"YES, we promise to call you if anything comes up. Relax, don't worry. You guys just focus on having a good time, okay? We'll talk to you soon. Bye."
Raf put away his cell, slowly shaking his head as he chuckled.
"Jack and Arcee are taking Orion away for the weekend but wanted to make sure we were still doing all right. You'd think they'd be used to us having a few near-death experiences by now."
Raf clenched his fidgety fingers as a sharp phantom pain suddenly shot through his hand. Fortunately there had been no permanent damage from the snakebite, but the burning sensation of its deadly venom coursing through his veins still occasionally troubled him.
He took a huge breath and held it, attempting to clear his head from the disturbing memories. He blinked rapidly, realizing that the incident in the desert affected him more deeply than he had originally thought.
Pull yourself together, Rafael…it was just another dance with La Catrina. Not like you've never done it before…
Raf became acutely conscious of the fact that he was still holding his breath. He abruptly let it out in a breathy rush and self-consciously smirked at himself for forgetting to exhale. He then managed to force his disquieting thoughts away from the forefront of his wondrous mind and ignored them, at least for the time being. Right now Raf had bigger fish to fry.
He asked, "So, we ready to do this…?"
Silence was a rare thing indeed from his normally garrulous companion. Several moments passed before Raf noticed that his question had gone unanswered. Curious as the proverbial cat, he turned to see what was wrong.
Raf's jaw dropped as he was totally dumbfounded by the sight.
Miko stood silently with a blissful smile of utter contentment on her lovely face as she gazed with sparkling brown eyes at the tranquil landscape before her. Her long tresses of pink-fringed hair flowed in gentle waves as the warm afternoon breeze drifted lazily by.
Raf snapped out of his trance. Knowing Miko hadn't heard a word he had said earlier, he smiled and nudged her gently.
"Hey, Miko…you okay?"
She blinked and the distant, faraway look in her eyes quickly faded as she returned to the here and now. Miko realized she had zoned out and smirked apologetically, the beauty of her smile once again completely bewitching her spiky-haired companion.
"Sorry, Raf…just got caught up in the scenery, I guess. Can't believe how peaceful it is out here…"
It was midday as the two young lovers stood in the outskirts of Puerto Peñasco. After they had miraculously survived the blistering desolation of the Sonoran Desert, the quiet beauty of the small city that Raf's family called home was a most welcome change.
The surrounding area was quite flat so it was easy to see how abruptly the landscape transformed, a jarring transition to say the least. The harsh and unforgiving desert was finally behind them, the lonely wastes still taunting Raf and Miko with the bitter memory of just how close they had come to losing each other forever. However, what lay before them now were the beautiful white sand dunes leading to the beaches bordering the Sea of Cortes. The clear waters were just out of sight but beckoned to them as they could almost smell the tantalizing salt air.
Miko sensed what Raf was thinking and said, "I know, I know. I'm loud, I wear loud clothes, I love loud music and loud cars…scrap, even my hair is loud!" She smiled again, "…but this place…" She breathed deeply and sighed, closing her eyes as she committed the pristine moment to memory.
Raf nodded, "I know what you mean. After all the danger and excitement of fighting beside the Autobots for so long, it's easy to forget how nice it is to just stop and appreciate the peace and quiet."
Miko tightened her grip on her ironwood walking stick, her one memento from their harrowing journey in the desert. During their brief stay at the hospital Raf had taken the time to expertly smooth most of its rough edges before they were finally released. She found the feel of its strength and durability was reassuring as it helped to dispel any lingering anxieties.
Miko glanced at Raf and recognized a familiar expression on his face. She smiled fondly as she reached out and held his hand.
"I can hear those gears and pistons working overtime in that noggin of yours. What're you thinking about, Raf-kun?"
Raf blushed a little as he asked, "You don't miss anything, do you?"
She grinned, "Nope…especially when it concerns you, cutie. C'mon, spill. What's on your mind?"
Raf's blush intensified until he was practically glowing. Shyly he answered, "I-I was just thinking…imagining, if you want to be specific."
Miko tossed him a saucy smile and grinned, "Ooh…and what pray tell, were you imagining, you naughty boy?"
All of a sudden Raf found his feet extremely fascinating as he couldn't bring himself to look at anything else. He shuffled and finally murmured, "I was imagining us…" He hesitated another moment before adding, "…married."
Miko grinned as she thought to herself.
Sweet, this is starting to get good.
He struggled to continue, "I…I was just picturing us a few years from now. We were standing here in this very same spot, with…y-you know…a house and m-maybe some little children running around…"
Raf found that Miko's hand had tightened its grip on his own.
She whispered, "My father really got to you with what he said, didn't he?"
"Miko, I…"
"Truth be told, Raf…I've been thinking about the future, myself."
"R-Really…?!"
"Yes, really. Gotta grow up sometime, right? And what better way than to start a family…?"
Stunned, Raf could only stare.
Miko suddenly tittered with a high-pitched giggle, "Gotcha."
"Wait, what…?"
She playfully elbowed him in the ribs and said, "C'mon, Raf! You literally just turned 18 a few weeks ago and you're already talking about having kids?! Look, I'm not saying I'm opposed to the idea. To be honest, the image of a miniature version of you running around is actually pretty darn cool. I just…I dunno, I just want to keep you all to myself for a little while. I know it might sound selfish, but that's how I feel. I…I hope you understand."
Raf didn't immediately respond.
Miko wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up into his downcast eyes. Suddenly unsure of herself, she softly breathed, "Raf-kun…?"
Raf sighed, "I understand."
She smiled happily and impulsively kissed him, giving him an innocent little peck. Raf surprised Miko by passionately deepening the kiss, quickly escalating things into a simmering battle royale of warring tongues. He finally allowed her to catch her breath as he pulled back and smiled.
Miko's legs wobbled precariously and she would have fallen had Raf not caught her. She leaned unsteadily against him and panted, "Whooo…much more of that and we might have to consider a shotgun wedding…"
Raf winked wickedly and replied, "Just name the time and place, Miko-chan."
Miko unexpectedly found herself on the receiving end of a furious blush.
Raf chuckled, "Told you our sparks were getting more in sync."
Miko giggled, "Never knew I had rubbed off on you so much…this could be fun."
"We just have to remember to keep any fun to an absolute minimum until after we make our announcement to my parents. I'm still not sure how they're going to take the news that we've been dating without their knowledge all this time, let alone that we're getting married…"
Miko gave Raf a brisk salute and said, "Yes, sir! No hanky-panky, sir!"
After their disastrous experience in the desert, Miko had an epiphany and finally decided that taking the scenic route was more trouble than it was worth. Upon checking out of the hospital they had requested that Ratchet open a ground-bridge directly to Raf's family ranch in Puerto Peñasco. Hidden from the sight of any onlookers, they had emerged from the emerald green vortex on the outskirts of the ranch and slowly made their way towards the family house.
The ranch was a privately owned business that offered guests the adventure of a lifetime, combining traditional horseback riding with the opportunity to see the breathtaking scenery up close and personal. The house was a sizeable two-story home with plenty of rooms, which was fortunate because Raf had a very large family who tended to visit frequently.
As Raf and Miko approached the house, Miko suddenly stopped and said, "Raf, I know this is last minute but would you please give me a quick refresher on your family members?"
"Lot to remember, isn't it? Sometimes even I have trouble keeping everyone's names straight." He pulled out his cell phone and motioned for Miko to come see as he brought up his photo gallery.
He joked, "Pay very close attention, okay? There'll be a pop quiz afterwards."
Miko huffed as she punched his shoulder and growled, "C'mon, hurry up and get on with it, Raf."
Raf chuckled as he began rapidly cycling through a lengthy series of family pictures.
"All right…this is Mama's youngest sister María Elena, her husband Raúl, and their children Adriana, Yolanda, Carlos and Martín. Next is Mama's other baby sister María de Jesús, her husband Miguel, and their girls María de los Ángeles, Martha and Gabriela. Moving right along we have Mama's older brother Marco and his wife Rosa María, and their boys Alejandro, Antonio, Arturo, Fernando, Francisco and Roberto…he prefers Bob, by the way. Here we have Mama's older sister María Isabel and her first husband Juan, and their twins José and Josefina. Then they got divorced and she married Juan Manuel, and they had triplets…Javier, Jesús and Jorge. Finally, this is…is..."
"What's wrong?"
Raf scratched his head and said, "Hmp…I don't even recognize who these people are…'
Miko giggled uncontrollably as he continued to stare blankly at the mystery image. When she finally stopped laughing she said, "Raf, I couldn't help but notice that these people are all from your mother's side of the family. What about your dad…?"
Raf replied, "Papa is an only child. Both of his parents died before he even met Mama."
Absently Raf scanned past an older-looking picture but Miko quickly stopped him. She urged, "Whoa, hang on! Go back to that last one." He complied and settled on the image.
Miko looked wonderingly at the family photo and immediately realized this must have been taken when Raf was much younger. Raf in turn remembered that this was the same photo that he had showed Ratchet years ago when they were talking about family. At first the grizzled old Autobot medic had resisted Raf's childlike attempts at becoming his friend. It wasn't until sometime later that Ratchet had reluctantly realized how much he had grown to need Raf.
"Wow…this picture is pretty old, Raf."
Raf nodded, "It was taken about a year or so before we met the Autobots…just after my family had moved to Jasper, as a matter of fact."
Miko couldn't help herself and practically squealed at the sight of Raf in the picture. "Kawaii!"
Raf sighed, "Stop it, I wasn't that cute. I couldn't have been much older than eleven…"
Miko grinned, "…and a quarter, right? Scrap, Raf…you've always been cute." She ruffled his hair, teasing him. She looked again at the picture and said, "Well, at least I know who these family members are. That's your older sister Pilar standing next to you, and your older brother and sister are over to your left, and to your right are Mr. and Mrs. Esquivel!"
Raf gently corrected her, saying, "Close. You've almost got it, Miko…remember, most Hispanic people use two surnames. The first one is the father's surname and the second is the mother's."
Embarrassed, Miko bonked herself on the forehead and nodded sheepishly, "Right, right…your full name is Rafael Jorge Gonzales Esquivel, so that would make your father Mr. Gonzales…got it."
She gazed at the old picture for another moment and then asked, "What about the tall guy in the back?"
Raf paused before finally murmuring, "That's my grandfather."
"You look just like him, what with the glasses and spiky hair and all…"
He nodded sadly, a small teardrop sliding down his cheek. Noticing, Miko asked, "Raf, what…?"
Raf wiped away the tear and attempted to smile, failing utterly.
She hugged him fiercely and whispered, "You've really missed your family, haven't you?"
"Y-yeah…"
Miko pulled back just enough to rest her forehead against Raf's. She said softly, "Come on, let's go inside. They're all probably wondering what's taking us so long."
They smiled and held hands as they made their way up the steps to the front door. Raf reached for the doorknob but before he made contact, the door suddenly flung open with a crash. They narrowly avoided being trampled as a mob of screaming children thundered past them. Raf and Miko coughed from the resulting cloud of dust and after it cleared they cautiously entered the house.
The inside of the family house could only be described as organized chaos. Everyone was making hurried last-minute preparations for the Day of the Dead festival. Parents busied themselves by painting the faces of their children with elaborate skull designs. The children in turn focused on putting the finishing touches on the tiny decorations they had painstakingly crafted for the first day of the festival. Everyone else was huddled together on the far side of the room, hard at work on some large project. Miko attempted to see what they were so preoccupied with but there were simply far too many people in the way.
No one seemed to pay Raf and Miko more than a passing glance. Raf sighed loudly and muttered, "Yeahhh, I can see they're worrying themselves just sick about us. Almost like I never left home…"
Miko's eyes narrowed and she set her jaw determinedly. Raf saw it coming and barely had time to stop up his ears as Miko took a huge breath and cut loose.
"¡OYE!"
Everyone instantly stopped in their tracks and there was dead silence in the room. All eyes were on Raf and Miko as they stood in the middle of the family room. Miko nonchalantly hooked her arm around Raf's and waved to everybody as she cried, "We're home!"
Like a massive tsunami, Raf's family surged forward and greeted them with hugs, kisses and hearty handshakes. Raf glanced in wonderment over at Miko who winked and whispered, "Sometimes you just gotta assert yourself, baby."
Without warning a fearsome face painted like a beautifully ornate skull appeared and growled menacingly at Raf. He yelped in surprise and fell flat on his butt. Everyone laughed uproariously and went back to what they were doing.
"Tsk. I would've thought you'd have gotten used to me doing this by now, Rafael."
Raf sighed, "I'm a slow learner, I suppose."
A hand reached down and helped Raf to his feet. Raf dusted himself off as the skull smirked, "Then again, it's always been easy to scare you on Día de los Muertos."
"Let's just say that I have my reasons for not being a big fan of the holiday."
Raf was pulled into a huge hug that squeezed the breath out of him.
"Whatever. It's good to see you, little brother."
He returned the hug as best as he was able and smiled.
"It's good to see you too. I missed you, Pilar."
Pilar immediately reached out to include Miko in the embrace.
"Get over here, you. Qué onda, Miko?"
Miko grinned, "Can't complain, Pilar…although I have been spending most of my time keeping this guy out of trouble." Raf blushed as both girls giggled.
Pilar and Miko were about the same age and were in several classes together during high school. When Miko started dating Raf, a strong bond of friendship was forged between the two girls and they quickly became as close as sisters. Unfortunately for Raf, that also meant they had a lot of fun at his expense.
After the hug ended Miko smiled and said, "Hey Pilar, I love your calavera makeup."
Pilar proudly replied, "Gracias. Would you like your face painted, Miko?"
Miko glanced at Raf's worried expression and decided he had had enough scares for one week. She smirked and shook her head, "I'm good, thanks. I'm already in pretty good touch with my reckless side, y'know? I don't think I need an excuse to be up to any more mischief on Day of the Dead."
Raf crossed himself and whispered to the heavens a barely audible, "Thank you."
Miko playfully shoved Raf and asked, "So…how's life at the Institute, Pilar?"
"Right now all our projects are temporarily on hold because of the holiday, but first thing next week it's back to business as usual. No rest for the wicked…"
Miko grinned slyly, "Any cute guys there?"
Pilar laughed, "Sure, if you consider a 65-year old scientist with false teeth cute!" Miko guffawed as Pilar continued, "He's like the only single guy in my entire division."
Miko shrugged, "Well, I guess ya gotta start somewhere…" Both women laughed at that one.
Pilar shook her head at the insanity around them and sighed, "Much more of this and I'll be giving some serious thought to moving back stateside. It's a good thing our family gets along as well as it does..."
"¡NO PUEDO CREER QUE ME CASÉ CON ALGUIEN TAN ESTÚPIDO!"
Pilar rolled her eyes and huffed, "Madre de Dios…why did I set myself up like that?"
Miko happened to be looking in Raf's direction when she saw him wince noticeably at the sound of the screaming. She felt a pang of déjà vu but ignored it for the moment.
The door to the kitchen suddenly burst open and Raf's father emerged. Without even seeing Raf he walked brusquely past his son as he continued to yell.
"¡YA QUE SOY TAN ESTÚPIDO DEBO DEJAR! DISCULPE MIENTRAS VOY A ALIMENTAR A LOS CABALLOS!"
He angrily muttered to himself as he exited the front door and slammed the door shut.
"¡BUENO! POR LO MENOS AHORA LOS CABALLOS NO SE SENTIRÁN TAN ESTÚPIDOS!"
Raf clenched his eyes shut and cupped his hands over his ears, desperately trying to block out the sound. Concern lined Miko's features as she gently placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered, "Raf…? Raf, are you all ri - "
The kitchen door abruptly opened again and Raf's mother appeared, shouting, "¡Y OTRA COSA…!" She stopped and swept the family room with her stern glare, furiously searching for her husband. Everyone present frantically went back to work and silently prayed that she wouldn't turn on them.
Mrs. Esquivel rapidly crossed herself several times and grumbled irritably.
"H-hola, Mama…"
Her head jerked in the direction of the quiet, unassuming voice and found Raf.
"Oh, Rafael. No te oí entrar."
Raf's mother reached out and hugged him stiffly before her steely gaze fell upon Miko. Her eyes narrowed to slits and Miko blinked uncomfortably.
Mrs. Esquivel pulled away from Raf, effectively ending the embrace. She continued to stare at Miko as she switched to English and sneered, "And you brought your little friend Mako, too. How…nice."
Pilar cautioned, "Mama…se amable."
"It's okay, Pilar." Miko smiled brightly at Raf's mother as she said, "Es bueno verte, Senora Esquivel."
Raf knew that Miko had intentionally pronounced the words in a halting and slightly stilted manner so that it appeared the language was still largely unknown to her. For the time being Miko didn't want to let on that she was already extremely fluent in Spanish.
Attempting to lighten the mood, Miko also switched to English and added, "Actually, Mrs. Esquivel…it's pronounced Miko. Mako is the Japanese chick from that movie Pacific Rim, but hey…it's cool. Mako kicked major butt so I can see why there'd be a little misunderstanding, right?"
Mrs. Esquivel managed a very tiny smile before she asked, "Rafael, what happened to your regular clothes? Why are you wearing…that?"
Raf groaned. He couldn't believe this was happening again.
Shortly after they had started dating, Miko had jumped at the opportunity to help Raf find his own unique sense of style. After a lifetime of wearing practically nothing but hand-me-down clothing from his older siblings, Raf had wasted no time agreeing with his girlfriend that he was ready for a change. Unfortunately, it hadn't occurred to Miko to ask his mother's permission first. In not doing so she had inadvertently committed a serious breach of traditional etiquette by not deferring to the matriarchal chain of command. Although it hadn't been an unforgivable offense, it was fairly close.
The fact that his mother still continued to take petty verbal shots at Miko because of that imagined affront was seriously getting to Raf. Beyond exasperation, he pinched the bridge of his nose and pleaded, "Mama, please. Do we really have to do this now?"
Mrs. Esquivel grudgingly relented, "Fine, fine…" She turned to go back to the kitchen but managed to twist the knife a bit more as she added, "…but it would have been considerate if you had shown up sooner than you did. There is still a lot of work left to do. Your poor cousins could have used your help getting their ofrendas ready in time. All Hallows Eve is tonight, for goodness' sake. Seriously, Rafael…sometimes I wonder if you truly understand your priorities…"
Raf couldn't help himself and snarked, "Well, we would have gotten here sooner but unfortunately I got bitten by a rattlesnake and didn't get out of the hospital until just this - "
The kitchen door closed.
" - morning."
Raf sighed and shook his head. He noticed Pilar looking at him with disbelief and he shrugged, "I heal real fast."
Thinking he was kidding with her, Pilar huffed and turned to Miko.
"I'm very sorry, Miko. I don't know what Mama's deal is."
Miko often wondered the same thing, but this time seemed different somehow.
Suddenly feeling very tired and vulnerable, Raf quietly asked, "Pilar, please level with me. Are…are things as bad as they looked between Mama and Papa…?"
Pilar sighed, "Seems like all those two even know how to do any more is fight."
Raf gingerly rubbed his temples as he felt the onset of a massive headache.
Pilar smiled apologetically and said, "Listen, I'd stick around to help referee but we just ran out of sugar skulls for the kids' ofrendas. Hopefully I can get some more at Feria de Alfinique before they totally run out."
Raf looked to Miko and murmured, "You and I better do some damage control before things get any worse than they already are." He motioned towards the kitchen and asked, "You got this?"
Miko grinned and replied confidently, "I got this."
She breathed deeply and cracked her neck before she made her move. As she slowly advanced towards the kitchen Miko began to greet each member of Raf's huge family as she passed them by, effortlessly dodging several running children along the way.
"Good to see you, Rosa María. Hola, María Elena…you keeping Raúl straight? Que pasa, Miguel? Hey, Juan Manuel. What's going on, Martín? Is that little Javier I see? Buenas tardes, Adriana. Stayin' out of trouble, Alejandro? Whoa…lookin' good, Bob!"
Miko glanced over her shoulder and winked at Raf. She whispered, "Pop quiz, huh? What's a girl got to do to get an 'A,' Raf-kun?"
Raf's mouth drooped open as he longingly gazed at Miko suggestively shaking her booty before she disappeared into the kitchen. Pilar watched the amusing expression on Raf's blissfully dazed face and smiled, shaking her head as she reached out and closed his mouth for him. She ruffled his spiky hair and giggled, "You have got it bad, little brother."
He sputtered as he came back to his senses and blushed. Raf practically stumbled over his feet as he made his way out the door to find his father. Pilar laughed again and closed the door behind her.
…
Miko cautiously opened the door to the kitchen and popped her head inside. Mrs. Esquivel was standing in front of the stove and hadn't noticed her yet, completely absorbed in what she was working on. Miko quickly scanned the rest of the kitchen and her mouth began to water. The room was filled to overflowing with all kinds of delicious foods. Carefully arranged on the countertops were mounds of fruit and peanuts, stacks of tortillas, plates of turkey mole, candied pumpkin, and freshly baked sweetbreads.
Displayed prominently was a large sugar skull, elaborately decorated with colorful icing and glittery trimmings. Miko was extremely impressed with what she saw. Hailing from a family of artists, she took pride in being familiar with various multicultural art forms from around the world. She was well aware of how labor intensive sugar skulls were, and the fact that Raf's mother was one of those rare artisans who still practiced the disappearing folk art style impressed her even more.
However, Miko was also somewhat familiar with the spiritual significance of the sugar skull, knowing that it represented a specific departed soul. She couldn't help but wonder who this particular skull was meant to honor. Pushing the unspoken question aside for the time being, she returned to the task at hand and loudly chirped, "Hola, Mrs. E! Would you like some help?"
Mrs. Esquivel's entire body suddenly stiffened at the sound of the unexpected voice. Miko had to force herself not to laugh out loud. Raf's mother sighed and reluctantly answered the question.
"Not unless you actually know how to bake Pan de Muertos."
Miko didn't miss a beat and smiled, "I've never tried before but I'm always willing to give it a shot. Besides…Raf told me that when it comes to cooking, you're the best. I figure if there's anyone who can teach me how it'd be you, Mrs. E."
Raf's mother merely stared back at her with a stern expression, the honest attempt at flattery falling flat on its face. Never one to back down from a challenge, Miko wasted no time and continued attempting to bond with her future mother-in-law.
"So…today's the beginning of Day of the Dead, huh? Guess that makes it a pretty crazy time to be alive, right?"
Mrs. Esquivel snorted at the lame pun and said, "I would not expect you to understand, but it is much more than a simple holiday or festival."
Miko grinned, "That's for sure. I mean, anything dating back to the Aztec civilization has got to be pretty freaking awesome."
Raf's mother was caught off guard and blinked in surprise. "Wh-what…?"
Miko's smile widened as she went on, "Now that I think about it, this thing actually started a few thousand years before that with these ancient rituals celebrating the memory of peoples' ancestors. By the time the Aztecs showed up it had become this big festival dedicated to their goddess Mictecacihuatl, who they also called the 'Lady of the Dead.' It was all about honoring their ancestors, whose skulls had been kept as trophies. Skulls weren't only seen as a symbol of death but also of rebirth. For hundreds of years this festival of honoring the dead continued..."
Mrs. Esquivel couldn't help but be taken aback by Miko's startling knowledge of Day of the Dead. She picked up where Miko left off and said, "Y-yes…eventually the event became associated with three specific dates so it would coincide with the Catholic season of Allhallowtide, a time to remember the dead, including martyrs, saints, and all faithful departed Christians."
Miko nodded, "Right, and when the Mexican government finally made it into a national holiday it became a symbol that unified both customs. That's why so many families embrace both the traditional celebration and the Catholic season."
"I have to say, I did not expect you to know any of this. You are certainly full of surprises."
Miko smirked, "Yeah, that's what everybody keeps telling me. Got no idea why…"
Sensing that Mrs. Esquivel's icy façade was finally beginning to melt, Miko pressed her advantage. "What I still don't understand is the Catholic part of it. Wouldn't suppose you'd explain it to me…?"
Mrs. Esquivel raised a curious eyebrow and said, "Well, we believe that at the stroke of midnight on All Hallows Eve, the gates of Heaven open and the spirits of all the departed children or angelitos are allowed to visit with their families on Earth. We honor their memory the following day on All Saints Day or Dia de los Inocentes, also called the Day of the Innocents. Finally, the spirits of the adults come down from Heaven to enjoy the festivities that have been prepared for them. On All Souls Day or Día de los Muertos, also known as Day of the Dead, families gather together and go to the cemetery to decorate the graves and tombs of their relatives and to be with the souls of the departed."
The timer on the oven suddenly began to buzz, startling them both and interrupting their conversation. Mrs. Esquivel reached in with a protective oven mitt and pulled out another large pan of sweetbread. Its tantalizing aroma wafted through the kitchen and Miko's stomach started growling.
"So…how is it that you know so much about Día de los Muertos?"
Miko couldn't help but squirm a bit as Mrs. Esquivel slowly turned to face her and stared her down. She figured what the heck and shrugged, "Okay, you got me. Look…I know this will be hard to believe but I've being studying, and I mean seriously studying. I…I just really wanted to learn everything I could about Raf's culture."
Mrs. Esquivel fixed her intense gaze onto Miko's own and bluntly asked, "Why?"
Miko stared back, equally as intense. She didn't back down a bit as she answered, "I have my reasons."
The two women continued to stare at one another for another moment before Mrs. Esquivel finally gave in to the inevitable and said, "Well, then…I suppose we had better get on with it. This Pan de Muertos isn't baking itself. There's a spare apron in the cupboard over there. Vamos!"
Miko grinned excitedly, "Yes, ma'am!"
…
Raf made his way in the direction of the stables, watching as several Andalusian horses galloped by. He smiled contentedly, realizing how much he had truly missed it out here. He passed one of the barns and happened to see his father inside, already hard at work loading large bales of hay onto the bed of a nearby truck.
"Hola, Papa."
Raf's father glanced over his shoulder and said, "I was wondering when you'd finally arrive. How about lending your old man a hand…?"
As Raf rolled up his sleeves and put on a pair of work gloves, he couldn't help but take notice of his father's haggard appearance. He looked worn out, like he hadn't slept in days.
"How are you feeling, Papa? You look a little tired."
His father grunted, "You should talk. You've been so busy with your studies lately that we hardly see you anymore. How long has it been now, several months? We didn't even get a chance to give you a proper 18th birthday party…"
"I'm…I'm sorry, Papa. I didn't mean to - "
"Listen to me, Rafael…you should never, ever be too busy for your family." Raf hung his head in shame. Unexpectedly his father winked, "Unless of course, there is a girl involved. So…how is Miko?"
Raf blushed slightly, trying not to be too obvious about it as he answered, "She…she's good." He shook his head and fought to remain focused on the task at hand.
His father grinned proudly as he watched Raf heft the heavy bales with little difficulty.
"Look at you…not too long ago you were so small you could have walked underneath one of our horses without even having to stoop over. Now I have to climb a stepladder if I want to have a word with you! I almost don't recognize my little boy anymore!"
Without warning Raf felt something bump into him, startling him slightly. He turned to see that one of the younger horses had trotted up without him noticing and had butted its head against his backside. The white horse whinnied as Raf took off his gloves and held out his hand. It sniffed his fingertips and snorted happily, gently nudging up against him.
"Looks like somebody recognizes you, though…"
Raf looked closely at the horse and his eyes widened in disbelief as he whispered, "Amigo…? Is that you?" The horse whickered in response and Raf murmured, "You were still just a colt the last time I saw you…!" He laughed with delight as he hugged the now fully-grown horse.
When the tiny colt had first come into the world, he was the only horse who didn't frighten Raf. He was named Amigo por Siempre, or Forever Friend. The two youngsters had bonded fairly quickly, becoming close companions.
Years later, tragedy struck.
Raf's family had been pushed to the breaking point. They had been forced to move when the Decepticons had discovered where Raf lived during the Project Damocles incident, and shortly thereafter they once again had to flee for their lives when Megatron destroyed Jasper, Nevada. Raf had been with the Autobots when it happened and got separated from his family. Long days passed during which his family agonized over the uncertainty whether or not Raf had managed to survive.
Raf hated himself for having to conceal the truth of what had transpired. Agent Fowler had explained the situation was a matter of national security, so Raf reluctantly remained silent. As far as Raf's family and the residents of Jasper were concerned, the small town had been razed by a devastating meteor strike.
After the Autobots had done what they could to secretly help the humans rebuild, the denizens of Jasper were finally allowed to return to their homes. Miko had already been reunited with her host parents and arrangements had been made for Raf's family to meet him at the restored ranch. Raf got there shortly beforehand and had taken the opportunity to survey the lingering aftereffects of Megatron's attack, but what he wasn't prepared for was the grim revelation that all the horses had been killed.
Raf's eyes stung as he recalled the heartrending moment. There hadn't been much left of the proud stallions. Ash and a few scattered bones was all that remained. Grief-stricken and overwhelmed by the crushing feeling of loss, he had fallen to his knees and began to sob. He was caught completely unawares when he heard a familiar whinny. By some unfathomable miracle there had been a survivor in all that terrible death and destruction: Amigo por Siempre.
He smiled and wiped a stray tear, remembering how the scarred and burned young colt had slowly limped towards him and how he in turn had rushed to meet the injured little horse. Gingerly wrapping his arms protectively around Amigo, Raf lifted his eyes to heaven and gave thanks to God for saving this one life.
Here in the present Raf could see that Amigo still bore the scars from that horrible tragedy. As he gently stroked the horse's gray mane Raf sadly murmured, "I'm so sorry."
Mr. Gonzales easily guessed what his son was thinking and said, "He's part of our family, isn't he? That makes him strong, Rafael. He's tough…a survivor. You're still young but one day you'll understand what I'm talking about."
Raf smiled ironically as he answered, "Yes, Papa."
Mr. Gonzales grinned and gruffly patted Raf on the back. Unexpectedly he also found himself remembering and said, "I'll never forget the moment when we found you that day…I-I was so happy to see that you...y-you…"
Raf whispered, "P-Papa…"
When Mr. Gonzales noticed that Raf was looking at him with watery eyes, he sniffed loudly and exclaimed, "Well, what do you expect?! You're my son, Rafael!"
Father and son suddenly embraced in a huge bear hug, both valiantly attempting not to cry and both failing miserably.
As they wiped their reddened eyes, Raf's father snuffled as he smiled and said, "Not a word of this to your mother, sí?"
"Papa, are…are things all right between you and Mama?"
Mr. Gonzales sighed, "They've been better."
Hesitantly Raf asked, "Is…is it still because of - "
His father abruptly interrupted, a mixture of worry and sad acceptance on his face, "…sí, which means I don't want you even thinking about it, Rafael. There's nothing more we can do. Can't change the past, no matter how much we wish otherwise."
Mr. Gonzales clapped his arm around Raf and changed the subject, saying, "Marriage can be very hard sometimes, Rafael. It takes commitment and a lot of work. You need to be absolutely certain before you decide to take that leap of faith and spend the rest of your life with someone…"
Raf blushed again and this time his father caught him in the act.
"…but somehow I get the feeling I'm not telling you anything that you don't already know, sí? Things are serious between you and Miko, then?"
Raf sighed but couldn't help beaming when he looked into his father's eyes. He then reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a tiny velvet box. Opening it, Raf revealed a glittering diamond ring.
"I guess you could say things are pretty serious, Papa."
Mr. Gonzales barked out a loud laugh and clutched his son close in another crushing hug.
"I can't believe it…my little niño is getting married! I am so proud of you, Rafael!" Suddenly Raf's father became stern and growled, "Have you two been good?!"
Raf quickly caught his meaning and blushed as he nodded, "Y-yes, Papa." He nervously added, "Hasn't been easy, though…"
Mr. Gonzales chuckled knowingly, "It is good that you chose to wait. Trust me, Son…it will be worth it." He looked around and asked, "Where is Miko, anyway?"
Raf sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck and answered, "I, um…I left Miko to try and smooth things over with Mama."
His slowly shook his head as he grinned, "Dios mio, what did the poor girl ever do to deserve that?"
Raf smiled confidently, "Don't worry about Miko, Papa. She's tough."
Mr. Gonzales winked, "I always did like that girl. Come with me, Son. I want to show you something."
…
"…so you use orange zest in your recipe?"
"Sí, sí…you can sweeten Pan de Muerto a number of different ways, but I find that the orange zest gives it an especially…zesty flavor."
Miko snickered as she and Mrs. Esquivel slowly emerged from the kitchen, each carrying a stack of plates that were filled with food. As they carefully made their way across the family room, Miko looked around and saw that the room was completely empty of people. She wondered aloud, "Hunh. What happened to everybody?"
"They probably left to go to the cemetery. It is tradition for the family members to clean the graves of their lost loved ones during Día de los Muertos. Tomorrow morning on All Saints Day, everyone will go to church for a special Mass. It is a holy day of obligation, so you will be coming, sí?"
Miko grinned, "Wouldn't miss it." She happily took note of how the tension between them seemed to have decreased dramatically.
It was impossible not to see how proud Raf's mother was of her culture, and it slowly dawned on MIko how important it was to remember one's unique heritage. She stubbornly refused to admit it but inwardly Miko began to question herself.
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe…just maybe…tradition isn't all that bad.
They stopped at the far side of the room and faced an elaborately decorated structure, adorned throughout with bright orange marigold flowers. It was made up of three levels, only one of which was still empty. The uppermost tier held a Christian crucifix, images of various saints and several old grainy photographs. The bottom tier was full of unlit candles, which were placed next to a washbasin with soap and a towel.
Mrs. Esquivel motioned towards the empty tier and began to place the plates of food down as she said, "You can put the ofrendas here."
Miko had heard the unfamiliar word mentioned several times but had to think for a moment before she managed to translate it.
"'Offerings…?' You mean this is some kind of altar?"
"Sí, it is the house altar."
"Hey, wait a minute…this is what everybody was working on earlier."
Mrs. Esquivel explained, "Ofrenda building helps to keep the family close. When we focus on gathering together to pray for and remember lost loved ones, it helps support the spirits on their journey."
Miko gingerly set the plates of food down and whistled appreciatively, "Wow…this looks like it cost a lot of money."
"Sometimes families spend as much as two months' salary on Día de los Muertos. We believe that if the spirits are happy they will provide good luck, wisdom and protection to their families."
"Is that why all this stuff has been set out?"
Mrs. Esquivel nodded, "The ofrendas in the home are meant to be welcoming gestures for the spirits of the dead. The intent is to encourage the departed souls to visit. They are drawn by the prayers of the living and by the scent of Flor de Muerto."
"Marigolds are the Flower of the Dead? Sweet." Miko inhaled deeply, intending to smell the flowers. Her stomach rumbled as she also caught a whiff of the delicious dishes. She asked, "So…who gets to eat all this food?"
Mrs. Esquivel remained silent, answering only with a look.
Miko realized, "The food is for the spirits…?" She couldn't hide her disappointment and groaned, "Aw, man…it looks and smells so good, too. You sure I can't have just a tiny little nibble?"
Raf's mother smirked as she replied, "We believe that the spirits of the dead consume the spiritual essence of the food, so when we eat the food after the festivities it doesn't have any nutritional value."
Miko stared for a moment at the altar and finally said, "Okay, I'm pretty sure I understand everything so far but there's still one thing I can't figure out."
"What would that be?"
"That." Miko pointed at the washbasin.
Mrs. Esquivel almost smiled, "When the spirits arrive at the altar they use it to freshen up."
"Oh. Well that makes sense, I guess."
"Tomorrow evening we will also leave out pillows and blankets so that the spirits can take a rest after their long journey."
Miko reached down and picked up a little molded sugar coffin that had been left by one of the children. Absentmindedly she pulled the string and a smiling skeleton popped out of the coffin.
"I gotta say, Mrs. E…I'm impressed. You've really done an awesome job with everything."
Mrs. Esquivel was genuinely touched and replied, "Gracias, Miko. I appreciate that."
Miko was astonished to hear that Raf's mother had actually called her by name. She looked up and met the older woman's steady gaze.
Feeling a twinge of guilt at her earlier behavior, Mrs. Esquivel felt compelled to make amends.
"Why don't you tell me something about your homeland, Miko?"
"It's funny you mention that. Back home in Japan we have something that's actually pretty similar to Day of the Dead."
"Oh, really…?"
"Yeah! It's called the Bon Festival, also called the Obon. It's been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years. The Obon is a Buddhist holiday held to honor the spirits of departed ancestors. Families traditionally clean their ancestors' graves and supposedly the spirits of the dead visit the household altars. The Obon also lasts for three days and…and…hunh. Wow, I never thought about it before but other than the Buddhist thing it sounds exactly like Day of the Dead."
Mrs. Esquivel cocked an eyebrow and chuckled, "I was beginning to wonder."
"Well, that and it's also held during the summer." Miko closed her eyes and sighed as she relived pleasant memories. "When I was a kid I remember during the Obon we would have these amazing carnivals. After riding all the rides my family would come home, I'd put on my favorite yukata and then eat a cool slice of watermelon in the hot summer evening…"
"That sounds nice."
Miko's eyes suddenly snapped open. "Y'know, I almost forgot. There is one other thing we do in Japan. When the spirits of our ancestors arrive, we have this dance called the Bon-Odori to welcome them. When we dance, we honor our ancestors' memory by showing our appreciation for the sacrifices they made."
Mrs. Esquivel smiled, "One day you will have to show me this dance."
Miko shyly returned the smile and said, "I'd like that."
"Well, there are only a few final touches to put on the altar. While I go get the sugar skull, would you mind putting the picture over on the mantle onto the altar's top tier?"
Miko grinned, "I'm on it."
Mrs. Esquivel went to the kitchen and took a deep breath before carefully hefting the large sugar skull. She had to use both hands to carry the cumbersome decoration. Slowly she turned and prepared to make her way back to the family room. She was not prepared to see Miko standing at the doorway and jumped. It was all she could do not to drop the heavy skull.
"Miko! That's twice now that you've startled me."
When Miko didn't answer she realized something was wrong.
"Miko…?"
Mrs. Esquivel saw that Miko was holding onto the photograph she had asked her to retrieve for the altar. Miko's hands trembled violently as her bottom lip quivered and tears cascaded from her already-reddened eyes.
"Miko, what is it?"
"Th-this…picture…"
"Sí? What about it?"
"R-Raf…he…"
"Rafael? I don't - "
"Raf…sh-showed me…this suh-same picture…earlier today…!" Shakily Miko motioned towards the sugar skull and whispered, "I…I never thought…n-never suspected…all this…w-was because h-his grandfather...had…h-had…oh, God…!"
Mrs. Esquivel pursed her lips and said nothing as Miko began to sob uncontrollably. Finally the older woman set down the sugar skull and reached out to hold her in an awkward embrace.
…
Minutes earlier Rafael and his father had quietly entered the house. Seeing that no one was around, Raf's father led his son upstairs and made their way to a room that was used for storage. Once inside Mr. Gonzales began to rummage through one of the closets filled with old clothing. Finally he came across what he had been looking for.
"Found it!"
He proudly held up his find for Raf to see. Raf whispered, "Papa…is that…?"
Mr. Gonzales grinned, "Sí. This is my guayabera, the very same wedding shirt that I wore when I married your mother."
Raf smiled as he admired how well preserved the long-sleeved shirt was. It was white with four pockets on the front with a pair of intricately-embroidered pleats running vertically down each pair of pockets.
"It looks great, Papa."
Mr. Gonzales beamed, "Thank you, Son. I'm glad you like it…"
Raf nodded, "I do, really…!"
"…because I want you to have it."
"Wh-what…? Papa, I can't do that!"
Mr. Gonzales rested his hands on Raf's shoulders and smiled, "Rafael, listen to me. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to finally pass something of worth along to you."
Raf started, "Papa, what are you talking about?"
"Son, you know exactly what I'm talking about. You were the youngest and spent most of your life feeling like you were overlooked and unloved, like you were living in the shadow of your brothers and sisters."
Raf's father began to tear up and he wiped his eyes before he could continue.
"I am sorry that I made you feel that way, and I want you to know the time has come for you to step out of that shadow. It is time, Rafael…time for you to stand proud on your own! It is time for you to be your own man, and if Miko is the girl you wish to marry I want you to know I support it with all my heart. My son…m-my son…"
The tears came again and this time Mr. Gonzales didn't bother to stop them from falling. "…my son, I am so very proud of you and the fine young man that you have become. Please…please let me do this one thing for you. Nothing would honor me more than for you to wear this guayabera when you take Miko as your bride."
Raf's eyes swam with tears as he whispered, "P-Papa…!"
Father and son embraced.
…
After several long minutes the emotional storm began to subside.
"I-I'm so suh-stupid sometimes…it…it didn't even register when I didn't see Raf's grandfather with the rest of his family…! R-Raf…God, I knew something was bothering him, b-but he never said a word! Why didn't he tell me…?!" Once again Miko's seething emotions threatened to overwhelm her.
Mrs. Esquivel huffed and said, "Rafael comes from a very proud, very stubborn stock…"
Miko sniffed, "Y-yeah…he always did hate it when people worried about him…even when he was hurt…"
Mrs. Esquivel suddenly stiffened and pulled away from Miko before she exclaimed, "What…? Rafael was hurt?!"
Miko quickly backpedaled and stammered, "Uhh…no, no…Raf's fine, I-I was just…just speaking hypothetically!" She wiped away her tears and smiled before bowing respectfully to Raf's mother.
"Senora Esquivel, I apologize. I didn't mean to stir up any painful memories. If I have offended you, I am truly sorry."
Mrs. Esquivel sighed, "It…it is all right, Miko." She reached out and held the old photograph along with Miko. For several poignant moments they both gazed at the picture, each quietly pondering their own private thoughts.
Finally Raf's mother broke the silence and asked, "Did you know that we named Rafael after my father?"
Miko grinned excitedly, "Really?! That is so cool!" Miko sighed dreamily and said, "It makes perfect sense, too. I can see where Raf gets his dashing good looks from…"
Mrs. Esquivel's face twitched. Her eyes narrowed dangerously and she slowly trained her unreadable glare onto Miko, who suddenly realized that she may have accidently let it slip that there was something more than mere friendship going on between her and Raf.
"Ohhh scrap."
…
"…so for now we'll leave the guayabera up here. When it's time for the wedding, it will be ready for you, Rafael."
"Gracias, Papa. Seriously, this really means a lot to me."
Mr. Gonzales' expression became thoughtful as he looked closely at the wedding shirt. Finally he said, "We might have to take in the seam a bit for you." He patted his ample belly and winked, "Then again, I have lost weight since then…!"
Both men howled with laughter before Raf suddenly grew silent and asked, "Do you hear something…?"
Raf's father listened intently and murmured, "Is…is that shouting…?"
Both men suddenly stared at one another and realized with a start.
"…Mama…!"
"…Miko…!"
They both dashed out of the storage room and raced downstairs, following the shrill sounds of screaming. They reached the bottom of the stairs and ran as fast as they could towards the kitchen.
"…and where do you get the nerve to think you can just show up and take my son away from me?! I am his mother! I was the one who raised him and cared for him his entire life! I am in charge of my children…me! Not some upstart foreign floozy!"
"Raf isn't a kid anymore, Mrs. Esquivel! He's eighteen! He's grown up! He's legal in most of the countries in the freakin' world! And where do you get off calling me a floozy?!"
Mr. Gonzales flung the door open and roared, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!"
Miko whirled to face Raf. His heart sank when he saw that she had been crying.
She whispered, "R-Raf…I-I…"
He reached out and held her close just before she burst into tears. He murmured soothingly to her, saying, "It's okay, Miko…it's going to be okay…"
Mrs. Esquivel stared for a moment at the young lovers and then fixed her furious gaze onto her husband.
"Did you know about this? About them…?!"
"That doesn't matter. What is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with me? What is wrong is that our son has gotten himself involved with a little heathen girl from a Godless country and I will not stand for it!"
Miko sobbed, "B-but I'm not a Buddhist…n-not since…!"
Mrs. Esquivel snarled, "WHAT ARE YOU THEN?!"
"…I…I don't…" Miko began to tremble violently and Raf suddenly stood in front of her, shielding her from his mother.
Out of patience, Raf's father yelled, "ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH!"
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!"
"I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH! CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING?! STOP ACTING LIKE THIS AND LISTEN…!"
Raf flinched, almost as if a physical blow had struck him. Once again he held his hands over his ears and tried to drown out the sound of screaming, and once again Miko was overcome with the haunting sensation that she had seen him react this exact same way before. There was no time to question the feeling as things escalated to a boiling point.
"LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE HURTING, BUT THAT IS NO REASON TO TAKE IT OUT ON - "
"UNDERSTAND? YOU…UNDERSTAND?!"
In a frenzied rage, Mrs. Esquivel picked up the sugar skull that she had been working on all week. She hurled it to the ground and it shattered.
"THE ONLY THING YOU SHOULD EVER UNDERSTAND IS THAT IT'S YOUR FAULT!"
Raf cried out and fell to his knees, clutching his head in agony. Even as Miko attempted to comfort him he whimpered pitifully, desperately trying not to hear his mother's next words.
"IT'S YOUR FAULT MY FATHER IS DEAD!"
Without another word, Raf's mother stormed out of the kitchen and left.
Mr. Gonzales immediately crouched next to Raf and gently held him by the shoulders. With an urgent air of desperation he asked, "Rafael...? Rafael my son, can you hear me? Say something...anything. Speak to me, please! Please...!"
Raf could only stare silently back at his father with pleading eyes that were filled with fear and confusion.
Overcome with shame and not knowing what else to do, Mr. Gonzales averted his eyes and stumbled helplessly out the door, leaving Raf and Miko utterly alone.
Horrified, Miko whispered, "Oh, God…what have I done…?"