Coco Chapter 3:

Ever feel like all you're ever meant to be is part of a huge family and just be like the rest of them and never stray away from them for even a moment. Well, that's what my life has been like for every day of my sixteen years, and never out of eyeshot of my hometown not even once. Don't get me wrong, each member of my family is great in their own way, but it's because I love them so much that I can't seem to tell them how I really feel about my life.

My Papá, Enrique, is one of the best shoemakers in the family. Since the tradition is that the eldest daughter takes over the business when the current head retires, he's been trying to drill the ways of the business into my head. But I prefer the small odd jobs around the place, like chopping wood, helping in the kitchen, and especially getting supplies and shining shoes in town, but I can never tell him that.

My Mamá, Luisa, she's the voice of reason in the house, just make sure you keep your rooms clean. She's an amazing storyteller and every family member in my generation never gets tired of her stories, classic or original. Right now, she's pregnant with my future little brother or sister, a little nervous about having a sibling since my primos or cousins are enough to get on my bad side daily.

Speaking of my primos, let's talk about them. First up is Primo Abel, the oldest one of our generation, ahead of me by tres anos. He loves Futbol and even wanted to be a pro player one day. But the business must come before dreams and fun, so he had to forget it.

Then there's his little sister, Prima Rosita or Rosa as we call her, was named after our great grand aunt, Tia Rosita. She's a good Hermana (sister), but she can be such a nagger and tattletale most of the time. She's passionate about the business, if anyone should take over the business, it's her.

Twin Primos; Manny and Benny or Manolo and Benolo, they are currently the youngest members of the family and a pair of little Diablos. And lucky ones at that, they can just play all day and not do any work in the shop. Not that I mind hard work, it's just I rather do something I'm more passionate about.

Fun Fact; not a single article of their clothing is the same! That's probably because our Great-Great Grand Uncles, Tios Oscar and Felipe, were identical twins down to the tiniest thread of clothes. Their photos are on the ofrenda right now and no one can recall which was which. So, we're determined to establish the current twins as individuals.

If I could name one member of our family that more with the present, it would be Tia Gloria. She's the family fashionista down to the makeup she's wears. She often gets me and Rosa more up to date clothing. However, she takes the longest in the bathroom, which is the only one we have. That's not a good thing when you're in a household with over ten family members.

Tio Berto is my Papa's older brother and the pack mule of the family. He's also the father of all four of my primos. He can be a bit gruff, but he means well.

Tia Carmen is my Tio Berto's wife and Mother to my primos. It's a feat of its own to mother four children and work in a busy shoe shop. She's also a voice of reason in the house, which we need very often.

Another one of those would be Abuelito Franco, my papa's papa. He has the calm demeanor to my hot tempered Abuelita. They say that he fell in love in her when she gave a new pair of shoes she had made herself.

Of course, there's Mama Coco, my beloved Great Grandmother. Now a days, you can usually find her sitting in her wheelchair around the house. In fact, she's in the Ofrenda room right now.

I ran up to her with a peeled orange in hand. "Hola Mama Coco!" I greeted with a kiss to her cheek. "How are you, Victorita" she greeted back. I'm Milagro, or Mila as I prefer. Mama Coco has been suffering from Dementia since I was about twelve years now, so she has trouble remembering things. That's why she's mistaking me for her late oldest daughter and my abuelita's older sister, Tia Victoria. But I have a trick or two to jog to her memory.

"Funny…then wear are my glasses?" I asked with a mischievous smile. Mama Coco chuckled, realizing that Tia Victoria had a more serious manner. "Oh I'm sorry, Milagrita!" she apologized. "It's okay Mama Coco!" I brushed off as I gave her a slice of the orange as a tossed another into my mouth and started to hum a soft tune.

With the craziness I deal with the other members of my family, it's good to talk to her. Like when I was little, we used to dress up like Luchador Wrestlers and I let her win every time. And that I've learned a better way to run with my hands open and slicing through the air instead of in fists. And about my odd solo dimple on my left cheek.

And Last but certainly not least, there's Abuelita Elena, Mama Coco's Daughter. She's my Papa's Mama and the current head of our family. I can say she means well, but she's beyond overbearing!

Like at dinnertime, I'm talking to Mama Coco and she comes to the table with a plate full of tamales. "Milagro, Eat your food." She said as she gave Mama Coco a one-armed hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she turned to me and exclaimed, "You're a twig, Hija! Here, have some more!" "No Gracias!" I stated after she just put a single tamale on my plate. "I said would you like more tamales?" she asked sternly. See? Overbearing! She's giving me 'you can't say no to me' tone. "Just one." I sighed in defeat. 'That's what I thought you'll say!" she exclaimed as she piled a mountain of tamales on my plate. "I SAID JUST ONE, ABUELITA, NOT ONE HUNDRED!" I exclaimed.

Abuelita is like the second coming of Mama Imelda, she runs everything just like she did. Like this one time, I was working on my homework and after I've finished drinking from a glass bottle I subconsciousness-ly blew into it creating a melody. When I'm stuck for an idea, playing around with sounds helps. But just when I was getting an idea, Abuelita snatched the bottle screaming "no music!"

If that wasn't bad enough, she meddles with others when they play music around us. Like this one time, I was sitting next to the window reading when a Planeta Pizza drove by with the radio turned up loud. I couldn't make out the melody yet and she still came to the window, slammed the doors, and yelled no music!

Then there was this time with I was sweeping the outside of the shop when three men with an accordion with walking along singing the classic ballad, La Llorona, at the top of their lungs. I really hated to break up their song, but I knew the consequences if I left things as it were. I've tried to signal to them to take another path, but they were too wrapped up in the song to notice. Seeing as they were approaching the entrance, I had no choice but to brace myself as Abuelita burst through the doors and screamed "NOO MMMUUUUSSSSSIIIIIICCCCCCC!" With that, the men ran off, almost losing one of their hats with me giving it back to them. Then Abuelita turned around wiping her feet like that of a cat after it uses the litter box and dragged me inside.

I think we're the only family in Mexico that hates music, and my family is fine with that. They're more than happy to work on shoes from dawn to dusk without complaint. But I'm not like the rest of my family…because while they hate music…I LOVE MUSIC! And it's my dream to travel Mexico and make people happy with the songs I wrote. It's the one thing I want more than anything!