Chapter 2: Six Years Later

Year: 2018

In Santa Cecilia, there lived another family, the Riveras, who were a family of shoemakers and musicians. One of the members was 13-year-old Miguel Rivera. He enjoyed playing his guitar with his favorite uncle, Hector Rivera, playing with his dog, Dante, and spending time in Mariachi Plaza.

While he loved his family, it was sometimes hard to breathe. He had a large family consisting of his grandparents, parents, younger sister, five aunts, five uncles, and five cousins. There were times he wished he could just be alone for a while.

One summer Monday morning, he'd just come in from getting the mail, and was flipping through the letters seeing what went to who. At the breakfast table, he gave each family member their mail, and sat down to eat himself.

As the family ate and talked, someone said, "Dios mio!" Everyone looked up to see it was Hector. "What is it, Hector?" asked his wife Imelda. "I've been invited to perform at UMC (University of Mexico City) for a benefit concert." he said.

"What does the concert benefit?" asked Enrique, Miguel's papa. "It's a charity concert for the senior citizen center." Hector answered, looking at the paper. "That's sounds estupendo." said Elena, Miguel's abuelita.

"Are you going to do it, Papa?" asked Hector and Imelda's 6-year-old daughter, Coco. "I'll have to think about it, mija." Hector answered. The day went on normally, shoes were ordered, made, delivered, and bought.

And music and laughter was heard throughout the house. That evening Héctor made his decision. "Familia, I've decided to go to Mexico City." he said. "That's great." said Tio Berto, Miguel's uncle. "When do you leave?" asked Luisa.

"On Saturday, and I'll only be gone a week. They even sent me a train ticket and a extra one." said Hector, holding up two train tickets. That got Miguel's hopes up. A week in Mexico City, away from all the crowd and room to breathe?

It sounded great. That night, as everyone was settling down to bed, Miguel was able to catch Hector getting a midnight snack before bed. "Tio Hector?" he asked. Hector jumped, and turned around to reveal he had half a churro in his mouth.

"Oh mijo, it's just you. I thought you were your Tia Imelda." he said, taking the other half of the churro out of his mouth. "Thought she caught you sneaking churros again?" asked Miguel. "Si, que pasa?" he asked.

"Well...I was just wondering...do you plan on using that spare ticket? Cause if you were did you decided who you're going take with you, because we have such a big family and..." "Miguel, do you want to go with me to Mexico City?" asked Hector knowingly.

"Si?" Miguel said nervously. "Chamaco, you don't have to beg. You can come." said Hector. "Really?" asked Miguel. "Si I was going to ask if you wanted to come anyway. Also let's not tell Tia Imelda about the churros, okay?" asked Hector.

"Deal." said Miguel, and they went to their rooms to sleep.

That same day in Mexico City

On the outskirts of Mexico City, there was an orphanage run by nuns. Sleeping soundly in one of the rooms, was a 12-year-old girl with mid-length black and brown eyes. She was suddenly awoken by the feeling on something licking her nose.

She opened her eyes to see a small white Bichon Frise in her face. "(Yawns), Buenos Dias, Carina." she said, as she sat up. She pet the dog, but suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Gabby are you awake?" asked a voice.

"Si, just a second." said Gabby. She quickly hid Carina in her closet, and opened the door. "Buenos Dias, Hermana Marisol." she said. "Buenos Dias, now get cleaned up and dressed, we've got a whole day ahead of us." said Hermana Marisol.

"Okay." said Gabby. Hemana Marisol left, and Gabby closed the door, and let Carina out. "That was close, girl." said Gabby. Carina was Gabby's secret, since pets weren't allowed in the orphanage. Gabby had found her digging in the while in the city.

The two immediately connected, and Gabby snuck her back to the orphanage gave her a bath, and some food. She tried to let Carina go, but she wanted to stay, so Gabby kept her hidden from the nuns and other kids.

She got her clothes, and her toothbrush, and went to the bathrooms. In the girls' room all the other girls were brushing and combing their hair, brushing their teeth, washing their faces, and getting their clothes on.

Gabby managed to find a clear spot, and did her hygiene routine. Then she put on her clothes, which was just a long pink t-shirt, purple leggins, and black slip on shoes. "Nice outfit, Gabby." sneered a girl.

A few of the other girls laughed, while Gabby just left the bathroom, and went downstairs to the dining room for breakfast. She got a bowl, found a seat, and had some cereal and orange juice. When she finished, she put some bacon in her pocket, and went back up to her room.

"Carina, I got you something." said Gabby, pulling out the bacon. Carina happily ate it, and Gabby got her large tote bag and had Carina jump inside it. "Time to go, girl." she said. Just as she was about to walk out the door, Carina barked.

"Oh, right I almost forgot." said Gabby. She went to her drawer, and pulled out a bracelet with amethyst stones. "Can't forget this." she said, putting it on. The bracelet was the one thing Gabby had from her past.

She'd been brought the orphanage when she was 6-years-old, after she was found just wandering around the train station. She didn't know where she came from or her family was. All she knew was that she was 6 and that her name started with "Gab", so she was named Gabby, and sent to the orphanage.

Then she went downstairs, passing by the nuns' office on her way out. "I'm leaving now, hermanas." she called. "Be back before dark, Gabby." Said one of the nuns.

Since it was summer and Gabby was out of school, she found something to do with her time. She caught a bus, rode into the city, and got dropped off in front of the La Mariposa Plaza, the fanciest hotel in Mexico City.

Gabby walked in, and saw it was rather quiet in the lobby. "Buenos Dias, Gabby." said a voice. A woman wearing a dark grey suit was standing by the desk. "Hola, Dona Martinez, I'm ready to start." said Gabby.

"Bueno, you know what you do." said Dona Martinez. Gabby nodded and went back to where the employees got ready. When Gabby got old enough to go out on her own (around 10), she'd often stop at the hotel.

She loved how fancy it was, and seeing the guests that stayed there. So one day the Dona Martinez, the hotel's manager decided to let her help around the hotel. Which included putting chocolates on the guests pillows, helping in the laundry room, and making sure the mini fridges were always stocked.

In the locket rooms, she let Carina out, put her tote, besides a locker, and went to work.

First she put chocolates on the pillows in empty rooms. "A lovely surprise for the guests." said Gabby. Carina barked. "Si, and tasty too." As she walked down the hallway, she saw many elegant people.

Men wearing patent leather shoes, and silk business suits, and women wearing mink stoles and nice dresses. "It must be cool to live fancy like that." Gabby whispered. When she finished that, she helped out in the laundry rooms.

Washing towels, wash clothes, sheets, drying them, and folding them up nice and neat. Before she went to check the mini refrigerators, she break for lunch. Outside she got a burrito from the kitchen and some water from Carina and they had their food outside.

As Gabby ate she watched the people walk by. She got a bit sad when she saw kids walking with their family members. Carina noticed owner's sadness and licked her hand. "Gracias, Carina. I'm okay really. I was just thinking about family." She Said.

She looked at her bracelet. Whoever gave it to her must've really loved her. She knew she must've had a family. Her memory only went back to when she was 6, so she must've been somewhere before that.

When she finished eating she went back to her little job.

Once that was all done, she checked the mini refrigerators, and then took the bus back to the orphanage. Once she was there, she hung around in her room. She didn't really have many friends, because she wondered about her past, but the other kids just said she was being silly.

She was at an orphanage, which meant she had no past with family. So she spent her time playing with Carina, reading her two books, and catching a little TV in the game room. Then the kids were called down for dinner.

After a dinner of yellow rice and black beans, the kids got cleaned, changed into their pajamas, and went to bed. As she lied back in bed, Carina slept under the bed. "Buenas Noches, Carina." she whispered.

Carina barked quietly. And the two drifted off to sleep.

That's chapter 2, plz review