A Door Of Her Own

The Ceremony

Mirabel Madrigal: Age 5

"Mami! Mami!" A young voice calls as little feet  run towards the kitchen.

Julieta glanced up from the dough she had been kneading to find her youngest daughter skidding to a halt in the kitchen. Julieta watches as she careens dangerously towards the corner of the counter, but before she could get too worked up, Casita launched up a few tiles along the floor to steer her daughter out of the way. Now with the probability of her child needing her to heal her lessening, Julieta allowed herself to take stock of her smallest hija.

Mirabel Madrigal. The youngest of the Madrigal clan. Tiny hands and tiny feet, dark hair that ended just about her shoulders and that sprung up in small bouncy curls, large brown eyes enhanced by even larger round framed glasses (lime green to be specific. LIME GREEN. She was never letting Bruno take her to buy her glasses again). But none of this is what caught Julieta Madrigal's eye. No, but as for the rumpled state of her daughter's dress, and the excited look in her eyes, well, that was bound to grab her attention.

Julieta gave a kind smile as she began rolling out the dough into large flat strips. "Si mi hija? What is it?"

Mirabel gave an affronted look, astonished at how her mother seemed not to remember the day. Or more importantly the significance of the day. Really. How could she forget? Mirabel woke up extra early and even got dressed as quick as she could in hopes she could make tonight come faster.

"Mami don't be silly! I'm turning five today. Today is the day I get my gift, just like You and Isabela and Tia Pepa and and-"

As the young girl cuts herself off in excitement, Julieta let out a soft chuckle. It was in these moments that she noticed just how much Mirabel takes after her Tio Felix. Both so excited about everything and anything. But if there ever was a day to be excited, it was today.

"Si mi amor, how could I forget? I'm making empanadas for your ceremony right now." And indeed she was as she cut the dough in thin strips and began to fill the center with meat and cheese.

The youngest Madrigal grinned as she stumbled forward on stubby legs, she knew her Mami hadn't forgotten, she was just silly sometimes. Oh but Mirabel was excited! Tonight would be her gift ceremony, and she would get a gift. She threw her arms around her mothers legs as she thought about it. Casita would give her her own room, her own door.

Mirabel couldn't wait to see what her gift would be! She couldn't wait to get her own door!
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Mirabel remembers the cramping in her chest, the cold air rushing out of her lungs as she watched her door fade to ash in front of her. She remembers her Abuela holding the candle, taking a step away as if Mirabel might burn her. She remembers the townspeople and their gasps of shock and loud whispers.

Mirabel wishes she could forget how her family stared at her. Wide eyed and unrecognizing. Her Tio Bruno had been the only one to comfort her, scooping her up in his arms as she cried against his poncho.

Mirabel hates that this is how she remembers her gift ceremony. She hates how she didn't get a gift, how she didn't get a door. She hates even more how this was the last time she ever saw her Tio Bruno.

AN: Okay! First chapter! What do you guys think? I know I'm not a great writer and I don't have the best grammer, and a lot of other stuff so please criticize! This was the flashback chapter and the next chapter is going to be set at the beginning of the movie.

Note: *major cannon divergence*