Waiting on a Miracle

Encanto Excitement

The next day at school, Margarita had just gotten her books from her locker, and she was on her way to her history class when Amber came up to her with her two friends.

"Hello, Margarita," Amber smirked. "I hope you're looking forward to the school play. Have you ever been in a play before?"

"Not since the first grade, when we put on The Land Before Time for Thanksgiving," Margarita replied.

"What role did you play?" Charlotte asked.

"Ducky," Margarita replied. "Apparently, my mother cried her heart out the minute she learned I got that one specific role."

"Anyway, I have to admit, you just might be a shoe-in for the lead," Amber said sarcastically. "I mean, this is a high school play, which means you're going to be singing in front of a huge audience."

Margarita knew that this would different from elementary school. "I'm aware of that, but I've sung in public before," she admitted.

"Have you?" Karlene asked.

"Yes, singing in a church choir was quite a small step for me," Margarita stated. "Singing a complete song on my own in front of a huge audience is a giant leap for my family."

"Well, that's something," Charlotte said.

Suddenly, the bell rang, meaning it was time to get ready.

"I'll see you all later," Margarita said, walking off.

"Well, so much for making her feel nervous," Amber sniffed.

"Forget that, Amber," Charlotte said. "Wait until auditions—you're sure to get the lead anyway."

"I know," Amber smirked.

The whole day went by, and many of the students were really looking forward to auditioning for the play. All this talk about the school play made the entire day go by so fast that it felt like it only lasted about an hour.

Right now, it was art class, and the students were painting pictures having to do with the movie. Mr. Prescott went around the room, looking at the paintings.

"My, that's a beautiful cactus, Jade," Mr. Prescott said.

"Thank you," Jade smiled.

Mr. Prescott went over to Clio to find that she was painting different symbols that represent each member of the Family Madrigal. "Aw, different symbols of Mirabel's family—beautiful," he smiled.

"Thank you," Clio smiled.

"Hey, Enrique, what do you think of my painting?" Amber asked.

Enrique turned to Amber to find that she'd painted herself wearing a more perfect version of Mirabel's ensemble. "I see you painted yourself as Mirabel," he said.

"That's because everyone knows I'm perfect for the role of Mirabel Madrigal," Amber boasted.

Margarita whispered to her friends, "Sí, if she only knew even one lousy line, let alone the songs."

"Oh, Enrique, that's a beautiful painting," Amber smiled. But she had no idea what Enrique was painting. "What is it?"

"It's the Miracle Candle," Enrique replied. "It's the source of the family's magic."

"It was also the wedding candle of Alma and Pedro Madrigal," Margarita chimed in. "Some people believe that the minute he was murdered, his soul went into the candle, and that's how the miracle was born. Some might think his spirit lives within the Casita."