ah, you see-"

"Never mind," Chicharron laughed, and pulled out a bluish purple napkin, "I got you a good one.".

Héctor took the napkin, and looked at the embroidered 'H. Rivera' in the bottom right corner.

"Gracias!" Héctor sobbed, and pulled the short man up into a hug.

"Hey! HEY! HEY! HEY! Let me go!" the short man screamed, and wriggled his leg that no longer touched the ground.

Héctor set the short man down, and wiped his own tears with the new napkin he got. Chicharron turned to look at Ernesto.

"Young man," Ernesto turned to him, "Good luck.".

Ernesto nodded, and the travelers couple bid their last farewell before they got up in their caravan. Ernesto, and the Riveras watched the caravan disappear from their sight as the sun was rising.

"Let's go open our shop."

~ The Hospital, 3 Months Later

Óscar, Felipe, Ernesto, and Coco sat outside as Héctor, and Imelda were talking to the doctor. Coco wriggled her feet nervously, what could possibly have gone wrong? Their family business is doing amazing, and her papá sings her lullaby everyday, and then suddenly mamá got sick? Did she do something wrong?

"Don't worry, Coco." Ernesto placed a hand on her shoulder, "It's probably just food poisoning.".

"Or maybe malnourishment." Óscar added.

"Imelda always refused to eat greens." Filipe chuckled.

"But she ate lots of oranges though." Ernesto laughed along with the twin.

Coco jumped out of the seat the minute her parents opened the door.

"What did the doctor say?" Filipe asked.

"The doctor said..." Héctor started ruefully, "WE'RE GONNA HAVE ANOTHER BABY!".

All the hospital staff immediately turned to the scream with a shushing pose, making the whole family burst into laughter.

"When will it come out from Mamá's belly?" Coco asked as she danced the way home.

"Probably about seven-".

"Or six more months," The twin answered.

"Honestly, I wonder if you'll have a daughter or a son." Ernesto commented.

"Same here!" Héctor replied.

"You don't know?" Coco asked.

"We won't know until he or she is born, mija." Imelda replied as she rubbed her tummy.

"I want a sister," Coco smiled, "But if I have a brother, I guess I'll need to teach him how to use the boots, so I won't have to hit someone with my boot again.".

"Mija?" Héctor picked Coco up, "You hit someone?".

"They are bullies!" Coco protested.

"THEY!?"

The entire family froze at the hacienda's gate as Ernesto laughed hysterically. She's really her mother's daughter, Ernesto thought before Imelda's cold glance silenced him.

"Socorro, a word."

~ Coco's Bedroom.

The girl sat on her bed, and held her knees to her chest as her parents sat at her both sides.

"I don't want you to hit someone again, Coco." Imelda voiced her concern, "Even if they are bullies, I don't want you to lower yourself down to mess with them.".

"I was only helping the boy, they were beating him." Coco said softly.

"Can you tell us the whole story, mija?" Héctor asked.

Coco nodded, and let go of her knees, telling her parents what she remembered. It was the day that Imelda went to get the family's photo. The twins were playing in the attic, so Coco snuck outside to watch her neighbor riding horses...

And then a chubby boy was thrown in front of her. Coco froze in her place as the boy asked his bullies what he did wrong. The bullies didn't answer, only kept kicking the boy who was already on the floor, and that was when Coco had enough.

"You're a brave girl, Coco" Héctor smiled, "But next time tell us first, ok? So we could get to their parents too.".

"Do you remember what they look like?" Imelda asked.

Coco shook her head, "I couldn't even remember the boy I helped, I remembered just his sister came to get him afterward.".

Imelda looked at Héctor.

"Hey!" The 3 turned their faces toward the door where Óscar stood, "Dinner is ready.".

Merry 2022 Everyone! I'm Back!