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Luisa was always a physical child. She loved giving and receiving hugs, holding her sisters and cousins close, and generally showing lots of affection. When the girl first got her gift, and in the weeks that followed, there was a major learning curve when it came to her strength. At first, there were small accidents, a broken pot here, a damaged chair there. These were things that could be fixed, but when Luisa accidentally hurt her sister with one of her bearhugs, she was never the same.
Her mom healed Isabela immediately, that wasn’t the problem. What the issue was is that Luisa was scared to hold anyone while she was learning her gift. She was afraid to hurt anyone else, or worse.
Thankfully a certain tío help her to overcome this obstacle and embrace her gift. The effects were clear.
Luisa was back to hugs and kisses all around. Sometimes she’d even pick up her parents and spin them around. The same went for the village kids and other adults that praised her efforts. The joy soon faded as she got older. Isabela didn’t like hugs in public, opting to be the golden child everyone viewed her as. Dolores accepted the embraces but only as quick forms of engagement. Julieta found it awkward to be deadlifted by her youngest and kindly asked her to stop. Agustín agreed with the sentiment but his reasoning was a joke about how clumsy he was when being set back down. Pepa and Félix were just as affectionate as their niece but preferred normal hugs. Abuela prompted the girl to start acting her age and stop using her gift for silly things.
The only one who remained the same was tío Bruno.
He didn’t mind being the girl’s human ragdoll, indulging in ‘childish’ things is what fun uncles are for after all. Bruno would be enjoying a book or writing quietly when Luisa would come bounding in to tackle him. She’d pick him up, current project and all, lifting her tío above her head. Other times she’d have a bad day and curl up beside him, basking in the quiet comfort he provided. Most often she’d finish her chores for the day and want someone to be with. Other Madrigals were in town but Bruno’s gift lets him generally be at Casita. Luisa would walk into his room, or wherever he was, pick him up and carry him outside. The two would play together until it was time for dinner.
Sometimes Bruno was the one who had bad days. He’d stay in his tower not coming down for any reason. Julieta or Pepa would attempt to go visit him but would give up if he was at the top of his stairs. Luisa had no such qualms. She’d march up those steps with her enhanced endurance, pick up a sad Bruno, then carry him back down to play. The absurdity of his third oldest niece dragging him down to socialize usually made him cheer up by the end of the trip down the stairs.
Upon his return to the Madrigals, it was good to see some things had not changed.
“Luisa!” The girl heard her grandmother shout. “It’s time to eat.” “Coming Abuela!” She called back as she headed towards the kitchen.
“Could you move the table dear? It’s a wonderful day outside.” The matriarch gently asked. “Sorry, I don’t think I can do that at the moment.” Luisa couldn’t help the growing smile on her face. “Why not?” Abuela asked. Now observing how the girl had her hands behind her head. Close by came a stifled giggle not belonging to the grandchild.
“Luisa, what are you hiding?” Julieta asked as she turned to her daughter. The laughter increased as the girl jostled the thing in her grasp, attempting to shush the noise. “Nothing at all.” She responded, her own laugh slipping through. “Luisa.” Her mother chided. “I think we’ve been found out.” Came a whisper. “I think so too.” The girl whispered back.
Luisa lightly shook her grip once more as the laughter increased. She turned around and showed the adults her possession.
“Hola.” The youngest alter greeted where he hung upside down. Jorge had a huge grin on his face as he held his bucket over his head so it wouldn’t fall off. His ruana flared out to the sides where it wasn’t pinned against Luisa’s body. His thin frame shook with laughter as he looked at the world on their heads. His ankles were being held at Luisa’s head so he was safely off the ground.
Once he was discovered Luisa took the opportunity to spin him around, adding to the alter’s pure delight. Agustín cackled at the long-forgotten and dearly missed sight. Julieta soon joined in as Abuela’s eyes crinkled with joy.
“I think you should put him down now mi vida,” Julieta mentioned once she saw her brother’s flushed face. Whether it was from the laughter or the amount of blood rushing to his head she couldn’t be sure but better safe than sorry.
Luisa nodded and gently let the clairvoyant down, despite Jorge’s protests as he dramatically sank to the floor.
“Come along hijo.” Abuela held a hand out for the seer. “Lunch time.”
At the mention of food, Jorge shot up, racing to the spot outside. “Last one there has to do dishes!” He called back as Luisa scrambled after him “don’t bet on it tío, I don’t care how athletic you are!”