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justanisabelakinnie · 1 year

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October 17

(Aka my birthday fanfic for Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno. If you’re thinking it’s out late, that’s because it is. But I ended up deleting a large chunk of it and having to rewrite most of it from scratch and memory, so I hope you will forgive me. I still couldn’t bring myself to abandon this story because the triplets deserve their birthday fic the same way the primas-hermanas do and so I had to give it to them. I hope you all enjoy nevertheless!)

Isabela peeked around the corner. “Is the coast clear, Dolores?”

Dolores chirped then gave a thumbs up to her prima-hermana. “The coast is clear as a whistle.” She squeaked.

Isabela grinned. “Great! Now’s my chance!” She ran to the kitchen, she knew it was now or never, if only she hadn’t procrastinated. But someone stopped her.

Before Dolores could tell Isabela to abort mission and turn the other way, before she could even call “code yellow”, she was too late. Because Pepa was there in the kitchen.

“Oh, hello, mi amor!” Pepa chirped with glee as she bent down into the cupboard, Isabela praying that she would never open the one with the surprise in it. “Just getting some desserts to take to Bruno’s room. We decided to have a triplet sleepover reunion, you know how it is.”

Isabela gave a stilted nod in response, not wanting to ignore her tia but not wanting to answer and occasionally give away the secret either.

Pepa tilted her head to the side. “Is everything all right, Isabela?”

Isabela nodded once more. Pepa continued to look at her confusedly.

“Yup. Totally. I’m fine,” she responded, making sure that Pepa knew she could speak, unlike her girlfriend Monika.

“Okay, that is great, mi sobrina.” Isabela almost had a heart attack as Pepa opened the cabinet right next to the pantry was in and took out two muffins. “I’ll disappear and get out of your way for the night. Love ya!”

“Love ya too, Tia Pepa.” Isabela waved as Pepa walked off. She looked up to the upper floor on the other side, where Dolores gave her a thumbs up.

She had to hurry quick and get to work, carefully opening the pantry, Isabela took out the birthday cake and placed it gently on the kitchen counter. Then she used her vines to open the refrigerator and take out the yellow, green, and blue icing.

Placing them next to the cakes, she picked up one at a time and used each of them to write “¡Feliz cumpleaños, Pepa, Bruno, y Julieta!” Pepa was written in yellow. Bruno was written in green. And Julieta was written in blue.

When she was done, Isabela wiped her brow. Phew. And she didn’t get caught.

But then she noticed that she had squeezed the blue icing a little too hard, and now there was an ugly blue smudge next to Julieta’s name. Isabela winced. What was she going to do?

“Isabela? ¿Mija?”

Uh oh. Isabela panicked, scrambling to hide the icing and cake behind her back as she stood awkwardly in a manner that blocked it.

“What’s the matter, mi vida?” Julieta was standing there, looking confusedly at Isabela with an eyebrow raised.

Isabela shrugged.

“Nothing? You don’t know?”

Isabela shrugged again.

Julieta smiled. “You sure that’s not a birthday cake behind you?”

Isabela was sweating bullets at this point as she rapidly shook her head.

“Oh,” Julieta said, somewhat let down. “Well, that’s a disappointment, because I was so excited to try it. I guess mi familia doesn’t care about me after all.” She lowered her head sadly.

Isabela felt very ashamed and disappointed to see her mother in such a state of sadness. But she knew she had to keep it a secret. The rest of her sisters and cousins were counting on her.

Isabela sighed. “Look Mami, I’m sorry. But you don’t want your birthday surprise to be spoiled, do you? Just trust me and let me plan a birthday for you and the triplets that you’ll never forget. Please?”

Julieta smiled. “I understand, mi vida. Mind if I give you a hug? I promise I’ll keep my eyes shut so I don’t take a peek!”

“You promise?” Isabela asked suspiciously.

“I promise.” Julieta’s smile seemed to be sincere.

“Oh, Okay!” Isabela extended her arms. “Get in here!”

Julieta walked over to her daughter with similarly outstretched arms, and hugged Isabela warmly, her eyes being closed, as promised. The hug lasted for about a few seconds, however, before she was abruptly shoved aside as Julieta’s big, greedy eyes took in the birthday cake.

“Aha!” She cackled.

Isabela watched in astonishment, gaping. “Mami!” She roared. “You promised!”

“I promised myself that I would have some of this delicious cake!” Julieta sneered at her daughter, taking off some of the icing with her finger and sticking it in her mouth. “Mmm! Green and sweet!” She bent down into the cupboard to get a knife, fork, and plate. “An early birthday present for moi,” she was saying as she giggled, shoulders heaving, and started to cut the cake. “It’s what I deserve for being the best mother the world has ever known—“

“CAMILO!” Isabela screeched. “What are you doing?”

Julieta sighed, then shapeshifted back into her nephew. “So you finally figured out it was me, huh?” He grinned. “Gotta say, I’m pretty disappointed in you Isabela. You need to be more perceptive and better at keeping secrets.”

“You need to be better at not snooping!” Isabela roared. “This is exactly why we didn’t invite you to be part of the plan!”

“Well, you did a bad job of trying to hide it from me!” Camilo mocked, sticking out his tongue. “And anyway, I think I deserve a slice for being so unbelievably smart and funny and sneaky and handsome—“

“Do NOT DARE take a slice!” Isabela hissed, vines erupting out of the ground and tightening themselves around Camilo’s wrists, cuffing them together. He winced at the pain. “Or you will feel my wrath.”

“I’m not scared of you,” Camilo lied.

“Get out.” The vines pulled Camilo out the door, forcing his feet to skitter towards the exit.

“Woah!” Camilo squeaked, as he made it past Isabela, who couldn’t help but notice that some of the icing had somehow spontaneously ended up on his face.

“And clean off your nose before you look suspicious,” Isabela ordered.

“Will do, big prima.” Then, with a grin, he shot forward, touching noses with Isabela’s, until her face had green icing and crumbs on it too.

“Urrrrrrggghhh!” She growled, wiping it off. But Camilo soon left the room.

Gazing sadly at the messed up cake, Isabela sighed as she continued trying to fix it before putting it back in the pantry.

💙💛💚

“So we’ve got the gifts,” Mirabel said while in her new room with Luisa. “And we’ve got the presents and ribbons too. All that’s left is to sign the card, which Antonio has. And then we’ll be good to go.”

“All right!” Luisa was very pleased. “We should start wrapping then!”

The two sisters started wrapping. Bruno’s wrapping was green with brown hourglass patterns on it. Julieta’s was blue with cupcakes on it. And Pepa’s was a yellowish-orange with teddy bears on it.

Wait—

“Umm, Luisa…” Mirabel paused skeptically, then gasped. “Luisa!”

Luisa looked up. “What?” She asked confused.

“That’s the wrong wrap for Tía Pepa! Don’t you see?”

Luisa gave Mirabel a blank expression, then turned her head down. She gasped as well. “Uh oh. Mirabel, you’re right. This is Antonio’s gift wrap!”

“We have to go to his room and find the right one. But we’ve gotta hurry and be discreet!” She rose to her feet. “Or—“

But Mirabel was cut off by a rhythmic knock on the door.

Knock knock knock-knock knock.

Mirabel and Luisa exchanged a fearful, worried glance. That knock was code for “we have an emergency.” And not the good kind of emergency.

They raced towards the door, Mirabel opening it. And Dolores stood there with a worried expression.

“Code orange.” Dolores said. The granddaughters and Antonio had a unique code for every form of emergency and to let the others know who was in their vicinity. Code yellow was for Pepa. Code blue was for Julieta. Code green was for Bruno. Code orange was for Camilo.

“Excuse me?” Mirabel gawked.

“We have a code orange,” Dolores repeated. “The chameleon is onto our plan. He ruined the cake for Isabela. And he’s trying to ruin or plan for the triplets! We’ve gotta stop him.”

“We do!” Luisa whispered, agreeing. “But how?”

“And we’ve got another problem on our hands!” Mirabel took the wrapping paper from Luisa’s hands and showed it to Dolores. “We need the correct wrapping paper for Pepa! Otherwise we’re in for a birthday disaster!”

“The we’d better get from your room—“ Dolores turned and pointed ahead to Antonio’s room. “To across there to Antonio’s room fast. Without the chameleon being hot on our trail.”

“Then let’s go, now!” Mirabel hurried over to Antonio’s room, and Dolores and Luisa followed.

But on the way there, they saw the very last person they wanted to see.

Camilo opened the door to his bed room and yawned. Blocking their way to Antonio’s room. “And just what do you girls think you’re doing?”

The granddaughters gulped. This was not good news.

“Camilo, it is frankly none of your business,” Dolores spoke up first. “Just let us pass and we can—“

“Oh, I don’t think so, my sweet sister!” Camilo cut off with a creepy giggle. “The three of you are up to something, and I am going to figure out what it is.”

“Cami—“

“Oh wait!” Camilo interrupted Luisa. “I already know what it is! You three are trying to plan a birthday surprise for Tia Julieta, Mami, and Tío Bruno. And apparently Antonio is in on your little plan. Well, rest assured that you won’t get away with it that easily. Once the triplets find out about what you’re trying to do, the birthday surprise will be ruined! And you’ll all have made fools of yourselves! Isn’t that right?”

“Why are you even trying to do this?” Mirabel demanded. “Why can’t we plan something for the triplets? What is your problem? What does it cost you?”

“Why am I trying to do this, mi querida primita? Because I can, that’s why! Because it’s fun!” Camilo laughed. “Seriously, why else would I do it? Although maybe if you had included me in your plan we wouldn’t—no, you wouldn’t—be in this situation!”

“This is literally why we didn’t include you, Cami!” Mirabel groaned, facepalming. Unfortunately, the hand she used to attempt a facepalm was the one behind her back, with Antonio’s wrapper in it.

Oh no.

“What’s that? Gift wrap?” Camilo reached to snatch it, but Mirabel quickly put it behind her back.

Camilo circled the three of them like a hawk as the girls awkwardly rotated so that they were facing him. It got to the point where they had to hide the wrappers under the bottom of their dresses.

Except for Luisa, as Camilo snatched Julieta’s birthday present wrapper from her hands.

“Hey!” Luisa angrily growled.

“Ha!” Camilo laughed out loud at the girls’ angry, disappointed faces. “It’s mine now! Sorry you don’t have anything to wrap your gifts in, what a disappointment! But it’s not like I care!”

Dolores pushed Camilo aside and forced open Antonio’s door, not even bothering to knock like she always did. Mirabel and Luisa glared at Camilo as they followed their dear older prima.

“Antonio, come quick!” Dolores said, not knowing where Antonio was in the jungle that was his room.

But before she could step in, Antonio came out riding a Jaguar, with armadillos surrounding him and Parce. “I got the birthday card!” Then his smile disappeared as he noticed his older brother giving him a shit-eating grin. “Oh no.” Awkwardly, he was about to hid the gift behind his back, before Camilo snatched that from him too. “Camilo, no!” Antonio cried.

“Camilo yes!” Camilo shot back. “Sorry not sorry, hombrecito, but this is my birthday card now!” Camilo couldn’t wait! It was a good thing the others hadn’t signed the card yet, aside from Antonio who had signed it in pencil because he was too little to use pen, because now he could put his name! All he had to do was erase Antonio’s and replace it with Camilo! Yes, this was all going perfectly as planned.

“Well, I love you all, but I have a gift to go make. And I know it’ll be much better than all of your gifts combined. Later!” He ran away.

Everyone blinked, unmoving for a second.

“Oh no,” Mirabel lamented. “What are we gonna do?”

Luckily, Antonio had the answer. Climbing back onto Parce’s back, he pointed at Camilo.

“Charge!!!”

Parce roared, and made a beeline(or a jaguar line, if you will) towards Camilo, the girls screaming angrily at Camilo as they joined him(Dolores covering her ears as she screamed along).

“CAMILO! GIVE IT BACK!” Luisa roared.

“Camilo, don’t you dare go into my room!” Mirabel commanded. She knew this boy like the back of her hand. The rest of the gifts were in there, wrapped and set to be presented to the triplets on their birthday. Camilo was probably going to use the wrapping paper to wrap his own gifts. If not pass off the girls’ gifts as his own. And with the birthday card, who would know otherwise?

Being the second oldest and the most reasonable, Dolores instantly took to calling the shots. “Antonio! Try to sneak up on him!” She whispered in her youngest brother’s ear. Antonio sped off. Luisa was about to join him.

But that’s when someone else got in their way. Abuela came out of her room and stopped the trio in their tracks.

“Hello, mis nietas,” Alma folded her hands formally. “I’m so sorry to bother you now, but I really need help trying to plan a birthday gift for mis hijos. Care to lend a hand?”

Dolores, Luisa, and Mirabel blinked awkwardly, twiddling their thumbs as they looked past them to Camilo, Antonio, and Parce, begging internally for Alma to get out of their way so that they could finally stop Camilo from ruining the surprise for everyone!

Isabela saw what was happening from below. Gasping in horror, she knew exactly what to do.

Spontaneously sprouting figs from the floor underneath Camilo’s feet, she caused him to gasp in shock as he tripped, tumbling and trying his hardest not to fall, but that wasn’t enough as he got back on his feet. The figs rolled behind him and strategically around the granddaughters, Antonio, Parce, and Abuela, leaving them out of harm’s way.

Alma looked down, raising her dress as she watched the figs roll. “What in God’s name—?”

That’s when Isabela noticed Antonio slowly rising to his feet on the jaguar’s back, eyes dead-set on Camilo and ready to pounce like the animals he learned from.

Isabela saw this as an opportunity. With quick thinking, she summoned a vine that attached itself to the ceiling. It was now or never.

Dolores saw the vine, and instantly has the same thought as Isabela did. The primas-hermanas were like twins, and their mental link was out of this world, something that no one could match.

“Antonio!” She called out over Abuela’s shoulder. “Swing!”

Abuela blinked. Then looked behind her.

Antonio didn’t need to be told twice! He grabbed hold of the vine and propelled himself, like Tarzan, over to the target. With a war cry, he landed himself on Camilo’s shoulders, forcing the older boy to give Antonio a piggy back ride.

Camilo glared up at Antonio as Antonio tried to snatch the birthday card from his hands.

“Stop this nonsense, Antonio!” Camilo growled. “Just let me have the card.”

“Never!” Antonio protested.

“Boys!” Alma stomped over to her grandsons. “Stop this madness at once.”

“Please!” Camilo begged with tearful eyes, before his expression grew irate. “I am your older brother. You MUST do as I say!”

“Not this time!” Antonio tried to lean over Camilo’s loose curls and grab the card. Suddenly a Venus Fly Trap gripped hold of Camilo’s left wrist. Once again, he cried out in pain as he knew who was responsible for this predicament.

As he tried to wrestle himself free, a thick, low vine, almost easy to miss, grew at his feet, tripping him by the ankles as he toppled, Antonio hollering in fear. Not to worry though, as a pile of pink roses showed up to cushion him from the rough ground.

Antonio continued to wrestle the card from Camilo’s hands, whining as he did so, Camilo holding the card in the air as he grinned down at his little brother.

And that’s when Antonio started to cry. Loudly. So loudly that Dolores had to cover her ears. Luisa comforted her as they and Mirabel made their way over to the grandsons and Alma.

Mirabel pointed angrily at Camilo, who was instantly apologetic of his actions, and glanced up at Alma in cowering fear, desperate to prove himself innocent. “You…” she uttered in a low, gravelly tone. “Will…pay.”

“What on earth do you boys think you’re doing?” Alma glowered at the two from above. “Am I raising civilized young men? Or am I raising a zoo?”

Mirabel walked past Abuela, and glared at Camilo. Somehow, that scared her older male cousin more than Abuela’s reprimanding did. Antonio got the hint and moved out of the way, even though he still didn’t have the birthday card. And Mirabel realized…Camilo was still holding it.

“Camilo…GIVE ME THE CAAAAARD!” Mirabel leapt, pouncing at Camilo, as she took her turn in the ring with him, wrestling him for the card, Camilo squealing in pain and in protest. Alma merely rubbed her temple.

“I am getting too old for this…” she murmured. “And I’m sure my Pedro would agree.” She turned on her heels and walked away. “Make sure you clean up this mess.”

Between Antonio’s crying, Mirabel’s hollering angrily at Camilo, and Camilo’s moaning and groaning in pain as he tried to force Mirabel off of him while still keeping the card, it was all too much noise for Dolores to take.

“SHUT UP AND GIVE HER THE CARD!” Dolores yelled.

And she wasn’t the only one who couldn’t take it.

The door to Bruno’s room opened. “Is everything all right out here…oh.”

What Bruno saw was a complete and utter spectacle. Antonio crying at the top of his lungs like the toddler he was, Dolores’ ears being drowned in Antonio’s wails as she covered her ears, Luisa hugging her and patting her head, Mirabel trying to knock Camilo’s lights out as she tried to force something out of his hands, the two roughhousing in a pile of pink roses that could only be Isabela’s creation. And a Venus Fly Trap that snapped at Camilo threateningly. Bruno blinked, the others looking up at him in shock, Camilo smiling with glee.

Mirabel snatched the card from him and stood up, making her way to stand beside Dolores and Luisa with her hands behind her back.

“Wh—what is going on?”

Camilo sprang up. “They were doing—“

“Rehearsal for a play.”

Everyone turned to look at Isabela, who had swooped in on a vine from downstairs to stand next to Camilo.

Camilo glared at Isabela.

Bruno’s eyes lit up. “Ooh! A play! Que interesante, what kind of play?”

“Well, it’s a really exciting story, filled with adventure, danger, and suspense,” Isabela explained. “Camilo is the villain, you see.” She ruffled Camilo’s hair, and he glowered. “A pretty but daft young fellow lacking in all manners of cleverness or good judgement. At least that’s what he lets people believe so as to get away with his acts of thievery.”

“Woah!” Bruno exclaimed, clearly impressed.

“He only steals from the rich, so as to make a fortune for himself. But he’s so sneaky and manipulative that he gets off the hook all the time. Or almost all the time.”

“Seriously?” Camilo grumbled to her quietly.

“Yes, seriously,” Isabela whispered back, using Camilo’s head as an armrest.

“But Tío, you don’t understand,” Camilo proclaimed, desperate for the girls and Antonio to be caught in the act. “Do you know what Dolores, Mirabel, and Luisa were doing??? They were chasing me because—“

“Because they, along with me, are the heroines of the story,” Isabela cut off, flipping her long raven tresses. “Wealthy, cultured Spanish aristocrats by day, fearsome and brave fighters by night. Nobody would guess it from us elegant noblewomen, but the truth is we work as spies for the king and our job is to assassinate crooks and scoundrels. With Camilo being our current target.”

“And I’m guessing Antonio’s the king?” Bruno looked down affectionately at his youngest nephew.

“You’re right!” Isabela chirped, realizing that Bruno was making this all too easy. “We have to assassinate Camilo and bring him back to King Antonio, otherwise—“

“MY JAGUAR WILL EAT THEM!” Antonio roared. “Oops, sorry Dolores.”

“Yeah.” Isabela was sweating glands.

“Oh!” Bruno was not expecting that turn of events. “Well, hope you catch the criminal soon, if you don’t wanna be Parce’s dinner.”

Isabela laughed, the granddaughters and Antonio giggling along. “Oh, don’t worry, we won’t. Because after all—“

“DOLORES ISABELA LUISA MIRABEL AND ANTONIO ARE PLANNING A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE FOR YOU MAMI AND TÍA JULIETA!!!” Camilo yelled at rapid fire speed, slapping Isabela’s arm away.

That was when Pepa and Julieta came out.

Mirabel groaned. “All our plans were for nothing,” she grumbled, crossing her arms and stomping her feet petulantly.

“A birthday surprise?” Julieta said, eyes aglow. “You’d really do that for us?” She gasped.

“So that’s why Isabela wanted to use the kitchen?” Pepa asked. “Will there be cake?”

The grandkids—minus Camilo, who looked quite satisfied with himself—were silent and longing for death to take them as they shifted awkwardly and glanced at each other worriedly. Even Parce looked downcast as he let out a feline whimper.

Then at last, Mirabel spoke up.

“No, it’s nothing like that,” she confessed. “I mean, obviously there will be cake. Every birthday party has cake.”

“Mira!” Dolores hissed.

“Umm,” Mirabel stammered awkwardly. “Bht the real surprise is the…play…that Isabela and Antonio were just telling you about.”

“I can’t wait!” Bruno cheered, clapping his hands. “Well, I don’t want it to be spoiled for me. I want to see how it ends, and if the spies will get eaten by the king’s mighty jaguar.”

Parce licked his lips ferociously.

“Well, let’s go back inside, mis hermanas,” Bruno said as he ushered his sisters gently back inside his room. “Give the grandkids time to practice.”

“But they have to do it quietly!” Pepa said as she snowed.

“Yes, that’s right, quietly, yhear?”

“Yes, Tío Bruno,” they all said, even Camilo.

“Great!” Bruno waved. “Can’t wait for the show, bye!”

Then he locked the door behind him.

“Phew,” Mirabel wiped an eyebrow as Isabela collapsed into a giant sunflower which she used as a chair. “That went well, don’t ya think?”

“Yeah,” Dolores said. “Let’s get out of here.” She glared at Camilo. “And you,” she told him. “Don’t even think about following us.”

Then she left, her arms on each of Luisa’s and Mirabel’s backs as they too walked away with her.

“Guess you failed after all, Camilo,” Isabela said to Camilo’s downcast face, smirking as she did so. “Wait for us!” Isabela ran after her sisters, Antonio following on Parce.

“Bye big brother!” Antonio said before Parce sped off.

Camilo watched them leave silently, tears stinging at his eyes.

Only Dolores heard him cry. But she couldn’t care less.

💙💛💚

“I can’t believe that metiche tried to ruin our birthday surprise!” Mirabel snarled, pacing back and forth in Dolores’ room as she who owned the room, along with Luisa and Isabela, sat down on her bed, wrapping their gifts. Dolores was in the middle, with Isabela on her left and Luisa on her right. “Just who does he think he is? ‘Oh girls, don’t even think of doing anything good for the triplets! I’m gonna ruin it like I always do!’” She picked up the card which was on Dolores’ nightstand. “And it’s torn!” She huffed. “Can we even give them this?”

“Of course!” Dolores said as she finished wrapping Pepa’s gift with the correct paper, which was yellow with thunderclouds shooting lightning on them. “There’s nothing a little tape won’t fix. I don’t think they’ll be upset at it not being perfect. That’s something our family needed to learn, after all.”

Mirabel sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. But I’m just so mad at Camilo.”

“So am I,” Isabela agreed, sharing Mirabel’s uncharacteristically grouchy expression.

“Ay Ay Ay, when I find that little punk, I’m gonna—hrrrggh!” She made clenching motions with her hands. “He almost hurt Toñito too and he didn’t even care. What if Isabela hadn’t made the flowers?!” Mirabel bent down to Antonio’s side and cupped his face in her hands. “Ay, Toñito, are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Antonio said, rubbing his nose.

Mirabel smiled. “Oh, I’m glad.” She wrapped Antonio in a hug. Antonio returned it. Isabela smiled at this. Though not as emotional, sometimes Mirabel could take after her Tia Pepa in alarming ways.

“Thanks, Mira,” Antonio said. “And thanks for saving me, Isa.”

“No problem,” the sisters chirped in unison.

“Now, let’s sign the birthday card.” Mirabel opened the card and placed in on the nightstand. “Isabela, you get to sign first, since you’re the oldest.”

“Okay,” Isabela said. She signed the card in delicate cursive. Dolores followed in her own cute handwriting, then Luisa in round, bubbly letters, then Mirabel, who didn’t forget the hearts over her i’s.

The girls were astonished when they heard someone knock on the door.

“I’ll go see who it is,” Dolores said, walking towards the door.

But the moment she saw who it was, she slammed the door shut in his face.

“What’s Camilo doing here?” Luisa demanded. “Hasn’t he caused enough trouble for us all?”

The door knocked again.

Dolores opened the door. “Look, stop trying to come in. We are not letting you in! You already tried to spoil the surprise for us. You really think we trust you?! Go away, Camilo!”

“I just wanna talk,” Camilo uttered barely above a whisper, before a large cactus grew between them, forcing Camilo to take a large step back.

Isabela stormed over to the door. “Excuse me, prima-hermana,” she said gently, Dolores stepping aside so that Camilo was forced to really feel Isabela’s wrath. “What part of GO AWAY do you not understand? Listen to your older sister and leave! Now!”

“But—“

“I do NOT wanna see you and neither do the rest of us, you untrustworthy brat!”

“Please!” Camilo begged. “I just wanna say that I’m sorry!”

Isabela snorted. “Sorry for what?!”

“Sorry for…everything. I just…I’m sorry.”

Luisa and Mirabel approached just then, Mirabel carrying Antonio.

“Why didn’t you just plan your own birthday surprise?” Luisa asked genuinely. “Why did you have to ruin others’?”

“Yeah, make your own gift next time,” Mirabel said, still vexed at Camilo but lacking the adrenaline to yell and rant at him again.

Camilo sighed, fiddling with his ruana. “I don’t have a gift, all right?” he finally spat out. “I don’t have one! I procrastinated and now there are three days left until the triplets’ birthday reunion and I have nothing to show for it!” Despite the crack in his voice, Camilo went on. “It’s just that, when you girls started planning the birthday surprise without me I felt left out. So I tried to take your presents and pass them off as my own instead of buying a gift by myself. But now—“

Mirabel snorted. “Did it ever occur to you that we wouldn’t have gifts either, tonto?” She sneered. “Get real.”

Camilo resisted the urge to say “you don’t have a gift either, Mirabel.” He frowned. “But now I realize that was wrong. And I apologize.”

He looked down at the floor as his tears dropped onto his sandals.

“I’m sorry.”

“We forgive you, Camilo,” Dolores said graciously. “But we’re still not letting you in on our birthday surprise. You betrayed our trust, and that isn’t okay.”

Camilo hiccuped and nodded.

“And quit crying please. It’s getting annoying.” Dolores sighed. Camilo wiped his face with his hands. “Look, we may not want to help you. But maybe Abuela will.”

“Why would Abuela want to help me?” Camilo asked flatly.

“Ask her and you’ll see.”

“Oh okay.”

“I think you should leave now,” Luisa said.

“I agree,” Isabela said. “You should.”

“Bye, Camilo,” Mirabel said.

“Bye,” Camilo said, walking away. The girls went back inside, closing the door behind them.

“Now, where were we?” Dolores said to the rest of the grandkids. They decided not to give Camilo the time of day.

“Wait, I just realized something!” Isabela pointed out.

“What?” Mirabel asked as they all looked at the eldest granddaughter.

“Tío Bruno genuinely thinks we’re putting on a play on their birthday. Even though it’s not a surprise anymore, that’s what he thinks!”

The girls took a while to process this fact, before realizing that Isabela was right.

“Oh no,” Dolores said, her face matching Mirabel’s expression of dread. “Just great. Now we’re gonna have to tell Tío Bruno that the play was a cover-up all along.”

But Isabela shook her head. “Not so. We can still put on the play! Do we really want to disappoint him?”

“Of course not,” Mirabel said. “But we only have three days? How are we going to plan it?”

“Three days is more than enough time to put on a play if you know what you’re doing!” Isabela retorted.

“But we don’t have costumes!” Luisa protested.

“I’m sure Mirabel has something extravagant that we can wear,” Isabela said. “And even if not, who needs costumes when you pull off a convincing performance?”

“But what about our lines?” Dolores asked.

“That won’t be hard!” Isabela explained. “And you’re the best at writing out of all of us. You could be the director and tell us what to say.”

The girls all considered it. “Hmm, it seems like a good idea,” Mirabel quipped. “What do you all say?”

“I’m in!” Antonio chirped.

“Well, if Antonio’s in, then I guess I’m in too,” Luisa shrugged.

“And if Luisa’s in, then I guess you can count me in as well,” Dolores agreed.

“Great!” Isabela hugged her prima-hermana! “Oh, this is gonna go excellently! And I think this the only birthday surprise that Camilo will get to be in on.”

“Oh, brother,” Mirabel groaned.

💙💛💚

Camilo hesitated, then knocked on the door to Abuela’s room.

“Come in,” said a seemingly sweet voice, but Camilo was still afraid. What if this voice meant trouble for him?

He opened the door to see Alma sitting on her bed, writing something down in a book.

“H-hi Abuela,” Camilo said, hesitating.

“Hello, well, if it isn’t my lovely grandson!” She patted the seat next to her. “Have a seat.”

Camilo hesitantly sat down next to Alma, who smiled generously at him. The smile reminded him of Isabela’s smile, but rather than putting him at ease(not that Isabela’s smile put him at ease either), it disturbed him. Why was she being so nice?

“Abuela…I’m sorry about what I’ve done and I’m sorry for behaving like…umm…an animal in a zoo. Please forgive me.”

“It’s all right, son. I was young and crazy once too!” Abuela giggled. “Anyway, what did you need?”

“A gift for Mami, Tia, and Bruno,” Camilo said, getting straight to the point. “But I don’t have any. Dolores said I could come to you for help. So can you help me?”

“Oh, well, what a coincidence, I don’t have one either.” Alma closed her eyes sadly as she lowered her head.

“You don’t?” Camilo gasped. “But you’re their—”

“Their mother. Yes. I know. But I have been so distracted lately that it just slipped my mind until the last minute. Or perhaps my age is failing me. Either way, I have failed to come up with a present to bestow upon my marvelous children, especially Bruno, who will be celebrating his birthday with us for the first time in ten years.” She buried her head in her hands. “I know things can’t always be perfect, I know that now, but I’m a failure of a mother.”

“No, you’re lovely at being a mother, Abuela. Listen to me! Eurgh, this is so weird. Look, I’m sure the triplets would tell you you’re a great mother. After all, where do you think your daughters learned to be such great mothers from?”

“I suppose you are right.” Alma smiled again at Camilo. And this time Camilo felt at ease.

“How about we plan a surprise for them together? And only the two of us have to be in on it?” Camilo whispered.

“I say that’s a marvelous idea!” Abuela hugged her grandson tightly. “Oh, ¡mi nieto es tan inteligente!”

“Awesome!” Camilo squealed. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of something.”

“I’m glad,” Alma laughed. “Well, shall we start thinking about it now?”

“Sure!” Camilo agreed. “What are you writing?”

The two of them got to work writing down gift ideas for the triplets. And while they were doing so, it suddenly occurred to Camilo that he never knew what gift his siblings and cousins were planning.

But he found that didn’t matter. He had his own birthday surprise to share with Alma.

💙💛💚

It was early in the morning, right after breakfast, that Isabela kidnapped Camilo using her vines.

“Ow!” Camilo hissed as he felt the pain jolt through his system. “Why, Isa? Why?”

“Shhh!” Isabela shushed. “Look, come with us! You wanna be part of our secret, right? Well now you’re part of the secret!”

“I don’t wanna be part of your secret anymore, Isa,” Camilo grunted. “I’m already part of another secret that you’ll never get to know. So there.” He stuck out his tongue.

“Well too bad. Because you’re part of the secret now.” With her vines, Isabela dragged Camilo into Dolores’ room and slammed the door.

Camilo looked around to see the rest of his cousins, his brother, and his sister. Dolores was sitting on her bed writing something on a stapled sheet of paper. Luisa was sitting next to her on her left and looking over her shoulder. Mirabel was on the floor, sorting through a bag. Antonio was trying on a costume that looked quite regal on him.

“The end!” Dolores said declaratively as she finished writing.

“Yay!” Luisa clapped her hands.

“Can I see?” Isabela walked towards Dolores and Luisa.

“Sure!” Dolores said, giving Isabela the paper to take.

Isabela walked over to Camilo and shoved the paper in his face. “This is the play we’re putting on for the triplets tomorrow. It’s called ‘Las Cuatro Hermanas y El Ladrón’. And the good news is that you get to be a part of it!”

“I don’t follow.”

“Remember the play I claimed we were rehearsing for yesterday? That’s what we’re going to do—“

“Oh HELL no!” Camilo turned on his heel and walked away. “I am not doing that!” He reached for the doorknob.

“Yes you are!” A sundew sprouted on the knob, and Camilo shrieked, pulling his hand back. “You have to! I already told Tío Bruno that you are the villain. And we can’t let him down! Besides, aren’t you a theatre kid? This is your chance to truly shine!”

“But you came up with that to make me look bad!” Camilo exclaimed. “Why can’t I play the leading role?”

“Because the leading role is a female role, Cami.”

“So? I can play a lady!” And just to prove it, Camilo shapeshifted into Isabela.

“But you’re not one. You’re playing the villain, and that’s final.”

Camilo shapeshifted back. “Can’t Mirabel and I change roles?”

“No. Here is the script, this is what you have to remember for the play.”

Camilo flipped through the script, annoyed. “This is so blatantly done last-minute, it’s saddening.”

“No duh, chico. But Dolores was the main writer, and she’s pretty talented and coming up with things rinitis on the spot. The rest of us still helped though, Mirabel and I came up with the songs, for instance, and Luisa did the fight scenes. And with you onstage with us, you’ll be able to help her vision come to life. Doesn’t that sound fun and exciting?”

“It sounds like one of Tio’s rat telenovelas.” Camilo grumbled.

“Well, whatever. Anyway, Mirabel already chose a costume for you.”

Mirabel pulled out a black ruana and matching mask, a shirt that looked just like Camilo’s, but deep magenta, and black shoes.

Camilo took a step back. “I am NOT wearing that. That looks embarrassing!”

“Come on, just say you’ll agree.” Isabela gestured to their little brother and cousin. “Antonio looks so happy in his outfit.”

Antonio twirled around in his regal cape and golden flower crown that Isabela had made for him. “I’m the king, Mira! Look at me!”

“Yes you are! Oh, and here’s your outfit, Dolores,” Mirabel said, handing Dolores an elegant red dress with gold and pink heart-shaped trim. “Fit for a princess.”

“Where did you get those?” Camilo demanded.

“From my closet,” Mirabel said. “Also from Dolores’ and my sisters’ closets. I just…did my magic on them to make them look really royal. Although I’m not finished yet. The king outfit however I stole from a trunk in your bedroom.”

Camilo wanted to eat his face off. “From MY bedroom?! That’s for the little kids I babysit when they come over, Mira! Why? How could you?”

“Sorry,” Mirabel shrugged, clearly not sorry. “But you tried to go into my room first. And besides, I did what needed to be done.”

“Camilo,” Dolores said. “Would you like me to paint your nails black for you to really complete your evil look? You’d look delightfully malicious.”

“No.”

“He’s lying, he would love to.” Isabela dragged Camilo’s body over to Dolores’ chair. “Sit down Camilo and let Dolores get to work.”

“Fine,” Camilo said, but only because he liked when Dolores did his nails. He had ever since he was a little kid. It was a fun way of brother-sister bonding even if most boys didn’t get their nails painted. Just like most boys didn’t play dress up with their older sisters. But Camilo didn’t care. He had found it fun.

He took a deep breath. Maybe this performance wouldn’t be as bad after all.

💙💛💚

Later that noon, the grandkids were all practicing the last-minute play for the triplets in Isabela’s room, which was by far the most spacious with the widest and clearest area to rehearse in. And most of them were having a good time.

“Wait, I just realized. Why do I have to die at the end?”

“Because you’re the villain, and that’s what villains do,” Isabela replied. “The villains die and the heroines triumph. That’s how it’s always been, since the beginning of time. And that’s how it will be, till the end of times.”

“Whatever,” Camilo said.

“I’m confused,” Mirabel said, walking up to Isabela. “When Dolores says this part, am I supposed to look up and run away, or am I supposed to run away and look up?”

“Either way is fine,” Isabela said. “You just have to wait for my signal before leaping up and grabbing the vine that I will send down to swing on.”

“Oh, I get it now. Okay!” Mirabel shot her a thumbs up.

“Let’s get into position!” Dolores shouted. “And action!”

“Go, Camilo, go!” Isabela shoved the sack of cotton in Camilo’s hands and ran away, Camilo running on “stage” as Isabela followed him.

“Stop right there, Carlos!” Isabela shouted as she pointed at Camilo. Then she grew a circle of cactuses around him, Camilo stopping dead in his tracks. “That money belongs to my family’s estate. I demand you give it back! Otherwise I shall have you hanged for your crimes!”

“We’ll see about that, Doña Ines!” Carlos sneered. “The truth is, you snobby members of the upper class have it too easy. You were born with a silver spoon in your mouth. Everything was handed to you, and not a thing was earned. If a lowly being like me wants to make his way in life, the only way to do it is to steal from the rich folk, such as yourself! Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same if you were in my position.”

“I am nothing like you, you unscrupulous knave!” Ines fired back. “Do as I say, for I am of noble birth. Hand over the money at once, or—“

The door opened. “Camilo?”

“GET OUT!” All the granddaughters yelled at once.

“Nobody can see yet, it’s a surprise!” Mirabel exclaimed in protest as Alma came closer.

“Sorry, I gotta go, Alma and I agreed to go out.” Camilo pulled his hair out of its slick ponytail, shaking it left and right to revert it back to its original state. He then removed the mask.

“Go where?” Dolores asked suspiciously.

“Does it matter?” Camilo mocked. “It’s our surprise, not yours. Anyway, buh-bye.”

“Wait, Camilo, you still haven’t taken off your costume!” Luisa protested as Camilo ran out the door.

“Wait, Camilo, you have a musical number to sing!” Dolores called out.

“Camilo, you’d better not get it dirty!” Mirabel barked.

But Camilo wasn’t listening.

Mirabel sighed. “What do we do?”

Isabela turned to the director for instruction. “Should we just do the scene where the four of us report to the king?” she said.

“Sí. And then Mirabel and I will do our song and dance number for the scene where Luisa and Isabela get kidnapped by Camilo,” Dolores said.

“Perfect.” Isabela agreed.

“All right, places everybody!” Dolores commanded.

And so they set the scene.

Mariana, Ines, Lydia, and Lola curtsied before the king, their bodies trembling as they knew a reprimanding was exactly what they were in for.

“Have I not told you what is expected of you ladies?” The king gnarled, displeased with the women. “You are to bring back Carlos’ head. I don’t think that is too simple of an accomplishment. But if it is, let me know, so I can prepare a punishment for you.”

“It’s not that,” Ines, the oldest of her sisters, was the first to speak. “It’s just that—“

“I don’t want to hear excuses,” the king interrupted. “Have you slain Carlos?”

“N-no,” Lola said, “But I promise we are coming closer and closer to—“

“Enough!” The king rose from his throne, pointing his mighty scepter at the girls, and silence at once fell upon them. “I am getting impatient at this point. I trusted you ladies to deliver that…that…”

Dolores sighed. “Cut.”

Antonio scratched his head as he peered at his script. “What does this say?”

Dolores took the paper from him. “Vagabond.”

“Vaga…bond?”

“Yes.”

“What’s that?”

“You know, like a nomad?”

“What’s a nomad?”

“…Basically Camilo’s character wanders about without a job or a specific place to call home. He’s a homeless crook.”

“Oh.”

“Let’s start from the last line, and remember, it’s vagabond. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“Aaand action!”

“I trusted you ladies to bring that…vagabond…to justice! And you have failed!”

“We’re terribly sorry, your highness!” Lydia apologized. “Give us one more chance. We beg of thee!”

The king was getting restless and irate at this point. But he still had some faith in these women. So he sighed and relented. “I will give you two more days to find Carlos, slay him, and bring his head back to me.” He stroked his jaguar’s fur, and the sisters’ blood ran cold. “If during that time frame you fail to complete your task, you will be devoured whole by my jaguar here!”

Little Mariana gasped. “Please, your majesty! You couldn’t. You wouldn’t!” She cried out in desperation. She was too young to die! She would never see her true love Yamilet again if she did!

“I can and I will!” The king stroked his jaguar, which growled. “Mi amigo, show them I mean business.” The jaguar obeyed. Lunging at the girls, they took a step back and embraced each other in fear as the large predatory cat bore its fangs. “Am I clear?”

The sisters nodded.

“Am I clear?”

“Yes, your majesty!”

“Good. Out with thee, out, I say!”

Mariana collapsed in Lydia’s arms, weeping bitterly and relentlessly, as they walked away, Lola and Ines hugging each other as they also awaited what was sure to be their fate with doom.

“Whatever are we to do?” Mariana cried out.

“Fear not, hermanita,” Lydia comforted. “God is with us. We will catch that criminal. And when we do, he will not escape with his life a second time.”

“More like a third time,” Lola quipped.

“More like a seventh time,” Ines shook her head. “Really, it is a wonder we haven’t been executed yet.”

“But we will find a way. I am sure of it.” Lydia said, looking up at the sky.

Abuela and Camilo came back just when it was lunch time.

“Hola, Mama!” Pepa came running and wrapped her mother in a hug. “Welcome home. “You too Camilo!” She bent down to kiss his cheek.

“Hola Mama,” Camilo said, smiling at Pepa. “We just went to buy you a—“

Alma nudged him.

“Food for lunch.”

“Already taken care of, chico,” Julieta smiled at Camilo from the kitchen. “But thanks for your generosity.”

“Oh, okay.” Camilo pulled at Abuela’s arm. “Come on, Abuela, let’s go wrap!” he whispered.

He and Alma walked up the stairs, giggling to themselves as they talked in hushed whispers. Even Alma was excited for the triplets’ birthday.

“Umm, we will be back downstairs soon, mis amores. Set the table!”

Then they disappeared.

“I guess Camilo really did plan something with Abuela for the birthday reunion,” Dolores quipped emotionlessly.

“Well, that’s good for him, I guess,” Luisa said. “By the way, remember to tell him about the changes you made to the play.”

“Oh, I almost forgot. Yeah, you’re right. I’ll tell him at lunch,” Dolores said as she put Camilo’s plate right next to hers on the table.

💙💛💚

“Aaand that’s a wrap,” Dolores said as the scene ended. “Wow, that change went more smoothly than I anticipated. Great work everybody.”

The vines tying Isabela and Luisa unraveled, and they stood up.

“Has anyone ever told you that you make a really good villain, Camilo?” Isabela asked.

“I hope they never do,” Camilo murmured.

“Well, I’ll be the first to tell you!” Isabela chirped, pretending to be oblivious. “You make a really good villain, Camilo!”

“Of course you would think that,” Camilo murmured.

“I can’t wait for tomorrow when we can rehearse this play again!” Dolores cheered as she changed behind a room divider. “It’s going to be awesome and I’m sure they’ll love it!”

“I know they will,” Luisa agreed.

The next day was spent almost entirely practicing for the performance. In fact, the grandkids did nothing else but rehearse for “Las Cuatro Hermanas y El Ladrón” religiously every time they weren’t eating or taking a shower/bathroom break. The only other exception was when Camilo would run off to do something with Abuela, but there were plenty of scenes without him anyway.

“Are you done yet?” Dolores demanded as Camilo walked back in.

“Yup.” Camilo said.

“Did Abuela ask you why you were wearing that ridiculous outfit?” Mirabel asked with a smirk.

The girls giggled, even Antonio joining in, and Camilo rolled his eyes.

“Let’s get on with it,” Camilo said, and Dolores laughed, wiping a tear from her right eye as she dragged Camilo by the forearm into his place.

And so they continued to practice the play. As Isabela and Luisa slept, Camilo kidnapped them in their sleep.

Before they knew it, the triplets’ birthday had arrived.

“Happy birthday, Tío!” Mirabel and Dolores, Bruno’s favorite sobrinas, said as they hugged him and kissed him on either side of their cheek.

“Aww, thank you both!” Bruno said with a laugh. He kissed Dolores on the cheek, then Mirabel.

Camilo and Luisa were hugging Julieta. “Happy birthday Mami!” Luisa sang.

“Happy birthday Tía.” Camilo snuggled his face into her shoulder as he hugged.

“Thank you, thank you so much!” Julieta replied. “I intend to have the best birthday possible today.”

“And you will!” Luisa chirped. “We promise!”

Isabela and Antonio were hugging Pepa. That is to say, Isabela was hugging Pepa, while Antonio was being held by Pepa.

“Feliz cumpleaños, Mami/Tía! Te amamos!”

“Awww, thank you thank you thank you! I love you both too!” She kissed them both on the cheek.

“Everyone, to the table! It is time for the birthday dinner!” Alma commanded.

The rest were happy to oblige as they sat at the table, the triplets sitting in chairs at the head did the table where Alma normally sat. The three of them next to each other with Bruno in the middle, as they should be.

“Except for you, Camilo,” Alma said as she smiled, taking Camilo gently by the hand as she ushered him into a private area. Camilo nodded, grinning from ear to ear, as he stuck out his tongue at Dolores and peeled at his lower eyelid, showing the pink.

Dolores only rolled her eyes, but she grinned. She was happy that Camilo was no longer antagonizing his siblings and cousins and was able to plan a birthday surprise with Abuela instead. She couldn’t wait to see what the gift would be.

“Cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos a tí, feliz cumpleaños a los trillizos, feliz cumpleaños a tí! Que los cumpla feliz, que los vuelva a cumplir, que los siga cumpliendo, hasta el año tres mil!”

“Hurry up and blow out the cake before I sneeze on it!” Mirabel urged, privy to imitate her uncle’s tricks.

The triplets didn’t need to be told twice. They blew out the cake, and everyone cheered.

“Never mind,” Mirabel said, rubbing her nose with a grin. Bruno smiled at her, realizing what she was trying to do.

They cut the cake—well, Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno did, each cutting the first three slices with Alma joining them—and before long, everybody else was eating cake too.

“So awesome!” Camilo said as he chewed with his mouth open. “Will there be seconds?”

“That’s for the birthday triplets to decide,” Alma replied with a friendly grin.

“Of course!” The triplets all affirmed in eerie unison.

After getting over the uneasiness, they all laughed.

Camilo laughed too, and turned to Mira. “Hey, Mira. Remember when it was Isabela and Dolores’ birthday and you got cake crumbs and frosting all over your hands and dress, and on the floor, and on Tía’s—“

“Stop.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Does that remind you of anything Camilo?” Isabela grinned mischievously at her cousin. “Anything you did a few days ago that you shouldn’t have? At an age when you should have known better?”

“He messed with the cake?” Bruno asked.

“Sure did!” Isabela said.

Pepa laughed. “It seems like something he would do.”

“But it’s okay, because this cake is really good!” Julieta complimented. And coming from a masterful cook like her, it certainly was a compliment.

The granddaughters beamed with praise, as Dolores added. “You think so? Thanks! All four of us made it while you three were out! Hmm!”

“That’s right, we did!” Luisa added. “And it certainly is a masterpiece.”

“It tastes like one, too!” Bruno praised.

Later, after they had all had their fair share of cake and decided to pack some away for later, it was time for the triplets to unwrap the gifts.

“Are we ready for gifts now?” Bruno asked.

“Oh, I am!” Mirabel picked up her gift, which was for Julieta, and bounced up and down on both feet. “Eek! I can’t wait for you to see what gifts we have!”

“I had too much cake,” Camilo lamented, wiping his forehead. “I can almost feel the frosting pouring from my eyelids like tears.”

“Me too,” Isabela agreed.

“So, whose gifts should we open first?” Julieta asked.

“Here, Mami, open yours first!” Mirabel shoved the blue-wrapped gift in her hands before she could refuse.

Julieta giggled. “Well, I suppose I will.”

Julieta opened the wrapper, and Mirabel moved to stand by Camilo’s side, between him and Luisa. She crossed her arms and smirked at him.

“Now you’ll finally get to see what we got for the triplets,” she sneered.

Camilo ignored her, although don’t think she didn’t hear him huff slightly. And that’s when Mirabel knew that she had won. She chuckled and bumped his hip with hers.

Julieta gasped in joy. Her gift was a new pair of shoes, they were blue like her regular shoes, but they were a darker shade and much more beautiful. She had seen those shoes in the store for many days, but each time she asked for them, the store clerk merely shook her head and said that she was already saving them for someone else. Julieta was disappointed at first, but now she knew why.

“Oh, mis vidas…” was all Julieta could say.

“Do you like them, Mami?” Mirabel inquired.

“Like them, I love them!” Julieta wrapped Mirabel in a hug. As she was doing so, she extended a hand warmly for Luisa, Dolores, Isabela, and Antonio to join into the hug. “Thank you so much! Mwah!” She kissed each of their cute little heads.

Camilo moved towards the group hug, desperately longing to be a part of it, but Alma held him back with a firm grip on his shoulder.

“But Abuela, I want to get a hug too.”

“You’ll get a hug for your gift soon, querido,” Alma explained gently as Mirabel helped Julieta try on the shoes.

“Oh right!” Camilo beamed.

Luisa and Dolores were next to present Pepa with her gift.

Pepa opened it. It was a warm yellow blanket with cloud patterns on it. And behind each of those clouds was a pattern of a sun.

“This is wonderful!” Pepa wrapped it around her, snuggling in the blanket. “Now I’ll be nice and warm!”

“It’s for when you start raining or snowing especially,” Luisa informed her tia.

“Or hailing,” Dolores said, punctuating her add-on with a wince for emphasis. “Just because we don’t want you to get cold, shivery, and potentially hurt yourself or get yourself sick.”

“Awww, that is so sweet. And very smart of you children!” Pepa beamed.

“Wow, looks snuggly, I’m jealous.” Bruno scooted over to Pepa’s side, trying to warm his way in the blanket. “You know, there’s a saying that there are always two peas inside a pod. And maybe that means you and me could—“

“Shoo, Bruno!” Pepa resisted, shoving him off gently. The family laughed at this, Bruno pretending to look downhearted. “Only one woman fits inside my sheets. Although I second thought, you may be right…Felix, how would you like to—“

“Say no more, mi vida.” Felix snuggled under the blanket with Pepa and gave her a peck on the lips. The married couple was now warm and comfortable.

“Awwww!” Everyone but Camilo(who shielded his eyes and looked away) cooed.

“And finally, Bruno.”

Isabela placed the gift in Antonio’s hand. “Go on, hombrecito.”

“Eeee!” Antonio ran up to Bruno and handed him the wrapped gift. “Open it open it open it, Tío Bruno. Please please please please please?”

Bruno laughed. “Okay!” He took the gift and opened it. Inside it was a box. And inside the box were…tiny little costumes that not even Antonio could fit in.

“What are—“

Bruno gasped, cutting Camilo off. “Awww! These are for my rats! I love them!”

“It was Dolores’ idea,” Mirabel said, gesturing to her oldest cousin as Bruno wrapped Antonio and Isabela in hugs, once more carrying the youngest of he family.

Dolores smiled. “Yeah. I heard you lamenting that you no costumes for the rats to wear for your telenovelas! So I told Mirabel and we got to designing them together. And Mirabel ended up making them!”

“That is splendid!” Bruno gushed, admirably feeling the texture of the farmer’s wear, the princess dress, the cute little hats, it was all just so adorable and perfect. “This will be perfect for my shows!”

Dolores beamed as she started thinking about the show they were going to put on. She knew Bruno especially would appreciate it.

“And that’s not all!” Mirabel presented them with a card. “Open it!”

Julieta gasped. “You even made us a birthday card?”

“We sure did!” Mirabel beamed. “Now open it! Please!”

“All right, mi chica.” Julieta opened the card and read it aloud. “To the most wonderful set of triplets who ever walked the earth, nobody nurtures like Julieta’s warm words, Pepa’s smile is brighter than the sun, Bruno is a blessing to everyone. To the five of us, it is clear as day, you’re the most dynamic trio all the way! Signed, Isabela, Dolores, Luisa, Mirabel, y Antonio!’ Mis vidas, this is perfect.” Julieta smiled affectionately at the girls and Antonio.

Pepa wiped a tear from her eye. And more. And more. “You don’t know how happy this makes me!”

“Seriously, amores,” Bruno patted his chest. “I’m glad I’m seen as a blessing to this family.”

“Thank you!” They all said at once, bringing the grandkids in for a hug. Minus Camilo, who stood cross-armed next to Abuela.

“We forgot the card.” He sighed.

“Yes, but it’s okay,” Alma said as she rested a hand on his shoulder. “We still made up for it with our amazing presents. And I’m sure they’ll love them just as much.”

“I should have stolen their card while I had the chance.”

“You should have what?”

“Never mind.”

“Mijo, were you really going to—“

“Who’s next?” Bruno asked.

“Oh, that would be me and Abuela, who also bought good gifts to share with all of you.”

“That’s wonderful!” Julieta said.

“Thanks. Tía, you’re first, since you’re the oldest triplet.”

Abuela held out the gift for Julieta to take. “For mi hija.”

Julieta opened it. She gasped. “A trinket box?! For me?”

“Of course!” Alma said. “It was mi Camilo’s idea.”

“Yeah, Tía, because you always made such lovely trinket boxes for all of us, and yet you had none of your own. So we bought you this. Sorry we couldn’t make it, it was sorta last-min—I mean I’m not really gifted in that arena like you are.” Camilo scratched the back of his head, and Abuela stopped glaring at him and looked pleased.

“Well I love it!” Julieta said, opening her trinket box to admirably watch the little ballerina inside it twirl.

“And this one’s for Pepa,” Alma said, piking up another present and giving it to Camilo to give to his mother.

“Here ya go, Mami.”

Still wrapped in the blanket, with her beloved husband’s arm around her waist, she daintily unwrapped the gift.

Inside it was a snow globe.

“Shake it!” Alma and Camilo said in unison.

So she did.

“It’s lovely dears!” Pepa cooed as she wrapped her mother and son in a hug. “Thank you so much!”

Camilo had to resist the urge to squeal.

“And finally, Bruno,” Alma said, handing her son the gift.

Her grandson beamed, bouncing on his heels as he giggled. “I picked the best gift for you, Tío Bruno. We’re both theatre kids, so I thought you would love it!”

Bruno opened his gift. “A sketchbook?”

“Yeah!” Camilo chirped. “So that you can draw all of your ideas for your rat plays.”

Bruno scooped up Camilo in a hug, then extended a hand and dragged Alma to join in. “Thank you,” he wept.

“Relax Tío, you’re making me wet.”

“Sorry,” Bruno said.

“It’s cool just don’t use me as a living tissue next time.” Camilo smiled excitedly at Bruno.

“Camilo!” Abuela demanded. “Speak to your uncle with respect!”

“I-I—“

“It’s fine, mama,” Bruno said.

Agustin and Felix then joined in with their gifts. For Julieta they got her a cookbook(which Felix said his mom used to use), for Pepa they got her a portrait of herself(where she was dancing in the rain with grey clouds surrounding her in all her temperamental glory), and for Bruno they got him a new and cleaner ruana that actually fit him.

They got lots of hugs of course(and kisses from Pepa and Julieta).

“Now that we’ve done all that, do you know what it’s time for now?” Dolores asked.

“Music and dancing!” Alma proclaimed with her hands in the air. “Oh, it will be such a delight—“

“No,” Dolores cut off. “It’s time for our play!”

“The play!” Bruno remembered. “My, I forgot about the play! Well, let’s see it!”

“We’ll be doing it in my room, that’s where we’ve been practicing after all!” Isabela said.

They all went into Isabela’s room, the adults taking seats in the fancy pink flowery chairs that Isabela had set up for them.

“Wow, it’s like a real theatre!” Bruno whispered to Pepa.

“I know, tell me about it,” Pepa whispered back. “They really went all out for this, I just know it’ll be good!”

“And to think they did it all in only three days!” Julieta agreed. “I’m just prepared to he impressed.”

Meanwhile—

“Come on!” Dolores commanded as she ushered everyone around “backstage”. “Hurry up and put on your costumes.”

Mirabel twirled around in her dress. “I never cease to amaze me.”

Camilo admired himself in the mirror. “My hair looks so good in a ponytail!”

“Thanks for helping me, Luisa!” Isabela said as Luisa helped her tie the bow around her dress from behind.

“No problem,” Luisa replied, and then Isabela helped her with her hair.

“Now we look like real aristocrats!” Isabela said.

Meanwhile, Dolores helped Antonio into his own costume. “All right, i think we’re all set—wait, wheres your crown?”

Antonio felt his curls. Then panicked. “I can’t be a king without my crown!” His eyes watered and he started to sniffle.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Isabela, we need another flower crown.”

“Right on it, sister!” Isabela said as she created a new flower crown for Antonio. One with white lilies and yellow roses. “This one’s even prettier than the last one, if I do say so myself.”

“Yeah!” Antonio cheered, hugging Isabela. “Thank you, prima!”

“You’re very welcome, chico,” Isabela said as she kissed him on the forehead. He giggled and kissed her back on the nose, making her giggle too.

“Did you just—“

“All right, that’s enough, we don’t have time for sentimentalities! Let’s get in places! And remember, Ines, you have the introduction to do!” Dolores commanded.

Isabela nodded.

“Go go go!”

The sky around them dulled, as the room slowly grew dark. Pink flower vines used as curtains were opened slightly for Isabela to stop out and address the audience. A single pink spotlight was shining on her.

“Aww,” Bruno whispered before being silenced by Felix. “Sorry.” Felix nodded.

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is with great pleasure that I present to you all the play that me and my sisters and cousins have been rehearsing for the last three days. I hope you all find this very enjoyable, because we worked very hard on it with the short time span we have had to practice. This is a story of love and death, of joy and sadness, of tribulation and tragedy, of fierce warrior women, brave kings, and rugged scoundrels. Welcome, to the Madrigal grandkids’ first production, which of course was my idea. ‘Las Cuatro Hermanas y El Ladrón”!

The audience of six whooped and cheered, before the curtains parted and the play officially begun.

“Long long ago,” Isabela narrated, “in the faraway country of Spain, there lived a happy couple with lots of money and status, but none of that money compared—“ Isabela placed both hands over her heart and sighed. “—to the passionate love they felt for each other. Their names were Don Agus y Doña Juliana. And at the center of this story are their four lovely and noble daughters. The eldest, Ines…that’s me, the second eldest, Lola, though not theirs by blood, was taken in and loved by them all the same, and the two youngest, Lydia and little Mariana.”

The other three daughters came on stage and began dancing together as Isabela continued to narrate.

“They lived a lavish and charmed life, never happier than when in one another’s company, and not a force in the world could bring them apart, not even a man’s love. They were the quintessential picture of elegance, grace, and poise. However, there was a secret about them that nobody, not even their parents, knew. It happened the same way it did any other day. The king’s messenger came to them on horse and told them to come to his palace at once. There, they would be informed of what task they were to accomplish.”

The four ladies curtsied in front of the king as was customary to, and waited for the king to lay out their mission.

“This is a very important task, and I expect you not to mess it up,” King Antonio instructed.

“We won’t let you down, sire,” Mariana said.

“I hope not, because this is a man too dangerous to be left alive.”

Bruno leaned over in his seat towards Pepa. “Hey hermana, this is actually good!”

“I know right?” Pepa hissed back. “And the best part is, it’s like an actual play you’d seen in a theatre!”

“Yeah, I can tell they went all out even though—“

“Shhh!” Felix hissed again. “You’re gonna miss important stuff!”

“Sorry,” the younger two triplets both said at the same time.

“I want you to find the man that fits that description, kill him, and bring his head back to me!” The king demanded.

“Don’t worry, your highness,” Lola said. “We will!”

“We won’t let you down!” Lydia added on.

Throughout the entire production, the adults watched in sheer, unadulterated amazement as the grandchildren acted out their performance, from Carlos sparring with Ines and placing her in the very trap she set to capture him, to the sisters dancing at a fancy ball before Lola heard the sound of a painting being stolen off of the walls. It was all very amazing and impressive.

And then before they knew it, it was time for intermission.

Then the play returned.

Ines and Lydia woke from their deep sleep, looking at each other in confusion. Tight ropes were tied around them as they were lifted from their beds forcefully.

“Hermana, what is happening?” Isabela immediately fretted, trying to wrestle free from the vines, to no avail.

“My dear Ines, I fear that we may have been captured!” Lydia said, as she began to weep bitterly.

At this point, Ines started crying too, overcome with despair as Carlos carried them away. The two girls knew they were in deep danger, as Carlos was a cruel and vindictive man who would not hesitate to harm or even kill two lovely ladies such as them.

Carlos noticed their wailing, and before long, the two girls began crying for their remaining sisters.

“Lola! Mariana! Help! Please! We have been captured by that evil spirit Carlos! Please! You must free us!”

Carlos sighed, he didn’t have time for this. He took out a frying pan. “You two ladies make far too much noise.” He chuckled mischievously and grinned. “It’s time to go back to sleep. Goodnight.”

“Carlos, no, no! NOOOOO!!!” The girls pleaded, desperate for their lives to be spared.

But Carlos quickly silenced them. Whacking Ines on the head with the frying pan so hard that her eyes fluttered shut and she slipped into unconsciousness.

Lydia watched in horror as tears enveloped in her eyes. Before her attention turned to Carlos as she glared at him with the heat of a thousand suns. “You will not get away wi—“

CLANG! And just like that, poor, sweet Lydia was out cold as well.

Carlos grinned evilly at the two unconscious girls. Rubbing his hands together, he felt a twisted joy overtake him as he realized he was much closer to achieving his dreams. “Everything is going just according to plan,” he spoke aloud to himself. “With these two lives at mercy, Mariana and Lola will have no choice but to submit to my wants and make me the most powerful and wealthy man in ALL OF SPAIN! MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!” He laughed, a horrific and monstrous cackle, screeching wickedly into the moonlit sky.

Mariana and Lola were scared out of their wits at this point, but they nonetheless knew it had to be done. Only they could stop Carlos from inflicting further harm on their beloved sisters. And if they didn’t act, not only would their fortune be stolen from them, but they would be eaten by the king’s most trusted feline companion.

To be fair, with them gone, they wouldn’t have to see their fortune get stolen, but that was of no comfort to them as Carlos would still win. And they needed to stop that from happening.

It hurt them so to see Ines and Lydia tied up as they sat back to back on the floor behind the wicked man that had caused them so much misery and suffering. With a determined finger, Lola pointed angrily at Carlos.

“You will give us back our sisters, at once!”

Carlos grinned. “I will.”

Mariana gasped once more. “You will?”

“Why yes, of course, my little one,” Carlos grinned, and Mariana knew he was not at all being truthful. Carlos went on. “But only if you do one teensy little favor for me! Give over all your riches, all your money, all your most valuable possessions, to me! I want them all!”

“Never!” Lola roared.

“Never?” Carlos said. “Well, if that’s how it is…” Carlos grabbed hold of the captured girls, who began kicking and screaming, and dragged them over to the fire he had set up. “You can say your last goodbyes to your sisters right now! Because I will be placing their heads in the fire unless you do what I say!”

“No! NOOO! No!” Ines and Lydia screamed in desperation, sobbing relentlessly once more as the stench of death could be detected right under their noses, beckoning them closer and closer.

“Not a sound!” Carlos screeched at them to be quiet, but they didn’t listen.

“Please, Mariana and Lola!” Ines yelled. “Just do what he says!”

“We can’t!” Mariana responded. “Don’t you see? It’s a trap! We can’t give in to his temptations!”

“I’d rather do without my riches than without my sisters,” Lydia said with a smile, her facade of joy tarnished by her fearful desperation to live. “Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you rather the four of us all be together?”

Lola let out a heavy, shuddering exhale. “All right, Carlos. You want our riches?”

“I sure do!”

And that’s when Lola drew her sword. “Then you have to battle me for them!”

Carlos grinned. “Challenge accepted!” He pulled out his own sword.

The two fought each other with their swords, Lola coming closer and closer to overpowering Carlos. However, Carlos was not privy to give up that easily.

Meanwhile, Mariana rushed to unravel Ines and Lydia.

The three girls hugged each other, and kissed each other’s faces, overjoyed that their lives had finally been spared. Then they put out the flames.

As the battle progressed, Lola was getting increasingly weaker, and was running out of stamina.

“Aha! Not so fierce and tough now, are you princess?” Carlos grinned satanically. “Fear not, for I will pierce through your aching and trembling heart with my sword, seizing the win and putting you out of your misery!” He laughed. “Adios!”

“Now!” Mariana yelled.

And that’s when the jaguar leapt out of the bushes, pouncing on Carlos and saving Lola’s precious life, just as Carlos was about to slay her.

“Please!” Carlos pleaded pathetically. “Spare me, I beg of you!”

But the jaguar knew no mercy. Tearing at Carlos limb for limb, the beast of nature feasted on his delicious body, until it left nothing but skull, bones, and tattered fabric behind.

The girls ignored Carlos’ blood-curdling wails of pain and agony as he was made a delectable jaguar meal. When the deed was done, the girls rejoiced loudly.

“We are free!” Mariana cried out, leaping and hugging Lola.

“Yes, we are!” Lola proclaimed with joy, leaving a sloppy kiss on Mariana’s cheek. “We are free and Carlos is no more!”

“And the best part is that we won’t be eaten by the jaguar!” Ines added. “Mariana, Lola, you have no idea how thankful we are for your quick thinking, fierceness, and brilliance. If it wasn’t for you taking away the king’s jaguar, we would be at the mercy of Carlos, and perhaps not live to see another day!”

“Sí, the king will be so proud of us once he realizes we have been victorious!” Lydia agreed. “We’ll have rekindled his trust and faith in us. I can’t wait for him to receive the news.”

The four girls were joyful as they hugged and kissed not just each other, but their good friend the jaguar too. They went home, jolly and in good spirit, and spent the rest of the night up in Lola’s room, gossiping and chattering away quietly so that their parents wouldn’t be aware that they were awake.

They had never been as proud of themselves as they were in that moment.

The adults watched, stunned, as Isabela continued to narrate the ending of the play. “The girls were elated that they had defeated the wicked thief Carlos, and the king was pleased with them. Although he had been enraged at them at first for stealing his jaguar, he very quickly forgave them after seeing just how efficient they were at carrying out his tasks set out for them. And they bestowed upon him Carlos’ skull as a gift, and as proof that he was indeed slain. And so the girls went on, continuing to be good friends and close sisters, and lived happily ever after. The end.”

The audience clapped as the characters all showed up onstage to take their bows. When they all showed up together, they received a standing ovation.

“Well, that was an interesting ending,” Bruno told his sisters.

Julieta nodded. “Yes, but you know Dolores. She always comes up with the weirdest and wildest of stories.”

“She’s a good writer though,” Pepa wiped a tear from her eye. “That’s my baby!”

“Definitely,” Felix and Agustin agreed.

Once the play was finally done, Bruno was the first to wrap Dolores in a hug. “You were stellar out there!” He told her, giving her a fist bump. “And honestly Lola was my favorite character! I loved her drive, her fire, and her spunk!”

“Thanks Bruno!” Dolores chirped. “I’m so glad! I put a lot of effort into the role.”

“I can tell!” Bruno hugged Isabela. “Great job everyone! And Isabela, that was a really good idea to put on a play for us.”

“No problem!” Isabela said. “I liked getting to do this, since we don’t do it often, but I just thought we ought to repay you for all the plays you have put on for us!”

“That’s true,” Julieta said.

“And it was an awesome idea!” Bruno agreed with a giggle.

“Was I a good king?” Antonio said, running towards them.

“You were an excellent king, mijo,” Pepa said, bending down to Antonio’s level and rubbing his hair. “And look at your pretty little crown.”

“Isabela made it!” Antonio said. “Tell them Isabela, tell them you did!”

“I did.”

“Yay!”

“Well, everybody did an awesome job!” Bruno agreed. “And I love the costumes!”

“I enjoyed it too,” Agustin agreed. “Especially when Carlos got eaten in the end. Rawr!” He made clawing motions with his hands, as the grandkids giggled at the praise. Except for Camilo, who rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, but a grin crept onto his face nevertheless.

“That was my favorite as well,” Alma said. “Along with the sword fight. She smiled at Dolores, and Dolores smiled back. It was certainly a good thing that Agustin and Alma agreed on something.

Mirabel yawned. “As fun as that was—“ she punched Isabela’s forearm jokingly. “I’m never doing a last-minute play again, no matter how good it turns out.” She collapsed into Luisa’s arms. “I’m tired.”

“All right, get some sleep,” Felix said. “It is almost midnight.”

“Yes, that is a good idea,” Alma agreed, patting Felix on the back. “Goodnight everybody.”

“Goodnight,” they said, as they all retreated to their rooms, the grandkids to their room, the triplets to Bruno’s, and the husbands to Pepa’s. Alma went to her own room of course.

That night, Alma pulled out a locket, and opened it to see Pedro inside.

She smiled warmly. “Pedro,” she said softly. “I just wish you could see your children today. They are so happy to be reunited, and their bond is stronger than ever. Each day they grow and Bruno is becoming more and more handsome like his father, Pepa is showing more and more of your wit and perseverance, and Julieta is displaying more and more of your love and kindness.” A tear slipped from her eye. “I wish you were here, mi amor. For you have given me the greatest gift of all. My children.” She kissed the picture inside the locket. “Goodnight Pedro. I will see you again one day.”

💙💛💚

The kids camped out in Mirabel’s room that night, Dolores and Antonio sleeping in a second bed, Isabela and Luisa sleeping in sleeping bags on the floor, and Mirabel and Camilo sleeping in Mirabel’s bed. Except only Mirabel was sleeping. Camilo was awake with the rest of the siblings, holding Mirabel protectively as she snored on his chest.

“Awww. She’s so cute like this. In the daytime she’s a total nuisance. Coochie coochie coo!” He wiggled her nose and mouth.

“Camilo, she is not a baby.”

But Camilo didn’t listen to Dolores as he played with Mirabel’s eyelashes, making her wince and rub her eyes but fortunately remain asleep. Camilo grinned and kissed her nose.

“That was a fun play everybody!” Isabela smiled. “I’m so glad I came up with it.”

“Of course you are,” Dolores said.

“My favorite part of the play, besides the ballroom scenes, was when Carlos and Ines fought one on one,” Isabela continued saying.

Camilo huffed. “And Carlos should have won.”

“So not true.”

“So true,” Camilo protested. “Carlos deserved much better than the story he was in. I mean, all he wanted was to not be poor and at the bottom of society, is that so bad? But no, instead he gets devoured alive by a jaguar just for wanting a better life for himself.” He sighed sadly as he absentmindedly combed Mirabel’s curls with his fingers. “That hardly seems fair.”

“Carlos may have been poor, but that still doesn’t excuse the things he did throw the story,” Isabela pointed out. “Like kidnap innocent people. Or try to set Ines and Lydia on fire unless Lola and Mariana gave over their wealth to him.”

“He wasn’t just looking for a better life, Camilo,” Dolores explained. “He was selfish and greedy and dishonest. Not to mention opportunistic. And in fact I wanted to have a scene where he even killed the sister’s parents and hoarded the wealth for himself, but I decided that was overkill.” Dolores paused. “Plus, I had nobody to play the parents.”

“But why didn’t the king help him?” Camilo asked as an arm was wrapped around Mirabel.

“It’s not like they’re brothers in real life,” Dolores answered. “And once again, he’s a criminal.”

“But—“

“Sounds to me like someone’s just upset at the role they were asked to play!” Luisa pointed out with a grin.”

“W-what?!” Camilo spluttered. “N-no I’m not!”

“Yes you are!” Dolores grinned.

“Nuh-uh,” Camilo turned around to face Mirabel. “I’m going to sleep. Goodnight.”

“Don’t forget that it’s your fault we had to do the play in the first place Camilo,” Isabela said. “After all, if you hadn’t tried to ruin the surprise we were planning for them, I wouldn’t have come up with that lie.”

“I said goodnight.” Camilo huffed, hugging a sleeping Mirabel closer and burying his face in her hair. He had to fight to resist a grin. Secretly he had liked being in the play. But he wasn’t going to give the granddaughters the benefit of the doubt.

“Goodnight Camilo.” Isabela smirked, rolling her eyes.

“Goodnight big brother!” Antonio whispered in the night.

“Goodnight Antonio.” Camilo said as he continued to snuggle with his cousin. It was times like these that made him happy that he and Mirabel were so close. Hugging her closer as he accidentally breathed in strands of her hair—not that that was a problem, since her hair smelled good—Mirabel wrapped an arm around Camilo as well, mumbling something.

Camilo closed his eyes.

“Anyway, I think he’s asleep.” Isabela turned back to the girls and Antonio, not knowing that Camilo wasn’t in fact asleep. “Anyway I really liked the play. Maybe we could perform it for the village as well.”

“That would be a good idea,” Dolores said. “Not tomorrow though, maybe much later in the future.”

“What if Bruno’s not okay with it?” Luisa asked.

“I’m sure he will be,” Isabela said. “After all, this play will remind him of the best birthday party he ever did have with his grandkids! I’m just glad we got to do something like this for them. Not just Bruno, but all of them.”

Luisa nodded. “It wasn’t just entertaining, it was a good way of showing our love for the family.”

“Yes, that’s true!” Isabela said. She pulled the blankets over her head. “Well, I’m going to bed now. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” Dolores said.

“Buenas noches,” Luisa said.

“Buenas noches!” Antonio said as he snuggled with Dolores the same way his brother was doing with Mirabel.

And the grandkids all fell fast asleep.

THE END

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