Story 2: Rodolfo and Maria
The Rivera family were setting up decorations for Christmas.
"Okay, Dad I think we're done." Manny said.
"Not yet we're missing one more thing." Rodolfo said hanging up mistletoe.
"Trying to get Maria to kiss you with the mistletoe trick again?" Grandpapi said.
"Dad, you try this every year and Mom always finds a way to avoid it." Manny said.
"I'll get her this year."
"Just like last year?" Manny said.
"And the year after that and the year after that." Grandpapi said.
"Hi everyone." Maria said. "Merry Christmas."
"Hey Mom." Manny ran to hug her.
"Hello Maria." Rodolfo said holding up mistletoe. "Look up."
Maria saw it and quickly thought of away out of it.
"Oh you hung up holly." She walked away and pulled a gift out of her bag. "For you Miho."
"Ooh." Manny tugged at the wrapping.
"No, no, Manny. Not until christmas."
"Hmmph!" He put the present down.
They all began to hang ornaments on the tree. Later that night the family sat down to dinner they all talked for a while.
"So Manny are you going to the Feastival?" Maria asked.
"I don't know." He answered.
"Well I hope you do. I went when I was young."
"So did I and I danced with your mother." Rodolfo said.
"Rodolfo, please not now."
"What? I'm just trying to tell our son that the Christmas Feastival is a special time for family, friends,...and love."
"Oh brother! Will Frida be going?" Maria said.
"Yeah, she's making a big deal about it." Manny groaned. "She's been saving up her money to buy a new dress and shoes."
"Well you do need to look you 're best." Maria said.
"Si." Grandpapi said. "I'm going to wear one of Mighty Cheetah's battle suits."
Then after awhile a fuse was blown and all the lights went out.
"Oh great!" Rodolfo said.
"We need a new battery." Grandpapi said as he checked the fuse box. "Hey here's one."
"Viva Pantalones!"
Grandpapi shoved him into the fuse box causing the parrot to get electrocuted.
"Sniff, sniff...Do I smell roast chicken?" Rodolfo said.
"Chapi! Nooo!" Grandpapi cried. "He's dead!"
"Yes! Finally!" Manny shouted.
"Speak to me Chapi! Speak!" Grandpapi begged.
"Viva Pantalones!"
"He's alive!" Grandpapi cried happily.
"Oh man! So close!" Manny said in a less enthusiastic way.
"So now what?" Maria asked.
"Are there any other batteries?" Rodolfo said.
"No just candles." Grandpapi said.
"I'll run to the store and get one." Manny said.
"I'll go with you! I need some supplies." Grandpapi said.
They left the house and went to the store. Rodolfo and Maria sat in the dark for a while then he went downstairs to get some candles.
"Do you see anything?" Maria asked.
"No. I haven't been down here for years. Ahhh! What is that?!"
Maria heard growling and snarling along with Rodolfo's screams of terror.
"Back! All of you! Get back!" He ran back upstairs with the candles. He slammed the door then started to breathe heavily.
"What in heaven's name was down there?" Maria said.
"I forgot Papi used to keep large rats down there for evil purposes."
"Large rats?"
"Don't ask."
He pulled out a few candles.
"You got a match?" He said.
"Yes."
He lit the candles and they sat in akward silence for an hour.
"I think the radio still works." He suggested. "Care for music?"
"Alright but no funny business."
He switched on the radio but only one station and it played a very specific song.
"Hey it's our wedding song." Rodolfo said.
"Oh no!" Maria said.
"You're mine and we belong together, yes we belong together for eternity, eeeternity."
"Remember when first heard it?" Rodolfo said.
"How could I forget? It was our second date and we had gone to see a movie." Maria said.
"After the movie I walked you home and-"
"The radio played it and we danced in the middle of the street." Maria laughed. "You're never gonna let me forget that are you?"
"Why would you want to forget?"
"I don't know Rodolfo I did love you but the crime fighting was too much."
"But do you still love me?"
"That isn't really a good time to discuss this."
"You never want discuss it! You didn't want to back then either. You just up and left me!"
"You think it was easy? I didn't want to leave I just couldn't take it!"
"Take what?"
"The pain! Heartbreak! If you had been killed it would've destroyed me! I thought if I left my feelings would fade and it wouldn't be so bad."
"Maria I would shoot myself in the head for you! I have never stopped loving you." He handed her a small velvet box. Inside was a bright red ornament with Maria's hair ribbon tied in a bow on it.
"It's beautiful." Maria said. "I still can't believe you kept it after all these years."
She looked up and saw that they were both standing under the mistletoe. Maria couldn't see her way out of this one so she decided to cut him some slack just this once since it was Christmas.
"Alright Rodolfo but just one." Maria said. "And on the cheek."
"Fair enough." Rodolfo said.
Maria turned her cheek over to him. Rodolfo pulled out a bottle of spray and gave a little sprit in his mouth. He leaned over and pukered his lips. Then Maria surprised him by turning the other way causing their lips touch. Both were shocked but the surprise soon became joy. They stood there kissing passionately then Manny and Grandpapi came back.
"Hey we got the battery- whoa!" Manny said. "Oh gross! Old people love!"
"Hey we're not that old!" Rodolfo said.
"What happened while we were gone?" Grandpapi said.
"Um...We can explain!" Maria said.
"Yeah." Manny said. "I'll be in my room."
Rodolfo and Maria blushed hard but smiled at each other.
"Best Christmas ever!" Rodolfo cried.