El Viaje de Coquita
El Capítulo Uno
"Nothing!" Miguel spun around with a nervous smile on his face as his parents and Abuelita walked into the ofrenda room. "M-Mamá, Papá, I - - "
"Miguel..." Enrique interrupted, "your Abuelita has the most wonderful idea."
Miguel gulped, knowing he could easily guess what his parents had in mind.
"We've all decided..." Enrique slipped a leather apron over Miguel's head, "...it's time you join us in the workshop!"
"W-What?!"
"No more shining shoes; you will be making them! Every day after school!"
Elena grabbed Miguel by the cheeks. "Our Migueli-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-ti-to! Carrying on the family tradition! And on Día de los Muertos!" She looked to the ofrenda with bubbly enthusiasm. "Your ancestors will be so proud! You'll craft huaraches, like your Tía Victoria!"
Enrique was equally enthused. "And wingtips, like your Papá Julio!"
Miguel shuffled toward the door. "B-But what if I'm no good at making shoes?"
Enrique laughed and gestured toward the ofrenda. "Ay, Miguel, you have your family here to guide you. You are a Rivera, and a Rivera is..."
Miguel sighed as he completed the family mantra. "...a shoemaker, through and through."
His father gave him a great big hug. "That's my boy! Berto! Break out the good stuff; I want to make a toast!"
Elena was the last to leave, as she was busy smothering Miguel's faces with kisses.
As soon as they were out of sight, Miguel sighed and trundled back to the table where his guitar was hidden.
He saw Dante peek out from under the tablecloth. "What am I going to do, Dante?"
As he bent down to retrieve the guitar, Dante sprinted between Miguel's legs, throwing him off balance and sending him chin first into a plate of chicken in mole sauce on the ofrenda.
He managed to catch himself, but by the time he was standing upright again, Dante was long gone.
He heaved another sigh as he plucked the guitar from under the table and turned to return it to the attic.
Before he took two steps, he saw Mamá Coco reaching toward him.
"Papá? Papá!"
Miguel paused and glanced over his shoulder.
"Papá, you're home!"
Unsure of what to make of this, Miguel continued for the door.
He felt Mamá Coco's hand grab his own.
"Papá, play for me!"
That's when Miguel realized that she thought that he was her papá.
Miguel looked outside for anyone near the ofrenda room. He saw no one.
He thought of playing "Remember Me", but he was scared that his family would hear him.
But at the same time, Mamá Coco seemed adamant that he play a song for her.
Miguel swallowed and picked the opening notes of the song, playing in a way that he hoped wouldn't be heard by the rest of the family; slowly picking a scant few notes at a time and singing as quietly as possible.
"Recuérdame... hoy me tengo que ir, amor;
Recuérdame... no llores, por favor;
Te llevo en mi corazón y cerca me tendrás;
A solas yo te cantaré soñando en regresar..."
Miguel was too busy keeping himself inconspicuous to notice Mamá Coco becoming more lucid with every note.
"Recuérdame... aunque tengo que emigrar;"
He only noticed when Mamá Coco started singing along with him.
"Recuérdame... si mi guitarra oyes llorar;
Ella con su triste canto te acompañará...
Hasta que en mis brazos tú estés,...
Recuérdame."
Mamá Coco smiled as tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Gracias, mijo. Just like Papá used to sing it to me."
Miguel was surprised. "Really?"
"Sí. Take me to my room; there's something I want to show you."
Miguel hid the guitar back under the ofrenda and wheeled Mamá Coco to her room.