It had been only moments Mirabel had to fear. Only ten minutes of fear that maybe she had failed, maybe she wasn't special, maybe her family would leave her. What if they stopped loving Mirabel?
Abuela came with a small smile calmly showing on her face. Mirabel looked at Abuela with worry and hope, as she always did. Abuela looked to the crowd, with a candle in one hand and Mirabel's hand in the other, " Today we came here to celebrate a new gift of Mirabel, but today as I've seen through Bruno's gift not just the future but the understanding that Mirbel has always had a gift, it is only today we get to see it!" Mirabel's eyes widened those words.
Abuela looked to Mirabel with a soft, ever-glowing smile lit by the candle, " You my dear Miraposa, have the gift of the whole Casitia itself, for you are connected to this in such a way I'm not, you are another hand the miracle has given to reach and provide for us, today was only to teach us that" The crowd was silent as Abuela paused for her final words, " Let us celebrate this wonderful day!"
The crowd cheered at that. The Casitia itself exploded with Mirabel's excitement. That night, Mirabel stayed up the longest she ever had before. It was so exciting to see everyone congratulate her. Abuela had to go get her present from her room. Mirabel waved her away and continued to talk to people.
Well the many people playing with her were nice, her family's adoration was the best. Isabella's vines swinging her to a bear huge from Luisa was fun. Camilo had fun pretending to be her to some guests, well Dolores and her laughed in the distance.
It was a fun night, it was a relief to know she had a gift. To know she was loved. They couldn't because they couldn't hate a part of there home. Soon, she was the last grand kid up.
As people left the Casitia, left her, Mirabel started rubbing her eyes. She held her mama's hand, so she didn't fall asleep on the floor. She was ready to end her wonderful day, and rest. She looked up at her mama," Can you walk me to the nur- nur-"
Abuela stated," Nursery, and Julieta, can I take Mirabel? I'd like to give her my present,"
"Of course Mama" Julieta had Mirabel hold Alma's hand. Mirabel smiled at Abuela as they went to the Nursery.
The walk up the stairs to the small room was short it dragged for the sleepy child. Her bow tying her hair was undone, leaving it all over and messy. Mirabel grabbed the dangling thing before Abuela held on to it, fearing the child might lose it.
As Mirabel went past the nursery door she ran to bed, giggling as she remembered Abuela's present. She kicked her legs at the side of the bed. Abuela held out a shining red box, Mirabel grabbed it hastily.
"I have to talk to you first, Mirabel" Abuela scolded gently. Mirabel nodded intently, as intently as a sleepy kid could.
Abuela started her talking,"You today made a promise to serve are community, and you as part of the miracle that brought us this, you do, and to continue to do so, you must promise to do something dear" Mirabel nodded, and the planks of wood creaked a bit.
Abuela continued,"You, as the living embodiment of our home, our gift, must present yourself to the community with grace, and you have to help keeping Casitia and our community strong with your presence," Mirabel nodded again," Promise me Mirabel,"
Mirabel tilted her head," I promise, can I open my present now?"
Alma smiled," Yes Mira-Casitia," agreeing with a new nickname. Mirabel opened the box to find a ruby blanket the color of Abuela's dress. She squealed and hugged her Abuela.
" I love it! Thank you!" Mirabel stated, the planks in the room moved to angle themselves toward Alma.
" Your welcome, and good night, Mira-Casitia" Abuela stated. She left the nursery and the door closed behind her. Mirabel was getting the hang of this.
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It was early morning, and the sun was just rising. Mirabel woke and the whole Casitia awakened. Mirabel quietly left her bed to start helping for Antonio's big day.
She smiled at her dream, perfect for the momentous occasion.
Mirabel walks to see her mama start cooking. It was with ease that the ingredients her mama needed. Julieta was humming a tune her Papa played on the piano for her. Mirabel wished she could recall-
" Dear, you forgot to get to milk," Julieta stated to the house. Mirabel blinked in surprise and brought the jar by hand," Thank you, are you already starting to decorate?"
Mirabel laughed,"I can't look bare today! Antonio deserves only the best for his special day!" Casitia brought the boxes of decoration she had crafted all year," Plus, it's my part, I can't slack off, I represent the familia as this home,"
Juileta saw the glow in her child's eyes. Juileta hated the echo of her mother's words. It felt herself bite her cheek, Mirabel would never listen to that," You seemed to be more excited for today then you were for your Quinceanera,"
Mirabel rebutted at that," I only came this early because I know that when the human" points at herself,"is asleep, the Casitia gets" Mirabel shook her hands in ehh motion,"finicky"
Juileta smiled at that," I can get the ingredients if I need to myself, you don't need to be up"
Mirabel laughed," Too late now, can't be up for more the five minutes if I must rest again, I got to get to it," Mirabel left to hang and place every decoration.
In the girl's mind, she wanted herself decorated before Antonio woke up. Antonio was her favorite little guy, despite her deflecting her mother's comment.
Mirabel thought of her Quinceanera, it had been a nice day. Everyone was adoring her work, her decorations, her dress. It was her step to adulthood, but she was never a arrogant girl, not that it was a bad thing to enjoy a day about you, but Mirabel was Casitia.
Casitia by nature was about the people inside. Of course a day to celebrate the little sunshine then the house party. Her mother might not see it that way, and well of course one would think their child's growth to womanhood is a big deal. So she didn't need to hear her Mirabel talking about being Casitia, because that is just how it is.
Now to start finding the present mat she'd made for the table.
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She was finished with placing 'Alma Madgical' by the time she was preparing her outfit. It was a special moment as she got out the last decoration. A shawl, the same red of Abuela's. The one that had made her blanket for a decade. It was the perfect idea she had thought on her second big day.
Today was her little Antonio's perfect day. As she put on her ownthe shawl, she smiled. Can't have one inch of the place not decorated for the day. She had to present to community that the magic is still strong.
Like always, and forever. Mirabel made her own prayer,
'I promise to serve the community, protect the miracle, and show the best of my familia with my presence, as always and forever, I promise Abuela'