Bruno liked to keep busy—well, he didn't "like" to, really. Keeping to a task excused him from speaking to people, and that was for the best.

Everyone in the Encanto had a role, and Bruno's was to stay out of sight. He dried ritual herbs in the cold light of his room, chaliponga's sharp leaves agitating his skin. Someone might need his gift one day, and he had to be prepared. His visions never led to anything good, but hey, people love to half-listen.

A squeak drew Bruno from his work, and he felt something skitter up his ruana.

Reaching back, he placed the little rat in his palm. "Don't eat the guayusa, Paca," he muttered. "I don't think you'll die, but you'll have a heck of a weird dream."

The rat groomed her snout, and Bruno petted her with a finger. He didn't know what time it was, but figured he should stretch his legs.

Peering into Paca's beady eyes, Bruno smiled. "Wanna go on an adventure with me?"

A single squeak was an answer enough.

Placing her in his pocket, he kept his fingers on Paca's fur, calmed by her soft warmth. As he walked downstairs, Bruno pulled his hood over his head, hoping to ignore the world.

Footfall gave him pause. "Bruno? Hermano, come here!" Julieta called.

He followed her voice to the kitchen. Daylight was merry in the room, and Julieta's cooking filled the air. Within, his mother and sister washed fruit at the sink.

Julieta saw him, she gave a little tut. "Oye, hood up already?"

His gentle sister understood his quirks, so Bruno didn't react. Still, he knew to lower his hood for their mother.

"Ah, a, uh, bad hair day," he said quickly. "What did you call me for, Juli?"

"The Guzmáns have a toddler with croup, and all he'll eat is escabeche. I need you to go into town and buy a dorado. The whole fish is fine."

Bruno faltered. "Why can't you go?"

"I'm cooking for Easter dinner. You know that."

"Pepa?"

"She's pregnant and can't touch raw fish."

"...Félix?"

Their mother stepped forward. "Enough of that. I'll go with you."

Bruno nodded, fumbling to keep Paca still as he moved toward her. Allowing Alma to take his arm in hers, they hurried from the home.

"I'm so sorry, mamá. Did I put you out? We can go back."

"Relax. And stop fidgeting with your pocket; people will think you're simple."

Bruno let Paca free of his hand. Every eye was on him as they walked through the town, he was sure of it.

It had been three years since Pepa's wedding, and the whole town knew how that went. A poorly-placed joke and a hurricane, and everyone's crops were well and drowned. His mother didn't speak to him for a week. Things hadn't improved much by the present.

By the time they reached the fishery, Alma stopped him to fix his hair. "Big smile, Brunito. Remember to say please and thank you."

"Mamá, I'm twenty-nine..."

"I wouldn't say it if you didn't need reminded."

She pushed Bruno into the shop, shutting the door behind him. "Ay, this is how I die..." he groaned.

Inside, the shop was dark and cramped. Fish hung on display from the ceiling, though the open windows kept the place of smelling of it.

"Papi! Get off the pot, someone's here," came a woman's voice from upstairs.

Through a mess of poles and netting, a woman trudged into the room. She walked hotly to the merchant counter, tossing her many braids from her shoulder. Simply dressed, bright hair beads were her only adornment.

"What do you need?" she huffed.

This woman, about twenty-ish, was new to his eyes, which meant she hadn't lived in town long. So suddenly (and loudly) had she appeared, Bruno lost his train of thought.

"I... need a fish..." was all he could stammer out.

"My man, we are in a fish shop," she began, but stopped short. Her eyes became merry, and her laugh was like falling marbles.

"You're the Madrigal's son!" she continued. "Wow, that was a ripper of a storm; think my dad still spits up sand. ¡Señor Huracán, llévame lejos!"

Bruno felt himself go red. "That wasn't..."

"Ah, tsk-tsk; don't sweat it. Fish were easy pickings that day."

Maybe she could hear how heavy his breath was, or saw how he avoided eye contact; either way, the woman calmed her demeanor. She gestured at the hanging fish, her dark skirt twirling as she turned. "Okay, Huracán. What fish do you need?"

"A dorado. Those are in season, right?"

"Yeah, most of the year."

Bruno nodded, and reached for his pockets. "Just one dorado, please."

Paca pushed her way up his arm, her sleek brown body zipping up atop Bruno's head. In an awkward, clammy moment, Bruno waited for the woman to make a scene.

She seemed to consider it, but shrugged it off. "Ah, he has a rat friend. I'll wrap the fish twice."

"Sorry," Bruno muttered.

As she handed him the fish, the woman smiled. "On the house, for coming by."

Bruno smiled, and backtracked. "Oh! Uh, thank you. For giving it to me free. Thanks."

"I'm Conchita, by the way!"

Bruno opened the shop door in haste. "I'm Bruno."

"Yep. I know," said Conchita, laughing one more time as he left.

Bruno sat on the stoop of the building, his heart pounding. That had gone better than he expected. Around him, the townspeople milled about, definitely staring at this scraggly man with a fish in his lap. Up ahead, he saw his mother, speaking to the town priest.

Conchita hadn't shunned him, and Bruno couldn't believe it. Maybe she was used to lone men acting nervous. Maybe she didn't know much of him at all. Either way, Bruno felt like a clean slate.

Ignoring his mother, Bruno put up his hood, and walked home alone quite happy.

"I made a friend today," Bruno said, passing the bread basket down the dinner table. "Or not. At least, she's a friendly person."

He looked around at his family, watching his mother especially. Further down the table, Agustín and Félix gave approving gestures.

"Good to see you getting out more," said Agustín. "Who is she?"

Alma Madrigal put her fork down. She seemed pleased, but Bruno knew he'd put his foot in it, leaving her in town. "María Concepción, Señor Navarro's daughter," she said in brief.

"Cuñado, you gonna be the next one to marry?" Félix teased.

Bruno blanched. "No, no! She's really loud, and I don't think she'd..."

Pepa said something about Félix being loud too, but Bruno turned his attention to his dinner in haste. Bruno didn't want to think of how dating could go. One thousand and one times, Bruno had the pleasure of meeting a girl in his school days, only for it to be a trap for misfortune. Pepa always set his detractors straight, but his sister couldn't stop it all. Now, his tormentors begged him for their fortunes, and women knew him as a coward.

Agustín nudged Bruno from his unease. "I know Conchita! If anyone can win her over, it's you. She's nice, but hard to know..."

Julieta gave her husband a weary look, and Agustín smiled sheepishly. "Amor, I—she hooked my nose on accident once," he continued. "Just left me there, pole and all."

The family laughed about that. Of course, his brothers-in-law were trying to motivate him, but it was unheeded. Agustín was modern and well-manicured, and Félix exuded confidence; friendship was all Bruno had to offer, and all that he expected to.

Long past his embarrassment, Bruno remembered the two 50 centavo coins in his pocket. He would make another trip in the morning.


Translations/notes

Hermano- Brother

Chaliponga- a plant found in various areas of South American rainforests; used in traditional practice for divination

Guayusa- another such plant, used to promote healing, protection, and the facilitation of divination

Escabeche- a raw fish dish, "cooked" in lemon juice

"¡Señor Huracán, llévame lejos!"- Mr. Hurricane, lift me away!

Cuñado- brother-in-law

Amor- love, darling

Side note: the first nine chapters are set around 1929 or 1930