Chapter 2 (Grave Robbing)
On a nice warm sunny day, Miguel was out polishing shoes at the plaza since this was his job in his family shoe business. As for his friends, they were out prepping for the Day of the Dead, and Miguel didn't mind at all.
The shoes that Miguel was polishing was a Mariachi band who was done reading his newspaper, and then looked at Miguel and ask "So, kid are you going to the concert?". "Who me?. No, I can't I told you about my family history issue". said, Miguel, while putting up his polishing gear in his bag.
Then the Mariachi just huff and said "Kid you told that same old sad story, every time I come here to get my shoes shine from you. Look, let me educate you on true facts. Ready?". Miguel said while getting to drink his bottle of water "Fire away". "Alright then well first off if Ernesto De La Cruz had hidden his skills then, he wouldn't be known as the greatest musician of all Mexican music artist history. And second, you never know if you try". Mariachi said as started tuning his guitar.
"Well ok that's very true but I don't know if I got what it takes to play like one of the greats". said Miguel. Then the Mariachi gave his guitar to Miguel and smile "I tell you what amigo. Why don't you play something for me and if you're good then I recommend you to play at the competition". As Miguel looked at the guitar and then back at the Mariachi, and said "In truth, I never played in front of nobody except, my aunt Franny and best friends. But hey let's give it a world".
Before Miguel was about to play, suddenly a familiar voice call his name. "Miguel!. What on earth are you doing?!". said Abuelita, a company by two members Miguel's family, and Vanellepe who was help carrying supplies for the shoe shop. "Um, grandma Abuelita this not what it looks like". Miguel said trying to save the Mariachi, but it was in vain.
Then Abuelita took off her shoe and started hitting the Mariachi. "You leave my grandson alone his one of the nicest, innocent, and sweeties child in the family. And he doesn't need some music-loving mariachi-like you, to poison his mind". After the Mariachi ran for it, Vanellepe went over to Miguel and whispered.
"If you want to play music Miguel then, you should have played when no ones watching". said Vanellepe. Then Miguel said "Sorry, but he talked me into it. You look lovely today Vanellepe, is that a new perfume that I smell?". Since the day they met, Miguel had a strong crush on Vanellepe and always doing anything to make her happy, and Vanellepe felt the same way.
" Ah, thank you Miguel and it is just my normal perfume". said Vanellepe while blushing. Then Abuelita came over and hugged Miguel and said "You're safe now Miguel and I don't want you to ever go to the plaza again". While walking back to the shop that was connected to the house, Abuelita told everyone what happened.
"Miguel you know the plaza is filled with music lovers. Why did you go there?". asked Miguel's mom who was almost about to give birth to Miguel's baby sister. " Because mom that's where the money is at". said Miguel. "Miguel you are a Rivera, and we Rivera's don't like music". said Abuelita while packing some bread of the dead for Vanellepe.
Then Vanellepe spoked up for Miguel and said " But grandma Abuelita there's nothing wrong listening to music. In fact its healthy". "Nonsense Vanellepe. Music is not good for you and that's the end of it. Now its family and I'm sure Cass and your brothers would want you to get home for the pre-celebration of Day of the Dead". Abuelita said handing her the basket full of bread.
"Well, it is getting late so I see you later Miguel. Bye everyone". said Vanellepe and headed out. While that was over Miguel headed to the attic, where he had a shrine made for his hero Ernesto De La Cruz. The only people that know about this was his best friends and Dante.
Miguel dreamed of playing music and always wanted to be just like Cruz. So, he decided to go ahead and join the competition. But before he was about to leave his grandmother and his parents came in, and then hid the guitar and Dante underneath the table of the ofernda. " Oh, Miguel there you are. We wanted to tell you that we have decided that we want you to make shoes with us, just like the rest of us". said Abuelita with a smile.
"Really? that's awesome. I can't wait to get started". Miguel said while trying to keep Dante down. After leaving, Dante due to being hungry decided to get some food off the ofernda. " No boy get down. No". said Miguel, but sadly the picture of Imelda fall down and the frame broke.
'Oh, no I'm so dead. I wondering does Penny can fix a picture frame". As Miguel picked up the photo he saw that the guitar that looked very familiar. And when he did he realize that Ernesto is his great, great grandpa. With the huge excitement that was built up in Miguel, he ran outside to tell every one of his discovery.
Sadly it didn't work out as they refuse to let Miguel be like Cruz. "Miguel I refuse to let you become like this man. He left his family and I refuse let it happen to you". said Abuelita as took the guitar from Miguel and smashed into pieces. "Grandma how could you". said Miguel in a sad voice.
"I'm sorry Miguel but it was for your own good. Now, lets put this behind us, and celebrate as a family". said Abuelita as she put her hand on his shoulder. That was then Miguel pulled away and took off, ignoring the shouts from his family and went to the plaza to sign up.
As he made it to the plaza and met the women, who were in charge of the competition. "Excuse ma'am but I like to sign up for the competition". said Miguel. " Ok. Do you have an instrument?". she asked. "No. But I can get one. I'm going right now". Miguel said as he began to ask people if he can burrow their guitar, but no luck.
That was when he remembered where to get one, and that was at the graveyard in the mausoleum of De La Cruz. When he went there everything was locked tight.
"Crap, its lock good. Well, it looks like I'm going have to call back up". said Miguel as he pulls out his phone, and begin texting. Meanwhile, in the Parr's household, everyone was putting up decorations, and feeling the spirit of the holiday. As for Violet she in her room putting on her red and purple dress, and her red shoes.
While looking at herself through the mirror, her phone beeped a text from Miguel, and then she checked out and it read " Violet I need your help it's urgent. Meet me in the graveyard". "The graveyard?. Why meet at the graveyard?. Hey, mom, I'm going out. Miguel texted me and its urgent". said Violet, as she was downstairs talking to her mom, while her dad got back from grilling and carrying a plate of hamburgers.
" Alright Vi you can go, just stay safe". said Helen. Then at Robinson's household, the Robinsons were dancing and eating as the frogs were playing good classical music. "I love Dia de Muertos". And the food". said, Wilbur, as he was eating some nachos, and then looked at his phone and got the text.
"Man, and I was just having fun too. Mom, Dad, I got to go Miguel just texted me and it was important". Wilbur said while stuffing his face with Doritos, and headed out. "Now Wilber stay out of trouble. I mean it". said, Cornelius, as he knows his son's history of getting into trouble with his friends, such as the food explosion incident.
Then at the Hamadas home/shop, Hiro, Tadashi, and Vanellepe were paying their respects to their parents on the ofernda. Thier parents died in a car accident when they were so young. " Hey, big bro?. What was mom, and dad like?". Vanellepe asked who didn't get to know her parents.
Tadashi smiles at her baby sister and said "Our parents were the nicest and lovable people that you would ever meet"." And they love us very much". said, Hiro, while wrapping his arm around his sister, making her smile.
Then aunt Cass came in carrying a tray of goodies and announce "Alright guys dig in. I made my famous Dia de Muertos skull cheesecake"."I love your skull cheesecake aunt Cass. You're awesome". said Hiro, as he takes a bite of his cake and checks his phone and read the text.
"Guys I be right back. Miguel needs me to help him with something". said, Hiro. "Can I come too?". asked Vanellepe, hoping to spend time with her soon to be boyfriend Miguel. "The last time I check is that he texted me not you. So no and bye". as Hiro took one more mini cheesecake and left. "Jerk". Vanellepe said pouting.
And last but not least at the home of the Foster's, Penny and her mom wearing their all red matching dress, were paying their respects to Penny's dad that died the same way as Hiro's parents. "I miss dad mom. I miss him so much". said Penny with a little bit of sadness. Penny's mom smiled and said "I miss him to sweetie. But remember his in a better place".
With a smile, Penny hugged her mom and heard her phone beep, and then read it. "Mom I'm sorry but my friend needs me tonight. It's an emergency". " Go ahead pumpkin. And don't forget to wear a jacket, its chilly outside". said Penny's mom.
Later in the night, they all met up with Miguel at the graveyard. "Alright, Miguel let me be the first to ask why are we here?". asked Hiro. Miguel then said "Guys I need you to give me this solid. I need you guys to help me break into De La Cruz's mausoleum and get his guitar so I can play in his music competition".
"Are you crazy Miguel?!. That's grave robbing and that's so wrong on so many levels". said Violet who was not liking the solid.
"Guys here me out on this one". said Miguel as he explained what had happened at his home, and it was a sad one. " Oh, Miguel I'm so sorry to hear that". said Penny, as she hugged Miguel and then he hugged back. "Dude that's harsh but hey we got you back". said Wilber.
"Yelp, even if we have to go to jail together, we still got each others back". said Hiro. With a sigh, Violet said "Fine. Count me in". " Thanks, amigos now let's go get it". said Miguel leading the way. As they made it to the mausoleum, Hiro unlocked the window in which he was skilled at it.
When they went in they saw the guitar above Cruz's stone coffin, and then Miguel got on top of it and was getting ready to take it. Before he did he said "De La Cruz I'm your great, great grandson. I and my friends aren't stealing your guitar, were just borrowing it. Our family doesn't understand music is us".
Then Wilber said " Miguel can you please speed it up. Because either way we're going to jail after this". That was then Violet slapped Wilber on the shoulder and said "Don't be rude Wilber his showing respects". As Miguel took down the guitar off the rack and got off the stone coffin, Penny said " Ok, we got what we came for now let's go".
As soon as they were about to sneak out of the mausoleum, and use the open window that they use to break in, Miguel looked at the guitar. "I wonder if this baby is tune?". as Miguel jammed the guitar one good time, and something supernatural just happened as he did it.