#abuela perez

[walker-extended-universe]

Happy Mother's Day from the Walker Family!

[ms-nesbit]

its so sweet that jason would be nice to the elderly next door. 💕 could we get more on that please?

he's an equal opportunity provider for sarcasm, but will give respect where it's due, and that includes abuelita

stand and deliver [to abuela pérez] note: just headcanons, nothing serious, except ooey, gooey fluff. anything in spanish will have translations in parenthesis. I also apologize if some of the information isn't up to date - my mom was from Nuevo León, and I wrote Abuela to be from Jalisco, so there may be some differences.

Abuela Pérez used to be a dancer, even going so far as to being the headliner for the Liberación de México Festival (Liberation of Mexico, celebrated on El Día de la Independencia de México, or Mexican Independence Day) in their Baile Folklórico (Folkloric Ballet)

and she would demonstrate to Jason when he would stop by her apartment, even going as far as showing him some of the common moves and importance of the designs on the dresses

"mijito [my son], it's the badge of tu cultura (your culture), and where you came from. you represent it con amor propio (with proper love, or with pride)

jason would ask questions about her home state, Jalisco, and even did some reading about its history

but Abuela felt the closest to Jay when he surprised her with a torta ahogada (a popular dish in Jalisco's capital, Guadalajara)

"Ay, qué rico lo hiciste [how delicious/rich you made it]. La comida de los tapatíos fuertes. [The food of the resilient Tapatios, a nickname of people from Guadalajara]"

In no time, Jason saw his time with Abuela as part of a routine, looking forward to it (and being STRICT about making sure to make time each Tuesday for her)

she did try to set him up with a couple of her granddaughters

"Pero Jason, mi amor [but Jason, by love], ellas no tienen verguenza con sus relaciónes [they are shameless about their relationships]. Necesitan un varón como ti [they need a man like you]."

and Jay, being a total sweetheart, addressed Abuela in usted form

"Lo se, Señora. Es que no estoy buscando a nadie. Tengo demasiado trabajo a ser [I know, Misses. It's just that I'm not looking for anybody; I have too much work to do.]." - jason

helps make tamales, and dances with her sometimes (when she's active enough)

will absolutely protect her at all costs

she is his biggest secret (other than him wanting to be a dad)

[almamadrigalfanclub]

Bidi Bidi Bom

bidi bidi bidi bidi bidi bom bom

[stitchlingbelle]

On one hand there were not nearly as many "crying lost children with no parents in the midst of the chaos" shots as I expected. On the other hand, the gang's not actually off Reach yet, so next episode still has plenty of time to rip my heart out.

[rwrbmovie]

BTS of #RWRBMovie: 'z' in your last name

TZP via HOLA:

Clifton Collins Jr., who plays my father in the film, was amazing. I knew of him. I’d seen his projects, but we’d never crossed paths before. And then we met and we just got along, thick as thieves. And he’s like an OG Mexican from Los Angeles which was so colorful. He made it feel like there was family on set. Same with Matthew being Puerto Rican. Their influences help you get into that vibe, and then you do the scene and it’s wonderful. You really bring that accuracy to it.

There’s a line in the film when Alex and Henry are in Paris, and Henry asks him a question about his mom’s campaign, and Alex starts telling him about his father and his abuela coming to the States. The line is something like “If you’re an immigrant in America and you have a ‘Z’ in your last name, there’s a lot of people in positions of power that don’t look and sound like you. I’ve been given the opportunity to be someone in the world that my father didn’t see when he was growing up.” As someone with two ‘Zs’ in his last name (laughs), that was a tough scene for me because I had to be there as Alex and not as Taylor. It was very emotional to think of my family and what they went through to come to the United States. Even though they came here a long time ago, you still think about all of the people that are coming to America today and about all of their stories. Alex realizes that his father didn’t have any role models growing up and now he’s a congressman. That fuels his fire to be the change. That was so exciting for me.

From NYT:

For both Zakhar Perez and the director, the character Alex’s biracial identity was particularly meaningful. López grew up in Panama City, Fla., with his Puerto Rican father and Polish Russian mother, while Zakhar Perez is of Mexican, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean descent and was raised in northwest Indiana, where he said there was only one other Mexican family. “Matthew and I talked a lot about the mestizo journey,” Zakhar Perez said in a video call before SAG-AFTRA, the actor’s union, went on strike. “Being part Mexican, part lots of other things, I don’t want to say you’re forgotten, but in today’s world, it’s like, you’re either this or you’re that. There’s nothing in between. I’m kind of a cultural chameleon.” “As a young Latiné queer man, I never read something that centered someone like Alex,” López said, echoing his star. “If I had been presented with this character when I was in my late teens, early 20s, it may have changed how I thought about myself.”

From Windy City Times:

Was the part about having a Z in your last name personal or the book? ML: It was personal. That was about me and Taylor. It came from a conversation that Taylor and I had when making the film.

From Metro Weekly:

Alex has a line about grow ing up in Texas as a kid with a last name that ends with Z, which is I guess something else you can relate to, Florida style. ML: And Taylor Zakhar Perez also. Taylor and I talked about that scene a lot as being something that we both understood. My aunt Priscilla Lopez is a beloved, beloved stage actor. She was in the original cast of A Chorus Line. And there's a story that she tells about Mandy Gonzalez, who was in In the Heights with her, and Mandy once told Priscilla that Priscilla made it okay for her to be someone with a Z in her last name. And that was a thing that Taylor and I spent a lot of time discussing as well. It was important to me that that scene be in the movie. There was never a chance in hell that that scene was ever getting cut.

From Teen Vogue:

TV: One of my favorite parts is when they’re in Paris, and Alex talks about being a young person of color coming up from Texas and not seeing anybody who looked like himself or his dad in politics, and Henry’s response to that simply being: “I’m learning.” I don’t know if you were in the theater for that one, but half the crowd was like, awwwww. ML: Yeah, I was for that. TV: I’m married to a white man, and I was like, that is the perfect thing a white man can say in that situation. ML: I’m married to a white man, too. Speaking as someone who is a person of color married to a white man: that’s like the ultimate thing you ever want your white boyfriend or husband or partner to say. That’s it. “I’m learning.”

ML via THR:

There’s a scene in the movie that is very much me, which I gave Taylor after they’ve had sex for the first time. They’re there in pillow talk mode, and he tells Henry about what it’s like to be the son of an immigrant with a Z in your last name. It was really important to me to talk about growing up with a Z in your last name and even just how our names are pronounced, the spellings of our names sometimes if you have Latin ancestry. To have to answer for your name has always been something for me that I struggled with until I stopped struggling with it. So, I needed to put that into Alex’s story and when it came time to shoot that scene again, it was something I didn’t have to explain to Taylor Zakhar Perez. He got it instantly. The only thing that I did screw him up with is like, “We’re going to do this [scene] as a oner, and we’re going to do it as a top shot that starts in a wide shot and comes all the way down to your face, and we’re not going to leave this scene until you get it right in one.”

[lonelychicago]

tagged by the lovelies @wikiangela @jamespearce9-1-1 @daffi-990 @gayedmundodiaz 🩷

here's some more of the tbosas au <333

He remembers during the first Games, Eddie was in his Abuela's lap, watching the TV with some kind of twisted fascination and fear and his Abuela brushing his hair and shushing him, telling him it wasn't real. Telling him it was like a movie— like one of those old things that used to exist before Panem, when their lands were called 'North America' and they would put make believe stories on the TV. (Eddie might have been a kid but he wasn't stupid. A part of him knew that his Avuela was probably trying to shelter him from the worst, but at the time he didn't grasp what she was trying to protect him from. Death had been a strange, surreal concept.)

During the second Hunger Games, despite the viewing being mandatory, Adriana grabbed him by the arm on one hand and Sophia on the other and basically pushed them inside her room, locking the room behind her. They played checkers and Adriana read them stories for days, refusing to let them leave until the games were over.

When Eddie turned eleven, he locked himself with Adriana and Sophia in Adriana's room but u like Sophia, he couldn't hide behind blissful ignorance anymore. He knew what was going on now on every TV screen and why it was happening. That's when the guilt started to consume him from inside out. When Eddie stopped being a kid, figuratively speaking, and became another pawn in his dad's games. By the fourth hunger games, Eddie started what he cañls the memory journal. He writes down every tribute that dies in the games— Vita Chigwell (Her brother was the victor of the second games), Ash Heathgwell, Amaryllis Jones, Ayzalea Gonzalez, Moss Bates, Fayalie Washington, Barley Everdeen (She was from District 12, just twelve years old and had died in the most violent way. Eddie thinks about her all the time, about the life she could've had if the Games didn't exist), Bracken Perez, Darius Langwell (He had been from district one, the same age as Eddie at the time and it hit him hard how if one thing had been different, Eddie could have as well been in his place— that night he didn't sleep a blink), America Valley, and so many more. Over 140 kids. Every single name, written down in Eddie's scrawny and messy handwriting along with a small detail he managed to find out about them. He forces himself to memorize them, to burn their names on his brain so their deaths mean something, anything.

Adriana found out what he was doing and even got a few small pictures of every tribute, helped Eddie glued them on the hournla next to every name.

He wonders if they'll have to do the same for Evan Buckley this year.

tagging (no pressure): @buddierights @monsterrae1 @hoodie-buck @eddiebabygirldiaz @exhuastedpigeon @maygrantgf @hippolotamus @rainbow-nerdss @giddyupbuck @the-likesofus @spaceprincessem @spotsandsocks @wildlife4life @athenagranted @evanbegins @kingbuckley @malewifediaz @jeeyuns @housewifebuck @911-on-abc @honestlydarkprincess @bigfootsmom @devirnis @buckaroosheart

[miracles-and-butterflies]

For @maleficent09, based on the prompt: “how the villagers see or don’t see how wrong they were about Bruno.”

Hope you enjoy!

Comments are always appreciated.

~~~~~~

Ajustamiento

An adjustment.

That’s what Mama had said this would be. For both him leaving the walls for the first time in ten years. And for everyone else, who hadn’t seen him in ten years.

It was an adjustment for a lot of the Madrigals too. Some struggled - Luisa had to be keenly watched over, so she wasn’t overworking herself, and Pepa would instinctively keep a locked gate over her emotions. And some found it came easily - Isabela is impressively quick at dropping that perfection, happily wrestling in the mud with her younger cousins and demanding her Abuela join in, and Dolores takes the transition of enhanced to normal back to enhanced hearing in her stride. He’s even caught her singing to herself.

It was a careful balance for him. Bruno didn’t want to fall back into the whole golden child adoration he had before his reputation crumbled away, nor did he want to remain the mysterious Madrigal that nobody talks about. Though the latter was a good premise for a play or something.

Well, at least he thought that. Turns out there was no careful balance.

Most of the older townspeople came around within seconds. They remembered him from before and knew better than the twisted gossip of recent years.

The village kids too. They were an excitable lot, brimming with questions, clearly influenced by their babysitter/friend/playmate, Camilo.

All that was left is that awkward group in the middle. Young adults. Most people in their early twenties to late thirties, still walk very apprehensively around him. They think he can’t hear them whispering too.

There’s a tug on his ruana.

He looks down to see he’s surrounded by three little boys. One of which is clutching to green fabric.

“Are you Bruno Madrigal?” The boy asks, who yanked at his ruana.

“Can you really see the future?” Pipes up another.

“Can you tell us our futures?” Questions the last.

Bruno chuckles fondly. A part of him has missed this. He remembers the days when a young Isabela, Dolores and Luisa would hound him for visions in a very similar fashion.

“Yep. I’m Bruno and I can see the future.”

The children look at him in awe.

Would it be wrong to say he feels like a celebrity?

“Who wants a vision?”

The way all their hands instantly shoot up reminds him of doing this at school. Most of the kids would come running for the solutions to homework or tests to to find out if their crush liked them back. And he remembers Mama telling him off when she found out he was charging his classmates for them.

The kids introduce themselves as Diego, Juanito and Samuel Perez. The name is familiar, Bruno went to school with their parents. The boys are cousins. And are babysat by Camilo - though that was obvious already.

He leads them away to an open space.

It’s just outside the Perez house, which is getting an extension, built by Luisa. Bruno tries to wave at his niece as he passes but the kids have a very firm grip on his arm.

Seriously, these kids could easily rival young Isabela for how enthusiastic they are.

He doesn’t mind them helping out with pouring sand into a circle, but he doesn’t want to redo an angry Abuela getting involved because a flowery braid got singed while burning leaves.

“I bet I become the richest guy in the world,” Samuel says.

“I don’t care about money. Adults say money doesn’t make you happy. I want to become a farmer, like my Papas.” Juanito announces, proudly.

“I want to marry Sophia.” Diego pipes up.

“You said you liked Carolina?”

“I can like many things.”

“Who wants to go first?” Bruno cuts in.

It’s a silly question because obviously they all want to go first. And they start arguing about it.

In the end, Diego goes first. He was the eldest apparently. He would be followed by Samuel, then lastly Juanito.

“You ready, kid?” Bruno questions, holding out his hands.

He takes them instantly. “Born ready.” Diego answers.

They sit in anticipation under green light. The other two are sat off to the side, watching in hushed excitement.

Now that he’s actually doing the vision, he’s starting to consider what happens if the future isn’t good. He’s internally watching a repeat of young Dolores crying to Pepa and Félix, saying that she is never going to be loved and will be lonely forever - that wasn’t the vision, but the future can be difficult for some adults to grasp, never mind children.

He didn’t want to do that again, so he stopped doing visions for children after that. Much to the annoyance of young Luisa.

Since the magic returned, he’s been doing visions for anyone that shows interest.

Still not many of them have actually been kids under ten. With the exception of Antonio, due to personal biases.

The reputation that was created for him in those absent ten years are probably to blame. Parents have convinced their children or anyone that will listen that his gift is taboo.

Take Osvaldo Ortiz, for example.

The Ortiz family had been close with the Madrigals. Osvaldo’s father had been friends with Alma since birth and then worked with her in Encanto. So, his son was the best suitor for one of Alma’s girls. Until, of course, Julieta fell madly in love with Agustín.

Osvaldo hadn’t taken it well, to say the least. Bruno had only tried to advise him, it could hardly be called a vision, more than a warning.

Soon enough, Bruno found himself being accused for Osvaldo growing a gut.

He can’t help but think Osvaldo’s unhappiness is somewhat deserved though. He’s seen the way Osvaldo treats Agustín and the way he still tries flirting with Julieta. Isabela complains of the way he looks at her sister.

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Bruno blinks, and the vision stops.

Oh. He hasn’t been paying attention to what he was actually doing.

However, there’s no vision slate in his hand, so hopefully nothing bad has actually happened.

A familiar woman suddenly appears in his field of vision, holding Diego by the hand. The other two boys are peeking out from behind her brown skirt. She looks down at him, glaring. The children must’ve done something.

Camilo tends to encourage mischievousness in the kids he babysits and that often leads to trouble. It’s no surprise adults are displeased.

“Ah, Xiomara Perez! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Don’t give me that, Bruno! How dare you try to use your magic on my son! And my nephews!” She screeched.

Yep. That makes more sense.

“They asked for a vision. I’m just doing my job.” Bruno shrugged.

“Liar! My Diego would never have asked. Your visions always lead to trouble!” Xiomara continued. “These are innocent kids, they have never done anything wrong, and don’t deserve getting awful fates!”

“What’s going on here?” Luisa asks, stepping over at the sound of commotion.

Xiomara points an accusing finger at the young woman. “You! How dare you just let this happen! You should have intervened. You are meant to be the protector of Encanto. Why wouldn’t you help these poor children?”

“I didn’t see anything wrong. Bruno gave these boys a vision because they asked,” she said. She glanced at the three boys in question. Bruno can see the exact moment something snaps in her. She stands, intimidating, at her full height, with muscles tense and eyes narrowed. “Poor children? Let me tell you, Señora Perez, these poor children need no help from my Tío screwing up their futures.”

“How dare you—”

“These three cut open Mirabel’s hand in some sick prank, and nobody has punished them for it. If they weren’t children, I’d kick them over the mountain for what they’ve done.”

It makes Xiomara shut up for a second.

Bruno is just gaping. He knew Mirabel had injured her hand, but he didn’t realise that was the work of three kids.

Xiomara has enough sense not to push Luisa’s protective older sister buttons. Though she quietly mutters, just loud enough for Bruno to hear, something about his youngest niece deserving that and much worse.

However, not enough sense to keep her mouth closed as she redirects the argument to Bruno.

“Looks like you bring out the worst in your own family, Bruno,” Xiomara said. “Can’t imagine why on God’s earth they welcomed you back into their lives - forcing us to put up with you and your curses as well. You should be ashamed of yourself and everything you’ve done to this town, and should’ve stayed in exile when you had the chance.”

“How dare you?”

“What—”

“Bruno is one of the friendliest and most inspiring adults I know, who has helped me grow in more ways than one. Which is more than I can say for these kids,” Luisa hissed, standing over the woman. “I can guarantee that if he was a parent he’d be doing a much better job than you - though I’ve seen mosquitos do better than you. Bruno only sees the future, he can’t change it. The only one who can do that is yourself. So if you have an issue with your vision, take a look in a mirror. And if you have a problem with him then you can get the hell out of our town.”

The woman stared up at Luisa with a beet-red face, completely speechless.

“Now, Señora Perez. Would you like some instructions on how to finish a roof or a recommendation for another builder? Because I and the rest of the Madrigals certainly won’t be doing anything else for you.”

The question was enough to make the woman give a huff and storm away with the boys, watching in varying levels of fear, shock and confusion.

The walk back to Casita was quiet.

Neither said a word.

Bruno was grateful for Luisa’s defence, even if she did take it a little too far. It reminds of when Pepa would do so when they were teenagers. He also knew well enough that there was plenty of others who had similar views to Xiomara, and no doubt Luisa did too. Simply yelling at one wouldn’t change the majority’s beliefs about him.

Luisa, on the other hand, knew she hadn’t kept control of her temper and would definitely find herself grounded for not doing work. Which was weird because she was usually grounded for doing too much work.

As much as she wanted to undo the renovation she had made to the Perez household, she knew it was better to stay with her Tío. Not only was it the right thing to do, but he looked like he needed and wanted her company right now. So she stayed put.

Even once they had reached Casita and had dinner with the others.

Bruno was about to excuse himself when Luisa pulled him back into his chair. He raised an eyebrow at her, but didn’t move.

“We… we usually have a game night on Fridays,” Luisa explained, nodding her head towards Isabela, Camilo and Antonio already arguing about who had the most wins. While Dolores was urging Mariano to go home before it got worse. “You’re welcome to join us, Tío. If you’d want, we won’t force you.”

Bruno blinked. Then tearing up a little, “I’d like that.”

Almost instantly, the chaotic trio stopped arguing and jumped into action. Isabela grabbed a stack of board games and a few packs of cards, sorting through them on the floor. Camilo bounced upstairs to find as many blankets and pillows as he could find. Antonio gathered his animal friends as cuddle companions, in case anyone wanted them. Dolores and Mariano opted to get some snacks and drinks from the kitchen.

Soon enough, the group were huddled together under a pillow fort, playing a game of Charades. Some of Bruno’s rats insisted they have a go.

That’s how, at three on a Saturday morning, they found themselves laughing and squabbling over Cluedo in a slight mess of sugar and pillows.

Readjusting to life could be exhausting for Bruno, but that didn’t mean it was without its good moments.

Family bonding was one of the things Bruno had missed the most during his ten year absence. Even the simplest things of playing games and accusing his nieces of blatant cheating was enough to bring a wide smile to his face.

Said good moments made it - dealing with people like Xiomara - all worth it.

[the-stray-storyteller]

Havenpoint

Warning : Language Prev Chap Next Chap First Chap Note: this chapter and any chapter after this hasn't been beta read or edited which means it will have shitty grammar, a lot of spelling errors, annoying dialogues and overall just be shitty.

______________________________________________________________

Chapter 6 : Owls Penelope Knight

My jaw went slack and I turned on my heel. My heart pounded against my chest. Blood rushed to my face. My cheeks heated up with embarrassment. I was wrong?

I  was wrong?

“What the hell?” I might have screamed a bit. The surrounding visitors sent me degraded looks. I turned away from them heading back to the group.

I clenched my jaw shut immediately hoping the two hadn’t noticed what I had said. Aidene was too engrossed by Nico’s words to pay attention to me. Anne however sent me a glare, the bags under her eyes seemed to darken her look. Her lips twisted, at the realisation. I walked towards them warily, interested to hear what Perez had to say. 

I positioned myself next to the blue haired girl. The frustration in my ignorance coiled around me.

I placed my hands on the table feeling the smooth wood denting under my finger nails. The sharp fumes of the new varnish coat made my nose and eyes burn.

Greylight wasn’t supposed to exist, at least as far as I knew. This had to be one of the walls Ravenwood had set up, but why was it letting me in now? The town seemed to selectively give out answers. I had never been one of those lucky ones to receive one no matter how much I searched and begged into the night. I knew there was something wrong here, very wrong and I ignored it most of the time. But now I could get an answer. I swallowed hard and listened intently, this is the closest I would ever get to solving one of Havenpoint’s many mysteries. A door had opened and I wasn’t going to let it close. A plan bloomed in my head.

“What’s your name?” He asked Aidene, taking the book from her hand. 

“Spongebob Squarepants.” He let out a chuckle. I rolled my eyes.

“Your real name.”

“Anne Gray.” Anne snapped her head towards Aidene, her eyes cold and dagger-like. She looked ready to tear out Aidene’s hair. 

“Her name is Aidene Rayners,” she ground out, her jaw tightening in frustration. Aidene let out a lively crackle, her wiry body shaking in mirth. She stopped long enough to spell out her name to Nico, who handed her a library card a few minutes later along with the book.

“Back to the topic,” I snapped, turning the attention towards me, “Tell me everything you know about Greylight.”  He scorned me and got back to registering the purple haired girl into the system. Aidene’s eyes went from me to him with suspicion. 

“So-what can you tell us about him?” She asked pleasantly. 

“Well honestly not much. My abuela rants about him occasionally though.”  His voice droned, it must have been tiring to listen to his grand-mother rant about a dead man. Nico folded his arms on the table, laying his head down on them sleepily. I tapped my fingers on the table, keeping him awake. He sent me another cold look.

“How old is your grandmother? How old is William Greylight?” Anne asked, trying her absolute best to formulate a timeline. I knew better, the town’s history was mostly in the dark. One bit here and another there and never complete. The events were all over the place too, was the drought before or after the forest fire? 

I reached up and touched the tips of my fingers to my chest, trying to untangle something that wasn’t there. It was a feeling of being watched. Watched in the night among the ancient walls of the school by the yellow eyes of the owls. Eyes that calculated for the next kill. I shook off that feeling, the paranoia of feeling tied to a promise I never made. I would feel it whenever I questioned too much. Just like I was doing now. 

“My abuela didn’t know him but her abuela did. Apparently she complained to my abuela about him and then abuela told us whatever her abuela told her.” I was pretty sure the word ‘abuela’ made up more than half of the sentence, it sent my mind spiralling trying to make out which grand-mother he was trying to refer to. Understanding it might have been easier if he had written the sentence down rather than speaking it out loud.

“Okay, but what exactly did she tell you?” I prompted. This time he didn’t have the attention to ignore me, or stay angry at me. He was on the roll.

“He was a raging maniac. Burned his house-”

“How did he burn the house down if he had already died?” Aidene interrupted. Nico shrugged.

“Just telling you what abuela told me. Apparently only the ground floor of the house had sustained damage from the fire. Anyways-”he drew the word out, “she told me that Greylight kept this diary with him, scribbling notes onto it everyday. Talking to it rather than the people. Then there was that pig slaughter-”

“Diary? What diary? Can it be found?” Aidene fired the questions away, keeping Nico from rambling. Nico shrugged once again with an oblivious look on his face. His eyes were distant and eyebrows drawn together trying to remember.

“However,” he placed his hand below his chin, “You could start with the library in your school. Most of the books were either burned, stolen, sold but a few remain. Why are you asking about all this anyways?” No one answered.

Nico straightened his broad shoulders out, finally looking awake. He waited for an answer but no one gave him one. I didn’t know why they were asking these questions so I couldn't give him an answer and it seemed that neither Aidene nor Anne wanted to give him one. He asked again but we all remained quiet. Nico’s jaw twitched with annoyance.

I looked away trying not to make eye contact. Anne had started to wander off and Aidene pretended to study her library card while singing the ‘Spongebob Squarepants’ theme. He narrowed his eyes and let out a frustrated groan. He sent us an annoyed glare, his mouth forming a pout. I felt a bit bad for him. I looked for Anne but she had disappeared, annoyance pricked at my skin.

“How many times have I given you answers but never gotten one back?” He spat at me. I looked at Aidene with desperation and she looked at Nico with contemplation.

Aidene took steps towards the college student and lowered her voice in a fake whisper.

“Treasure Hunt,” she said childishly. Anne had crept back into the scene realising the awkwardness was over. Nico pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyebrows drawing in and letting out a sigh. A dry hoarse laugh escaped his throat.

“So this is a-a-” he struggled to remember the word in English, “ una broma ?”

“Joke?” Aidene asked timidly. 

“Yes! Is this a joke?” Nico was furious.

Aidene looked at me. For the first time the sharpness of her smile was in her eyes. However,  her face lacked that smile. 

“What did you do?” She mouthed the words at me. I threw her an offended look. It wasn’t my fault that Nico could hold a grudge and was temperamental. It wasn’t my fault that Nico couldn’t help but tell the truth. I wasn’t getting involved in this, not again. We could just leave. I was ready to leave. They already had the information they needed. I turned to walk away but Aidene let out a scoff and turned towards Nico.

“It isn’t a joke. I really want to figure out what happened to Greylight and hopefully find this hidden treasure along the way.” Aidened tried her best. Nico raised a sceptical eyebrow at her, unwilling to believe. Why was the girl trying so hard to make a friend? With a Perez that too.

“She is delusional. But yes. She is dragging us along for this so-called mystery,” Anne supplied from the background. Her tone was even and rational. She didn’t give off the playful vibes Aidene did and Nico did not hate her like he did me. Maybe that is why he believed her.

“Well-best of luck. I suppose?” He said blandly, not knowing how to react.

“And sorry for losing my cool.” He rubbed the back of his neck, guilt colouring his face.

“You don’t have to be sorry,” Aidene turned her eyes towards me, “After all I think you might have a very good reason to be angry. Thanks for the information by the way.” 

I turned my headway. I didn’t understand how all of this was my fault. I didn’t understand why Rayners was blaming me. She didn’t even have any context.

“We need to go, they will be closing the school gates soon.”  I kept my tone even and the anger away from it. I grabbed Aidene by her arm pulling her out of the library with Anne following behind us. 

The moment we stepped out, Aidene tore her arm away from my grip. She had a surprising amount of strength in that small twig-like body.

“What the fuck was that about?” She spat out.

“None of your business.” 

“What did you do?”

“Why do you care?”

“Now he hates us.”

“No he doesn’t,” I ground my teeth, might as well tell her, “He ended up getting into some trouble a couple of years ago when he still attended Havenpoint. He blames it on me. There. Happy?” Aidene fixed me with a dejected glare. She knew she wouldn’t get more out of me. I smirked in victory.

Anne was behind us watching our altercation with little interest. She actually seemed to be enjoying it a bit. I scanned her. She didn’t seem volatile like Aidene was. Her bangs covered her forehead touching her eyebrows, she swiped them away. Her toast coloured eyes, darkened by sleepless nights. I needed at least one of them on my good side for my plan.

“Do you guys have room for another in this treasure hunt of yours?” I aimed the question at Anne. Her eyes narrowed, and her canines showed in a sneer.

“No.” Her answer was curt and direct.

I clicked my tongue, disappointed. I don’t know what I did to her for such a reaction.

“Look, you guys need information. For information you need sources. I have sources. You guys know little to nothing about this town.” I tried reasoning as I  locked eyes with Anne. The insomniac shook her head, not willing to change her decision.

“I say she can join.” I turned my head in surprise. Aidene’s usual friendly smile was back on her face. Her eyes glinted in the setting sun, reminding me of a solar eclipse. She extended her hand. I shook it. 

What was she playing at?

[im-just-a-br0adway-baby]

((This fic is loosely based on one of my favorite Arthur episodes, "When George Met Carl" and a children's book my (ex)best friend illustrated called I Love My Best Friend Elliot. Also, this is the longest one-shot I written so far, so I hope you enjoy it!))

The Madrigal family walked through the Encanto for the kids’ first day of school. Isabela and Dolores were starting third grade and Luisa was starting first grade. Isabela and Luisa were on each side of Mirabel, holding her hands, and Dolores was holding Camilo’s hand while the family continued to walk. The family made their way to the elementary school as each parent kissed their children goodbye as the three older girls gave a hug and a kiss to their youngest siblings.

“We’re going to drop off Camilo and Mirabel at daycare now. Have a great day, girls,” Julieta said as she gave Isabela and Luisa one more kiss.

“Gracias, mami,” Luisa said as she followed her older sister and cousin inside the school building.

“¡Bye, hermana!” Mirabel slurred as she waved to the girls on their way into the school. Luisa turned around to blow one more kiss to her little sister.

Luisa found her classroom as she gave Isabela and Dolores one more hug before making her way inside to meet her classmates and teacher. She found the desk with her name on it and sat down. She noticed a girl sitting next to her that did not look familiar to her. She never saw her around the school last year in any of the kindergarten classes or in the cafeteria during lunch or on the playground at recess. She must be new to the Encanto.

Luisa noticed her looking down at her desk and decided to say hi to her to make her feel welcome. “Hola, my name is Luisa Madrigal. What’s your name?”

It took a couple of seconds, but the girl lifted her head to answer her. “My name is Gabriela Perez. Your family’s home is where the magic comes from.”

Luisa was shocked that she knew where the Encanto’s magic came from, let alone that she was part of that magic in the first place. “You know my family?”

“Yes; your abuela Alma gave us a tour of the Encanto when we moved here last month. She told us about each of you and your gifts.”

Luisa could not help but giggle. “So you know that I’m the strong one?”

“Yes; I also know that your sister is the one that makes the flowers.”

“You’re really smart. Do you maybe want to talk some more at lunch today?”

Gabriela turned to Luisa and smiled. She has not looked at Luisa the entire time they were talking. “I would love that.”

And right on cue, their teacher walked to the board and wrote her name, Senora Gonzalez, on it. Everyone was silent once they saw her at the board.

“Buenos días, clases. My name is Senora Gonzalez.”

Luisa and the rest of her classmates repeated. “Buenos días, Senora Gonzalez.”

---------------------------------------------------

Luisa’s class made their way to the lunch room at noon; Gabriela did not leave her side the entire time they walked in the hallway. Luisa also noticed how Gabriela was smiling more when she was walking with her, compared to earlier that morning when she was sitting at her desk looking down and mumbling to herself. She guesses she was the first friend she made in town.

Luisa and Gabriela sat down next to each other as they each unpack their lunches, but before they could begin unpacking, Luisa noticed the unicorn on Gabriela’s lunch box.

“Lo siento, Gabriela, but I couldn’t help but notice the unicorn on your lunchbox. You know, I love unicorns too.” Luisa then showed Gabriela her lunchbox, which also had a unicorn on it. Gabriela smiled once she saw Luisa’s lunchbox.

“I also have a unicorn backpack that’s on my hook, and a unicorn bed set at home. They’re also my favorite thing to draw.” Gabriela took a folded piece of paper out of her lunchbox and unfolded it to show Luisa. There was a drawing of a unicorn that was the most detailed Luisa has ever seen, at least, from a six-year-old.

“Wow; you drew that all by yourself?”

  Gabriela nodded. Luisa could not help but stare at the drawing in astonishment until she realized she did not even touch her arroz con pollo and lunch ended in ten more minutes before it was time to go outside. Luisa finished her arroz con pollo, along with the arepa Julieta packed on the side, in the ten minutes left of lunch before the entire kindergarten and first grade classes made their way outside.

Luisa shows Gabriela around the school’s playground during the first five minutes of recess. She showed her all of her favorite places to play when she was in kindergarten. Gabriela did not look all that enthusiastic, though. She just made her way to the biggest tree on the playground and Luisa followed her.

“I’m guessing you also prefer sitting in the shade?”

Gabriela nodded. She took out a drawing pad and turned it to the next clean page.

“Are those all your drawings? Can I see some of them?”

Gabriela smiled and gave Luisa her drawing pad. She saw drawings of many horses, along with a couple of drawings of what she assumed to be Gabriela’s family. “I tend to spend most of my time drawing. My mom would say that I have a gift.”

Luisa could not help but giggle. “Maybe I can ask Abuela if you could be an honorary Madrigal?” Luisa said jokingly and laughed a bit more but Gabriela just gave her a confused look. Luisa stopped laughing and continued looking at Gabriela’s drawings. She stopped at a picture of what looked like Gabriela's family.

Gabriela leaned over to Luisa. “I drew that picture not that long before we moved to the Encanto. That's my Mami and papi, and my older brother, Jose. And that's me in the middle. We're in front of our old house. I just wanted to draw one more memory of our old house before we moved.”

Luisa closed the drawing pad and gave it back to Gabriela once the aide gave the signal that it was time to go back inside. Both girls got up from the ground and made their way to the door to find their classmates. Gabriela stayed next to Luisa and smiled during the way back to find their class. But before they could head back inside the building, Luisa wanted to ask Gabriela a question.

“Gabriela, I was wondering if maybe… Do you want to come over to my house sometime this weekend?”

Gabriela’s smile became wider. “Really? You want me to come over your house?”

“Of course! I had so much fun talking with you during lunch and recess that I want you to meet the rest of my family.”

“But doesn’t everyone in your family live with you? It might be a little bit too much to get to know so many people.”

“I think everyone will love you. Besides, I have lots of fun and relaxing things in my room for us to play with.”

“I would still have to ask my mom first, but I would still love to come over.”

“Awesome! I’ll ask my mom too.”

With that, Luisa and Gabriela made their way inside the school building and in the hallway to go back to their classroom. “You know, Luisa, this was probably the fastest I ever made a friend. I like you a lot.”

Luisa smiled back at Gabriela. “I like you a lot too, Gabriela.”

----------------------------------------

Luisa ran out of the school at the end of the day to find Julieta and Pepa. She found her mami and tia in the crowd along with Isabela and Dolores with them and ran to them. Julieta gave her middle daughter the biggest hug she could and Isabela and Dolores also gave her a hug afterwards.”

“How was your first day of first grade, corazon? Did you like your teacher and classmates?” Julieta asked after Isabela and Dolores put Luisa down.

“It was the best! I made a new friend who just moved to the Encanto last month! I asked her if she could come over this weekend. Can she?”

“I don’t know, carino. You did say she just moved here so I don’t know her family just yet. Do you know where she is so we can meet her?”

Luisa looked around the crowd to see if she could find Gabriela. They walked out with each other, and she lost her once she saw Julieta and Pepa. She then found Gabriela with her mother and brother not that far from them.

“There they are! I’ll let you meet them!” Luisa then led the rest of her family to Gabriela and her mother to meet them. “Gabriela! I know you said you were nervous about meeting the rest of my family, but here’s some of them right now. This is my mami Julieta, my tia Pepa, my hermana Isabela, and my prima Dolores.”

“This is my mami, Nova and mi hermano I told you about at recess, Jose.”

“I know Jose! We’re in the same class! I introduced him to you at recess today, Dolores. Remember?” Isabela exclaimed. Dolores nodded and both girls ran up to Jose to say hi.

Julieta and Pepa walked up to Nova to introduce themselves. “Luisa was telling me she and Gabriela became friends very quickly today and wants her to come over this weekend. We just want to make sure it’s okay with you first.”

“Gabriela was telling me that Luisa was in her class and was the first one to try and make friends with her today. We would love to come over this weekend.”

Luisa and Gabriela squealed as they held hands and jumped around near their mothers. Nova noticed how excited her daughter was about getting to see Luisa over the weekend and she and Julieta smiled.

“I never saw Gabriela this excited about anything my entire life. She didn’t have that much luck making friends in our old town. I’m super happy she made a new friend this fast on her first day of school.”

“I also can’t wait to get to know you both better. Maybe you can bring Jose with you to play with Isabela and Dolores?”

Jose overhead and pulled on his mother’s skirt. “Can I, mami? Isabela was nice enough to show me around the playground today with Dolores and I want to play with them more this weekend!”

“I guess it’s settled. We’ll see you on Saturday,” Nova confirmed.

“We’ll see you Saturday, Nova,” Julieta also confirmed. All five children squealed again in excitement as they went back to hold their mothers’ hands to walk back home. “Now come on, mijas, we have to pick up Camilo and Mirabel.”

-----------------------------------------

The day finally came when Gabriela and her family were coming over. Julieta and Agustin noticed Luisa smiling all day because she could not wait to see her. Pepa and Felix walked into the kitchen to see Luisa smiling. 

“I don’t think I’ve seen her this happy about a play date,” Pepa pointed out.

“It’s true. She wasn’t this excited last year or even during preschool about a play date. It seems like she and Gabriela got along very well,” Julieta replied.

“You also said her older brother is also coming over to play with Isabela and Dolores?” Felix asked.

“Yep; and her mother is staying over so we could get to know her a little bit better since they just moved here,” Agustin added.

“The family did seem super nice when we met them on the girls’ first day of school,” Pepa said as she noticed Camilo running into the kitchen and picked him up. “Lunch isn’t ready, corazon. Why don’t you go play with Mirabel and Tio Bruno in the living room?” And she put her son down to let him run out of the kitchen.

“They should be here soon. I asked them if they could stay for lunch and dinner and they agreed. Nova just let me know of Gabriela’s dietary restrictions so we shouldn’t have any issues with that later.”

There was a knock at Casita’s door once their conversation ended; Gabriela, Nova, and Jose were here. “Felix and I will get it. It would be a good chance for us to say hi to them and introduce ourselves to them,” said Agustin as he and Felix made their way to the front door. Julieta continued making lunch as Pepa went into the living room to check up on her brother and the toddlers.

Agustin opened the door to Nova, Gabriela, and Jose. “Hola, my name is Agustin Madrigal, I’m Isabela and Luisa’s father. Luisa was telling me that Gabriela is in her class?”

Nova nodded as she reached out her hand to shake Agustin’s. “Si; Jose is also in Isabela’s class and he wanted to play with her and Dolores today.” She moved her hand over to Felix.

“I’m Felix Madrigal, by the way. I’m Dolores’ father.”

“It’s really nice to meet you both. Are your wives home? I know Julieta said she was going to be home so we can all talk.”

“She’s just making lunch right now. She’ll let us know when it’s ready,” Agustin mentioned as Nova stepped into the house with her children. “I’ll also let the girls know you’re here.”

Right on cue, Isabela, Dolores, and Lusia came downstairs to see Gabriela and Jose with Nova and ran over to their friends.

“I can’t wait to show you my room, Gabriela! I have this stuffed unicorn that I sleep with every night that’s super big and soft that I think you’ll love!”

Julieta popped into the courtyard to see Nova, Gabriela, and Jose along with her hijas and prima together. “You can do that later, right now, lunch is ready.”

The girls ran to the kitchen with Gabriela and Jose as Pepa and Bruno scooped up Camilo and Mirabel to sit them down for lunch.

“Oh, by the way, Gabriela, this is my little sister, Mirabel, and my little cousin, Camilo. They’re two.”

Gabriela smiled and waved at Camilo and Mirabel awkwardly. She never knew what to do when it came to little kids. Regardless, she sat down next to Luisa as Julieta went back into the kitchen to serve lunch.

----------------------------------------

Right after lunch, Luisa brought Gabriela up to her room. She wanted to show her her unicorn collection so badly and now it was time for her to show it! Luisa opened the door to her room and pulled Gabriela in so she could see. Her face was a mix of excitement and just being overwhelmed. All the weights and workout equipment scattered around her room made her think this was not as good of an idea as she thought.

“I know it may look a little bit scary, but I do have a lot of fun and relaxing things here.”

Gabriela then noticed her bed filled with many different stuffed unicorns, big and small, in many different colors. She smiled wider than Luisa had ever seen her and made her way to her bed. She plopped right on her bed and took the biggest one out of the pile and hugged it as tightly as she possibly could.

“I guess you really love Sparkle? Abuela gave that one to me right after my gift ceremony.”

“Is he the softest one in your collection?”

“He is, actually. All of my unicorns are super soft, but this one felt the softest. Dolores pointed it out to me. She’s really good at telling the difference between textures.”

Gabriela gave Sparkle another tight squeeze. Do you remember where your Abuela got him from?”

“I don’t remember exactly where he was from, but I do know there’s this toy shop in the Encanto that papi would take me and my sisters to all the time when mami was healing the village just to spoil us. There’s a whole section filled with stuffed animals and plush toys and it is mine and Isabela’s favorite section.”

“You’re super lucky Sparkle is as soft as she is. The softest unicorn in my collection isn’t even as soft as this.”

“Then I should ask Abuela if she could find another one for me to give to you.”

Before Gabriela could respond, she heard what sounded like piano music from downstairs. She and Luisa came out of her room to see Dolores playing a song on the family piano that she wrote. She guessed she wanted to play and sing one of them for Jose. Gabriela went downstairs and Luisa followed. Gabriela was impressed at how well-written Dolores’ song was and how moved the lyrics made her. Once Dolores was finished singing and playing, Gabriela sat down next to her.

“That was a really nice song, Dolores. Do you write your own music often?”

“I’ve written a couple of songs. I started writing songs when I was six year old, actually, ever since Tio Agustin taught me how to play.”

“Can I play something for you guys? I’ve never written anything but I do know how to play a couple of songs.”

“Sure, Gabriela.”

Dolores then got up from the piano bench to let Gabriela play something. Luisa was right next to Isabela and Jose as Gabriela began to play “Fur Elise”. After she was finished playing, Luisa sat next to her on the bench.

“You know how to draw and play piano? You’re really talented, Gabriela.”

“Thank you, Luisa. Mami would tell me how I would often just sit at the piano at my old house and play whatever tunes I heard her singing since I was two. Do you know how to play anything, by chance?”

“Papi has taught me how to play, but I’m not as good as you are. Dolores and I used to play a lot together when she was my age, and now Mirabel often listens to us play and wants to join in too. We’re a whole family of musicians.”

Dolores saw this as the perfect opportunity to teach Jose and Gabriela something new. “Speaking of, one of our favorite things to do with our papis is sing rhythm games together. ‘The Clapping Song’ is my favorite. We should teach you!”

Right when Dolores made the suggestion, Mirabel and Camilo toddled into the living room and clapped together. “Yes! Clapping song!” Mirabel yelled in excitement as the older kids turned to her and Camilo.

“It’s also Mirabel’s favorite. She and Dolores love asking Papi and Tio Felix to sing it with them,” Luisa pointed out.

“Maybe the three of us can teach you  and all of us can sing it together!” Isabela suggested. Mirabel and Camilo clapped their hands and jumped around in excitement.

“It sounds like the toddlers are up to that idea!” Jose laughed.

Isabela, Dolores, and Luisa gave Jose and Gabriela a rundown of how the song went and at what parts they should clap at. While the girls were teaching Jose and Gabriela the song, the adults walked in to notice their children singing and playing together. Julieta and Agustin were the first to walk into the living room, followed by Pepa and Felix, then Nova. A couple minutes later, they were joined by Bruno and Alma in time to see a performance of “The Clapping Song” by Isabela, Dolores, Jose, Luisa, Gabriela, Camilo, and Mirabel. All seven adults clapped for their children when the song was over.

“We were just coming in to tell you that dinner is ready, but I think it’s great that we all came in for a performance by our talented children,” Julieta said as she picked up Mirabel and Pepa picked up Camilo. The rest of the children ran over to their parents so they could go to the table again for dinner.

Not that long after dinner, it was time for Gabriela, Jose, and Nova to go. Luisa was upset that Gabriela had to leave, but today was the best day ever in her book.

“I had fun today, Luisa. I hope I can come over again soon. Gracias,” Gabriela said as she put her hand on Luisa’s shoulder.

“I had fun too, Gabriela. And I would love for you to come over again soon!” Luisa replied.

“I’m so glad I got to know you and your family, Luisa. You’re a very sweet girl and Gabriela is lucky to have you as a friend,” Nova said.

Luisa and the rest of the Madrigals said goodbye to Gabriela and her family before she gave Gabriela a tight hug. Once she let her go, Gabriela froze and began to cry. Luisa broke a sweat because she thought she hurt Gabriela.

“¡Lo siento, Gabriela! I know my hugs are tighter than most people’s, but I didn’t mean to hurt you!” Luisa said as she shed a tear.

“You didn’t hurt her, Luisa. She has autism, so she just doesn’t like being hugged, especially not that tight. Also, you didn’t know, so it’s not your fault,” Nova explained. “We still want to see you guys again soon. Gracias for having us.”

“Gracias for coming, Nova; and we’ll be more cautious with Gabriela the next time she comes over,” Julieta replied.

Nova left Casita with Gabriela and Jose and Luisa was still crying. She sat on the floor to think about what just happened and what Nova said to her.

“Are you okay, mi vida? I know you feel bad for hugging Gabriela so tight, but Nova already said you didn’t hurt her. You just didn’t know she wasn’t a fan of hugs,” Julieta said to try to comfort her middle daughter.

Luisa did not want to talk about what just happened. She did not even want to give her family a hug or a kiss goodnight before she got ready for bed. All she did was head upstairs and not speak for the rest of the night. Isabela and Dolores wanted to say something to Luisa before they went to bed, but it was clear from the look on her face after Gabriela and Jose left that she wanted to be left alone for the rest of the night.

------------------------------------

The next morning, Luisa woke up early as usual to see her mother cooking breakfast for the rest of the family. Now that she was able to sleep off what happened yesterday, she could talk about what happened and ask Julieta if she knew anything about it.

“Corazon! Are you ready to talk about what happened?”

“Si, mami; I still feel bad, but I was thinking about what Nova told me she had… I forgot what she said.”

“You mean autism? I think it’s time to tell you a little bit of our family history.” Julieta turned off the stove and led Luisa to the living room. Luisa sat on the couch and Julieta took out a photo album and sat next to her.

“Autism isn’t something you can see, Luisa. It can be difficult to detect, especially at your age. But it means Gabriela has a hard time expressing herself in ways you can. Things like talking to others or making friends can be hard for her, which is why her mother was super grateful as she was when you began talking to her.” 

Luisa scooted over towards her mother as she opened the photo album. “She has a hard time navigating the world around her, so she often finds ways to escape to comfort her, which is why she often resorts to art and music as a way to express herself. What may seem normal to you might not be to her. For example, there may be certain sounds that don’t bother you, but may be too loud for her.”

“You mean kind of how Dolores’s gift works?”

“A little bit like that, except she can’t really hear absolutely everything. Certain sounds could be too overwhelming for her, same with certain foods or textures.” 

Julieta turned the page of the album to a photo of Pepa and Bruno at what seemed to be an occupational therapist’s office. “When your tia Pepa and your tio Bruno were your age, your abuela noticed the different ways they interacted with other people and how difficult navigating everyday life was for them. So, she sent them to see the best occupational therapist in the Encanto, Dr. Valeria Martinez. Your tio Bruno could not talk until he was three and a half, so it was difficult trying to understand him at times. Not that long after our gift ceremony, he found his own way to express himself by creating many characters and writing his own plays to put on for the rest of the family.”

Luisa smiled and hugged her mother. “Your tia Pepa, on the other hand, talked much earlier than the both of us. Mama pushed it off as being smart for a while, but even then it was still hard for her to express how she was feeling through words. She would resort to screaming and crying, even when we were older. She found comfort in many storybooks and could talk about one for months at a time. She learned how to express herself by writing her own stories and songs, and making up her own dances. She and Bruno could not maintain eye contact for long periods of time, so they would often look away when someone was talking to them. At the time, I felt confused too.”

Julieta held Luisa closer as she looked up at her. “But one day, I overheard mama talk with Pepa and Bruno about how their teachers met with her and said they might have autism, so I decided to read more about it, and I found the criteria fit for both of them, even though they expressed it in different ways. Mama never wanted them to get a formal diagnosis, because she didn’t want them to be labeled for the rest of their lives. But I fought for them to get that diagnosis, because they were already being labeled as ‘lazy’ and ‘stupid’ by the rest of the Encanto, and I felt a formal diagnosis would explain a lot of their behaviors and put them a little bit at ease.”

Agustin came into the living room with Mirabel in his arms after noticing Julieta was not in the kitchen when he woke up. He put her down to sit with Julieta and Luisa. “What are you guys talking about?”

“Mami is telling me about autism so I could understand Gabriela a little bit better,” Luisa replied as she hugged her father.

“I was just telling her Pepa and Bruno’s story and I was just about to tell her Dolores’s story,” Julieta added as she gave her husband a kiss on the cheek.

“Dolores has autism too?”

“Yep; since Pepa understood how it felt to feel different from other children, she didn’t want her children to go through the same thing she and Bruno had to, and she noticed how Dolores was interacting differently with other children and how she often had issues with certain sounds and would shut down and not talk for long periods of time even before her gift ceremony, so she got her diagnosis when she was Mirabel’s age. Do you know how you girls like to play Boing Tag together?”

“Si, I know Isabela said Dolores made it up and wanted me to join them.”

“Well, ever since Dolores learned how to walk, she would sometimes hop everywhere. She and Isabela were playing tag in the backyard one day and she started hopping while running. Isabela began to hop too and that’s how they started Boing Tag.”

“Is that also why Dolores writes songs and reads magazines with celebrity gossip in them? Because it gives her comfort?”

“Exactly, corazon!”

Julieta and Agustin hugged their middle daughter closer as they noticed Mirabel playing with and feeling the fabric and hair on a doll that was given to her on her first birthday. Julieta noticed more odd behaviors with Mirabel, but she didn’t want to jump in and give her a diagnosis just yet. She wanted to see how things would go in a year.

Pepa came in with Camilo in her arms and Felix behind her to notice Julieta was on the couch with Luisa and Agustin and not cooking breakfast for the family. That was when Julieta rushed off the couch to finish cooking because Pepa being up usually meant the rest of the family was going to be up soon too. Luisa got up from the couch to give her tia a tight hug, since she already knew Pepa loved her hugs.

“Tia Pepa, I want you to know I love you no matter what and I don’t want you or Tio Bruno to change, ever.”

Pepa gave Agustin a confused look as he walked out of the living room with Mirabel. “Julieta gave Luisa the talk after what happened yesterday. She understands a little bit more now.”

---------------------------------

Luisa went back to school the next day anxious. She thought Gabriela did not want to be with her anymore because of what happened on Saturday. Although she did not talk to Gabriela in class that morning, she wanted to make it up to her at lunch. She took her to a quieter area so she could talk to her one on one.

“Gabriela, I wanted to say I’m sorry for what happened this weekend. I didn’t know you didn’t like tight hugs. But mami explained to me how you would generally see the world because Pepa, Bruno, and Dolores have autism too. I want to understand you better, so it’s okay to tell me if something I do is making you uncomfortable.”

Gabriela smiled and leaned closer to Luisa. “I forgive you, Luisa. I know you didn’t know. I just didn’t tell you beforehand because I was scared you would think something was wrong with me. But I’m happy you have family members with autism too because at least I know you kind of understand, and you have a family that would know what to do if I ever did have a meltdown or shut down.”

Luisa gave Gabriela a big box that she left outside all morning for her. She asked Julieta and Alma if she could get her something to make up for what happened. Gabriela opened the box to see it was a giant stuffed unicorn exactly like Sparkle.

“I asked Abuela where she got Sparkle from because I know you loved cuddling with him. She and mami took me to buy one for you because I know you would love the softest unicorn to go with the rest of your collection.”

Gabriela’s face lit up like the brightest Christmas tree you’ve ever seen as she gave the unicorn a tight squeeze. “This is the best gift anyone has ever given to me! Muchas gracias, Luisa! This is going to be right in the center of my collection.”

Gabriela gave Luisa a tight hug, which caught her off guard, but she guesses she enjoys being the hugger, not the huggee. Luisa hugged her back as lightly as she could before Gabriela let go to grab the unicorn again.

“I’m going to name her Luisa, after my first best friend in the Encanto, and the only one who made an effort to understand me.”

Luisa lit up when Gabriela said that. Maybe that play date was a lesson for her, to be more understanding about friends and family members that may seem different. Gabriela was grateful for Luisa’s understanding, because what she saw was a friendship that was sure going to last a lifetime.

[uniquetyphoonmiracle]

De verdad..que CREO que más CLARO no puede estar TODO y que ADEMAS creo que no hay TIEMPO PARA PONERLO [mas que nada por MI SOL_EDAD es decir creo que debo dedicarme a otras cosas para evitar la RUINA TOTAL[..mi últimas VACACIONES así lo han PUESTO o lo marcan..regreso desde barrio LA PAZ o Avenida DE PRIMERO DE MAYO o día del TRABAJADOR y muere con 54 años un PRIMO CARNAL de FELIPE VI tras morir meses antes su hermano con 49 años..30 o más años menos que JUAN CARLOS I..aunque yo creo que me conformaría con 10 0 15 años más pero sin PERDER EL TIEMPO que es básicamente lo que se hace en este MUNDO viendo y escuchando TONTERIAS una y otra vez hasta llegar a tu vejez [algo que me parece más una condena que un premio..donde la cárcel o el castigo es tu cuerpo]

No tengo ninguna ILUSION por ser una ABUELA de 83 años..subiendo paredes para ir a ningún lado y tras haberlo hecho toda mi vida..y mucho menos una VEJEZ con mucho BERNABEU como esperaba el SEMPITERNO CONGRESISTA y ministro del INTERIOR el malogrado RUBALCABA que según FLORENTINO PEREZ soñó con la PAZ [pero si se refería a ETA ..creo que mataban menos que el TABACO O LAS PUTAS E IDOLOS DE ORO que son una RUINA A TODOS LOS NIVELES]

De este MUNDO NO ME HACE ILUSION O MERECE LA PENA NADA Y SINO TUVIERA MUY CLARO QUE VOY DETRAS DE ALGO DIVINO O MILAGROSO y APOCALIPTICO..PODIA SER UN SUICIDADO eso sí FOLLANDOME PUTAS y no MASTURBANDOME teniendo PAREJA como HUTCHENCE DE INXS que me dio su cerveza MEXICANA CORONA en sala DIVINO AQUALUNG o IVAN HEYN subsecretario de comercio de CRISTINA FDEZ DE KITCHNNER en una CUMBRE DE MERCO_SUR..pues desde luego ver y pagar MAS DE LO MISMO O IDOLOS DE ORO que cada vez son peores o repetitivos pero MAS RUINA Y POBREZA para el RESTO..NI LOCO

[soloconlasratas]

Yo hablo con Dios y con tu madre, con vos cuando cuadran las horas y con tu padre cuando llegan las lluvias.

Del otro extremo de la tierra hay un olor a sol y a cosas arrumadas.

Abuela, si alguien se va y no sé despide...

¿a quien le dejamos las cartas?

A nadie.

Dijo

Yo imagino se toca el escapulario del pecho y los ojos le brillan ciegos.

Recomienda el piscologo por allá en los tiempos de Perez Jiménez. Se siembran unos cuantos helechos que crecen en la humedad del llanto, se pone la radio a todo volumen y se habla con los fantasmas que se quedaron en los rincones.

Uno no se queda solo,

A uno lo acompaña el olvido, el olvido que enseña.

Un nuevo oficio o a tomar café sin azúcar.

Se leen poemas revolucionarios y el corazón vuelve a arder hasta que duela la vena que cruza la mitad del cuerpo y te recuerda que estás parado en medio de una casa acompañada por el polvo y olor a baúl.

Se vive así, pregonando a las ventanas abiertas el adiós de todos los días, para que el sol huela a panela y venga la hojarasca del verano y tumbe los altares de los dioses falsos.

Luis García - 2024

[ladedicatoria]

A todas las personas que deciden no anestesiarse. Y se la bancan despiertas.

Relatos breves, cifrados de extremo a extremo.

Un día estaba Roberto subiendo una cuesta y a la vez bajándola, entonces se encontró con Pedro.

Y le dijo Pedro: Hola Roberto, necesito que le mandes un whatsapp a tu tío. Dile que mañana o, a más tardar pasado mañana, le enviaré un camello digitalizado. 

Entonces Roberto salió corriendo, a buscar su celular que se le había quedado en la repisa del baño de su tía abuela Gertrudis, pero nunca llegaría, porque anocheció, y eso que el sol estaba alto.

Al día siguiente tomó una ducha y al despertarse se secó con un toallón celeste.

Ese día salió a la calle decidido. 

Sin embargo, ya desde la vereda de enfrente se veía que Roberto tardaría en cruzar a esta otra vereda por los menos unas tres horas. Era muy evidente que eso era lo que más o menos tardaría. Sobre todo, porque él no sabía que tenía que cruzar.

De algún modo todo el pueblo esperaba que cruzase. Y hacían apuestas de todo tipo. Se apostaba dinero, joyas, cualquier cosa, hasta en cuotas. 

Al final todos perdieron, porque la calle se disolvió por un decreto de necesidad y urgencia.

………

Una vez un pollo se encontró con un dron con celulitis. El pollo estaba comiendo unas tutucas junto al río. El dron le preguntó si eso engordaba, y el pollo le contesto: I dont know 

Entonces el dron le dijo…: ¿si te cruzo a la otra orilla del río, me convidas tutuca?

Y el pollo que no tenía aguijón pero se sabía la tabla de multiplicar por ocho, le contestó:

Te convido de onda, sin que me cruces…; pero mañana es mi cumpleaños y sería bueno que me lleves a conocer todos los ríos de Salta.

El dron accedió. El viaje tardó tanto que se enamoraron. 

Ahora, tienen celulitis los dos.

………

Un miércoles por la tarde estaba Gladys mandando emails a distintos lugares. Los mandaba por el gmail de Google, (Google por entonces era pequeño y estaba descalzo). 

En eso le apareció en la pantalla de su notebook, una ventana inesperada, y luego otra y otra, empezó a sentir frío… Entonces alguien prendió una vela, pero esta se apagaba… porque se abrían ventanas, una y otra vez. 

Ante ello, Gladys pensó: Esto es un virus. Y se puso un barbijo y decidió subir un cerro cercano ya que tenía una aplicación sin usar. 

Cuando iba subiendo y ya casi llegando a la cima, se encontró con un anciano de larga barba que le dijo: Gladys, ¿qué cuento es éste?  ….Me he perdido…. se lamentó el anciano.

Entonces Gladys enigmáticamente le dijo: Error 404. 

Y se apagó.

………….

Un sábado a la mañana Fredy iba al centro a comprar unos auriculares. Johanna volvía a su casa luego de tomar un café sola. Julio fue a cargar nafta a su Ford Focus. En la esquina de Garibaldi y San Martin de Ciudad, Esteban se detuvo a escuchar a una mujer que ejecutaba un violín. Justo en ese momento, se paró un taxi en la plaza Independencia de Ciudad y se bajó Aníbal, que iba frente a la Legislatura. 

Ninguna de estas personas se conocían, aunque todos se apellidaban Perez.

Este verdadero hallazgo, generó una serie televisiva de seis temporadas. 

El misterio estuvo a punto de resolverse al término de la primera, pero algo hizo que durara 5 temporadas más.

Es que era apasionante ir viendo capítulo tras capítulo, como Freddy iba al centro a comprar unos auriculares, aunque era sordo. Johanna volvía a su casa, pero no de tomar un café, sino una birra roja con amigas. Julio no le había echado nafta a su Ford Focus, porque su auto era gasolero. En la esquina de Garibaldi y San Martin de Ciudad, Esteban no se detuvo a escuchar a una mujer que ejecutaba un violín, sino en una vidriera junto a ella. Y que del taxi que paró en la plaza Independencia de Ciudad, no se bajó Aníbal, sino el chofer a comprar fasos frente a la Legislatura. 

Qué bella trama !!

Todo el mundo se preguntaba si habría precuela, o secuela, o en fin, algo. Algo que les produjese ansiedad. Sólo se calmaron (un poco) cuando se enteraron que la séptima temporada ya tenían fecha de estreno. Abril de 2044.    

………..

Había una vez un destornillador de un mecánico de heladeras.

Y además, había un sello de un Inspector. 

Como lo dos no sabían qué tenían que hacer, ni por qué se los mencionaba en este cuento, decidieron llamar a la AFIP. 

Llamaron varias veces y siempre daba ocupado. Entonces dijeron al unísono: Che… ¿y si evadimos?

Y así lo hicieron…. durante años. Y fueron felices. 

Hasta que apareció Sen Tren. 

Sen Tren tenía dos látigos, el de la Verdad y el de la Ética en Gel… pero no usaba ninguno de los dos porque siempre se los olvidaba en la mesa del televisor.

Sen Tren les dijo, a ambos con voz de trueno: Uds. han estado preguntando por la AFIP… Idos y volved luego de la vendimia. No es tiempo de herramientas, sino de frutos de carozo.

Fue así que el destornillador y el sello del Inspector asustados, se separaron, cada uno corriendo por su lado en una calle de doble sentido de marcha. 

O sea, perdieron el sentido común.

………………..

Cuerpo y Cabeza parecían dos personas, pero eran una. 

Durante una Semana Santa se les ocurrió dar vuelta una Página de Vida. Ambos tenían experiencia en tropezar con la misma piedra, así es que, esto, sería pan comido. 

Eso sí, la página era enorme, estaba escrita y pesaba más de una tonelada. Tenía muchos párrafos manuscritos, llenos de verbos y adjetivos traídos de Iquique.

Cabeza pensó: Usaremos un malacate manual, y le dijo a Cuerpo: Llámalo al Tío Gordo, él tiene una espumadera. Pero cuando Cuerpo lo quiso llamar, su celu se había quedado sin batería. 

Entonces la Página de Vida comenzó a reír. Y como tenía una risa muy contagiosa todo el pueblo empezó a reír. Venían pobladores de otros pueblos a reírse -a bajo precio- todo un fin de semana. 

Esto fastidió mucho a Cabeza y Cuerpo, y pensaron: …¿cómo vamos a dar vuelta la página ahora? ¿Quién nos ayudará? 

Cuerpo sentía voces (ya desde 1987), entonces escuchó una voz con toda nitidez: Llamen a los bomberos de Godoy Cruz o al cura párroco de Nietzsche para que venga ya !!…

En eso, de repente, empezó a correr un fuerte Viento del Sur, algo esquinado, más bien Sureste; y sopló y sopló, y se llevó todos los párrafos de la Página de Vida. La página quedó en blanco. Salvo una palabra manuscrita que no se despegó.

Puchi.

………………

Dicen que fue un fin de mes en que la Porota Coquimbito redactó su Proyecto de Ley. Lo hizo en sánscrito, idioma que no dominaba, pero, si se lo dictaban las corporaciones, sí. 

El Proyecto de Ley habría tenido 32 artículos (algunos eran para llevar y otros ya estaban vencidos, pero los dejaban a mitad de precio). 

Lo más interesante de la Ley era que prohibía de una vez por todas a las selfis, estimulando a los mendocinos a sacar fotos distintas, diversas, otras. Era el momento de terminar con el narcisismo. 

Pero luego se supo que hubo un fuerte lobby del Colegio de Psicólogas y Psicólogos de Mendoza, por lo que se transó que en las fotografías uno podía estar fuera de foco, pero mantener el encuadre, era importante.  

Finalmente, la ley se aprobó y aplicó durante quince minutos, y al producirse el cambio de gobierno fue derogada por otra norma que fue conocida por años como la Ley Espejo (“si no salgo en la foto no existo”).

Esta narrativa de autor anónimo, nos entrega una generosa moraleja: el otoño en Mendoza es muy lindo, porque las selfies no se amarillentan; aunque tapan las acequias, porque caen de a miles.

……………

Cierto día un ganso de campo se transformó en un jarrón de cerámica. Luego de un tiempo, y como la gente del pueblo no podía entender la fábula, fue olvidado.

………….

[ivanreydereyes]

Ayer..tras enterarme que hay un RECUERDO al 11_M y a las VICTIMAS DEL TERRORISMO EN GENERAL en LA LOSA [algo imposible de SOSTENER O LEVANTAR] o el pueblo SEGOVIANO de GONZAVENTURAS junto a LOS ANGELES DE SAN RAFAEL [=Tragedia de JESUS GIL q cuando era presidente suspendieron conciertos de GUNS N ROSES y GENESIS por riesgo de DERRUMBE del Estadio del MANZANA+eRES y elimino la CANTERA del ATLETICO de MADRID lo que hizo que RAUL pasara al REAL MADRID donde fue el q más jugo aunque en 16 años nunca ganó COPA DEL REY como si hicieron el año antes y año después o 2011 en el q VIRGINIA MAESTRO canto en la FAN ZONE de REAL MADRID stand by me q versiono para la eléctrica IBERDROLA en la q se metio FLORENTINO PEREZ y que vendió sus activos a MEXICO a precio de puta barata y que es rival de ENDESA donde trabajo su hermana ANGELA]..donde hace las PRETEMPORADAS el ATLETICO de MADRID]..vi en su Instagram su resumen de cuando visito en Camper los PUEBLOS MAS BONITOS DE ESPAÑA y dijo que LERMA [cantante mallorquina de nombre VICTORIA a la q descubri por mi 51 cumple en el BUHO REAL donde actuara 30_dic y encontrándome 1/2 tarta de CHOCOLATE pastelerías MALLORCA encima de un armario eléctrico con un cartel del documental de Joaquín SABINA "Sintiéndolo mucho" en la plaza de ALONSO MARTINEZ junto a la cual un ARBOL mató a una Catalana de 23 años hace unas semanas delante de sus padres y que trabajaba en Alcobendas donde nacieron las Hermanas CRUZ o lo q me parece que es la mujer para el hombre en esta Civilización SATANICA]..le decepcionó excepto un Mirador o un precipicio junto al CONVENTO al que está ABSCRITO el de la AGUILERA [=mi abuela] al que Luis Alberto SALAZAR_SIMPSON [su hermana FELICIDAD enviudo repentinamente de RAMON "RATO" hermano del encarcelado RODRIGO RATO ex director del FMI y vicepresidente economico de AZNAR por la corrupcion en BANKIA o privatizado CAJA MADRID]..dono 3 millones de € para su ampliación de los q recibió por cesar como presidente de AUNA y a cuyo hijo GONZALO conocí en TELEFONICA SERVICIOS AUDIOVISUALES haciéndose luego productor DE CINE con "NO HABRA PAZ PARA LOS MALVADOS" sobre terrorismo yihadista con José CORONADO como SANTOS TRINIDAD al que le dio un infarto representando en el teatro ESPAÑOL " ushuaia: la ciudad del fin del mundo" al día siguiente de cruzarme x delante o en la plaza de SANTA ANA con la PROCESION DEL CRISTO CAUTIVO de la SEMANA SANTA 2017

Por cierto..yo estuve en LERMA en 2021 cuando visite en HARLEY LOGRo+cOÑO, BURGOS [donde nació ALBA B_ALBA_S a la q conocí en LA ESQUINA DEL ROWLAND=cd de HOMBRES G tras cd RESURRECION..tras salvar a la suicida del Puente de VENTAS y ver al día siguiente a HOMBRES G x las FIESTAS VIRGEN DE LOS ANGELES de 2013 en Getafe] y DARSENAS REALES

[ivanreycristo]

..x cierto..Este era yo hoy hace 11 años [31_5_12] en CANNES [dedicado al 50 aniversario del SUICIDIO de MARILYN MONROE=SUICIDE BLONDE de cd X de INXS dedicada a KYLIE MINOGUE]..donde fui xq KYLIE MINOGUE estrenaba HOLY MOTORS [a cuyo directo LEOS CARAX cuando firmaba le dije VAYA CARA jaja] donde se suicida y a donde llegue 22_5_12 día q murió MARIA DE LOS ANGELES SANDOVAL alias PITINA la mujer de FLORENTINO PEREZ con 62 años o 30 años menos q su madre SOL_EDAD pues llame a su sobrino EDUARDO SACRISTAN PEREZ para ir junto a GLORIA LLANOS [cuya hermana SILVIA es LUNA en LUCIA Y EL SEXO protagonizada x sevillana PAZ VEGA tras debutar en NADIE CONOCE A NADIE ambientada en la SEMANA Santa sevillana del 99 que acaba diciendo Eduardo NORIEGA q EL DEMONIO ESTA EN LA VIRGEN xq un TERRORISTA esta con una BOMBA dentro de ella en un PASO DE SEMANA SANTA] a la FERIA DE ABRIL'04 y estaba en el TANATORIO x su abuela SOL_EDAD

[gabriellaperezhere]

Meet: Gabi

Face Claim: Becky G

General Info

Name: Gabriella Rosita Perez

Nickname(s): Gab, Gabi, Rosie (if you're close enough to know her middle name)

Age: 25

Birthday: February 14th

Species: Mutant

Abilities: Tactile Telepathy and Smoke Manipulation

Gender/Pronouns: Female/ She/Her

Occupation: Dancer/Entertainer at Angel's

Mutation

Ability: Gabriella has the ability to influence others and/or their thoughts, feelings, or emotions. She can do this in two different ways.

Through touch: If she touches a person (or multiple people), the influence is instant and only affects the person (or people) she's in contact with. If she doesn't maintain physical contact with the person (or people), the effect will wear off after some time.

Through smoke: Gabriella has the ability to create and manipulate a cloud of smoke, which works similarly to her tactile telepathy. It will affect and influence anyone who comes into contact with it, but its effect is gradual. Anyone affected may experience a "high" before Gabi's influence takes hold. The area of effect can be indefinite as long as Gabriella is emitting the smoke.

Family

Mother: Unknown

Father: Manuel Jose Perez (deceased)

Grandmother: Rosa Perez (deceased)

Bio

Gabriella was born in Los Angeles, California, and raised by her father, Manny, and paternal grandmother, Rosa. She never knew her mother, only being told by her grandmother that she ran off with half of her father's net worth, never to be seen or heard from again.

Gabi was never bothered by this knowledge. In fact, Gabi didn't think about her mother much, if at all. She was perfectly happy with her dad and abuela.

When Gabi was nine, Rosa passed away in her sleep. It was her first experience with death, and while it did hit her hard, it seemed to hit her father harder. Though Manny tried to be strong for his daughter, Gabi could often hear him crying when she was supposed to be asleep.

Manny worked as a head chef in a friend's restaurant, and the funeral expenses coupled with the bills they already had meant more hours at work. Therefore, Gabi was often left to her own devices. She was generally a good kid, never getting into trouble, and she and her father lived a mostly quiet, but happy life.

When Gabi was fourteen, her mutation manifested. She had wanted to surprise her dad for his birthday by meeting him at the end of his shift. It was late and dark, and she ended up being followed by a group of kids a few years older than her. They began harassing her, and the stress of the situation activated her latent mutant abilities. Clouds of smoke began rolling off of her, and the kids ended up running away before whatever was happening could affect them. When the ordeal was over, the smoke disappeared, leaving Gabi confused but intrigued. She never told her father about what happened (though he reprimanded her for walking at night anyway).

Gabi used the time she spent alone to research more about mutants, mutations, and how to work with them. She discovered how her powers work by putting herself in various situations and seeing what would happen.

Her journey to self-discovery was halted when her father got sick when she was nineteen. The illness caused Manny to be unable to work, so Gabi took over for him at his job. She took care of him until his untimely death when she was twenty-one.

With the two people she loved most in the world gone, Gabi left California. She made her way to New York with the original intent of attending Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. She met Angel by chance after getting lost and ending up in the woman's strip club. Entranced by the atmosphere, she ended up applying to work there after getting settled in a small studio apartment.

Fun Facts

Gabi graduated from high school with a 4.2 GPA.

She never told her father that she was a mutant, but part of her suspects that he knew anyway.

She would use her ability to make Manny's pain bearable by making him "dream" (hallucinate) or by simply putting him to sleep.

She sometimes uses her power at work. She can make people feel like they're indulging in whatever fantasy it is they have.

She's one of the youngest dancers at Angel's club.

She doesn't strip.

She has gone with Angel to pole lessons before. (She actually likes pole dancing)

[laedicion]

Condenan a 180 años de prisión a sujeto que mató a su familia por herencia

Condenan a 180 años de prisión a sujeto que mató a su familia por herencia

Por: Otoniel Perez / Cortesía FGR San Salvador. Con suficientes pruebas, la Fiscalía General de la República logró demostrar que Luis Eduardo Mejía Mencía asesinó con lujo de barbarie a su padre, hermano, abuela y madrastra, con el fin de cobrar una herencia. Por el crimen cometido en el municipio de Ayutuxtepeque, a Eduardo se le impuso una condena de cárcel de 180 años. La resolución…