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Mirabel’s legs worked up the steep hill, one step after another. The girl was carefully balancing Antonio on her shoulders as she did so. The rays from the blazing late afternoon sun touched her forehead, causing little beads of sweat to form. She quickly wiped away the sweat with a single swipe before her attention fixated on the little boy, checking his current state of mind. Being a particularly hot, sunny day, she waited for him to request a glass of water; Mirabel wouldn’t care about turning back if it meant assisting her sweet younger primo, and she was unconditionally there for the animal lover. Plus, she couldn’t possibly get irate at him for anything, no matter what.
Antonio held a steady gaze at the hazelnuts he was carrying in his left hand; Julieta had given him those. Earlier this week, Mirabel and Antonio discovered a family of squirrels up in the branches of the gorgeous Handroanthus Chrysotrichus tree. The latter figured they were searching for a new home since their presence wasn’t known beforehand, and the tree looked like a nice place. However, suitable would be out of the question since food and nesting materials were unavailable. That was what prompted Toñito to bring nuts. It was the least he could do until the squirrels continued looking elsewhere.
“Are you doing okay up there, hombrecito?” Mirabel asked him.
Without taking his eyes off of the nuts, the four-year-old gave a quiet “mm-hmm,” nothing above a whisper but still audible enough.
Mirabel grinned and affectionately patted his leg, then turned back to the grassy green hill. Sometimes, she would come up here with Antonio after helping the family, in whatever way she could, around the village or when she had free time. Other times, the whole Madrigal family would be present, having picnics and such. Known for its general peacefulness, this place was cherished by each member, especially by Mirabel. Lots of grand delight, shared laughter, and unforgettable moments made it really special. One of Mirabel’s earliest childhood memories originated from this very hill. She remembered playing with her hermanas, mostly fun little games such as duck, duck, goose. She even recalled joyfully blowing bubbles on her tío Bruno’s lap at one point, the few memories of the ostracized family member Mirabel managed to store. The hill became her favorite place in the Encanto, behind Casita.
When she reached the peak, she lowered Antonio and ran a hand through his tight curls. He was skimming all around, determined and hopeful. Mirabel also looked, trying to help her cousin, but hadn't yet found the animals.
Antonio came out from behind the tree, getting worried. “Do you think they left?”
“Oh, I’m sure they’re around here some— Oh!” Mirabel looked down to see a young brown squirrel nuzzling her leg. The parents scurried up beside their offspring and happily chirped upon seeing Antonio, who was instantly relieved.
“There you are!” he exclaimed, though his tone remained soft. He kneeled down and extended his hand, revealing the family of squirrels what was inside it. “I brought you something.”
They bounded to the small child and, one by one, took the hazelnuts, each receiving an equal amount. Antonio sat cross-legged, watching them contently munch on their meal. He stroked the baby squirrel behind his ear with a delicate finger, to which he responded by rubbing against it.
The fourteen-year-old grinned as she witnessed the innocent scene in front of her. Antonio clearly had a thing for animals, the term “animal whisperer” best defining him. A book about capybaras Pepa read to an infant Antonio started the sheer fascination, his wide eyes full of wonder and curiosity throughout. As he aged, the interest grew further from more books to walks in the forest near home. Undeniably, the youngest Madrigal strongly favored animals and preferred them over children his own age. Having a shy, reserved persona, making friends was often difficult. Toddler Antonio was always hesitant about taking trips to the village, similar to Bruno before he vanished. He had gotten better, no longer found clutching tightly onto his mamá’s dress or Mirabel’s skirt. Through Mirabel’s gentle coaxing and encouragement, Antonio was able to form some friendships. Still, he connected with animals greater, finding them comforting. By who he was, it allowed bonding to be simple; Antonio didn’t need to talk all the time for animals’ pleasure. They enjoyed the little boy’s company, finding his tender nature gratifying. From observations, Mirabel saw that animals seemed to naturally attach to him. She noticed no signs of wariness in the squirrel family when Antonio first appeared here. Animals were truly his calling, and Mirabel wouldn’t be too surprised if fully understanding them was his Gift. Antonio already understood creatures adequately.
“It looks like they’re really enjoying those,” Mirabel commented. The nuts were almost gone at this point.
“I knew they would.” Antonio scooped up the kit and set him on his lap. While chewing the last of his meal, he decided to get comfortable. Why would he not be in such a warm spot? His tail moved, covering his tiny body. Antonio’s soft strokes along his back sent him into paradise.
Mirabel sat next to Antonio, also cross-legged. “We should bring more next time if they happen to stick around.”
“I wish I could keep them,” her cousin admitted, “but I can’t. They are wild animals. They belong outside.”
Bless his heart. So understanding. “Ay, chico.” She scooted closer to engulf him in an empathetic embrace. “I’m sure they won’t forget you. These little guys are very lucky to have a caring boy like you. Things would be harder for them without your compassion. They need all the support they can get, and you are helping them a lot.”
A sweet smile graced his face, replacing his frown that appeared mere moments prior. In a hushed tone, he said, “I’m here for them, just like you are here for me.” He leaned against Mirabel’s chest, hearing her steady heartbeat. The serene sound made Antonio want to drift off into blissful sleep.
Antonio’s curls tickled Mirabel’s chin. She chuckled and pressed a kiss onto them, and she hugged her baby primo tighter. “I’ll always be here for you, Toñito.”
The girl stared lovingly at his peaceful image. Before Antonio could even walk, Pepa and Félix trusted her to care for their son when they were busy, perceiving that she got along swell with younger children and that she was less occupied to a greater extent than the rest of the family. Some kids might be tentative about handling a baby, but ten-year-old Mirabel was honored to accept this new responsibility. As somebody who loved her familia, she contributed meaningfully, assisting variously and perpetually, despite the lack of a Gift. Mirabel bore diligence, often willing to help out. Being deemed “the Giftless child” didn’t hinder her supportiveness. The Madrigals were appreciative and considered her valuable. Abuela held a different view, a seemingly rigid one at that. Regardless, Mirabel's hard efforts just couldn't win the old woman’s approval under her critical eye.
Baby Antonio was easy to handle; he rarely fussed or whined. Much like recently, he was quiet and liked naps as well as soothing music. Most of all, the baby absolutely doted on Mirabel. A frown never appeared with her around. Caring for Antonio was delightful, as every day was a pleasant experience. She would pull silly faces at him and sing lullabies, some of which were Pepa’s. He would coo softly, listen to her talk, touch her nose, and snuggle in her arms. He would also surprise Mirabel every once in a while whenever a big milestone was achieved. Antonio rolling over for the first time nearly left her speechless. Time was an astonishing thing. She swore only yesterday she was spoon-feeding him. Now the same baby, only a few feet taller and sporting more of that wild hair, would be blessed with his own Gift next year. Mirabel was beyond glad Tío Félix and Tía Pepa entrusted Antonio to her; their unique relationship probably wouldn’t have been as strong had they not. Their chemistry was already beautiful from the very start, but over the years, it gradually blossomed and became well-known to the other family members. It came to where Antonio looked up to Mirabel as a big sister. The two were basically inseparable in this day and age. Little Antonio was a pure wonder, and he meant everything to her. She considered him the light of her life.
They lingered, completely focused on each other. Mirabel’s grin hadn’t faltered a cinch as her fingers passed through those curls yet again. She finally felt the weather shifting, sensing a slight cool breeze. Closing her eyes, she tasted this nice change. They promptly snapped back open, though, when a finger politely prodded her shoulder.
“Here.” Antonio transferred the dozing creature onto the fabric of her skirt. “You can have him now.”
“Gracias,” she said, giving his cheek a single stroke, then she fondly petted the little squirrel’s back fur. “My, he sure is sleepy.”
He giggled. “Sí. He’s full.”
“Indeed. And very cute.” By the way his nose twitched, Mirabel wondered if he was dreaming.
Antonio found himself giggling louder, keeping it at an appropriate volume to not disturb his small friend, when the animal rolled over on his back. “He likes being on your lap, prima. It is cozy, after all.”
“Cozy enough for it to be a bed?” Mirabel teased.
“I could sleep there all night,” he said, smoothing the part of the embroidered skirt that covered Mirabel’s left thigh. “I sometimes love to take naps there.”
Hazel irises twinkling playfully, Mirabel poked his side, earning a jovial laugh from him. “Oh, I bet you could!”
As Mirabel straightened her legs to stretch them, she caught the parent squirrels climbing the tree bark and settling on one of the top branches. The way they intertwined their bushy tails warmed her heart, their affection for one another reminiscent of Julieta and Agustín’s passionate relationship.
Antonio stood up. “I’m going to join them. Are you coming, Mirabel?”
“In a little bit,” she answered, ruffling the child’s black hair. “Be careful, okay?”
He nodded and paced towards the tree. Mirabel was aware he had been up there a lot before, but his safety still mattered. She cared too deeply about her beloved primo for that top priority to ever be abandoned. If he was anything like her clumsy behavior, she might not permit him to go alone. Thankfully, Antonio wasn’t by a long shot. Seeing him swing upside down proficiently from the same branch the squirrels were on basically confirmed it.
Mirabel took several minutes to view the rising and falling of the kit’s stomach, Antonio entertaining himself, and the mesmerizing scenery (consisting of mainly tall palm trees and more green hills) that surrounded her. Currently in the moment, she would stay put in this exact spot for eternity, forever carefree and satisfied.
She soon drifted back into reality when the youngling began kneading his paws like a cat. Mirabel couldn’t help but laugh. “Hey, that tickles!”
He gave her a few chirps in response before leaping off of the skirt and arching his back, purring as Mirabel massaged it tenderly. Tiredness persisted for him, not yet entirely recharged, so he nestled against the girl and continued slumbering away.
Smiling, Mirabel got on two feet and stretched her other two limbs. When she arrived at the medium-sized guayacán, her eyes pointed upwards to where Antonio was waving from above. She waved in return and then sent a silent prayer in hopes of her clumsiness not interfering. After releasing an exhale, Mirabel attached herself to the bark, gripping tightly. Cautiously, she ascended at a slow pace, barely mirroring the excellent climbing skills of her four-year-old cousin. Before she even reached for the first tree branch, Antonio escaped his spot to sit on it, giving a generous expression.
“You don’t have to go to the very top, Mira,” he said sweetly.
Relief along with gratefulness flooded Mirabel as she carefully scooted across the branch until she was positioned a few inches apart from Antonio. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she told him, “Muchas gracias, Toñito.”
The boy hugged her waist briefly, and she patted his head. Mirabel suddenly realized they were resting on the exact branch young Isabela’s self-made swing would be found at. As a child, Mirabel had fun in it, either pushing herself or being pushed by Isabela or Luisa. Although it no longer resided there, Isabela wouldn’t mind making one, mostly for Antonio’s enjoyment.
While nostalgically caressing the limb, she saw Antonio plucking an adjacent yellow flower and holding it out to her. She put her right hand over her heart, which was swelling significantly, feeling touched. “How very thoughtful of you,” she said with emotion as she accepted the flower.
“How does it smell?” Antonio questioned, swinging his legs simultaneously.
Mirabel tilted her head down slightly, took a deep whiff, and sneezed rather loudly. The noise led Antonio to jump back in surprise, but laughter pursued nonetheless. Mirabel’s laugh soon mingled with his.
“It smells wonderful,” she responded once their laughs diminished.
Antonio fell backward, hanging by his popliteal fossae again. “It would be nice for them to find a place as beautiful as this.”
“Certainly,” Mirabel agreed. “Even though there are plenty of nice areas in Encanto, this hill takes the cake.”
“The rainforest is my favorite. It’s also very beautiful, and I love going on walks and seeing the animals. We visit it a lot, don’t we, Mirabel?”
“We sure do. You know, the forest could be a great home for the squirrels. It’s spacious for every animal big and small. The community is pretty amazing. Also, they could never run out of food, so that means no empty bellies.”
“Yes, yes. I always see squirrels in the trees.” Suddenly, a bright light bulb activated in his noggin. “Wait, I have an idea! We can take them to the rainforest. That way, they won’t get tired looking for somewhere else to live.”
His thoughts wooed Mirabel; a pause hadn’t occurred for her to ponder. “Brilliant thinking, Antonio. They’ll love it there.”
He beamed, swinging back and forth in exhilaration. “Can we go tomorrow? Please?”
She chuckled at his enthusiasm. “Why, of course.”
“Yay! You hear that, squirrels? We—” As Antonio straightened upright, about to cheerfully tell the news, his body thrust forward from the swift action, unable to maintain balance, resulting in the poor boy plummeting to the ground and landing harshly flat on his anterior.
The sudden turn of events left Mirabel in terror, beyond petrified. Her breathing became shaky and irregular, and her heart skipped several if not multiple beats. All she could do was gaze at the small figure, an ever so fearful expression smeared across her round face, rather than instinctively run to his aid. It was like Mirabel’s mind coerced her to keep stiff, forbidding any movement. That changed when Antonio emitted an ear-splitting screech Dolores definitely heard. Mirabel dashed to his side in a heartbeat. The three concerned squirrels were nudging him.
“Antonio! Toñito, everything’s going to be all right. Your big prima’s here.” Mirabel gently held the sobbing child on her thighs, examining him for serious wounds while consoling him. Once she lifted his left pant leg, her eyes widened alarmingly at the dreadful sight: Blood escaped the large gash that had developed in the knee, trickling along the leg.
“I-it hurts…” Antonio hiccuped.
“I know, I know. Don’t worry, Tía Julieta will make you better in no time.” Bringing Antonio securely to her chest, she rose before drying his tears with one hand. “Listen to my heart, chiquito.” She concentrated on alleviating her heart rate, then started the trip home.
Mirabel halted momentarily to face the squirrel family. “He’ll be completely fine. We’ll come back tomorrow,” she promised.
With Antonio cradled safely in his cousin’s arms, he naturally eased as his ears registered the familiar drumming of her heart that vibrated in coordinated pulses behind the surface he was pressed against, subsiding the major pain and tension. Simple relaxation overtook him during the ride back to Casita, the harmonious music bouncing inside his head.
Mirabel entered the sentient house and barreled directly towards the kitchen where Julieta was normally stationed. “Mamá!” she cried.
Her mother hummed, gathering items she needed for tonight’s dinner. When Mirabel’s desperate call reached her, she froze and turned sideways to find the frantic girl approaching.
She spoke between weary breaths. “Antonio.. He fell out of the tree. It left a bad impact.”
Julieta remained her usual composure, but concern was visible through her benevolent features. “You poor thing,” the woman crooned. A warm hand swept Antonio’s forehead and trailed down his cheek. “Mirabel, why don’t you put him on the counter while I go get a rag?”
“Yes, Mamá,” Mirabel obliged before delicately doing just that. She curved a smile at his calm state, glad of how effective the little trick was; it worked every time. Whenever Antonio showcased heavy negative emotions, Mirabel’s heartbeat was the answer to tranquility. For his sake, Mirabel was favorable to Antonio utilizing the “thump-thumps.” Ultimately, she provided essential comfort and knowing that made her an honored, proud prima grande.
Julieta cleaned the blood with the damp cloth as she supported his leg. “Did the squirrels like the nuts I gave you, dear?”
“Oh, they loved them. They ate every last one. The baby squirrel got so full he fell asleep.” Antonio giggled while he finished the last sentence.
She returned it lightly. “Well, I’m happy to hear that.”
“Me and Mirabel are taking them to the rainforest tomorrow. That will be their new home.”
“It was Antonio’s idea,” Mirabel added fondly.
“But she suggested the place,” he reminded.
“The rainforest sounds lovely. What a wonderful idea, Toñito,” Julieta complimented, wiping away the remains before applying pressure on the wound.
“I know they’ll be very happy there. Right, prima?” He offered Mirabel a look.
“Right.” She tapped his nose, then, after waiting for not much longer, watched Julieta go to retrieve an arepa.
“Here you are.” She lent him the bread.
Antonio thanked her and ate a solid chunk, the magic automatically happening right under his gleeful stare. In a matter of seconds, the deep cut dispersed; his knee reverted to its fresh and unrestrained condition.
Mirabel rubbed Antonio’s back in circles. “There we go. All better now.”
“Don’t worry about your pants, Antonio,” Julieta said, scrubbing her hands in the sink. “I’ll get them cleaned for you.”
“Okay, Tía.” He gobbled the rest of his arepa and satisfyingly licked his lips.
Julieta just now noticed the flower Mirabel had slipped in her hair when tending to Antonio. “That flower looks gorgeous on you, mi amor.”
“Thank you. Antonio gave it to me.” Mirabel hoisted the boy into her arms, cuddling him with all her heart’s content.
Julieta reveled in the incredible bond they shared. “How sweet. We can have your favorite dessert after dinner if you want, Antonio.”
“I’d really like that, Tía Julieta,” he said appreciatively.
Mirabel headed for the doorway. “Let’s go get you changed.”
As she neared the nursery, Antonio gingerly tugged on her shirt sleeve. “Mirabel?”
“Yes?”
He wrapped both arms around Mirabel’s neck, the side of his face smushed to her cheek. “Te amo.”
Mirabel exhibited love utmost via her definable character traits and inherent personality, less expressing blatant words. But there was unlimited room for verbal affection, never resistant to communication. For Antonio, for her familia, authentic love was impossible to expire. That emotion was her strong suit.
She squeezed him firmly. “Te amo también, Antonio. Always.”