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Francesca looked up at the towering home her family had, she knew she was set to inherit it after her door didn’t appear on her fifth birthday but still she felt pressure to prove herself to her family that she’d make a good leader after Abuela Mirabel handed her the reins. Still she felt an overwhelming amount of pressure. How could she compare to her Abuela who saved her family’s gift and brought acceptance into her family. She could only sigh as she moved up the stairs and along the hallways. She looked at the old photos on the wall and felt so distant, how could she be as great as her family?
She stopped for a moment as she heard the tap of the tile in front of her.
“Casita?” The tile tapped again, causing a small wave of tiles to a flight of stairs she had never seen before. She looked confused as she carefully moved forward as some pictures she had never seen before appeared. It appeared to be of her uncle Bruno and Uncle Matteo, at least she assumed as much. She never knew them, Matteo having died a few months after her Mamá was born and Bruno a year after the fact. She bit back her fear as she ascended the stairs feeling as if she was walking into somewhere she was unwelcome. She bit back a scream as a rat ran past her foot from the room. She looked up at the door and saw the carving, it was Bruno.
She cautiously opened the door, expecting piles of rodents but she was rather surprised to see a small lake in the room along with what seemed to be a beach and a main room. Walking in she could see a small trickle of sand coming from the walls but nowhere near as much compared to the story her Abuela told her. It was rather calming in fact. She moved forward sitting next to the lake. The room seemed so calm compared to Abuela’s story.
“Francesca?” The preteen spun around to find her Abuela as she looked nervously at her.
“Abuela- I didn’t know you were in here!” Her Abuela chuckled at her and nodded, moving to sit next to her.
“I only just came, it’s been sometime since I’ve been here. Casita closed the room off a few weeks after Uncle Bruno passed… They must’ve thought you needed to see it.” Francesca stopped and looked at the lake then at the room around her.
“Why? I didn’t know uncle Bruno.” Francesca looked up at her Abuela who seemed to think before looking over at her.
“Well how about you tell me how you feel, that could help us find out about why Casita brought us here.” The preteen froze as she looked at her hands. She bit back her tremble and nodded.
“I know you never wanted me to feel this way but I just feel so plain and boring next to everyone. Uncle Antonio stopped a whole fleet of soldiers by talking to their horses, Aunty Luisa built a whole path to expand the village then there’s me… I just exist to keep Casita clean…” She felt an arm around her as she was pulled close. She felt a few tears hit her head as she looked up at her Abuela. “Abuela?” She watched her Abuela wipe her tears then her own.
“My little Cesca you are more than just the keeper to Casita. You are you, you love your techno do hickies and you love parties, you also have a great eye for fashion if I do say so myself.” She stifled a giggle as her Abuela loosened her hold to look at her. “Cesca I think it’s time I told you more about uncle Bruno.”
She felt herself being lifted from her feet as her Abuela gestured to the room. “My dear you remember the stories of your uncle Bruno don’t you?” She nodded as she looked at the room. He was able to see the future she recalled and was one of the original three as her and her cousins called them.
“Yes Abuela. He could see into the future and he also lived in the walls for a few years.” Her Abuela nodded as she led her through the room.
“Yes but he was also the first in our family to come out, he also was the first to meet a sea monster and marry one. This was uncle Matteo. Bruno also took care of the rodents making sure they never got too out of hand.” Her Abuela stated much to the young girl’s confusion.
“But what does that have to do with me Abuela?”
“Tell me, was Uncle Bruno just the future seer of the family.” Francesca froze for a moment as she found herself at the back of the room where there was a table with a small album of photos. She picked it up and looked at the cover and smiled.
“No Abuela.” It made sense now why Casita brought them here, she understood. “I’m not just the keeper of the great Madrigals magic, the granddaughter of the great Mirabel I am Francesca! Francesca who plays music too loud, Francesca who helps the community I’m me. I don’t need to prove myself to feel I belong because I am a Madrigal.” She grinned as she ran out the room.
Mirabel smiled as she watched her granddaughter run past her carrying the album as she left the room. The door swung slightly and Mirabel nodded.
“I know Casita, you’re ready to close the room off again…” Mirabel began walking out the room grabbing a small wedding photo as she began to walk towards the door.. She stopped for a moment as she looked at the sand beneath her feet. She smiled and grabbed some, she put some in a jar she had as she looked back at the small mound in her hand. She threw it over her shoulder for old times sake as she left the room. Bruno’s door shutting softly behind her.