𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘶 | 𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗹

𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 1

Encanto, Colombia
summer of 1907

"Mama, it's so pretty! Is this our new home?" A young daughter called out to mother who was far behind her. She looked up to admire their new home, newly built and perfect in her eyes. The mother smiled, carrying a box of small things with the father not long behind both of them leading livestock. "Do you like it, mi novia? This will be our new home from now on" the mother said as she placed the box on the front step with the father coming up behind and taking hold of his wife's hand, kissing it and looking down at their pride and joy. "Why don't you go and explore the village? Me and your mother and get everything prepared". He smiled as his daughter nodded her head and ran away excitedly to meet the locals.

Although the village was small, the main streets still crowded with stores and happy locals dancing and singing in the streets. The small child beamed with joy as she joined in with the celebrations, her dress following the pattern of her joyous dancing. Time went by before dancing turned into work. People were beginning to shop, build, and chat in the streets as the child quickly made herself at home with many of the people who all thought she was adorable. The crowds began to grow bigger and the child grew eager and restless to have more fun, her little legs bringing her everywhere within the town. She would occasionally bump into the adults who immediately forgave her, until she bumped into a woman with three children of her own.

"I'm so sorry, señora" she looked up at the woman who seemed to be quite upset with her but then smiled and kneeled down to the young girls height and forgave her, examining her carefully. "Are you alright, young one? That bump mustn't have felt very good, hm?" Her voice was soft and kind, immediately putting the girl at ease. She nodded slightly as she only now realized the small pain in her feet and arm where she kept bumping into others. The woman smiled as one of her children walked towards her and handed her a warm buñuelo. "Here, eat it! You'll feel much better" her high pitched voice was happy and inviting as the girl took it and thanked her before taking a bite. It was good, but she noticed the pain in her body suddenly stopped, as if it was never even there to begin with. She swallowed down the bite she took and looked at the older girl in front of her. "Thank you!" She chimed happily. The older girl smiled "You're welcome! I'm Julieta!". "I'm Elena" the young girl said as they shook hands and began to talk about whatever could come to their minds.

The day continued and the two girls quickly became friends and explored the village together, Julieta telling her about her family. "Gifts" and "a miracle candle" is all she could really process. Though Elena didn't quite understand it, she thought it was amazing what, not only Julieta could do, but what her siblings could too. It was a lot to take it.

"Pepa can get quite emotional though so theirs almost always rain in the house, Bruno tends to slip on the puddles." They both giggled as Julieta continued. "Bruno can look into the future, his room sucks though. So many stairs". "How many stairs?" A curious Elena asked as she nibbled on some more of Julieta's delicious baked goods. "Far too many!" The 8 year old said dramatically as she stood up. "You should come see our rooms! I'm sure mama wouldn't mind you visiting the casita!" Elena smiled and nodded, loving the idea.

"Elena?" She turned her head to the sound of her mothers voice, seeing her in the distance with the woman she bumped into earlier. Julieta waved to her mother and they both ran up towards the women. After greeting their daughters, they continued to socialize with one another as Julieta introduced Elena to her siblings.

Julieta was the eldest and, of course, the first to introduce herself to Elena. She had curly black hair and soft brown eyes. Her gift as she described was healing through food
Pepa was the second eldest triplet and had long curly red hair with large green eyes. Her gift seemed to be controlling the weather with her emotions. She was happy right now, so the sky seemed to be clear.
Bruno was the youngest triplet and had messy curly black hair with large hazel eyes. He seemed shy but managed to smile at Elena. His gift was to look into the future.

She quickly became friends with all three of them, the triplets being rather excited to have a new friend.
However, there meeting was cut short as the children's mothers had finished their conversations and decided it was time to head home. Elena said her goodbyes to each triplet as she took her mothers hand and began to walk home. The evening chill shook her small body as her mother smiled down at her.

"I see you made some new friends today, how wonderful! I promise, you can play more with them tomorrow. Now, how about some supper?"

•
•
•

The young girl sat in her room, the only light coming from her window where the light of the moon illumination everything in sight. She got up from her comfy bed and sat on her windowsill, staring into the distance where the biggest house in the village lay. The casita. That was where her new friends lived. She smiled as she thought of tomorrow and how much more fun they would have then. She yawned and headed back to bed, laying her head down on her pillow and escaping into the relaxation of sleep.

Julieta, Pepa, and Bruno Madrigal. Her new friends.

word count: 985