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Antonio vividly remembered the day his fifteen year old cousin left for military camp. Even his Abuela had been surprised. Mirabel had given them a day's notice, and by the time they registered it, she was gone.Everyone had been surprised.
Mirabel was sure to write letters, and facetime. If Antonio had to guess the most effected one would be Isabela, or Abuela,
They had moped around the house for about 5 weeks., Mirabel’s wording for how she had left was blunt to be honest. It had been a wake up call for all of them.
Antonio had always been impatient for Mirabel’s video call, begging and pleading for him to be allowed to call sooner.
Mirabel always joked when it came to these things. Saying that if she wasn’t careful, that she might lose her legs or something.
Every ear when her birthday came, she would call them for about 5 to 6 hours. And on his? She would send him something she made. For his tenth birthday, she had sent him a necklace of polish jasper, and a note.
Life went on, and Antonio watched as Camilo graduated, and his older cousins went to college. His sister became an author, and his older brother followed after his tio and became a rookie actor. Isabela was still in college, taking a 5 year long drawing course, and Luisa, had several scholarships for a high end sport centered school.
Antonio watched from the side as everything went one, he would be turning eleven the day of his little league soccer game championships. And the boy felt like his guts were going to turn inside out.
Mirabel was supposed to be home in two months.
And with all that is and has been happening, Antonio and the rest of the family just wanted her home .
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Mirabel’s eyes drifted across her section of the barracks.
Clean, and tidey, two kennels lay on the floor.
Her loyal K-9 companion lay on the floor.A 1 year old German Shepherd,and a smaller pupt shepherd, who would be coming home with her.Due to a request, and an influx of trained troops, Mirabel was able to go home early, and unless she was needed, stay there.
She chuckled, she was going to shock them into heaven.
“So you’re really leaving us, with the rookies eh?” she turned and chuckled at Jessica’s quip.
“You know how it is Jess, besides, the new K-9 Unit handler that is coming in is a prodigy!”
“That doesn’t make it any better!”
“MIRABEL!”
“Yes SIR!”
“I'm gonna miss you, and your witty comments! SAy hello to your family.”
“SIR YES SIR!”
“Now, you’ve got a flight to catch!”
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Antonio gave a low sight as his mother adjusted his hair again.
“Play good okay?”
“Yes mama.”
“Good now get out there!”
The team was warming up, doing two laps, dynamics, passing triangles, and not to mention 3-2's. It was boring, but Anitonio put up with it.
His mind drifted to his older cousin, and how she promised to send him something special this year.
He wondered if it could be?
She had a talent for these kinds of things, finding unique gifts, and giving them to others.
He hoped that just maybe it was something handmade.
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Mirabel embroidered onto the bandana, ‘Happy 11th B-Day Tonio, Look up!’
Both her dogs had been stored away for the time being, and Mirabl focused on the task at hand.
Stalling boredom until the plane landed, and she got a taxi, she had about two hours to get to Antoinio’s game if she was to make it to half time, and the plane landed at 1, and the drive took about half an hour. It really depended on traffic. She snorted lightly as she finished up,
As far as she had heard, all the family was getting together for Tonio’s Birthday, and a big game.
She hoped that she made it, she wanted to earn favorite status.
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Antonio listened as the coach assigned positions. for the first half. He was forward again. He was small,quick and easy to underestimate. It made him perfect for the position.
The whistle blew, and the ball was passed to him, he pulled a quick 1-2 and made a beeline for the goal, the keeper topped his shot at the last second, and kicked it half way down the field. Antonio snorted, and lightly jogged down the field to about the half mark, and caught his breath.
Time to play ball.
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Mirabel decided to contact Antonio's coach about her surprise arrival, so as to not get him in trouble.
Her taxi was caught in a bit of traffic, and her taxi driver seemed all too pleased to grill her on her time in the military. She answered most of the questions she could.
“Raph, sit boy.” She ordered her dog. She rolled her eyes at the K-9’s antics, he never liked cars. Or loud noises for that matter.
The puppy was asleep, and had the bandana that she had embroidered around its neck.
She silently checked her watch. She had 20 more minutes to get to the field. And the jam had just cleared up, with no more interruptions, she would be able to get there with 5 minutes to spare. Time to give half her family a heart attack.
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Antonio was covered head to toe with his sweat, his knees had turf burn, and his muscles ached. He had scored 3 times and one of his team mates twice, the current score was 5 to 3, and the whistle blew to signify the end of the first half.
His coach jogged over to say something to the ref, and had been giving him a weird look all game.
“Alright everyone is doing great! Antonio Jacob, great goals, don’t change what you are doing at all. Mids, you need to get the balls farther up the field, my forwards should not be running to get those balls.Defe-”
“Is there an Antonio here?”
Antonio’s head perked up.
“If so please keep your dog from getting on the field. And please retrieve it from the refs.”
Antonio was really confused now. He didn’t have a dog.
But still, he jogged to the center of the field where the refs were waiting, and sure enough a small german shepherd puppy with a bandana sat panting its little heart out.
“Is this your dog kid?”
“Sir I don;t have a dog, “
“Oh so you're telling me that that isn't your name?”
The ref pointed downward to the bandana.
It read, Happy 11th B-day Antonio, Look up!
“Happy Birthday kid.”
Antonio looked up and around, his eyes landing on a figure standing in front of the entrance to the the place where the locker rooms were. Army clothes covered her head to toe and an amused smirk was firmly in place.
“What’s a soldier doing here?”
Antonio yelled.
“MIRABEL!”
Antiono rushed forward, jumping up into his cousin’s arms, and wrapped his arms around her neck, burning his face into the uniform. He didn’t care that he was sobbing, he didn’t care about the confused whispers and stares, and over the blood rushing in his ears, he heard.
“Everyone please welcome back number 10’s cousin, Mirabel Madrigal, who is back from serving our country for 5 years in the army, give her a round!”
It stayed like that for about 2 minutes.
“You're not allowed to do that again.”
“I highly doubt my mama would allow me to.” setting him down, she ruffled his hair. “ Go win this game.”
“I will.”
She let out a high pitched whistle and the small puppy came bounding over.
She walked away, and Antonio felt a surge of energy, he had a game to win, and a cousin to impress.
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Mirabel let loose a soft sigh.
Both of the dogs walked in line.
The puppy now had a leash on it, and she walked up to the stands, several people thanking her for her service. She looked around, and began to walk towards a bench, with a group of very familiar people. They were talking amongst themselves.
“Hey, can you spare a seat?”
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Isabela was in shock, her baby sister was back, and she had caught them off guard.
Her mama was on the verge of tears, and her papa was trying his best not to burst into tears as well
Her Tia and Tio were both in shock.
Tio Bruno was just staring blankly ahead of him.
Her cousins were crying and cheering for Antonio.
And Abuela was in shock.
They were so wrapped up in the fact of the game and holy crap Mirabel’s home! That they didn’t notice the figure approaching.
“Hey, can you spare a seat?”
Isabela was pretty sure they all had whiplash from how quickly they turned around.
Mirabel stood there, a casual smile on face, the two dogs on leashes around her.
“Mirabel!”
Her mama pushed everyone out of the way and buried her face in her sister’s uniform.
Her sister hugged right back.
Her mama was crying. As was Mira.
Finally the hug ended.
“You're not allowed to do that again.”
“Yeah I figured. “