"You did that on purpose didn't you?"

Wilfredo stiffened up as he straightened his tie. Jacqueline's snickering brought a grin to his face despite himself. Stop that! Don't laugh, don't encourage her!

"Well it's not like you were gonna make a move. Still need your hermantia to play matchmaker for you eh? How sad." She teased.

Wilfredo shook his head and sighed. "No one is making any moves Jacqueline." Much as he liked what he'd seen of Bruno, an attractive, funny, creative man, he had no expectations. "This is a small town. We can't afford to be causing trouble. If we get kicked out we'll be stuck on the streets for the next three months. We need to save our money for travel expenses."

"UGH!" Jacqueline groaned loudly.

Wilfredo shoved the curtain that separated the tiny guest room aside to point a stern finger at his sister. "I mean it Jacqueline. Sin travesuras."

His sister leaned back on her elbows on the floor mat that had been arranged on her side of the room. She glared up at him indignantly. "If no eres atraído, why are you getting all dressed up?" She complained.

"Cállate." He blustered before scurrying back behind the curtain to collect his coat.

He wore a tweed suit. It had been tailor made many years ago. Once it had been a perfect fit, he looked quite dapper in it. But he'd lost some weight since then and the way the shoulders creased about the empty space bothered him. He'd have to see a tailor again once he got his first paycheck. He was still a stocky fellow despite it all though so perhaps it was a fool's errand to try so hard. He wasn't trying to impress the attractive man who'd caught his eye, but rather hoped he could win over the town's stern matriarch after his clumsy introduction. Besides, he preferred to maintain some presentability.

"Apúrate! The festival's already started and I'm not going to bed tonight til I'm good and drunk." His sister griped as she burst through the curtain to get him.

Wilfredo was in no hurry to be back on the road. Not after Jacqueline's affair with a local politician got them run out of the last town. They were in quite the sorry state when they found El Encanto. Trudging through the jungle with all the possessions they had left in a rickety wooden cart. They'd lost their horse a few miles back, a horse Jacqueline stole no less, and most of their money had been seized. If Wilfredo saw that wretched banker's face again he was sure he would send the man home with a black eye and few missing teeth.

Despite being mostly responsible for their current predicament Jacqueline wasn't slow to complain as they dragged their cart along by hand. She suggested dumping their things on more than one occasion though Wilfredo was in no hurry to be even more broke than they already were. At least some of their possessions could sell for decent when they made it to another town. If they made it to another town.

After a day and a half with no clean drinking water Jacqueline drank from a stream against his advice which didn't help their situation. Wilfredo was nearly on the verge of setting up camp somewhere for his sister and running ahead to try and find the road they'd lost track of, when he'd caught a glimpse of light on the horizon. Civilization. They hiked all night and well into the day before reaching a crack in the mountains that overlooked a valley with a vibrant little town.

Wilfredo wasn't sure he'd ever been so grateful to see other humans as he and his sister made their way into town, still pulling their cart behind them. Folks in town gave them odd looks as they passed.

"Necesito un baño." His sister groaned as her face grew a sickly color.

Wilfredo kept looking around for signs of anything that might signify a place of business, but everything looked residential or at least unmarked. "I know, I know." He was really starting to worry.

A local family stopped them in the streets before he could bring himself to break down and ask someone for directions. A man, his wife and teenage daughter by the looks of it.

"Ey, you two alright?" The man asked with genuine concern and a bit of surprise.

Wilfredo hadn't really thought about how rough they looked. He suddenly became very self conscious. His clothes were filthy, he's stripped down to just his pants and a now very sweaty undershirt. His hair was matted and he was covered in all manner of scrapes and bruises. Jacqueline had navigated the woods a bit better though she looked like she would vomit at any moment and seemed barely conscious of the worried bystanders.

Wilfredo adjusted his crooked reading glasses. "Oh, uh. We've been walking a while and could really use a place to rest for the night." He was hesitant to ask because he knew his wallet was light, but Jacqueline needed somewhere to rest, it was unavoidable at this point. "I don't suppose you folks have an inn or something?"

Jacqueline groaned as she hobbled to the edge of the street to vomit in the family's flower bed. The woman let out a worried shriek and he couldn't help but mutter curses under his breath.

"I told you not to drink the river water!" He scolded. This family certainly wouldn't be in a hurry to help after an introduction like that. But the locals surprised him.

"Oh you poor thing." The woman cooed as she rubbed little circles on his sister's back while she wretched. "Come with us, we have a healer in town who can help."

Wilfredo felt a pain in his wallet. He pulled it from his back pocket to double check their funds. How much would a doctor cost in a small town like this? Surely not that much? But they really couldn't afford more than a bed right now. "I don't think that's necessary, she just needs to rest for a bit." he attempted to dismiss though he didn't sound as confident as he would have liked.

He nearly jumped as the strange man put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "It's no trouble hombre, we'll heal you guys up, no charge, alright?"

The man gave him a kind smile though seemed a tad fearful.

"Oh you don't have to do that." he fumbled out.

The man crossed his arms and thought for a moment. They both turned to see his wife heading down the street supporting the very sick Jacqueline.

"I'm taking her to see Julieta." She explained

A woman doctor. How odd. Wilfredo looked back to the strange man then to his daughter who was watching them both intently. She looked both fascinated and terrified, as if Wilfredo were some rare specimen.

"You said you need a place to stay for the night?" The man asked.

"Uhm, yes, that is what I said." Wilfredo replied as he took his glasses off to clean them only to realize his shirt was entirely too damp to be of any use. His vision wasn't too terrible but he couldn't help, but resent his current sorry state.

"Let me take you to see the council. I'm sure they can set you travelers up for the night."

The man gestured for him to follow. Wilfredo was about to grab his cart again before the man called out to his daughter.

"Ayla can watch your things. You look like you could use a break."

Wilfredo looked back at the dark haired teenager. He was deeply anxious about the prospect of leaving all of his worldly possessions in the hands of strangers. But they had just whisked away his sister, and in the current state of affairs it hardly seemed like the bigger problem.

"The council?" Wilfredo inquired.

The man led him to the town square as he explained how the town's founders still ran the place and oversaw all of the town's day to day logistics. Thankfully it didn't take long for his new acquaintance to flag down a group of elders overseeing some sort of construction project.

"Señora Madrigal, perdone." The man got the attention of a stern elder woman in a black shawl.

Wilfredo stood just far back enough he didn't hear exactly what all was said, but he could feel his blood run cold when Señora Madrigal looked his way. He was quick to straighten up as the woman approached and put on his most marketable smile.

"It's been a long time since we've had an outsider in our community." The woman opened sternly though not incurious. It was clear from the way she carried herself and the finery she wore she was someone of influence in this town.

"We don't mean to intrude." Wilfredo explained smoothly despite the exhaustion that had seeped into his bones. He was going to fold his arms behind his back before realizing that an overly straight poster would draw attention to his filthy shirt and settled instead for tucking his hands in his front pockets in an attempt to look relaxed. "My sister and I got lost and this is the first town we've come across in days. I was hoping we might find some place to rest for the night."

He watched as the old woman's face softened a bit. She eyed him up and down with an unmistakable hint of pity in her eyes. Pity was the last thing he wanted, but it was better than hostility or suspicion.

"You certainly look it." She waved to the other council members. "Let's move this conversation inside. Arturo, could you get this man a glass of water." An older man took off his hat and nodded to her as he led the way into a large stone building. Some kind of town hall by the look of it. The interior had a collection of tables and chairs filling a large open space with a vaulted ceiling. A podium was set up on one end and there appeared to be some doors leading to other spare rooms though he couldn't tell what their functions were.

The inside was thankfully cool and Wilfredo was immensely grateful for a drink of clean water. He hadn't realized just how dehydrated he was until he found himself chugging the glass in one swig. He looked back at the elders who had sat down with him around one of the small round tables. They looked confused and worried and he almost felt too embarrassed to ask for another glass.

"I'll get you a refill." Arturo offered gently as he reached for Wilfredo's glass.

"Gracias." He replied sheepishly.

He could feel all the eyes in the room boring holes in him. Especially the Madrigal woman.

"I feel as though I've intruded." Wilfredo apologized.

The Madrigal woman straightened out for a moment, "We don't see outsiders here often. But it would be wrong not to help considering your state. Do you mind explaining to us how you found this place?"

Arturo returned with another glass of water and he thanked him. He sipped more slowly this time while he considered his answer. Wilfredo was sure a full explanation of how they ended up in this predicament would certainly not charm this guarded old woman. He'd have to tread carefully. "Mi hermana and I were traveling to a neighboring city when there was an accident on the road. We lost our horse and got lost in the woods. I saw the light of your village through a crack in the mountains last night."

The elders exchanged worried glances, a woman with silver braids whispered something to the town's matriarch and was reassured with a whisper.

"Cómo te llamas." She asked him.

"Wilfredo Fontana." He answered. "My sister Jacqueline was taken to see your doctor."

The matriarch cut him off with her hand. "Julieta, my daughter. She'll see to it your sister is well. Will you be ready to leave when she is?"

Wilfredo thought for a moment. "Well…"

"Do you know where you are going?" She asked sternly. He felt like he was being scolded.

"If we had a map, I'm sure we could find our way back to the main road." He replied calmly despite his indignation. The last thing he needed to do was offend the people offering him assistance. Even if it meant swallowing his pride.

"What were you doing traveling this far out into the countryside?" She asked.

Tread carefully. "I lost my job, Señora." That was technically true. "I have a new job arranged in Cali, though I don't start for another three months." He sipped his water quietly.

"And you didn't think to take a train?" The woman asked skeptically.

Wilfredo nearly choked on his drink for a moment. How stupid did this woman think he was. "With all due respect, mi hermana and I have fallen on hard times as of late. We were hoping to conserve our funds", also partially true. Though he would probably have taken the train had a heart broken mother not hunted down his sister with a shotgun.

The woman rubbed the bridge of her nose irritably as though she'd been struck by a migraine. He could swear he heard her mutter "Idiota", under her breath, but made no comment. This woman seemed to be the one running things here. She asked every question while her companions regarded him with worry and suspicion.

"What is it you do?" She asked.

"Me," Wilfredo was a little surprised by the question. It hardly seemed relevant. "I'm a teacher. University level usually though I have taught children before."

The elders whispered amongst each other again for a moment before the Madrigal woman waved him away."Take him to see Juileta. This man could use something to eat."

Aurturo offered a hand to help Wilfredo to his feet. He really was exhausted and it was definitely sinking in just how obvious it was. Aurturo spoke softly and seemed like a gentle, kind, old fellow. A pleasant contrast to the cold woman.

He brought him to a little stand on the edge of the town square. There was a bar with a little television where a few people sat and looked out on the open square. A woman in a blue dress was talking with his sister who seemed to be in much better spirits.

"Wilfredo you have to try this!" His sister gushed as she ran up to him bright eyed and attempted to shove an arepa into his face.

Wilfredo waved her hand away in frustration. "I'm not hungry." Of course Jacqueline had been exaggerating. Why was he surprised? What had he just agreed to? Was that humiliating inquisition all for nothing?

"I'm serious hermano this food is amazing." She insisted.

The old man Aurturo laughed, "She's right you know. You should have a bite. You'll feel better."

Wilfredo grumbled as he took the arepa from Jacqueline. He somehow doubted a bite to eat would heal his wounded pride.

He found an open seat at the bar by the television and took a bite of the food as his sister watched on with suspicious enthusiasm. "Why are you-" He stopped as a wave of relief washed over him. He swallowed the fried bread and stared down at his bruised and battered forearms as the marks disappeared from his skin.

He adjusted his glasses and examined himself more closely as the old man laughed again. "Bienvenidos a El Encanto." He beamed as he took in the newcomers astonishment. "The town of miracles."

"Indeed." Wilfredo mused.

Arturo bid them a friendly farewell before leaving to return to the council.

He looked around as if expecting some explanation to present itself in his environment. The town looked ordinary at first glance, but as if the lifted fatigue had sharpened his mind he only now realized the exceptional feats that surrounded him.

The woman in blue he learned was Juileta Madrigal. She could apparently heal any sickness or injury with her food. Apparently all the Madrigals were magical as far as his sister told it. Though she was easily carried away so perhaps there was something she was missing.

"There has to be some kind of explanation." He blustered to his sister who groaned in frustration.

"It's magic, it doesn't need an explanation." She insisted. She gestured his attention to a puppet theater in the town square. He only just now realized that was what the adults around him were watching. A gaggle of children sat on the cobblestone laughing at what looked like rats in little costumes. Strange. He watched a curly haired boy pop his head out from behind the stage only to transform into a middle aged woman.

Wilfredo sat dumbfounded.

He squinted through foggy lenses. "That's an impressive trick I'll give them that." He mused as he tried to think of how such a transformation could be achieved. He took another bite from what he was quickly realizing was the best arepa he ever tasted. Though perhaps he was just starving. Some kind of mask change? Though he could spot no seams or devices that might be used to remove it so quickly.

"It's magic, idiota! Why do you have to overthink everything!?" His sister whined. Why did she have to act like such a child? This is how he enjoyed the world. He liked seeing how things work. Discovering the hidden mechanisms behind the world. Not everyone needed to be as whimsical as her, and perhaps she should have been more grateful for his pragmatic approach to life.

Wilfredo was quickly distracted from her complaints however as he spotted a new face. When the rats on the stage hit their marks two actors would emerge from either side of the stage to deliver lines. The boy whose face kept changing, and an older man.

The older man looked about his forties. He had a short scruffy beard and his hazel eyes glimmered with mischief as he delivered his lines. He mostly seemed to play the male characters while the boy played the women. Every line he delivered was enthusiastic and eccentric. He seemed to relish his role as the cartoonish villain of the story they were enacting. He didn't recognize this story, something original perhaps?

He couldn't help but smile as the man slipped in little jabs no child would have caught onto. The adults around all got a laugh, but there was one joke he wasn't sure anyone else caught. He felt a kind of childish glee in that moment. A little joke just for him.

"Enjoying the show?" Jacquline disrupted his thoughts with a playful nudge.

He looked over to see a wry grin on her face. Oh no. Was he really that obvious? Or did he really smile so little she could think of no other reason for him to enjoy the presence of another human.

"The jokes are clever." He retorted stubbornly as he took a large bite of food so as not to have to talk anymore.

The play came to an end with the villain's very melodramatic death and he couldn't help, but resent Jacquline for distracting him from the ending.

"Oh it's pretty funny alright." she agreed.

They both watched as the two performers took a bow and the rats all clambered up onto the older man's shoulders. He bowed low and rewarded his actors with pets and treats from his front pocket while the boy began deconstructing the stage.

"Is that it!?" Whined one of the children.

"Hey take it up with Tio Bruno." The boy replied with a grin and a gaggle of little ones bombarded the man with questions.

These performances were apparently a weekly occurrence and the kids were used to longer shows though the writer, Bruno, had been short on ideas as of late. He didn't say as much, but it was easy to infer from his timid half answers. He really was a small man by the look of it. Amazing how much he could shrink in the face of juvenile confrontation.

"That's enough niños." The healer lady shooed the children away. "Go play, there'll be plenty more shows in the future."

Wilfredo couldn't help, but find the whole affair endearing as he watched Bruno smile sheepishly at his sister. What an adorable little grin.

"You should go talk to him." Jacquline whispered to him.

"What? No!" He spun around and scolded his sister in hushed tones, "You're still in trouble you know! Don't think you can distract me."

Jacqueline feigned innocence, "Who me? I was just trying to encourage mi hermano to make new friends. We're in a strange place. It's not a bad idea to be friendly."

He knew full well what she was really insinuating and he certainly wasn't engaging with such indecent impulses at a time like this.

He was about to say something else but a stern voice cut him off.

"Senor Fontana?"

He turned to see Señora Madrigal approach with the rest of the council. They seemed to be of mixed emotions, but kind old Arturo offered a friendly wave as they approached.

The matriarch still lead the conversation."We've been discussing your unfortunate situation." She looked his sister over. "We thought given your situation we might make an offer. We are willing to arrange a place for you to stay for the next few months. Just until you're ready to start work."

Wilfredo was deeply put off by the unexpected proposition. "Oh, oh no, no gracias that isn't necessary really. We can't really afford," The woman cut him off again. All it took was a wave of her hand. The authority she emanated was palpable.

"Save your money. You will work for your room and board. You can save for a train ticket." There was an edge to her words. He was certain he was being scolded this time.

"That's a very generous offer." He replied. Frustrating as it was to be talked down to. "But I would hate to be a burden."

"YES!" Jacquline insisted enthusiastically. "Your village is so beautiful! It would be a privilege to live here, even if it's just for a little while."

"Jacqueline!" He hissed as he pushed his sister off his shoulder where she had perched herself.

"With all due respect. I think this is something we should consider carefully before rushing to a decision."

The Madrigal woman seemed somewhat pleased with his caution. "Of course, take your time. For now you two can spend the night with Señor Robledo and inform us of your decision tomorrow."

"I suppose, if it's no trouble. That is very kind of you." He replied.

As the Madrigal woman turned to leave he realized she hadn't actually told him where he could find her. "Will you be coming by to ask or-"

"Call for Dolores, she'll relay the message." The woman replied over her shoulder before nodding to Aurturo who led them off.

Señor Robledo as it turned out was the town's very aged librarian who's home was a narrow two bedroom attached to the library. The second bedroom had belonged to his late daughter and he and Jacqueline had quite a time on that first night squeezing all their belongings into the small space. They set up a pallet on the floor and curtain down the middle of the room. Wilfredo was going to take the floor himself, but his sister insisted she wouldn't get much use out of the bed once he got acquainted with the town. What was he going to do with her?

"I'm telling you el hombres un mariposón." Jacqueline insisted as they made their way towards the town center.

"Keep your voice down!" Wilfredo hissed in frustration. "You can't let people hear you talk like that." It baffled him sometimes his sister's lack of situational awareness.

"The Madrigals are magic, they're obviously the most influential family in town. Yet I don't see a ring on that man's finger. At his age?"

Wilfredo straightened his cuffs irritably as they walked. "There's a lot of reasons for a man to stay single, Jacqueline." He was growing increasingly impatient with this conversation. His sister was a promiscuous type and seemed especially committed to roping him into her antics ever since she caught him staring.

"I don't know why you're playing dumb." Jacqueline insisted.

"Because I don't want to sleep in the woods." He replied dryly as they approached the bustling town square.

Wilfredo rolled his eyes as his baby sister trotted off ahead of him. She could have her fun, he wanted no part of it. He took the opportunity to enjoy the momentary quiet and take in the town. Most of the games and music and food were further down the road, but every house was decorated with candles in windows and on doorsteps. They all had patterns carved into them, some detailed and carefully crafted, others had crude children's drawings.

It was charming. He couldn't help but smile a little as he leaned down to get a closer look at a candle that had been decorated with little stick figure donkeys. At least they looked like donkeys. As someone who never really got to be a child he was always so endeared by childish things. He envied those who knew how to embrace life's pleasures with reckless abandon. As much as his sister could be a pain, his life would be so much emptier without her in it.

He wasn't sure how long he'd been taking in the scenery when a timid voice called out to him.

"Oh, there you are."

He looked up to see the man who'd captured his fascination on his first day in this town.

Bruno was short, his dark curls flecked with salt and pepper were tied back in a small tuft of a ponytail at the nape of his neck. The ruana he wore was colorful and filled with a childish spark though his soft eyes had a faintly haunting look to them. Almost as if he were some specter trying his best not to frighten people. The tender smile on this man's weathered features was something he hadn't been prepared for.

Wilfredo pushed himself up from the crouch he was in and put on a polite urbanite smile.

"You were looking for me?" He asked. Flattering as it was, he hoped the answer was no.

"Oh, uh, no I mean, well… Sort of?" Bruno started pulling on his ruana as he took a step back.

Wilfredo froze up a little in place. He hadn't meant to frighten the man.

"Your sister's already stopped by to say hi and told me to see what was taking you." He explained finally after a rat emerged from his collar to nibble at his cheek. Bruno took the rat down from his shoulder and stroked it's back gently before looking back up at Wilfredo. "You said you didn't mind the rats." He smiled awkwardly as though he felt the need to justify enjoying his pet in public.

Wilfredo straightened his glasses before composing himself and finally taking a step closer. "Of course not. Don't neglect your furry friends on my account" He laughed in the hopes of disarming the doe eyed creature in front of him. "Mi hermanita's always in such a hurry to party. We should try and catch up to her before she causes any trouble."

"Trouble?" Bruno inquired.

Wilfredo cursed himself for his choice of words. "Don't tell Señora Madrigal, but my sister has a bit of a history. I'm sure she'd be less welcoming if she knew." He wasn't sure why, but Bruno seemed like someone who would be a bit more understanding. Perhaps it was his own eccentric nature that led Wilfredo to assume he was no stranger to misunderstandings.

"Oh, mi madre. Yeah she's a strict woman. I wouldn't worry too much, as long as you don't cross her, you should be fine." Bruno seemed awfully quick to reinforce Wilfredo's assessment of the woman. Bruno looked back up at him as they walked along, though still slouched terribly. "So what held you up?"

"Oh, I was just admiring the decorations." He explained.

"Right. Every year people like to create their own little miracles. Almost makes the town feel like family for a night." Bruno mused as he doted on one of his furry creatures. Wilfredo noticed a couple more rats hiding out on his person but chose not to draw attention to it.

"Miracle candles?"

"Oh, sí. Mi familia, we were given a miracle. An enchanted candle that gives us our gifts. It's like a whole thing." Bruno seemed to grow shy at the mention of their "gifts" as he put it and Wilfredo wondered if it would be imprudent to press further.

They walked along in silence for a moment before Bruno peered up at him again. He gave him an awkward smile as he tried to keep the conversation going, "Really making the rest of us feel underdressed huh?" He laughed awkwardly as he slipped the rat he was holding into his front pocket.

Wilfredo folded his arms behind his back as he walked and flashed a confident smile. "I've not gotten a chance to properly introduce myself to the town as of yet. I thought it best to make a good impression. I pride myself on such things."

"Oh. Right, that makes sense. I mean what would I know about that?" Bruno rubbed his arm and looked away. He looked insecure. "Mi hermana Pepa says I look like un vago. I can't exactly say she's wrong."

Bruno's self-deprecating remarks hurt to listen too. Even if it may have been partially true. Admittedly Bruno was a rather disheveled person. Clean though they were, his unruly curls refused to stay in his ponytail and still hung in his face most of the time. Wilfredo wasn't sure if that was simply their nature or perhaps, if their meeting at the library was anything to go by, his clumsy flailing was so commonplace as to make maintaining a proper hairstyle near impossible.

His scruffy beard also looked less like an intentional style decision and more like he struggled with a razor. He was tempted to suspect the latter as he noticed slightly uneven patches in the salt and pepper that flecked the man's jawline. His clothes were nice, though it looked like he never ironed them, and his ruana was covered in childish colorful doodles. A cacophony of seemingly disparate imagery. Animals, butterflies, rainbows, flowers, herbs and geometric patterns all danced around the hourglasses that made for the only uniform pattern.

"I think your sister lacks gusto." Wilfredo replied after giving it some thought. "Some people lack an eye for beauty." He had a keen awareness of just how little men tended to read into such statements.

Perhaps it was a gamble to be so forward, but he highly doubted he'd given anything away and this man could clearly use the confidence boost. Though perhaps such words would have meant more had they come from a woman.

Bruno nearly tripped over his own feet and face planted onto the pavement.

Wilfredo couldn't help to reach his arms out to catch him though Bruno managed to steady himself just shy of making contact. He felt a panic creep in as seconds felt like minutes. Had he just made a mistake?

"I'm fine," Bruno let out a nasally honk before clearing his throat and regaining his balance. "I'm fine."

Wilfredo stayed frozen as he was as he awaited some sign he was safe.

Bruno seemed to fumble backwards a bit as they made eye contact and he seemed suddenly aware of the close proximity between them.

"I think beauty might be a bit of an overstatement don't you think." He chuckled awkwardly. The same anxious laugh he'd heard multiple times now. The laugh he gave when he was looking to defuse a situation. That laugh put Wilfredo a little at ease. Only a little.

Wilfredo straightened up and brushed a few creases from his suit as he replied cautiously. "Well I am rather fond of the arts. I appreciate creative people." That wasn't what he had meant. Looking at those glittering emeralds that stared back at him, he knew that wasn't what he had meant.

"Oh, right. That makes more sense." He grinned sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"What did you think I meant?"

"Oh hey look, a distraction!"

Wilfredo stood dumbfounded as Bruno darted off into the square waving back for him to follow. Despite himself he darted off after him without thinking. Why were they running? What just happened?!

Bruno was surprisingly quick on his feet and he had to stop to catch his breath once he caught up to him. Bruno looked around the square excitedly and Wilfredo tried to compose himself enough to get a sentence out. The square was filled with laughter and music and dancing. Twinkling lights and colorful decorations.

"What are we looking at exactly?" He finally asked, trying his best to mask his confusion and irritation.

"Oh, uh, I thought I saw Jacqueline, but I guess not." He replied awkwardly.

Had Bruno known what he meant?

A pair of children darted between them covered in some color substance and squealing wildly.

"You think you can escape!" Came a maniacal woman's voice.

He turned to see a young woman bombarding laughing children with bright mists of color. The cobblestone had been consumed with succulents and flowers where she stood. The colorful woman laughed maniacally before her eyes locked onto the two men.

"What's this? A new challenger approaches."

Bruno held his hands up in front of his chest with a sheepish grin, "Hey sobrina, you seen Jacqueline?"

The girl's hands filled with what looked like seed pods though Wilfredo couldn't identify the species from the distance she was standing. The foliage at her feet expanded outward, creeping over the cobblestone.

"All I see is mi Tío in need of a new coat of paint."

Wilfredo adjusted his glasses as he took in the sight and attempted to formulate a response. More magic by the looks of it. It had been over a week and he'd seen shapeshifting, healing arepas, a child who could talk to animals and a woman carrying buildings and beasts of burden all while hardly leaving the library. Still this would take getting used to. He straightened up and attempted to introduce himself.

Before he could open his mouth to speak he felt a soft slightly clammy hand grab hold of his own as he was yanked violently to the side.

A massive cloud of blue erupted from the ground where he had been standing as he spun around to the opposite side of his scrawny companion.

"Easy Isabela." Bruno attempted to sooth.

"NO! NO MERCY!" She cackled before bombarding them with more explosions of vibrant color.

Wilfredo barely had time to register the chaos as he found himself being dragged, pushed and shoved about the town square as Bruno dodged his niece's attacks. Eventually Wilfedo found himself unceremoniously shoved into a stand full of firecrackers as the two ran off without him. The man at the fireworks stall laughed heartily as Wilfredo tried to collect himself.

"Struggling to keep up?"

Wilfredo grumbled as he cleaned a bit of stray pollen from his glasses and looked around for the infamous rat man. "Are all your festivals this chaotic?" He grumbled despite his usual propensity for self restraint.

The pudgy mustached man walked over to pick up a few sparklers that had fallen on the ground in the collision. "Didn't used to be this wild. Isa's really been letting loose these days. The kids love it though."

Wilfredo finally spotted Bruno as he managed to swing up onto a nearby balcony to taunt Isabela. He was somewhat astonished by the man's athleticism. Not something he would have expected from such a shy clumsy person. Amazing how much his demeanor seemed to change under the right conditions.

Bruno blew raspberries down at the frustrated girl. "Is that the best you can do? I'm falling asleep over here." He gave an exaggerated yawn, "At least give me a challenge."

Isabela stomped her feet. "Get down from there. Abuela says I'm not allowed to aim too close to the windows."

"Well that sounds like a, you problem, doesn't it?"

Wilfredo sighed with relief as he ran his hand through his hair. It looked like whatever moment the two of them had shared earlier was over. Perhaps that was for the better. Bruno would forget about their awkward interaction and he could go back to babysitting his little sister. Speaking of, they were supposed to be looking for Jacqueline. He figured he should probably find her before she got into some sort of trouble.

He made his way over towards the bickering Madrigals to inform his new friend of his departure. "I think I should go find Jacqueline and see what she wants." Before he could finish the thought Isabela turned to smile at him wickedly and it didn't take a genius to see what she was thinking.

"Oh, no it's fine I was just leaving." He attempted to decline politely as he took a step back.

PFSHH!

Great. Who knows how long it would take to wash the stains out. When he opened his eyes however, Wilfredo found he was surprisingly clean. Bruno as it turns out had jumped down to block the attack and was now coated in purple.

Bruno stood there for a moment with his arms still extended as he blinked the purple plant matter from his eyes and let out a little puff from his mouth.

"HA! I win." Isabela chirped as she trotted up to them gleefully.

Bruno dropped his arms and rubbed more pollen from his eyes.

"Only because you cheated."

"That sounds like a you problem." She retorted as she grinned down at her uncle. She looked past Bruno and made eye contact with Wilfredo, her manic glee seemed to die down as she properly registered his personhood. "So you're the new guy huh?"

"Oh, yes. I didn't get a chance to introduce myself."

"This is Wilfredo." Bruno interrupted. "We were trying to track down his sister Jacqueline. Now that you're done using me as a canvas, I don't suppose you've seen her around?"

Isabela seemed to think for a moment. "Hmm, she's the blue eyed woman in the red skirt right? I think I saw her head towards the bridge with a couple cabrons earlier." Isabela didn't sound impressed with her first impression of Jacqueline.

Typical, leave it to his sister to sour the opinions of the most powerful people in town.

"I'll see if I can't track her down." Wilfredo turned to Bruno. "I'll let you two enjoy your night. It was nice seeing you again."

Bruno looked hurt. It surprised him a bit, he figured this wild distraction had just been an opportunity to put some distance between them. He was wrong.

"W-we can look together. I didn't mean to get side tracked." Bruno attempted to brush the purple pollen from his face only to smear it around. "I kind of assumed I'd be showing you around town, y'know?"

Bruno began to stumble over himself. "But I mean if you just, if you don't want to…"

Isabela prodded her uncle's back forcing him back into an upright posture as he began to shrink again.

"Tio already told Camilo he was spending the festival with his new friends and wouldn't have time to do a show together. Mi primo's gonna be real disappointed in him if he doesn't follow through."

Was this girl seriously talking about her uncle like he was a shy little boy? Bruno looked embarrassed but just let that slide. Wilfredo would never let a child talk to him that way.

"Come on, let's get going." Bruno gestured towards a bridge that left the square.

Isabela teased her uncle playfully as they made their retreat before returning to a a few little ones who caught her attention.

"I didn't mean to get distracted." He said once they were out of Isabela's earshot. "She's been expressing herself a lot more lately. I've been doing my best to be supportive, ya know?"

"That's very sweet of you." He watched as Bruno's rats licked at the purple mist only to screw up their faces.

"Not really. That's just what you do for family."

Wilfredo looked around till he spotted a table with drinks for folks who wore themselves out dancing and playing games.

"Hold that thought."

Bruno looked a bit confused as he went to fill a paper cup from a pitcher of water and searched his front pockets.

He quickly found his handkerchief and gestured Bruno over towards the bridge. He hoisted himself up onto the wall to keep out of the way of foot traffic and, after setting the water down, gestured to the spot beside him. Bruno did as instructed and sat on the wall next to him. He clasped his hands together between his knees and looked up at Wilfredo expectantly.

His eyes were round as dinner plates, the lights were dimmer here and his hazel eyes turned a warm brown. Wilfredo cleared his throat and reached down for the water. He'd have to minimize eye contact if Bruno was going to look at him like that.

"I thought we were looking for Jacqueline?"

Wilfredo dipped his handkerchief into the cup. "Between you and me, I have a sneaking suspicion she won't be missing our presence."

Bruno let out a charming little half laugh half snort.

Wilfredo reached out towards his face with his now wet handkerchief and Bruno pulled back in surprise at first. Wilfredo pulled back as well. He was about to ask but to his surprise Bruno, seemingly having registered what he was trying to do, leaned in closer.

"You can do it yourself if you want." Wilfredo offered. He felt a little ashamed of himself for beings so quick to touch this man's face.

"It's fine, it's not like I can see what I'm doing." He made a fair point. Or perhaps he simply refused to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Despite his consent he couldn't help but notice how Bruno would flinch under his touch. Everytime it felt like a thorn pierced his chest. One of Bruno's rats scurried into his arms and began receiving absentminded pets. It seemed as though the animals could sense their owners distress. He did his best to be gentle and try to make conversation in the hopes of easing the awkwardness of the situation.

"Miracles huh?" He asked.

Bruno looked up at him with a pensive expression. "I guess you'll want to know the whole story, huh?" He asked.

Wilfredo was curious, but Bruno's timid demeanor earlier had caused him pause. "This is the celebration of the town's founding," He said carefully. "Maybe you could tell me about that?" Bruno didn't seem to want to discuss the magic and Wilfredo didn't want to push him any further out of his comfort zone than he already had.

Bruno chuckled. "Well miracles, El Encanto, it's kind of all the same thing really."

Of course it was. Wilfredo pulled back as he finished cleaning Bruno's face.

Bruno nuzzled the rat in his hand before he spoke.

"I guess I should start with introductions." Bruno smiled proudly as he pointed to various family members scattered about the square and down the busy mainstreet. The girl assaulting the town with color was Isabela as he'd already learned. Bruno's oldest niece who could grow plants and "has a real wild streak in her."

The boy putting on a one man show down the street with his many faces was Camilo as Bruno has explained to him before. The little one who flooded the space around his stage with animals was his younger brother Antonio who Wilfredo had met once before when he came to visit the library.

According to Bruno he was a very sensitive and kind child. Camilo seemed deeply supportive as he managed to work his hermanito's animal friends into his improv routine.

A large woman who he'd seen doing manual labor around town a few times was trying to learn a dance from a woman in yellow. Luisa and Pepa, his sister and niece respectively.

Bruno was quick to clarify she was not Pepa's daughter however but his other sister Juileta's daughter. Luisa was the strong one, Pepa could control the weather "When she's in the mood." and Juileta could heal the town with her cooking as Wilfredo had learned on his first day.

Bruno seemed to beam when he talked about his family and their amazing talents. He pointed to a dunk tank where a smartly dressed man had his suit ruined much to the amusement of a stocky dark fellow. "Those are mis cuñados." He explained. The stocky one Felix was married to Pepa and Agustin the clumsy one had married Juileta.

"Then there's Dolores of course who's…" Bruno looked around curiously for his niece. "Actually I don't know where she is right now."

Wilfredo did his best to listen attentively and try to remember every Madrigal.

"Tio Bruno!" Came a voice that cut through the night like a beam of sunshine. That must be Mirabel. Bruno had mentioned her multiple times amidst his rambling. He seemed to love all his nieces and nephews but Mirabel somehow made it into every anecdote.

Wilfredo looked up to see the curly haired girl trot over to hug her Tio and smile at him from behind green round rimmed glasses.

"This must be your new friend." Her smile was infectious and Wilfredo couldn't help but give her a gentle little wave.

"Oh yeah. Mirabel, this is Wilfredo." Bruno introduced him awkwardly.

Wilfredo offered her a hand to shake. She seemed a bit surprised by the formality, but took his hand with a surprisingly firm hand shake.

"Your Tio speaks very highly of you."

Bruno and Mirabel both turned beat red for a moment and he wondered if he'd said something inappropriate.

"Is that so?" Mirabel gave her uncle a cheeky smile.

"I was just telling him about the family." Bruno clarified.

"Before you ask. I didn't get a gift." Mirabel intruded.

Wilfredo wasn't going to ask but that did send him reeling with more than a few questions. He opened his mouth as if to ask a follow up but closed it when he couldn't think of where to start.

Mirabel gave Bruno a gentle punch on the shoulder. "Abuela is going to want to talk to you both before the night is out."

"Oh I'm sure." Bruno sighed.

"Just making sure you're ready for that."

"I'm fine." Bruno insisted before playfully waving off his niece. "Now go, shoo, go play, have fun while you still have the time." He insisted.

Mirabel chuckled and rolled her eyes before returning to the festivities.

"So what was that about, if you don't mind me asking?" Wilfredo inquired.

Bruno looked out at the twinkling lights and thought for a moment before he responded. "Mi Madre… She's a difficult woman. I don't make many friends so mi familia's made somewhat of a spectacle of me. It's no wonder she wants to talk to you. Don't feel too bad if she's not impressed."

Wilfredo looked back at Bruno. His eyes traced along the subtle age lines on the man's face as he stared into space with stoic expression. That explained a lot. A domineering mother. A timid son. Bruno wasn't so timid when he spoke of the things he loved, he loved seeing that light in his eyes, hearing the cheer in his voice. Mention of his mother dimmed that spark so quickly.

"Well she seemed friendly when last we spoke." He recalled the Madrigal woman he'd seen on the council the day he and his hermana came to town. The woman seemed condescending and cold that first day but he wasn't going to tell Bruno that.

"She is." Bruno corrected anxiously, as if he thought he might have given the wrong impression. "She's just strict is all."

"Well then I better be on my best behavior, eh?" Wilfredo laughed as he nudged Bruno playfully.

Bruno rubbed at his arm with an awkward smile. He struggled to maintain it though. "She's the reason this place exists." He explained.

For all his enthusiasm bragging about his family Bruno had yet to explain how the town was founded. One of the few questions Wilfredo had actually asked. He suddenly suspected the answer might not be a pleasant one.

"Guerra de los Mil Días." Bruno spoke softly. "They lost their home, everyone did. I was just a baby when it all happened. I lost mi padre that day." He paused for a moment as he looked down at the stone below their feet. "The miracle was born out of his sacrifice, mi madre's prayer…"

"Lo siento." Wilfredo was at a loss for anything better to say.

"Oh it's fine. I'm fine. It's not like I knew him right? You can't miss someone you never knew." Bruno didn't seem very convinced by his own words. A cold shiver seemed to overtake him for a moment as he hurried out, "Don't tell Ma I said that."

"I would never." Wilfredo purred. Bruno smiled back and it felt so warm.

Bruno seemed to regain his focus and gestured around the space. "The miracle gave us all of this, the mountains the magic, our Castia…" Bruno stopped and his eyes lit up as though he was about to launch into another familiar introduction "You haven't seen the Casita yet have you?"

Wilfredo had already lost track of his thoughts however. His mind had wandered elsewhere, "Tu padre must have really loved you." He couldn't help the words that tumbled out.

Bruno froze. His hazel eyes shimmered in the candle light and Wilfredo immediately regretted his lack of self control.

"I-I didn't mean too.." It was his turn to stutter for once.

"No it's ok." Bruno replied gently.

There was an odd silence for a moment before the sensation of tiny paws on Wilfredo's hand nearly made him jump. He lifted his hand to find a small rat clinging to it. The little creature examined him as he lifted it up to eye level.

"Oh wow," Bruno exclaimed as two other rats stared Wilfredo down from either shoulder. "Beatrice is usually really shy. She must really like you."

Wilfredo eyed the little rat curiously. She sniffed at his nose and he gently reached a hand up to pet her with the tip of his finger. She ducked and first and he was about to pull away before she reached her head out to receive his pets. It was oddly soothing.

"You're lucky. My parents never let me have any pets, I'm pretty sure a rat in the house would have given my mother a heart attack."

"Why didn't you get one when you moved out? A pet I mean, not, like, a rat specifically."

"Oh we weren't really in a good place at the time. It's never really been a good time." Wilfredo felt a bitterness rise in his chest. "You have a good life here. A stable home with good people. Never take that for granted."

"I don't"

Bruno's reply was surprising. Not what he said, but how he said it. Bruno had this oddly intense look in his eyes for a moment as he looked him over. There was something bitter in that gaze. Bruno was often timid and unsure of himself but this was something else. It looked like he might have been considering his words before he looked away for a moment and returned with something that seemed unrelated.

"Have you ever felt like a stranger in your own home?" He asked as he looked up at the stars. His tone was shockingly cold.

Beatrice the rat leapt down from his hand and ran back to Bruno where she snuggled into his hands. The rats on his shoulders seemed to grow similarly affectionate all of the sudden.

Wilfredo considered those words for a moment. "Everyday." He finally replied. He wasn't normally one to open up too much about himself, but something about those words struck so close to his core.

"I attended a boarding school." He explained. "My parents didn't live far but they weren't very interested in seeing me most of the time. Whenever I was home it was mostly for show." He paused for a moment as he considered his words. "Leaving was… The best and the worst thing that ever happened to me."

Bruno looked back to stare into the river bitterly. "So they just let you leave huh?"

Wilfredo was hesitant to answer. "Something like that, sí."

Bruno took a deep breath in before tucking Beatrice back into his front pocket and hopping down off the wall. "We should go see what Mama wants."

Wilfredo felt a little sad the conversation was over so soon. It was for the better. Best to keep things breezy after all. Best not to dwell on the painfully familiar bitterness that had passed over his companion like a specter.

Bruno led him down the road to a more open space where the town bordered the woods. Tables had been set out for people to eat and drink. It was quieter here than the noisy square where people danced and played games. It didn't take long to recognize Julieta and Señora Madrigal chatting by the buffet table.

"Bruno there you are." the elderly woman spoke up as they approached.

"Aye Mama. You wanted to talk to me?"

Señora Madrigal patted some of the purple dust from her son's clothes as he approached. "I just wanted to see how you and the newcomers were getting along."

She looked over at Wilfredo, "You clean up well, Senor Fontana."

Wilfredo gave her a courteous nod. "You caught me on a bad day, Señora. I'd hate to miss a chance to correct any misgivings you may have had."

The elderly woman eyed him up and down skeptically.

"Your son's been teaching me about the town and its history. The way he tells it you sound like a truly incredible woman." Wilfredo smiled confidently as he watched her face soften. She straightened her shawl as she smiled back.

"We all do our best."

His flattery had the desired effect though he couldn't help, but notice Bruno's expression out of the corner of his eyes. This confused wide eyed look, just subtle enough his mother didn't seem to notice. Bruno had caught him being just a tad dishonest. He wondered if that would hurt Bruno's impression of him. No matter. This woman ran the town and impressing upon her was of greater importance. It still hurt though, knowing Bruno would know he was a liar.

Wilfredo reached out to grab a snack from the table absentmindedly only to hear snickering from his new companion as he took a bite. He turned to shoot Bruno a confused glance before the taste hit him.

This was not the wonderful food that had healed his bruises. This was something else entirely. Something entirely rotten and foul. A creatively horrible assault on the senses that boggled the mind.

He cleared his throat slightly as he struggled not to make a face and risk insulting the cook. Juileta was standing right there, and she was laughing? It was slight as she tried to hide behind her hand.

Bruno burst out into roaring laughter, Juileta joined in the laughter, even frigid Señora Madrigal seemed to stifle a snicker.

"I don't get it." He choked out as politely as he could manage, "What's so funny?"

"That's not Juileta's cooking hombre." Bruno managed to compose himself enough to get the words out.

Juileta passed him a pastry from a different tray "Here these are mine. I wouldn't recommend you taste the other contestants' food unless you're muy valiente."

"Contestants?" He repeated cluelessly as he took a cautious bite of her offering. The delicious coconut flavor was an amazing relief.

"We have a cooking competition every year, but Juileta kept winning every year so folks started competing to see who could make the worst dish." Wilfredo couldn't help, but notice the adoring look he gave his sister as he bragged about her skill.

"I think it's all very silly." Juileta blushed as she adjusted the bun at the top of her head.

Señora Madrigal cleared her throat, "Agreed. But the town seems to enjoy this silly tradition and there's little harm in it." She looked around for a moment curiously before changing the subject. "Where is your sister? I keep hearing whispers about her around town, but I've yet to check in with her."

Whispers. Of course. Why did he expect any different.

"Whispers huh?" Wilfredo hid his anxiety with great expertise.

"She does seem to leave a strong impression on people." Señora Madrigal was difficult to read.

Sensing the tension Julieta was quick to interject, "I heard from Antonio about your work on the library. He really likes the reading space you set up."

The littlest madrigal had come to visit him in the library before looking for books on animals. Wilfredo had been making some quality of life chances to the space once he'd finished organizing the place. He refurbished some old chairs and set out some rugs and pillows in the corner of the library. The boy had come by looking for something to read to his pets. He spent the whole afternoon cleaning stains out of the rugs but he had to admit the child was rather charming.

"I'm glad. I've not had many kids come by the library. He seems like a bright child."

"Oh he is, he came up with half the stage commands we use in our shows," He saw that light in Bruno's eyes that prepared him for an excited ramble as he bragged about his nephew. It was terribly sweet how much he beamed over his sisters' children. But before Bruno could launch into an explanation of rat dances a loud crack ripped across the space and disrupted his rambling.

The sound of thunder was startling absent any natural context and drew his attention to the end of a residential street. There she was. Jacqueline had finally rejoined his night. He felt a pit in his stomach as he watched her rush over with her hair standing on end.

"WILFREDO! ESTA PERRA LOCA!"

And there went any attempts at endearing himself to the town's matriarch.

Jacqueline rushed over and grabbed him by the arm as she hid behind him and hissed back in the direction she came. "This woman's trying to kill me hermano!"

Wilfredo let out a deep exasperated sigh as he pulled his arm away and turned to look his sister over. He took her arm aside to find burn marks and when he pulled her pouty face to meet his it was clear she'd been drinking.

"Jacqueline what did you do?"

"I didn't do anything." She replied indignantly. "These people are unreasonable." She turned to notice the matriarch standing beside her, "Oh, hola Señora Madrigal."

Señora Madrigal leaned in slightly to get a look at the burns on his sister's arm. Wilfredo was about to apologize for his sister's misbehavior only to be surprised by what came next.

"This looks like Pepa's doing." She remarked.

"Here." Juileta passed Jacqueline one of her confectioneries, "Perdón, mi hermana has a bit of a temper."

"Yeah, she threw me into a tree once with a hurricane. Took Ma all day to get me down."

Wilfredo watched the burns on his sister's arm heel and slowly released his grip on her. He hadn't meant to grip her so tight. The reassuring smiles from Bruno and Juileta were a relief. Their mother groaned as she recalled the tree escapade.

Then there she was, the woman in yellow herself. Pepa stormed up to the group in a rage. A dark thundering cloud followed overhead and a delicate girl in a red bow followed behind.

Jacqueline nearly dropped her snack as she let out a terrified squeak and hid behind her brother's ample mass.

The girl in the bow tried to soothe her mother, but to no avail.

"If you ever go near mi bebe's novio again I'll make sure you regret ever setting foot in this town!" The enraged mother stormed as she pointed a finger at the offending woman.

Jacqueline nibbled at the pastry in her hand as she glared back at her over Wilfredo's shoulder. "How was I supposed to know he was spoken for?"

Pepa looked flabbergasted as she stammered, grasping for words, "He's un bebe you should know better tu puta!"

"Pepa! Language." Her mother chided.

"He's twenty-three Pepa." Her brother corrected. It was obvious Pepa wasn't being literal but Bruno seemed frustrated with her exaggerations.

"Si! And he's too young to want anything to do with la solterona!"

"Oh really?" Jacqueline was clearly offended as she emerged from her brother's shadow to confront Pepa.

Wilfredo impulsively took his sister by the shoulders, "Easy hermanita." he soothed as she growled under his grip. She let her hackles down a bit as she eyed her aggressor up and down. "Well if I'm so old and ugly then you shouldn't have anything to worry about right?"

Jacqueline was thirty-eight and she was far from ugly. Not that Wilfredo was the best judge of female beauty but he was well aware of the dark magic she cast over every man within a ten mile radius.

The two women started each other down for a moment as the electricity crackled around them. Pepa was tall and his own sister had to crane her neck up at her to make eye contact, but this insult to her womanly wiles had given her a newfound confidence.

"Pepi, mi amor, what happened?" The husky fellow Wilfredo saw at the dunk tank earlier came over with a worried expression and a gentle tone.

"This-" Pepa cut off as she looked back at her mother who shot her a stern look. "Chica," she spat out finally, "was trying to flirt with Mariano."

Felix chuckled slightly as he took hold of his irritable wife and gently brushed a clump of stray curls from her face. "Easy mi vida. It's a party. I'm sure she didn't mean any harm."

Wilfredo quickly cupped a hand over his sister's mouth before she could reply.

"Jacqueline's an overly friendly person. It's not the first time there's been a misunderstanding like," He glared down at her, "and I'm sure she's muy arrepentido." Jacqueline glared back at him but got the message.

"Perdóname." She sighed once he released her face.

"Si, don't let it happen again." Pepa huffed before allowing her husband to lead her away to calm down.

The girl in the bow watched her mother leave then looked back to the rest of the group.

"Dolores I assume?" Wilfredo offered her his hand. "Lo siento, we didn't mean to disrupt your night."

Dolores eyed him up and down a moment with a look that was difficult to read. Then it dawned on him.

When they had made up their mind to accept the council's offer Señor Robledo had dismissed his concerns over meeting with the council and simply asked "Dolores, did you get that?" Seemingly to no one in particular. At first he had thought the old man might have been a bit senial, that is until he explained to him, Dolores hears everything.

She took his hand gingerly. "It's no trouble. It's good to finally meet you both. You two have been the talk of the town lately." She glanced back over to her uncle for a brief moment.

Did she know?