Fly High, Butterfly

Chapter Two

Bruno had always disliked going to the village.

Everyone always stared and not in the good way. They always smiled at Pepa's and Dolores' quirks, but laughed at him when he did his rituals. Whispered. Glared.

Everyone thought he was wierd for throwing salt and sugar over his shoulder, for crossing his fingers and holding his breath, for knocking on wood.... No matter what it was they always laughed.

He couldn't help it. Much like when Pepa got excited, she needed to spin or when Dolores got happy, she had to bounce and flap her hands. He had to do these things. If he didn't it would hurt. He'd hurt someone. Bad things would happen and it would be his FAULT.

Mirabel seemed to notice how quiet and anxious he was and smiled at him "Tío Bruno? Are you bien? Do you want a break?".

He nodded and sighed in relief. She directed him towards a bench, staring she'd be right back, she just needed more thread. Before he sat down, he saw a group of kids playing nearby staring at him. His hand still raised to knock on the pillar, other hand reaching for the bag of salt.

He didn't like being watched.

He shook it off and tried to ignore them as he continued and finally felt the relief that let him sit and rub this hands on the embroidered hourglasses on his ruana Mirabel fixed up him. It always felt nice under his hands, not too itchy or rough. He watched as Mirabel walked by the kids on her way back, seemingly saying hello to them before the dark haired boy tugged on her skirt. He couldn't hear what was being said, but he soon could guess what...

He pointed at Bruno and mimicked what he was doing earlier while the other two started moving, one spinning while talking and the other bouncing and flapping. Dolores and Pepa. He flushed and averted his eyes before glancing back up.

Mirabel made a soft face, looked at him and nodded decisively. She turned and said something to them that took a while, making them gasp, look at each other and run off.

When Mirabel returned, he fidgeted with his hands "Why were they acting like me, Pepa and Dolores?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Oh. They just asked if you were like Tía Pepa and Dolores. I said that yes, you're like them but you arent them."Mirabel, at his confused look, explained further,

"Alejandra asked how you were different when you're like them. I said 'you know how when Pepa gets happy she spins and when she gets upset she tugs her braid? Bruno doesn't do that, when he gets overwhelmed he gets into a ball and rocks.'. Then Cecilia said 'Dolores flaps and squeaks when she gets happy, does he do that too?' I told her 'no, he doesn't, but he does rock on his heels and clap when he's excited' Then Juancho asked why you three act like differently than everyone else... "

Bruno's breath was stuck in his throat. He threw salt then sugar over his shoulder before rapping his knuckles on the bench and then his head, "knock knock knock on wood.".

Mirabel, ever the patient one, continued " I said, 'well some people just feel like they have to do those things sometimes', you need to do your rituals just like Pepa needs to spin or how Dolores needs to flap and squeak. What you do is different, but it helps all the same. So, don't worry, they weren't making fun of you guys. Just curious little kids. Strange thing though...after I said you were stimming they ran off like they forgot something.".

He sighed in relief, they weren't being mocked, Mirabel grinned and lightly punched his arm before working on her embroidery on her new skirt, this one having beautiful multicolored butterflies fluttering over it.

They sat for a bit, enjoying the almost quiet bustle of the mid afternoon, Mirabel regaling of how they town kids would follow her with seemingly endless questions about the family's gifts, when he noticed the boy next to him and jumped.

The kids from earlier stood by him, the dark hair boy, with eyes seemed to stare into his soul, cocked his head at him in curiosity. He must of been Juancho. Two girls who were holding something in their arms stood behind him. "Oh. Hola." Bruno waved.

"You're... Bruno?" He asked, Bruno glanced at Mirabel who shrugged, then nodded "uh, sí?".

"But... Camilo said you were TALL. You're not that tall." The blonde girl piped up. Mirabel laughed, "Cecilia! You know that Camilo exaggerates for laughs.". "He said you were SCARY! You don't look scary to me." The other girl, that must be Alejandra, grinned.

Bruno chuckled, "Camilo was very small when he last saw me use my gift. I guess it scared him.". The group of kids giggled, no doubt planning to tease Camilo next time they saw him.

"Oh what is this? It's beautiful!" Mirabel asked, regaining his attention as she handed him handed the bundle of fabric passed to her from the kids.

"You said that Bruno liked touching your skirt...so we made him this.."

All watched as it was unraveled, and his heart warmed. It was a dark green ruana with different colored embroidered butterflies scattered across it, some places thicker than others, some had beads, others were patches of extra soft or shiny fabric, it even had his name in cursive on the bottom. It was handmade and painstakingly stitched.

Tears of joy pricked his eyes. "We made it together. Mi mama helped...Do you like it?"Cecilia fiddled with her hands shyly.

"sí! You all made this? It's fantástico! Gracias!". He lets his hand trail over it excitedly, it felt amazing under his fingers.

"Oh you guys are just the sweetest! Me and tio Bruno can match now! Muchos Gracias!" Mirabel scooped them into a hug, making them all giggle squeal.

A rat popped out of Brunos collar to see what all the commotion was about, making the boy scream in surprise.

For a second he thought it had scared him, as it did Mirabel before, but he was proven wrong when he saw that the boys eyes were wide and lit up.

"That is so COOL! Your pet rats ride on you? Amazing! Can we pet them? Pleeeeeease?" Juancho begged, Bruno nodded and carefully shifted for them to come out onto his arms and held the biggest one in his hands "his name is Julio.".

The boy gently pet him as the others gathered around, much to Mirabels amusement. "See?" She mouthed, smirking.

"he's so cute! Mama says I can't get a rat, but I want one."gushed Cecilia as she gave a rat gentle pat.

"Sí, yes very cute. Very friendly. Knock knock knock on wood."he rapped on the wood bench and then his head, freezing in place after. The kids looked at him for a brief second before stepping back, "oh, are you getting oversimu- overstumu- what did you call it Mirabel? When Dolores gets sad and covers her ears?" Alejandra asked.

"Overstimulated?" Mirabel answered without looking up from her work, Alejandra nodded "that's it! Are you that Bruno? Sorry if you are, we can be quieter!".

He froze, no one had asked him that before, besides his sisters, even before he left for inside the walls. He'd always had to be at 100% all the time. Always had to push himself. Always be perfecto.

"Just a little. I'm fine. Gracias. You're very kind children."he reassured them with a smile.

"Alejandra! Cecilia! Juancho! Your mamas' said to come home for lunch! Vamanos!"an elderly woman called towards them.

" Sí! Coming Abuelita Linda!"they chorused, "adios Mirabel! Bruno!".

As they ran off Bruno met Mirabels grin, "sí, Mirabel is always right. Who's right? Mirabel! Who's great? Mirabel!".

The girl danced in place making Bruno chuckle and the townspeople laugh at her antics as they passed her "sí, you're right Mirabel, but mama says it's time for lunch." A voice from behind her made her jump.

"Isabela!"

Both girls giggled, "come on Tío Bruno. Before Camilo eats all the arepas con queso y pollo again. Last one there does the dishes!" Isabella grabbed her uncle's arm, pulling him along as they all ran.

Bruno always disliked going to the village, but he always loved spending time with his familia.