The Real American Idol

Party Planning

Once Upon a Time...

...in Bellflower Bay, New Mexico, lived a beautiful 14-year-old girl named Mirabela Mendoza. She lived in a big, beautiful Casita with her mother, Sara, her paternal grandfather Jesus, her paternal uncle Pablo, her aunt Sofia, and her twin cousins Dulce and Variel. Sara was a police officer while Pablo was a doctor, and Jesus and Sofia stayed home to care for the girls.

Mirabela's father, Sara's husband, and Pablo's younger brother, Pedro, was a solider, serving in the army in Colombia. Back in 2008, Pedro had been shot in the chest and had emergency heart replacement surgery, which he miraculously survived. For this, he received a Purple Heart. Mirabela was proud to be the daughter of a man who was brave enough to care for her country, but there were times she missed him. Sometimes she wished he were living here with her. An alternate solution would've been to have Mirabela live with her father in Colombia, but he wouldn't allow that because it would've been too dangerous for her. Mirabela was happy with her life, and she saw her uncle and grandfather as father figures, but without Pedro, the family looked like it had a big, gaping hole. Mirabela had her family to talk to whenever she was missing her father, but this fall, everything would be different.

It was November 1, 2011, so Halloween had just barely passed. Mirabela was in her bedroom, finishing up the classic book Frankenstein. "Ah, a little late, but at least I'm done," she smiled. Then she looked at her watch and saw that it was time to get up, which was funny because she was already out of bed. She turned off the lamp just as her mother came in to wake her.

"Ah, Mirabela, you're up already," Sara smiled.

"Hola, Mami," Mirabela smiled back.

"Breakfast is ready," Sara said.

"Coming," Mirabela said. She got her stuff together and joined the rest of her family in the dining room for breakfast. "Buen día, familia."

"Buen día, Mirabela," Pablo smiled.

"Finished that Frankenstein book yet, Mira?" Variel asked.

"Read the last five pages the minute I got up," Mirabela replied.

"Wow, you must've wanted to finish that book badly to get up early to read it," Sofia remarked.

"Sí, Tía Sofia," Mirabela smiled. "Besides, I only had five more pages to cover."

"Well, Mirabela, only 10 more days until your Quinceañera," Jesus smiled. "I hope you're excited."

Mirabela's smile dropped, but she tried not to make her sadness obvious. A Quinceañera was a traditional Latin American party celebrating a girl's 15th birthday, and Mirabela's birthday was November 11th, which was also Veteran's Day. This year, she would be 15, so she would have a Quinceañera, but she didn't even want one because she really wanted her father to come to the party in person. Mirabela knew her father wouldn't be able to come, but that was really hard to accept.

"More than excited, Lito," Mirabela lied.

"Good to know," Jesus said.

"We still have to get your dress, tiara, and shoes," Sara said. "We'll get them this weekend."

"Okay, Mami," Mirabela said.

After breakfast, Mirabela, Dulce, and Variel each rode to school on a scooter.

"So, what colored dress are you going to wear, Mirabela?" Dulce asked.

"I'm thinking navy blue to go with the Veteran's Day motif," Mirabela replied.

"Navy blue sounds awesome," Variel smiled. "And as your Damas, I'm guessing you'll want us to wear red, white, or blue dresses for your Quince?"

"Either red or blue is fine," Mirabela said. "White is too wedding-ish."

"You're right," Dulce agreed.