Alma wasn't sure what the rest of her family had planned for the day, but she fully intended to spend her day contemplating whether her 51-year-old son was too old to take over her knee. She might even make him cut his own switch. Or perhaps she'd turn to that tried and true classic, trusted by Latina mothers everywhere for time immemorial: La chancla.

She had retreated back to her room after she and Agustín had discovered that the candle couldn't be put back. She now found it hard to stop replaying that conversation.

"Gah! The flame is flickering! What do I do?"

"Don't let it go out! Pick it back up!"

"Okay, okay!"

"Careful, idiota! You're going to knock it down again!"

"I've got it, okay? It's fine! I just don't know what to do with it now!"

"You'll have to hold it for the rest of the day."

"The entire day?!"

"We don't have a choice, Agustín!"

Okay, so it was less of a conversation and more of her yelling at and scolding Agustín in her panic. Alma rubbed her temple. She hadn't meant to be so harsh toward her son-in-law. They'd never been close, and conflict between the two was frequent, even after the house had been rebuilt. Especially after the house had been rebuilt. Alma didn't scare Agustín like she used to. She knew that was a good thing, but it was really only useful if she could actually connect with him the way she had so easily connected with Félix. She would have to try to come to an understanding with him, since he had her gift for the day. He needed her support. But she wasn't up to it at the moment, so she decided to do some tidying around her room for a while. Just to clear her mind.

Unfortunately, it was all too easy to forget that she had Luisa's super strength. What started as straightening the bed quickly turned into a panicked search for a replacement for accidentally torn sheets. Then that became accidentally breaking a door on her wardrobe. Then the wardrobe was in pieces after Alma's temper got the better of her and she slammed the other door. Alma stomped and kicked around her room in frustration, biting back words that were less than ladylike. She turned to slam the heel of her hand onto the bedroom door frame, but Casita immediately tripped her up and sent her backward.

Alma landed hard on her rear with a very undignified, "Whuff!" She sat stunned a moment as Casita shuffled objects away, well out of the angry matriarch's reach. She took some deep breaths, then stood and dusted herself off.

"Ah...thank you, Casita. I'm...sorry. I haven't let my temper get to me like that in some time. You...remember what I was like when I was young. Apparently I still have some of that."

Casita's floorboards clattered in agreement, and suddenly Alma found herself presented with a broom and dustpan. She smiled and accepted the items.

The next few hours were spent very slowly and meticulously cleaning the mess she'd made. She touched everything as gingerly as she could, afraid it would crumble if she so much as blew on it. This was why the gifts her children and grandchildren had been given came with a unique bedroom. Luisa's room was indestructible. It was a perfect place to practice her gift. Perhaps Alma would have to ask her granddaughter if she could use the in-home gym.

No sooner had Alma straightened her bed just right when she heard a desperate pounding at her door.

"Abuela!" she heard Luisa call. "There's some people in town who need me, but I don't have my strength, you have it, and I don't know what to tell them because you told us to lay low, and—"

Alma pulled open the door to reveal a very panicked...Camilo? The "Camilo" hiccuped, shifting to Agustín, then to Pepa. "Luisa, deep breaths!" Alma said. "Cálmate!"

Luisa took some shaky breaths, gulping with the effort. She shifted back to herself as she began to calm down.

"Now," Alma said, "start from the beginning. What happened?"

Luisa inhaled deeply before launching into her story. "Well, I was doing what you told us to do and laying low for the day. I decided to spend the morning giving Princess Dawn Glow the bath and grooming she's been long overdue for. You know she likes those pedis that only I know how to give, with her fetlocks being so sensitive and stuff. Well, I guess you don't know, since she's my mule, not yours, and I'm the one responsible for her..."

"Yes, you take good care of your mule," Alma said, cutting her off. "And what happened while you were doing that?"

"Well, I was just finishing braiding Dawn's tail when old Don Arturo came running up. He said there was an emergency in town and they needed my strength. I-I tried to come up with an excuse and told him to just wait while I came to get you." It was then that Luisa noticed the remnants of the wardrobe behind her abuela, along with the stack of neatly folded clothes in a nearby corner. "What happened in here?"

Alma sighed. "Let's not worry about the state of my bedroom. You said Don Arturo claimed there was an emergency in town?"

Luisa nodded glumly.

"And did he see you shapeshifting at all?"

Luisa shook her head. "I didn't start doing that until I was out of his line of sight."

Alma contemplated the situation. "We'll have to see what this emergency is," she said. "And if it truly is an emergency, we'll just have to let the truth come out."

"Y-you think the town can handle that?"

"They'll have to." Alma gave her a small smile. "You do remember they were surprisingly understanding when the house collapsed. We'll have their support, even if things become...awkward." She sighed again. "Come, mija, show me to Don Arturo, and we'll see if we can get this sorted. I want you by my side the entire time, as I have precious little control over this gift of yours."

"Of course, Abuela," Luisa said, easily falling into step as Alma exited the room and made her way toward the stairs.

Alma watched Luisa out of the corner of her eye. The young woman seemed a bit more relaxed, but was also visibly trying to stay that way. It seemed to be working, and Luisa didn't involuntarily shapeshift during the trek out to the stable.

Don Arturo was standing by the door to the stable. He waved in greeting and took his hat off courteously. "Doña Alma, I'm sorry to bother you. I thought I could just borrow Luisa for a bit."

Alma nodded in acknowledgment of his courtesy. "I apologize that my family hasn't been as active in town today. We're...dealing with a family matter, so I gave everyone the day off. I instructed them to not worry about any chores in town and to only respond if there is an emergency."

"Oh, well, I understand and respect that," Arturo said, "but this is an emergency. We need Luisa's strength. If you follow me, I'll show you what I mean."

He seemed a bit anxious, so Alma nodded to Luisa and said, "Show us, Arturo."

Arturo led the two into town and to the river where it cut between the plaza and the church—the same church that Luisa was constantly having to relocate because Padre Franco wanted a different view every other Sunday. That had lessened somewhat in the months since Casita had been rebuilt, but on occasion the priest would insist that his sermon just didn't pack the same punch unless he had just the right view to emphasize it.

The river was full, but not quite flood stage. Its volume was beyond Pepa's control, as the river's source was well beyond the Encanto, fed by Andean glaciers. At present, the church sat near the cobbled bank of the river, and the bank was starting to erode away.

"It looks like we may have to contend with some flooding in the next few weeks," Alma said as she assessed the situation. "I recommend starting to sandbag this portion of the river. You shouldn't need Luisa's help for that."

"Oh, it's not the river," Padre Franco said from the steps of his church. "Well, not directly. We need the church moved away from the river so that we don't have to worry about the Sunday picnic being flooded."

"And that couldn't wait until tomorrow?" Alma asked, a little more curtly than she'd intended. "Unless Ma—my daughter should become very upset at someone, I very much doubt the river will flood before Sunday. And the eroding bank is still well away from the church."

"Oh, please, Doña Alma, I don't want to take the chance," the padre pleaded. Others gathered around and nodded in agreement.

Alma glanced at Luisa, who was chewing on her lower lip and trying to keep her breathing under control. She was about to put her foot down on behalf of her granddaughter when a young man came running up with a shout, pausing out of breath at the bank.

"You won't believe what I heard over at the Ortiz place!" the teen chattered when he'd regained his breath. "The Madrigals had all their gifts messed up! Everyone's got everyone else's gift!"

All eyes turned to Alma and Luisa. Alma glared at the boy, who looked shocked and embarrassed to see them there.

"Oh..." he muttered sheepishly, his face turning a shade of crimson.

Alma turned to look back up to Luisa, but didn't see her. She looked around, surprised, then glanced down to see Luisa—as a toddler—staring wide eyed and fearful at the townsfolk, who stared right back at her with mouths agape.

Padre Franco quickly crossed himself and muttered a prayer.

"Doña...what happened?" Arturo asked.

Alma gave him a strained smile. "It's a long story, and if you'll excuse us a moment..." She grabbed a now-panicking baby Luisa and whisked her off to a more private hiding spot behind another building.

Once out of sight, Alma held Luisa by the shoulders, being extremely careful not to squeeze too hard, for fear of breaking her arms. "Breathe, mija. Deep breaths. There we go."

Luisa obeyed as best she could, then shifted to a slightly older version of herself. "I-I'm sorry, Abuela," she whimpered. "I just...I want to help them, but I can't control my gift right now, a-and it'll never stop at just moving the church, they'll want me to reroute the river to keep it from flooding, and..."

"Luisa," Alma said firmly. "Look at me."

Luisa met her gaze glumly.

"Is it really true they make you do all that?"

Luisa nodded.

"But you can say no when the work gets to be too much, mija."

"I know," Luisa sniffed. "A-and I've been better about that, but I've just...gotten so used to doing everything that's asked of me, because that's what was expected for so long, and I don't want to let anyone down. I-it's still hard for me to say no."

Alma stared at the shape of the little girl before her, so vulnerable in this state. It dawned on her just who was responsible for Luisa's inability to stand up for herself. The town had unwittingly exploited the girl all her life, and Alma had allowed it. Encouraged it, even. She cupped Luisa's face gently in her hands.

"Luisa, my beautiful, strong granddaughter. You are exceptional, and always have been, with and without your gift. Yet you are so hard on yourself. And I realize now that I taught you that. And...I am sorry for that. Know that I am always proud of you. You have the kindest heart, and that's where your strength truly lies."

Tears rolled down Luisa's cheeks as she moved in to embrace her abuela. The two held each other like that for a moment, Alma being as gentle as possible. Eventually, Luisa shifted back to her adult form.

"Come on, Abuela, let's get that church moved and tell the folks that's all we're doing for the day. I'll show you how I do it."

Alma smiled as Luisa grasped her hand and led her back to the church. But as they arrived, they ran into people demanding an explanation.

"Doña Alma, is everything alright?" "Who is your strong person today?" "Will the magic restore itself?"

The crowd pressing in began to increase Luisa's anxiety again, and she began shifting rapidly between members of the crowd.

Alma raised a hand for silence. "Everyone, I will not be explaining today's peculiar events until they have resolved themselves. But rest assured that everything will return to normal before noon tomorrow. Now, Luisa and I have agreed to help move the church away from the riverbank, so that I might gain some control over this gift I've been temporarily granted—yes, I have Luisa's strength. But after that, we ask that you respect our family's privacy until the magic settles itself. Afterward, when we are all rested and recovered, I can give an explanation for what happened today."

She turned to Luisa. "Alright, Luisa, where do we begin? Er...Luisa?"

There were two copies of Sra. Osma in front of her. The genuine article was pointing at the copy, who was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"I ca...I can't...can't..."

"Hey, cuz," came a voice from the crowd, "I heard you're having some...double trouble!"

Camilo slipped through the crowd and skidded to Luisa's side, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her close. "Can ya fill me in, in duplicate?" He gave her a disarming smirk.

It worked. Luisa chortled and shifted back to herself. "Well...ya gotta listen, 'cause we're only gonna tell you once."

"Listening is suddenly my speci-al-ity," Camilo said with flare, cupping a hand to an ear.

Alma's mouth twitched upward. Camilo could always make her laugh.

Luisa took a deep breath. "It's this gift of yours! I don't know how to control it! And now everyone knows our powers were switched, and...what do I do?"

Camilo nodded and patted her shoulder. "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, yes, we're in a pickle today, thanks to that Señor Osvaldo. Hilarious guy, but he's got a big mouth. Didn't appreciate how big until today. But hey, you know the real key to shapeshifting and what it's really good for? Comedy! If folks want to judge you, let them judge you as hilarious!"

Luisa didn't look convinced. "How exactly do I do that? I only really know the jokes Papá tells sometimes."

"No no, please don't tell your papá's jokes," Camilo said. "Or my papá's jokes, for that matter. We want people laughing, not groaning and picking up rocks."

Alma snorted and chuckled at that. The jokes of the two Madrigal fathers could truly be groan-worthy at times, and they frequently used this fact to embarrass their teenagers.

"Okay," Camilo continued, positioning Luisa as if staging her. "So when you want to shapeshift, think about your audience and who would make them smile or laugh. And you really gotta know your audience. Go ahead, pick your first victim!" He swept an arm around to gesture broadly at their audience, who all watched eagerly. Some could be heard mumbling to be picked.

Luisa gulped, then exhaled slowly. She could do this. "Well...I pick..." Suddenly, she'd shifted into Osvaldo.

The audience's eyes all rose, and chuckles immediately began. Emboldened, Luisa smirked.

"Hey, everyone, have you heard that the Madrigals went and screwed it all up again? Lemme tell you all about it because I have no tact! Like the time I told Mirabel to her face that it was too bad she wasn't as special as everyone else. Yep, good times, good times!"

The audience gave a half-hearted chuckle. Alma put a hand to her face in exasperation.

"Oookay, let's dial it back a bit," Camilo said. "Best not to knock a man down when he's not here to defend himself. Also, I'm sensing a little bit of bitterness there."

Luisa shifted back. "Sorry, I-I thought...you're right, that wasn't..."

"Eh, practice," Camilo said, waving her off. "But for a real challenge, let's see if you can possibly imitate the inimitable, the glorious, the humble...Camilo Madrigal!" He struck a pose.

Alma rolled her eyes.

Luisa laughed. "Alright, but don't blame me if I get it too right." She shifted, with a little difficulty, into Camilo. "I am a challenge," she said, trying to imitate Camilo's voice. "Mami says I'm a challenge every day!"

Laughter trickled through the audience. Alma began to chuckle as well.

Luisa leaned into her character. "I'm supremely modest and humble!" She nudged her cousin. "Hey, let's play tejo, but put way more gunpowder in the envelope! What could possibly go wrong?"

Bringing up that memory had the audience rolling. Poor Félix had been just in time to not scoop up the envelope before Camilo hit the target. The man's eyebrows had taken over a month to grow back completely.

Camilo blushed and chuckled, rubbing his ears as the laughing began to get to them.

"Alright, mija, we should get to work," Alma said, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye. "Show me what to do with this church."

"Okay, Abuela," Luisa called, shifting back to herself. "But there's a very precise way to do this..." She shifted into Padre Franco as she took up a spot next to the church, then glanced at him uncertainly. "Uh...is this...sacrilegious?"

The padre raised a hand. "Only if you plan on making bald jokes."

Luisa smiled. "I'd never, Padre." She turned to her abuela. "Alright, Abuela, you wanna lift with the knees. This church gets moved a lot, so getting your fingers under there shouldn't be hard."

Alma nodded, flexed her fingers, then inhaled and exhaled. She found a spot underneath the church to slip her fingers and began to lift.

"Okay, so next you wanna get under the center of the church to support all sides of it, or it'll start to collapse on one wall."

Alma found it a little bit difficult to focus on Luisa when the real priest stood nearby. As she shimmied underneath the building and hefted it up over her head, she took a moment to be impressed with herself before calling to her granddaughter.

"Luisa, if you please, I'd like to focus on just you and not two of the padre."

"Oh, sure thing," Luisa said, shifting back to herself. "Okay, so once you're in the center there...yeah, just like that...okay, so now we'll guide you to where we need the church to go."

Together, Luisa and the padre guided Alma to a spot up from the river on a grassy knoll, perfect for a Sunday picnic. Luisa directed Alma in properly putting the church down. The audience cheered as Luisa and Camilo ran up to hug their grandmother.

"Amazing, Abuela!" Camilo praised.

"You make a great me," Luisa said. She shifted into Alma's form. "Do you think I'd make a good you?"

Alma chuckled. "Trust me, mija, you don't want that kind of pressure. You've got more than enough of your own." She slung her arms around her grandkids. "Come, familia, let's go home for the day. Luisa, you can keep showing me how to get more of a handle on this strength of yours."

"I've still got the gym," Luisa said. "And the spa too. Camilo, you gotta show me some of your routines."

"It would be my pleasure," Camilo said. "Ooh, the doctor just arrived for Osvaldo, so Tía Julieta and Antonio should be able to get dinner going soon."

"Doctor?" Alma asked.

"Long story. Appendicitis, if I'm hearing Tía right."

"Well, now I do feel bad about making fun of him," Luisa muttered.

"We'll worry about it later," Alma said. "Osvaldo is in good hands, so let us focus on our own tasks."

"Right," Luisa said, shifting into Mirabel and turning around to face her abuela and cousin. "Would you like some cucumbers to go with your facials? Fresh off the vine!"

That got a laugh out of both of the other Madrigals.

"That actually sounds heavenly," Alma said.