The Violin

"How will we find a violin?" Rosa inquired the next day on the way back home from school. "I suppose we won't look in the trash."

Miguel rolled his eyes. "Don't worry, we won't make your rose-scented clothes smell like rotten food. I do have an idea though. We can go buy a violin for you." He grinned, enraptured.

"WHAT!?" she burst, momentarily forgetting they were on the street. She resumed, her voice hushed. "Miguel, you know how expensive instruments are - the violin is obviously no exception."

"I've been saving up for a while now. It's time I used the money for something worthy."

"No way! I'm not letting you do that! How do you know it won't go down the drain?"

"It doesn't have to be an off-the-chain violin to sound nice. Cheaper instruments are good too! Even in this repaired state, do you think my guitar would be worth very much? And it doesn't sound bad at all, you saw it yourself."

"Maybe that's true, but I still won't allow you to do that."

Miguel smiled, a mischievous glint in his brown eyes. "Come on, Rosa! I know how much you want to learn the violin. We'll both chip in, are you content with that?"

Rosa took her time to exhale. She did desire to see herself possessing that sophisticated instrument and mastering it, more than almost anything else. Almost.

"Alright, primo. You win, but I'll pay seventy percent of the price, got it?"

"Fifty percent maximum."

He just had to be exasperatingly unyielding, didn't he?

"But won't the familia notice our disappearance? I hope you do weigh up how fast they start to become worried if any of us is as much as ten minutes late."

The guilt and the extreme wariness of having their secrets unearthed were still haunting Rosa, She doubted those feelings would ever leave her completely for as long as she was going to defy the rules. Somehow, that was good since it made her act with precaution and not be reckless. She attempted to stay optimistic, just like Miguel always was. If she was resolved to follow that path, she might as well treat herself once in a while and focus on the full half of the glass.

"Ay, prima, you worry too much. Learn to live a little! We won't be gone for long; the instrument shop isn't far from here. They won't even know where we are, trust me." Her cousin gave an insouciant shrug along with an eye-roll.

"Sometimes you are all but to be trusted, primo." Rosa massaged her brow, aware of the several alarms going off inside her head.

"But it will be stunning there, you'll see it will be worth our time and energy. And money."

"I sure hope so, Miguelito."

They changed their apparel and ate as slowly as they were able to, although eagerness was next to impossible to tame. As a cover, they offered to deliver some pairs of shoes to customers who couldn't arrive to pick them up.

With a considerable sum of money in Rosa's mochila bag, they set out.

"Señora Suárez's music shop is the only one in Santa Cecilia. You'll find the perfect violin for you there, I can assure you. It's one of the best music shops in all of Mexico. And Blanca is one of the kindest people you'll ever meet."

Rosa's soul had grown wings. They were approaching their destination. That was definitely the moment she had been dreaming of the most for over two years.

A little bell chimed when they opened the door and stepped into the shop. Even though Miguel had been here multiple times, the sight never failed to mesmerize him. The plethora of instruments carefully hung on so many shelves or prompted on props was a sight to behold even for a non-musician.

Meanwhile, Rosa's face was blanched from shock. She had imagined what a music shop must have looked like, but she had never thought one could be that big. She avidly inhaled the deep smell of wood as she wondered about the names of the instruments unbeknownst to her.

"¡Hola, Miguel!" The woman who was probably Señora Suárez greeted cheerfully from behind the counter. "Long time no see, how have you been?"

"I've been great, Blanca, gracias ! Your shop is even fuller than the last time I came here." He flashed her an amiable smile.

"Oh, sí, orders have been pouring in for Día de Muertos, but I managed, just like mi mamá y papá have taught me. So how can I help you today?"

"I've come with my cousin Rosa this time." Miguel grabbed her hand and tugged her forward.

The woman shook the girl's hand. She couldn't have been older than twenty-seven, Rosa thought. Her waist-long wavy silky black hair was of rare beauty, drooping over her shoulders like a waterfall, while her hazel eyes radiated just as much warmth as her beaming face.

"I'm delighted to meet you, Rosa. I've heard a lot of good things about you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Señora. And thank you."

"Please, call me Blanca."

After the introductions, Rosa peeped at her younger cousin, who motioned with his head to the seller in a motivating way.

"I'd like to learn the violin, if you have a suitable one for me."

"Oh, chica, of course I do! I have something appropriate for everyone. Come with me!"

As they followed Blanca, Miguel couldn't keep his grin hidden, which made her ask him what was going on, but she found out soon enough.

The part of the shop they had been led to was strictly reserved to the violin family. Rosa's eyes dilated at the marvellous sight. More violins, violas, cellos and double basses than she could count were either affixed by their necks to the walls or placed onto the floor carpet. They had various sizes and were all gleaming from cleanliness. She had to remind herself to breathe. Miguel was in heaven next to her.

Blanca gave them a few moments to admire the instruments before saying: "You're an aspiring violonista from what I understand, right, Rosa?"

The girl escaped her stupefaction. "Sí."

"Then, what do you think about this one?"

"I still can't believe we actually did this." Rosa gawked for the tenth time at her pristine violin case.

The streets of the village were bathed in the warm orange light of twilight as they were making their way home, bustling down less circulated streets out of need to avoid curious stares and unwanted questions. Rosa's eyes occasionally darted around, ready to deflect routes at the smallest sign of a possible risk.

"Don't forget that you have to rosin the bow before you rehearse, and clean it off when you finish."

"Yes, Miguel. Blanca's already told me that." She rolled her eyes.

"And you might need to use the shoulder rest too at first, not only the chin rest. Some beginners start with it and remove it after they become comfortable with sustaining the position of the violin."

"As a matter of fact, Blanca has said that as well, can you believe it?" She made no efforts to hold back the sneer.

Miguel sighed, his head lowering. "I just feel bad that we couldn't afford to buy you a better instrument. You deserve more than this, Rosa."

Rosa softened and gripped his shoulder. "Hey, look at me! I love this one, it sounds really lovely as it is, and I don't need a Stradivarius to learn how to play. Besides, I won't become Olga Torres or Pedro Dimas overnight. We even received a discount, come on!"

Miguel's regret seemed to be washed away by her comforting words, to her relief. But there was another concerning aspect.

"If Blanca knows you have a passion for music, has she ever told anybody that?"

"She's been doing a pretty good job at keeping her mouth shut about my - and now our - secret. I met her a few years ago, when I was in desperate need of a string winder to fix the guitar which I had found thrown away. I begged her not to gossip, and surprisingly, she didn't."

"Well, that's… unusual."

She was astonished that the woman had been keeping her promise all that time. The adults she knew would have most likely rushed to inform everyone they kept in touch with about such no-one-could-have-thought news, but the fact that Blanca was different filled her with ease.

"Up to this day, she is just as considerate as she was then; I don't think I'm wrong to believe that she will remain this way, at least until the ban will be over. But sometimes I pay her extra just to be super sure, in case she gets any ideas. You know how much society loves spreading rumours."

"Argh, tell me about it!" the older Rivera snorted with another glimpse of her case; losing it right now would be a nightmare come true.

They were quiet for the rest of the way home. Rosa attempted not to look like the happiest little child who had just received an incredible birthday present, but her endeavours were in vain. Miguel took pleasure in seeing his cousin so pleased and keen, recalling with fondness the first time he had played his entirely fixed guitar.

Entering the house was a challenge. It was around this time the Riveras had dinner, which meant there was some commotion going on.

Miguel peered through the bars of one the gates, and his face told Rosa everything she needed to know. Her heartbeat sped up as her fingers subconsciously tightened around the case.

"We're gonna have to dodge this one," he announced.

"I'll distract them while you go to your room, okay? But be quick, you know how ridiculously fast Abuelita can be!"

Rosa blinked, dumbfounded. She scolded herself for not having foreseen and being prepared for what sneaking around stood for - that and smuggling, given the present circumstances.

Well, there's a start for everything, right? Her cousin's words echoed through her mind. She wasn't about to give up on her prized instrument.

"Alright, let's do this!"

She watched furtively as Miguel left the gates open and casually went to the kitchen, which overlooked the yard, where their grandmother was absorbed in her cooking. Hands in his pockets, an innocent smile on his face, the boy appeared to be his usual easy-going self, allowing nothing to betray his intentions. He positioned himself in front of the window, close to the elderly woman, and began talking to her.

Rosa ceased staring at his back. That was her chance. She slowly took the first steps inside, but intensified her pace along the way, gripping the case to her chest.

"Rosa!"

She froze for a precious split second in the middle of the courtyard before ducking under a wooden table and hiding behind the table cloth.

"Where is mi sobrina when I need her? Rosa!"

Tía Gloria's huaraches crossed the table as she placed what sounded to be a few plates onto its top. The girl didn't breathe for as long as she waited for her relative's feet to get back inside the house; only afterwards did she spy right and left to check the surroundings. What she saw made her retreat immediately.

In a span of only a few moments, which had felt like an eternity of tension for her, Miguel's mother, Luisa, their abuelito, Papá Franco, and Abel added up to the number of challenges, as if Elena and Gloria weren't already enough. More Riveras were sure to come soon.

She didn't even have time to make a decent plan because Miguel materialized next to her. "We need a new plan."

He didn't look panicked; he was, however, rather alert and eagle-eyed.

"Wow, you just read my mind!" she sassed him.

"It's not my fault you got stuck in here," he riposted.

"Okay, okay! I don't have the luxury of wasting time arguing with you. Let's just come up with something!"

Miguel opened his mouth, but someone drew the table cloth aside. They froze, only to notice a round, chubby face beam at them. It was one of Rosa's younger twin brothers. The little boy giggled and joined them, clumsily hopping over the stretchers between the legs of the table.

Discarding her case for the first time (with Miguel catching it), Rosa extended her arms just in time to prevent Benny from slamming his head onto the ground. She pulled him close.

"Rosa! Rosa!" he cooed, encircling her midriff lovingly as much as his short arms allowed him to.

She hastily tried to shush him, but couldn't resist his big pleading eyes. She scooped him up, holding him delicately against her shoulder.

"I love you too, Benny, but we have to be very quiet at this moment, okay?"

"Rosa! That what?" he asked, pointing to the violin case with one chubby finger.

"That is something of great value and importance to me. And to your primo Miguel. But you mustn't tell anyone about it, alright?"

"Why?"

"Porque…" she hedged, "Our familia wouldn't be happy. And you want them to be happy, right?"

"Yeah! Yeah!"

"Then, not a word, okay?" She pressed her index to her lips, and he copied her. ¿Prometes?"

"¡Sí, hermanita! I want… you all happy! Yay!" Benny clapped his hands heatedly.

She hushed him once more. "If we are not quiet, the monsters will get us!"

"Monsters?"

"¡Sí! They will crawl after us and devour our souls, and we don't want that, do we?" she exaggerated.

"No!" Benny latched onto her, gripping her purple traditional shirt with his tiny fists as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. "No monster!"

Rosa's heart churned. She rubbed his back with a gentle sisterly peck to his plump cheek, despising herself for being the cause of his fright. She normally didn't tell her hermanitos scary stories, and even though the situation had called for it, she still blamed herself for the stupid improvisation. At least Benny wasn't crying.

Miguel was smiling a pleased, fond smile, but then broke the silence. "Sorry to ruin your moment, but we are kinda on a knife-edge, remember? The longer we stay here, the bigger the chances are to… you know."

She shivered faintly, but decided to take it upon herself to do the talking. "I'll go out there, you get inside safely, okay?"

He nodded in agreement, one arm looped over the body of her black case.

Unexpectedly, when Rosa reached for the cloth, the twin head of Benny emerged before their eyes.

"¡Ay, Dios!" she blurted out as Manny tittered amusedly and got under the surface of the table with them. He flailed his arms towards his brother, reaching out to be held by his sister and cousin. The twins gurgled at each other, their voices growing louder as they laughed.

"Miguel!"

The sudden call of his name made Miguel bump the top of his head into the wood, an impact which elicited a whimper out of him. He bit his lip, trying to soothe the pain by rubbing his scalp.

The little ones howled wholeheartedly. Even Rosa couldn't help sniggering at his misfortune. He eyed her fiercely with an expression that she translated as Are you freaking serious right now?

"Where is he? And where's Rosa? I haven't seen either of them since this afternoon. Please tell them to come to dinner!"

"I think I heard something." Luisa's voice neared the table with every word. The older kids each put a hand over the younger ones' mouths, stone-silent and equally petrified.

Miguel and Rosa's eyes met. He glanced at the case, then at her, then pointed to the four of them. She nodded once, and she hastened to sit right next to him, the sides of their upper bodies colliding. She continued to hold Benny as held Manny. The violin case was quickly laid vertically onto the ground behind their backs.

The operation happened so fast she didn't even have time to blink. For lack of a better plan, she prayed that one would work. She instinctively, yet unwantedly recoiled when a hand revealed their hiding spot. Luisa's kind face met their tight-lipped ones. They loosened their stiff postures.

"There you are, mijos! What are you doing down here? You know how cold it can be." Her eyes moved from Rosa and her little brothers to linger on her son.

"Hey, Mamá!" Miguel feigned a calm, broad, barely convincing smile. "We were just playing hide-and-seek. We'll eat in two minutes, okay?" He poked his older cousin in the back, making her straighten her spine to ensure the case remained hidden and support his lie vehemently.

Luisa raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "I thought you two didn't play that anymore."

"Oh, no, we do!" Rosa jumped in fervidly. "When there is a price, at least."

Both her cousin and her aunt regarded her in shock. Luisa giggled, but Miguel's jaw dropped ever so slightly.

"¡Ay! Be careful with pushing the envelope! You needn't raise the bar to play." she advised.

"We know, Tía, but it's more fun this way, no, primo ?"

The boy gulped, still bemused, but regained his self-control. "Definitely!"

"Alright, now come to dinner! Your Abuelita has been wondering where you are."

"¡Solo dos minutos, por favor, Mamá!" Miguel begged with a lopsided grin and puppy eyes. He poked her side this time, and it took all of Rosa's will not to slap him. She batted her lashes, exposing her denture.

"One minute, that's all you get." She wagged her finger before heading back to the cocina.

They sighed in repose when the cloth dangled in front of them.

"She must have thought we were playing with Abel." Miguel surmised, releasing Manny. "Por cierto, that was the dumbest thing you have ever said."

"But it saved us," she defended.

Rosa then straight up punched his shoulder, causing him to groan.

"That's for poking me." She repeated the gesture, only a little less harsh. "And that's for poking me twice!"

"You're such a crybaby!" Miguel grumbled.

This time, she had to take a deep breath to refrain from hitting him thrice. The worst was over, and she thanked him for his witty solution.

The twins hurried inside, presumably feeling the sting of hunger. Neither of them was any different.

"Shall we?" He held the tablecloth for her to exit after making sure it was safe, everyone else being in the dining area already, her case still in his hand.

She got out. "That was terrifying."

"Yet you're smiling," he pointed out.

And she was. How wouldn't she be?

That night, Rosa was unable to tame her wild emotions. She lay awake on her bed, her eyes heeding the moonlight breaking through the small opening in the curtains.

Giving in to the yearning, she pulled out her violin case from under the bed, handling it with extra care as she laid it onto the mattress.

The sight of her brand-new instrument still made butterflies explode in her stomach. It was overwhelming, after so many months of being caged away from this opportunity, to finally know that her suffering belonged to the past. Without a doubt, she was going to get used to this new feeling, be it sooner or later.

She got up and yanked each of the curtains aside. Her bedroom drowned in the moonlight. She focused on the sheen of the polished violin, gently holding it.

Her violin. It surely wasn't the best one, but that didn't discourage her; it never would.

Everything was almost unbelievable. She had officially begun her journey through the breathtaking world of music.

She unkinked her back and placed the instrument atop her left shoulder. The position was uncomfortable, the violin digging into her neck and muscles. She didn't mind though, instead turned the pegs until the strings she was plucking created a short delightful melody. Had it not been well past her bedtime, she would have played regardless of her lack of skills.

That will soon change. The thought stirred up euphoria and zeal within her. The elation grew so big that she couldn't contain it anymore.

She put the small, frail instrument onto the edge of the bed before gliding to the windows and opening them broadly. A relaxing breeze blew in her long hair, and she closed her eyes, her imagination extending beyond anything she could have ever dared to dream about.

She let out a hearty laugh, so vibrant it shook her strongly.

Unstoppable was the word Rosa Rivera described herself with, at long last.