Chapter 1

"It has to be Perfect"

Isabella spent a lot of her free time in the garden. When she couldn't stand her family, when she wanted to relax, and when she had something to think about. She found the flowers calming. From carefree water lilies floating on the surface to heliconias that reach for the sky. From the colorful roses to puffy carnations. Such variety, such beauty.

For Abuela's birthday, Isabella gave her a bouquet of roses. She spent almost an hour in the garden picking the best and brightest roses she could find.

The party was in Casita's courtyard. Tables were set up, piles upon piles of gifts for the Madrigal's matriarch. Abuela sat at one of the tables, slowly but surely working through the gifts.

Isabella walked up with her bouquet. She showed it to Abuela Alma. "I made this for you. Happy birthday Abuela"

Abuela looked at Isabella with a warm smile and graciously took the bouquet. "Thank you, Isa. I'll put it up right now."

Abuela stood, moving to the counter. She put the flowers in a vase that Casita brought for her. Abuela rearranged the flowers with care.

Isabella didn't understand. Why was Abuela fiddling with the bouquet? Was something not right?

After a minute of shuffling around, Abuela stepped back, satisfied. "Casita, please take it to the kitchen." The vase zoomed away towards the kitchen with Casita's magic tiles. Abuela sat once more and continued receiving her gifts.

Isabella couldn't figure it out. What did Abuela do to the bouquet? As soon as the attention left her, Isa made her way to the kitchen to find the bouquet.

The flower vase was on the kitchen counter, pushed against the wall.

"Casita, could you give me the flowers please? I promise I'll be careful."

Casita complied to Isabella's request. The vase slid over to the edge of the counter where Isa picked it up. She compared the two sides of the bouquet; the one that was facing the wall with the side that could be seen. They looked the same at first. All the flowers were bright and pretty and perfect.

But on closer inspection, they weren't, at least not all of them.

Isabella noticed that a few of the flowers had small flaws. Little holes, wrinkles, dried leaves, the like. And these imperfect flowers had been moved to the wall side, leaving only the most perfect ones to be seen.

Isabella gave the vase back to Casita and let the revelation sink in.

Abuela had a good eye. At a glance, she could see the defects in the flowers. And the shortcomings of her family. But Abuela would only truly accept things that are perfect. The best of the best. No imperfections.

So if Isa wanted to be accepted- embraced by Abuela, then she'd have to be perfect too.

"I have to be Perfect."