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Holding a pink crayon in his left hand, Antonio steadily colored the white space between the lines. Pico the toucan, perched on Antonio’s shoulder, was snacking on a piece of cracker, absorbed in the creativity below him. On the flip side, a chilled Parce was in the middle of a grooming session near the chair. A tranquil rainforest ambiance filled the atmosphere.
Some cracker crumbs fell upon the paper; Antonio paused to brush the bits off with a hand flick, then returned to work. He colored in what was left before setting the crayon down and sitting back, checking over his art piece. It presented no other than his older cousin Mirabel, her vibrant pose complementing her outspread, sunny smile. She, of course, sported her signature attire and was radiant with each drawn part, which earnestly captured the girl’s distinctive style. Given Mirabel was Antonio’s closest cousin, drawing her from the top down did not serve as a challenge. He could precisely visualize those lime green-rimmed glasses, those customized pink espadrilles, or really any clothing item. And with them having shared the bedroom, knowing where she kept the same items she had to remove before sleep was a perk. The main struggle for him was the actual coloring. Those skills were still developing, but Antonio kept the colors inside his drawing decently. Based on the illustrations from his toddler years, he used to be way worse at it. It was tricky to color when there was blankness bordering the picture, making it easier for crayon tips to go on. Even so, he couldn’t fret about this. In the end, Mirabel would love anything he gave her, and Antonio made his art with love. An impeccable picture wasn’t mandatory to get her approval.
Antonio smiled, satisfied with the work he did. “What do you think, Pico?” he inquired the bird.
Pico swallowed the last of his snack before squawking a reply. Looks really nice. Pretty.
“Muchas gracias. What about you, Parce? Do you like it?” He faced to the right of him. The cat was still at it with his self-cleaning.
After finishing his back, Parce sat upright on his haunches and viewed the artwork closely. It’s great, but it seems like something is missing.
Antonio chuckled at Parce’s note. “I know, Parce. I need to draw Mira playing her accordion.”
Girl makes beautiful music, Pico said, his round eyes on the wide gap between drawing Mirabel’s hands.
“She definitely does,” he agreed strongly. “I love when she plays songs on it.”
Parce purred. Music to my ears…
The boy gave his chin strokes. “Her music really is the best. Well, besides Papi’s and Tío Agustín’s. They also play their instruments wonderfully. I especially like it when they play and sing songs together.”
Your uncle may be clumsy, but he sure does know how to play the piano well, Parce said, licking his forepaw.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Antonio giggled. “It’s fun to dance around to sometimes. Whenever I’m with Mira, we dance together. She lets me on her feet, and I enjoy that.”
Mirabel kind girl, Pico squawked.
He met Pico’s words with a wholesome smile. “She is very sweet, isn’t she?” He grabbed a green crayon and started drawing the accordion, only to stop when the toucan nudged his cheek. “What is it, Pico?”
Want another cracker.
“All right, I’ll get you another one.” Antonio exited his chair and rubbed Pico’s chest with both fingers. “I could also use a drink. All of that drawing has made me thirsty.”
After Pico claimed his jaguar buddy’s back as a new spot, Antonio made his way to la cocina. The wheat crackers from town were on the edge of the table, exactly where he had left them. As frequently as this small plastic bag was bought, it could barely last for two complete days. Pico went through his regular snack like a group of ravenous piranhas at lunch. The bird had an acute likeness for crackers in general, but it didn’t measure up to his gluttony towards that particular wheat kind. Antonio could tell why; they tasted scrumptious. Maybe the round snack would go well with nailed rice.
Standing on tippy toes, he took the bag and stuck his hand inside. Just when he selected a cracker, he recognized footsteps entering the place. They belonged to Tío Agustín’s, and, by the heavy concern planted on Antonio, the man looked horrible. Red, bumpy welts smothered his inflated hands, ears, and nose. As for the bottom half of his face, extreme puffiness visibly described it.
Antonio drew the snack and put the bag back, maintaining eye contact. This repetitive incident had him pity his uncle each time he saw the allergic reaction. “My oh my…”
Agustín forced a smile. “Hola, Tonio,” he spoke, his speech slurred.
“The bees were really angry,” he said in sympathy.
His tío nodded, sighed, and moved to where Antonio was to get a piece of pan de yuca Julieta had made. He took one from the plate and shoved it into his mouth, letting it slide down his gullet. Like a charm, the stings vanished seamlessly.
“Much better,” Agustín expressed pleasurably but then frowned. “Oh, why do they have to do this?”
“Bees are very protective creatures,” Antonio explained straightforwardly. “They don’t like being bothered by no one… even those who are accident-prone.”
A mild blush appeared on him. His head went sideways, and he rubbed the behind of his neck.
Antonio was dreadfully sorry for the guy. Outdoor projects shouldn’t involve cantankerous black and yellow insects. Agustín didn’t deserve to undergo a lot of ill-treatment. “I know you don’t mean any harm, Tío. You’re nice.”
Looking back at the kid, Agustín stepped forward to rumple his hair. “Sí, chico. Unluckily for me, though, I just can’t get them to understand. As you can see, I always end up covered with bee stings whenever I slip up.”
“I can talk to the bees for you. Maybe that way they’ll stop stinging.”
“Ah, no, no, no, Antonio, you don’t have to,” he declined politely. “I appreciate the help, but I’ll do fine figuring a way to resolve the matter myself.”
“But I insist.”
“You deal with animals all the time, sobrino. I’ll let you sit this one out.”
Sit this one out? This was tough for Antonio to accept. Undoubtedly, he could negotiate with the honeybees; animal communication, at bottom, tied to his Gift. Agustín meant well, however, the poor guy would likely wind up in a pickle getting the subject under control. Bees are ferociously territorial insects and hardly tame. In the worst-case scenario, Agustín would take numerous trips to the kitchen before even reaching progress. Come what may, he carried perseverance for a klutzy person, much to Antonio’s amazement. He was a winner at surviving the obstacles thrown at him.
“Tío,” Antonio said, conviction reinforcing his tone, “I can do it. You need my help, and I’m sure talking to the bees is the safest option. If you handle it, then they might sting you. I wouldn’t like that.”
The uncle’s reaction was casual. “All right, then. I’ll leave you to it.”
Antonio smiled respectfully. “Thank you.”
“I think it’s for the best. Animals listen to you greatly.”
He giggled; Agustín was not wrong about that. “I promise I won’t let you down.”
Agustín ended by giving Antonio short, generous head taps and then washed his hands in the sink. Antonio’s mouth went dry.
“Tío Agustín, can you please give me a glass of water?” he requested.
“Yep, sure thing,” he replied, turning off the water.
“Thank you.” Antonio took a look at the cracker in his hand, remembering Pico. “I’ll be right back. I have to give this to Pico.”
The honeybees inhabited the hollow tree that was in the Madrigal’s backyard, and adjacent to Agustín’s workspace. Antonio saw the colony out and about every bee season, notably swarming the flower bushes. Nature plays an influential, beautiful role. Back when Antonio was three, Mirabel took him to their home so he could get the opportunity to peek inside while they were absent. He distinctly recalled heaps of gooey honey sticking to just about each surface area of the nest. Younger him was soundlessly wonderstruck by how much honey bees produce. Following that day, Antonio came to learn the value of honeybees and other bee species in the environment.
Now that the boy had grown slightly taller, he could easily see the bees buzzing around as he stood before the nest, not needing Mirabel’s assistance. Up until this point, Antonio had never socialized or dealt with insects, let alone bees. He just predominately spent his quality time with creatures of fur, feathers, and scales. But that did not mean he favored insects any less. He cherished all animals equally, the cornerstone of his respective Gift. In his book, no animal was left behind.
Antonio was not expecting the bees to comply immediately, but he supposed it wouldn’t be too much trouble. As he said previously, talking to them was the safest route to take. Besides, he, the animal person, was the right choice in this instance. The last thing he wanted was more conflict between Agustín and his honeymaking rivals. And Antonio took it upon himself to handle the situation. He would willingly do it for his tío; the man had put up with the stings long enough.
Bringing a clenched hand to his lips, Antonio coughed into it. “Umm, excuse me?” He made sure his typical soft voice was at a decent volume.
He faintly noticed two bees stop in their tracks in a vague spot close to the honeycomb, which was on the right side. Slowly, they revealed themselves side by side, keeping a safe distance from him.
Antonio waved. “Hello there. My name’s Antonio.”
What brings you here, Antonio? one of them asked in a cautious but unhostile manner.
“You know my tío Agustín, right? The tall man with the glasses and mustache?”
The other bee seethed with anger. Him…
The one who has the ax, his friend said, exhibiting similar behavior. We know him all too well.
Even if his uncle’s actions were by all means unintentional, Antonio could not blame the two for acting this way. Their species are instinctually territorial, and that is a central element in their nature. Like the beloved Casita, the nest housed a large family. But a bee’s lifestyle comes equipped with formidable dangers, the standard being natural enemies. Aside from making honey, guarding their nest and warding off said enemies are for their survival. Those two bees were living it day by day for the sake of the colony. Antonio found no reason to be remotely cross over that fact.
“Well, if you don’t mind, I have a request for you. And for your colony,” he apprised plainly.
Both exchanged puzzled glances at one another before the first bee, the male bee on the left, spoke again.
What exactly is this request?
Retaining composure, Antonio clasped his hands and settled them on his belly. “Could you please stop stinging him? My tío?”
The confusion swiftly morphed into a state of disbelief. Excuse me?
“I will really appreciate it if you stop stinging my tío Agustín. I know that you get upset about him disturbing you and your friends, but he truly doesn’t mean to.”
Oh, really?
He nodded confidently. “Yes, I’m certain. He’s very clumsy, so that’s why he keeps messing up when he works out here. He means well, though.”
Then he sure is the wrong person to chop wood, the second bee scoffed.
“He’s not, actually,” the child refuted. “Even though Tío Agustín’s not the most graceful person in mi familia, he still is great at his job. Oh, and he is a master of the piano.” He remembered Parce’s compliment from earlier. “He can pretty much play any tune.”
Well, the man is horrible at not bothering our home, he grumbled.
Mmm, he has a point there, Antonio admitted inwardly.
No doubt about it, the former agreed. He could possibly destroy the entire nest at this rate.
Another valid point, yet they couldn’t convince Antonio to stick with their side. Unlike them, he knew Agustín was a good-natured fellow. It was great he was here to change the bees’ perspective on him. All it took was patience and perseverance to reach there.
“I’m sure he tries his hardest to be careful around your home. He’s really nice; he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Adamancy lingering, the bee said, Clumsy or not, we don’t approve of what he’s doing. The queen especially doesn’t like it. Isn’t that so? He turned to his companion.
Yes, that’s true. She keeps blabbering about how he is a serious concern to the colony and all that. She once discussed having us all move out if things get worse, he affirmed.
Antonio frowned, suddenly feeling bad. “You don’t need to leave. You are perfectly safe here.”
There’s no other choice but to if this tree doesn’t hold up for much longer.
As long as we consistently protect ourselves, we are safe, the left bee clarified. It’s our duty.
Antonio wasn’t sure if he was referring to either Agustín or just predators in general, but he wanted to make everything comprehensible. “Look, I understand you sting for protection, but I promise that my uncle is not a predator. He’s a good person. He would never do such bad things. And to let you know, he’s seriously allergic to bee stings. He has to eat Tía Julieta’s special food to make them go away.”
Huh… was the only word that came out of him. The three sat in brief silence.
Then, he replied, I always knew something was peculiar about him. He is different from other predators for sure. He just keeps coming back despite us stinging him multiple times. Resilient guy, I’ll give him that.
“Yes, he cares so much about family. It’s very important to him. He would never give up on us,” Antonio said light-heartedly, pleased to hear something nice.
The right bee was concerned. What about our tree? We don’t know what the future holds for it. Your uncle can’t fix his clumsiness.
“No, but he tries to fix mistakes when he makes them. So maybe…” Antonio got into a “thinking” posture.
What are you having in mind there? the left bee asked. Antonio was too lost in his train of thought to answer.
The process of diligent and rational consideration ultimately led to an idea. “Maybe he could figure out how to do his work without accidentally hitting the tree.”
I’m not so sure about that.
“I know he can find a way. And I’ll help him. You want your home safe, do you?”
The insect emitted a resounding, Of course! This colony has lived here for ages, and we intend to keep it that way. If your uncle weren’t disrupting the home much, we wouldn’t leave it for the world.
“And you love your home, just like my family loves Casita. I was so sad when it fell down that one time, but we worked together to bring it back to life.”
All right, Antonio, he said in a quite lower pitch, giving in. You can go along with your idea.
Antonio’s smile extended. “Gracias. Do you promise not to sting Tío Agustín again?”
Oh, it’s not up to us, he admitted.
“Huh?” The kid was now utterly confused.
You have to speak to the queen about that.
“Okay, well, can I talk to her now?”
Sorry, she’s busy at the moment, but you can come by tomorrow and see her.
If this meant getting what he asked for, then waiting until the next day wasn’t a massive bother. “Okay, I don’t mind.”
Good, now why don’t you head back home? The both of us have to get back to work.
Yeah, we definitely do, the right bee piped up. The queen would be upset if we stayed out here for too long.
“It was nice meeting you two. I think I will come here again tomorrow morning after breakfast.” The sooner he talked to her, the better.
Got it.
The left bee made a gesture with his little black leg, waving goodbye. See ya, Antonio. Buzzing, the two honeybees flew back to the tree and disappeared into the hole.
Antonio bade adieu before stepping inside Casita. As he ascended the stairs to his rainforest room, he heard Agustín’s voice go, “How did it go, sobrinito?”
Facing his whole body at his uncle, he saw him standing at the foot of the staircase, wearing a hopeful look. Antonio had to return the smile.
“Good, but the bees said I have to talk to the queen about the stinging,” he said.
Agustín stroked his pencil mustache. “The queen, huh?”
“Mm-hmm. She’s worried about her home. One of the bees told me that she talked about moving away. Your ax is doing serious damage to it, Tío.”
“Wow, uh…” The man’s eyes awkwardly darted to his foot, which began shuffling in shame. “I-I didn’t know that. I apologize.”
Empathy engulfed Antonio. “Tío, it’s okay. You’re not doing it on purpose. Avoiding their nest is hard for you whenever you’re chopping wood. But you do your best. You really are wonderful at your job. No one can replace you.”
He lifted his face, pulling a partially heartened expression. “Thanks, Antonio. I’m humbled. I do what I can for this familia.”
“We all love you for that.” Antonio noticed Agustín coyly scratching his head.
Agustín’s shoe then tapped subtly on the tile. “How can I chop wood without causing a problem?” he questioned to himself.
“If we put our heads together, we’ll think of something,” Antonio answered.
“You’re right. Let’s see…” His tapping foot went on.
Antonio might have a young mind, but that didn’t interfere with his reflection speed. “Have you tried standing in a different spot?”
“Now that you mention it, no. I have thought of it, but I prefer to stay where I am since the shade blocks the sun. I wouldn’t want it getting into my eyes,” he elucidated.
“Maybe Mami could make the weather cloudier, or she could put a cloud over you.”
In realization, he gave his temple a light hit. “Pepa, of course! Why didn’t that come to me before?”
A nice, fuzzy feeling emanated from the child. “She’ll be happy to help.”
Agustín seemed to catch it, indicated by the twitching of his mustache. “You know what? I think Pepa may just be the answer. Thanks, Toñito.”
“My pleasure,” he said endearingly.
“I’d also like to thank you for stepping in for me. I wouldn’t have, uh, exactly done it myself.” He breathed a sheepish chuckle.
“De nada. Anytime.”
The uncle climbed up some steps and laid his long, slender hand on Antonio’s shoulder, the corners of his mouth upturned. “Your Gift is a true wonder, my nephew. It’s uniquely meant for you.”
Truth be told, Agustín’s words could be applied to almost every Madrigal, though Antonio felt his cheeks glow with pride. Being in this one-of-a-kind family was everything. “I’m very happy with it. I love animals.”
“You’re terrific, kid.” With that, he squeezed his shoulder gently and went back down, leaving Antonio hanging.
The warming sensation glued to him, Antonio walked up the rest of the stairs. It failed to dissipate when he sat at his desk to finish the drawing. Despite having his Gift for only several months, Antonio was doing grand service for the community, much like his magical family members. What Mirabel told him on his fifth birthday, the day when his nerves were at their overwhelming peak, became true, and he was beyond appreciative it did. He adored his powers dearly, relishing communicating with animals and helping others. He reckoned that that was what a Gift was supposed to make a Madrigal feel. To be amongst various lovable animals every single day was rewarding; their connection with him had never been firmer.
Antonio was enthusiastic about exploring his Gift more. After speaking to bees for the first time today, it would be nice to hold conversations with alternative insects, such as butterflies or ants. He might need a magnifying glass for itty bitty bugs. From what he learned from the bees, Agustín was inadvertently damaging their tree, the prime reason why the colony was so against him. They were a family, so they must highly care for one another and their safety. Similar to how Agustín persisted in his respective part for the family, the bees kept going along with their instincts. Antonio could wholly grasp their side of the story. That aside, he hoped they would gain a fresh outlook on his uncle. He just needed to get through the queen first.
You must be Antonio.
Locking eye contact with the black and yellow queen in front of him, the kid affirmed with a head nod. “That’s right, Miss Queen Bee.”
And you have something important to share with me, correct? My bees told me about it.
“Yes, I do. That’s what I’m here for,” he said.
Go ahead, she prompted. I’m listening.
Without any hesitation, Antonio let the words flow right out of his mouth. “I respectfully request that you stop with the stinging. My uncle doesn’t like it, and it absolutely doesn’t need to happen to him. He’s not a predator like you think he is. It’s just a misunderstanding, that’s all. Yes, his ax makes you mad, but what he’s doing to your home is not on purpose. He happens to be clumsy at chopping wood because, well, he’s like that. You can’t really change who he is. So, if you could just treat him right, me and Tío Agustín would be grateful.”
The queen stayed quiet; she apparently had nothing to say at this moment. The only sound audible was her beating wings. Antonio figured she was processing the monologue he poured out.
Approximately a minute later, she broke the silence. Let me get this straight. You want the whole colony to refrain from stinging that man since we’re all wrong about him?
“Yes, exactly.” A sprinkle of hope was shown in his grin.
If he’s clumsy like you said, is he aware of the damage he’s causing? she questioned concernedly.
“Oh, definitely,” he answered assuredly. “He feels awful about it. I have a solution to the problem, and I think it will work. He’s going to try it the next time he’s here.”
Is it a safe one? I’d like to hear this.
Antonio nodded again, wondering how many more “yes or no” questions he would inevitably answer, but he kept his respectfulness for the queen. “My tío stays at the same spot because he doesn’t want to be in the sun while he’s working. It will not be good if the rays get in his eyes. I think it’ll be a good idea if he stands in a spot where the sun is, but my mami can either change the sunny weather to cloudy or place a cloud above his head. She has weather powers.”
That doesn’t sound bad. However, we aren’t entirely sure if he’ll mess up again. Things don’t always work out perfectly, the queen noted.
He couldn’t disagree with the last part. “You’re right. Everything isn’t perfect. He may trip up, but I believe he won’t hit your tree again. He’ll be careful about it.”
I’ll still be wary. Things always happen, she reminded him.
“I get it, miss. But at least you don’t have to leave your home,” Antonio said optimistically.
The queen bee sighed in relief. I was afraid we would. The colony was built here. I would hate to just abandon this place.
It was impossible for Antonio to ignore the sensitive feeling that formed in his stomach. Having dealt with the tragedy of home loss himself, the bees would have faced a rough experience if their tree disastrously did get destroyed. Who knew how long it would have taken to find a new home? He couldn’t imagine traveling far and wide for that instead of living in a temporary one in the nearby village. In the bees’ case, a damaged home is irreparable.
“Being a bee is not that easy, is it? With all those predators around,” he spoke with commiseration.
Why, that’s the hardest part about being one, she mentioned. They love to eat our honey and, worst of all, us. Every time they attempt to raid the home, we ensure they don’t even want to think of coming back.
His curiosity piquing, he inquired, “Do you see them a lot?”
Thankfully, they only come around sometimes. The big ones, for example, bears and raccoons, are rare in this area, but those with wings are the most commonly spotted.
“It must be scary knowing that there are many out there that want something like you to snack on,” he presumed.
She gave more explanation. It is concerning, but we don’t let it get to our heads often. What matters overall is making enough honey to sustain ourselves. We essentially depend on it. A thriving colony is a healthy colony. Besides, we’re prepared to take action whenever anything bad happens.
“You are hardworking animals, and you make great-tasting honey that many of us enjoy. Like every animal, you’re important,” Antonio voiced, his smile all heartfelt.
The queen’s neutral buzzing sounds became uplifting. I’m fond of your compliment, Antonio. It’s pleasing to hear that as a queen.
Even though Antonio wanted to retain the smile, a sudden grave thought invaded his mind. “I remember the bees telling me that you kept talking about my tío. He worried you a lot.”
That is correct. He did, she confirmed.
“There’s certainly no need to worry since you now know the whole truth about him. He’s not dangerous, and he never was. You just have to see it. When he comes outside again, he’ll not be in the same spot anymore. I have a feeling things will be better.” The child concluded his dialogue with a confident and benevolent expression on his little face. As for the queen, she appeared indifferent; to be fair, her species could not exactly emote compared to other animals.
Well, I guess the best we can do is to be patient with him. I want the colony to stay strong more than anything, she acknowledged calmly.
“Trust me, it will,” Antonio guaranteed. “You’ll all be all right.”
She turned to the tree, her home, behind her, holding her sight on the team of busy bees working away harmoniously. Not redirecting her focus, she said, For my colony, I trust you. I believe you. You are someone who wants to help us because you care; I can see that. Especially now, we need all the help we can get. How could I ever disregard or dismiss the support?”
Now Antonio felt like his smile couldn’t fade. “I really care for animals. Helping them is what I do. And I adore it very much. I’m happy to help you and your family.”
The queen faced him. I’m thankful for this, I truly am. Also, I want to apologize sincerely for giving your uncle trouble. It was all a huge mistake.
“Miss Queen Bee, I completely understand. You all were just being protective, and I’m not mad over that,” Antonio expressed kindly.
From now on, this colony will no longer lay their stingers on him, she declared.
The boy’s eyes sparkled, vehement elation rushing throughout him. “No more stinging?”
No more stinging, she echoed. That is a solid promise.
“Oh, thank you ever so much!” Antonio rejoiced.
No worries, young one. And I should return the gratitude. Without your help, our home would’ve perhaps been gone.
“Anything for animals,” he remarked devotedly. He then glanced at his house. “Tío Agustín will be super happy when I tell him that he’ll never be covered with bee stings again.”
You can go and do it right away. I need to have an important meeting with my bees, the queen informed.
“Okay, I will. Gracias, Miss Queen Bee.” Antonio began to putter towards the Casita.
Wait, come back here for a minute.
Hearing the queen, Antonio naturally did what he was told. “Yes?”
She buzzed closer to him, hovering about a few feet from his nose. You and your family are very welcome to borrow our honey whenever you please.
“Really?” Antonio’s small voice exuded significant mirth.
You deserve it. We have plenty of honey to share, anyway.
“That’s so kind of you, miss. My family will appreciate this,” he thanked.
The bee added, Also, tell your uncle I’m sorry for me. He needs a genuine apology after all we’ve done to him.
“Will do,” he nodded.
I better get going now. See you around, Antonio. Again, thank you.
“De nada, Miss Queen Bee. Bye bye.”
When she left his sight, Antonio merrily skipped straight home. Not only did he shatter the bees’ resentment towards Agustín, but he also created an unexpected friendship with them. Antonio had never had any insect buddies before, which meant they were officially the first ones he befriended. This made him elated to have new creatures to socialize with. Better yet, the bees could meet Pico, Parce, and maybe his other animals; they would all get along splendidly. If it were possible, the boy could speak to every animal species there was in one day. Like Tío Agustín said, his Gift was a true wonder.