Time for the sisters to have a little bonding time...
Chapter 14: Sisters Three
The three daughters of Julieta and Agustín Madrigal were intrigued. Together they sat in Mirabel's room looking at the image of the Encanto at night. It did not appear to be painted on the wood either. All throughout the town were points of light, some smaller, some larger moving in and out of the houses, shops, other buildings. Luisa pointed out one of the biggest and decided it must be a stray donkey that was past the edge of the town. It had been Luisa that had noticed the building tops when their father snagged the edge of the rug, flipping a corner of it when they were touring rooms with everyone else. She pulled Isabela and Mirabel aside and suggested they have a sleepover to investigate. Mira had Casita move all the furniture from the center of the floor so they could pull back the rug.
Isa was lying on the sofa watching something happening in a glade near the tiny plaza. Having lived here their whole lives they were surprised by the actual size of the town and with all the new folks, there were new streets being built. There was even an image of Casita. While it was fun to watch for a while, eventually it got boring, so they replaced the rug and Casita moved the furniture back into place.
"So, Mira," Luisa started, "I wanted to ask a favor."
"Sure, what do you need."
"Pants and a few shirts."
"Oh, me too!" Isa said.
"I don't know guys; I just promised Camilo I'd work on the costumes for his play, plus I mean, I've never actually sewn pants before."
"Never?"
Mirabel shook her head and said, "No, I've repaired them but never made them from start to finish. Papá knows, why not ask him?" Luisa and Isabela looked at each other and then looked at her as if to say, that's crazy. "Well then what about Abuelo Joseph. I bet he'd do for you."
"Can you ask him for us?" Isa asked.
"Why, you're a grown woman…Ooooohhh, right. Both of you?" Nods, "Fine, I'm guessing sooner and not later?" More nods. Mirabel sighed and said, "Well I guess I should at least measure you before I go. Don't want to make extra work for him. Maybe I can get him to teach me…" Mirabel set about that and was almost done when there was a gentle knock on the door.
Normally whoever it was would just walk in, but the knock had been so tentative. "Come in!" Mirabel said as she wrote down the last of Luisa's measurements. Whoever it was still did not enter so Isa opened the door and Camilo was there with his arms piled high with material.
"Hey Mira," he said and stopped seeing it was Isabela. He looked past the pile and spotted Mira who was putting away her things. Casita moved the worktable and Camilo plopped the fabric there. "If you have a few minutes I wanted to match the fabrics with the costumes."
"We can come back later," Luisa said.
"Ummm, can you stay? I think I'm gonna need a little help with all of this." Mirabel said looking at the pile of fabric.
"Okay," Isa said and closed the door again.
"Great! Camilo how about you shift into the characters, and we can match up the fabrics," Mirabel said pulling out her sketches, some thumb tacks, and a pair of scissors.
Camilo started with Antonio and stood up on the stool that Luisa recently vacated. He looked at the first sketch and shifted. Clothes fit but were an interesting shade of green. Isa was sorting the material by color and print while Luisa looked for a match. She held up two and Mirabel had her move closer to Cam/Antonio. She had Cam look at both. He shifted and only the shirt color changed. Mirabel studied them for a moment and picked the one on the left. She draped the cloth around him measured of a length and pinched it. She took that back to the table and cut off a span, then snipped off a corner and took the matching sketch and pinned the paper to board nearby. She then tacked the snipped corner near the sketched shirt.
This went on for at least forty minutes and when they were done, Camilo hopped off the stool and said with a too toothy grin and flourished bow, "My thanks, m'ladies." and disappeared out the door. Mirabel shook her head and walked over to close it. "Jerk ran away without helping to pick up the mess." She paused, looking at the random artwork on her door and smiled all over again.
As they gathered up the unused pieces, Luisa found a folded paper in between one of the larger pieces of cloth. "Oh, this all must have come from Abuelo Joseph's shop," she said holding it up.
"Nice, I can bring back the extra and ask while I'm there," Mirabel said with a yawn. "Wow, I'm really tired."
"It is getting late," Luisa said, and Isa joined her. They stood on either side of Mirabel and faced her towards the door.
"Not to be nosy," Isa began, "but any idea what's up with…" and she pointed to the door.
"I'm not sure, haven't really had any time to think about it really," Mirabel said, "Popi thinks Casita is trying to show me something about my future. It kinda makes me a little nervous. What do you think it means?"
"Have you touched it?" Luisa asked.
"No, why?" Mirabel asked.
"You should touch it," Isa said not answering her question.
"You two are freaking me out,"
From behind Mirabel, Luisa was giving Isa a cut off sign and Isa tilted her head doing her best 'Señorita Perfecta' and said, "I guess it's not important. I just wondered is all, I mean it's on the inside only, which for this house is weird." Isabela almost said more, but Luisa cracked her knuckles and Isa shut her mouth then wandered back over to the sofa and flopped down on it.
Mirabel went closer to the door, and saw a small bird in the branches of larger tree. It kinda looked like Nadia, the harpy eagle that now resided in Antonio's room. Luisa now stood next to her peering at the bird. Mirabel knelt and raised a hand to touch something poking out behind the tall grasses. She couldn't see it clearly as it blended in so well. She blinked and it was gone.
She pulled her hand back and decided she didn't want to touch the door just yet so she returned to her bed and sat down. Luisa came over and sat beside her and the awkward silence that followed was not broken until Mirabel asked, "Isa, Luisa said there was something new you learned to do with your gift."
Isa perked up then and asked, "Should I tell you? Or show you?"
"Oh, show me for sure." Mirabel replied.
"Great, I'll be right back," Isa said and went out the door.
"It is pretty cool, Mirabel."
"Probably the neatest thing ever," Mirabel said with a hint of sarcasm, "When are you and Papá supposed to leave for the city?"
"Not for about six weeks," Luisa said. "I still have to figure out how I'm going to register and get some money for tuition. Which means I'll have to get a job somewhere. Find a place to live, though Papá thinks I might be able to stay at the local church. And they have buses now so at least we won't have to walk the whole way to Bogota."
"Sounds scary," Mirabel said and flopped backward onto her pillow.
"Yeah, but to be honest, I can't wait."
There was a thump on the door and Mirabel said "Come in?"
Casita opened the door and Abuela was there fumbling what looked like a rather substantial pot. Luisa immediately went to her and took it and she saying, "Let me get that for you, Abuela."
"Thank you, Luisa, Isabela asked me to bring this over. I did not realize it was so heavy when I agreed. Do you mind if I sit for a moment?"
"Course not," Mirabel said, "Your room too."
Abuela nodded and sat on one of the chairs nearest the door. It worried her that her Abuela was avoiding being too near anyone. Almost like she was punishing herself. She probably was. Mirabel knew what that was like. Things were quiet and Mirabel's eyes strayed up the ceiling. The clouds were particularly thin, no rain tonight.
The door opened again and Isa was there with another pot. She saw her Abuela and paused, barely nodding to her before placing the other pot on the table, under her arm was a sorry looking stick. Intrigued Mira sat up and asked, "Is that Antonio's stick?"
Isa growled, "It is not just a 'stick'. It's a cutting from a Plumeria rubra, and it's a flowering tree. Or it will be but I need to pot it. I've already prepped the base," she said indicating the shaved end of the stick and dumped some of the dirt onto the table.
"Do you need any help?" Mirabel asked
"Yeah, can you hold it straight for me?"
"Sure." Mirabel hopped off the bed and stood by the table. Isa dug a divot into the soil in the pot and indicated Mira should place the stick in the center. She did and held it straight while Isa scooped up the dirt from the table into it.
"Now hold this by the table so I can push the rest of the dirt in."
Mirabel did, the pot was not as heavy as she was expecting.
"Gonna need to water that," Isa said and dusted her hands off on her dress but stopped when she remembered Abuela was there. All three waited for the expected comment, but none came. In fact, it appeared Abuela was asleep. Isa sighed and helped her put the pot back on the table.
"Okay now for the other," Isa said and pulled the other pot closer.
"Hang on," Mirabel said and went to where Abuela was sleeping. She glanced over to her left and saw the Abuela's door was back and open. She knelt in front of her, giving her a gentle nudge. Her Abuela started out of her sleep and Mirabel smiled at her. Her Abuela smile back and seeing the open door, got up.
"Goodnight, nietas," she said quietly.
"Goodnight Abuela," Mirabel said just as quietly, it pained her that neither Luisa or Isa said goodnight. Abuela turned then and went into her room and closed the door. Mirabel stood there for a long moment just staring at the knocker. The same feeling she'd had the night before came over her and she almost reached up for the knocker, but instead, she balled her hands in front of her.
"Mira?" Luisa came up next to her, "What's wrong?"
Mirabel bit her lip, as she turned away from the door. "Nothing, I guess," she said and smiled her practiced smile. The one she learned to use from a very young age so people wouldn't ask her questions. Isa gave her a look of skepticism that was clearly written on Luisa's face as well.
"That's twice today you've gone all wobbly on us," Isa said sitting on the sofa, "Now get over here and tell us what you're thinking."
Luisa ushered her to the sofa, when she didn't move to sit, Luisa picked her up and sat her down. "You're not getting off this sofa until you tell us what's wrong Mira."
She couldn't say anything, felt like if she did she'd fall apart. She took a long breath and waited for that feeling to pass. She looked at her door then put her head back and said, "I don't really know how to explain it, but…it feels like Abuela is…leaving us." Her gaze moved to the trees on her walls as they gently swayed in an invisible breeze. "When she was sitting in that chair by the door, it reminded me…reminded me of when you guys would overlook me. Don't get me wrong, I knew you were busy with…other things. Things I could never be a part of because I didn't get a Gift."
Mirabel looked at the inside of her door then, the sheltering branches of the larger had parted slightly as if allowing the sun to shine on the smaller and an idea of what it meant dawned on her. She reached over and took one of each of her sister's hands, holding them close to her she said, "I guess it was just the look on her face when she said goodnight and neither of you did. It made me sad for her because I know what that's like. To be dismissed as having no value. She's trying so hard to undo what she did. I know in my heart she loves us all. She just really lost her way…and I believe her when she said she wasn't going to require anyone to use their Gifts. Seriously, folks have managed just fine for a whole year without them. Still, I know some things are harder to forgive than others." When her sisters didn't say anything, she added, "Kinda dumb, I know, but you asked."
"You need to stop doing that, Mirabel." Luisa said with a gentle nudge.
"Doing what?" Mirabel was worried she'd made them angry.
"Calling yourself dumb," Isa said waving a hand at all the different spaces in Mirabel's room, "you're not, You have talents that I only wish I could aspire to."
Luisa kicked off her shoes and Casita bounced them toward the door. "Still, you're right about the forgiveness thing. When you and Abuela were arguing that day and you just flat out told her that she'd never see me as strong enough, it was like a knife in my heart, because I knew it was true. I knew I was literally working myself into an early grave and I feel like…she would have let me. So, I guess all I can say is I'll take what you're saying into consideration. It ain't easy though."
Isa kicked off her shoes as well and added, "She still makes me nervous when she looks at me, like the real me is a disappointment." They all fell silent again and this time Mirabel removed her shoes by kicking them onto her bed.
"All right, this sleepover is getting depressing," Isa said as she got up from the sofa. "Come here you guys, I really do want to show you this." She took the second pot and placed it in the middle of the floor. She knelt next to it, raised her hands, letting rose petals fall from them and in her most dramatic voice said, "Come to me, mi hermanitas and see what true magic is."
Mirabel and Luisa, giggled as they slid off the sofa onto the floor.
"Now," Isabela continued in her drama voice, "give me your hand, Mirabel Madrigal." She did and Luisa was leaning forward to watch. "What you are about to see with your eyes firmly shut, has only been done…uhhh…two times this very day! Now put your other hand on top of the miraculous soil of the Encanto, Señorita Madrigal." Mirabel did as instructed. "Close your eyes and think about something or someone who makes you happy."
Mirabel closed her eyes and decided her happy thought would be her mother. She felt the warmth of Isa's Gift as it flowed through her into the dirt. It made her shoulder blades itch and she pulled her hand back when something popped out, pushing her hand back. Mirabel opened her eyes and looked at the small bushy plant with its tiny white orchids that were dotted with light purple spots.
"Oh, wow, Isa this is amazing," Luisa said.
"It is, and it gets easier every time I try," Isa said, smiling at her work.
"What kind of flowers are these?" Mirabel asked.
"I'm not sure of the name," she said as she gently stroked the branches causing a few more flower buds to appear, "Were you thinking about Mamá?"
"Yes, how'd you know that?"
"I've only grown these once before," Isa said, "for Mamá."
"Why only once?" Mirabel asked.
"Like maybe six years ago, after that nasty flu thing, Mamá took me to the cemetery to clean a particular grave. She asked me to add some flowers to it and I remembered these. I'd gone on a walk with Abuela in the woods when I spotted them. I really wanted to try and grow them but Abuela said they weren't flawless enough. Too small, too wild looking. She told me: 'I should focus on making all the flowers I grew be symmetrical to show off the beauty of their perfection'. So, when Mamá asked me to pick a flower for the grave, I jumped at the chance because I knew I might never get to grow them again. Mamá really like them. Told me they were perfect."
Luisa stood up, picked up the pot with one hand and asked, "Okay hermanita, where we putting this pot?"
"On the desk, please. That way I can look at them when I'm working on stuff."
The conversation then turned to lighter topics, like Dolores' engagement, the potential circumstances of Dolores' proposal to Mariano, did Mariano really want five babies, Antonio's new eagle friends, how different their rooms were. This devolved into guesses as to how many rats Tio Bruno actually had. Isabela decide they should run a game and the losers would have to do the winner's chores for a week. Antonio would be the judge since he was probably the only one who could get an accurate count. OF course, they would need to get Camilo and Dolores to participate because the more the merrier. So, it was with that in mind that the three sisters left Mirabel's room.
First stop Antonio's room. Mira knocked on the door and Casita opened it. The three went inside and saw the lights were dimmed. There was a whoosh and Antonio dropped in front of Mira, immediately launching himself toward her to give her a hug. Mira took a step back as he landed, not wanting to fall over making her sisters also jump back and let out a shout.
"Geez, Toni, a little warning!" Mirabel cried, as she hugged him ruthlessly.
Antonio laughed, and said proudly once she set him down, "I was practicing my flying jaguar pounce."
"Definitely took me by surprise, make sure you try it out on your brother next," Mirabel said.
"I already did, and he said I should try it out on you." Antonio said as zoomed around them.
"Figures," Isa said, "Antonio we need your help." To everyone's surprise Antonio stopped running and happily joined them as they sat on the floor to discuss his part in the game. Once settled they headed next to Dolores' room. Before they could knock, Dolores opened the door and she said, "Of course I'll play." She too joined the traveling group as they headed for Camilo's room. There was no answer to their knock. Just then Antonio arrived on Parce and Mirabel asked if he knew where Camilo was. Parce chuffed and Antonio looked at his sister. Dolores looked nervous and Mirabel remembered what Antonio had said the previous day about Camilo's smell.
She turned toward Dolores and took a step closer. Dolores backed up a step, Casita tilted a floorboard just enough and down she went. Camilo hit the floor with a thud and the sisters immediately dog-piled him. The real Dolores came out of her room and said, "See I told you it wouldn't work."
"What are you talking about? This was your idea!"
Dolores winked at her brother and said, "I know." She helped him off the floor and ruffled his hair a bit. "So, the game is how many rats does Tio Bruno have?"
Isa nodded.
"How long do we have to count?" Camilo said dusting himself off.
"An hour? And you can't ask Tio either," Luisa said. "We'll meet in the plaza then?"
Everyone nodded in agreement and Antonio, sitting atop Parce said, "Let's go! On you mark, get set, go!" Dolores smiled and started down the stairs with Camilo in tow. The sisters looked at one another, "She knows something," Isabela said.
"Should we follow her?" Mirabel asked.
"That would be cheating," Luisa said, "she may be able to hear them, but we have you Mirabel."
"Huh?"
Isa put a hand on her should and said, "Why not just ask Casita to join in."
"Now that would be unfair."
"It's only unfair if they figure it out, Mira."
"You know Dolores can hear everything you just said right?"
"Forgot about that."
"We're wasting time," Luisa said, "Mira just ask Casita where they're at."
"You just did," Mira said and the tiles above Camilo's door wiggled in a way that sounded suspiciously like laughter. "Come on," she said and went back into her room. Got a piece of paper and pencils, drew a quick sketch of Casita and added three circles. To each she added an initial. Below that she wrote what she wanted them to do. Plan decided, the left the room and went to their assigned spots. While Mirabel sat at her 'station' she tapped the floor as if she was counting. Her sisters were doing the same elsewhere. Once the time limit was up, they all went down to the plaza. Dolores and Camilo came in and everyone sat in a circle with Antonio at the center.
"So, let's have your guesses!" Antonio exclaimed, excited to find out the answers.
Dolores: 148
Camilo: 37
Isa: 143
Luisa: 105
Mirabel: 20
"And the most correctest answer is…20!"
"Nailed it," Mirabel said giving Antonio two thumbs up.
Isa nudged Luisa, "We've been had, my sister. Betrayed by our youngest."
"What? How can that be?" Dolores said, "There's no way there's just 20 rats in Casita."
"There might be some more," Antonio shrugged and said matter-of-factly, "I can only count to 20."
A light hail started and everyone looked up to see Tia Pepa up on the balcony. She was holding her sides; she was laughing that hard.