Tap Through The Beat

The Riveras

Morning dawn approached and the Gonzalez residence were all awake, each making doing their role in helping the business.

Not even two hours had passed and a lot of customers were already lining up.

Grabbing my sewing kit and placing the shoes under a cloth, I raced out but not before kissing mi padres on the cheek and promising to be back by lunch.

I decided to take a tour around the Plaza and saw a lot of mariachis playing all kinds of instruments.

Without knowing it, my feet started tapping to the beat as I walked. A few passerby's saw and stopped to look before continuing on the way.

Finding myself a secluded place where no one would look, I listened to a particular music before my feet began to tap to the beat.

I was completely unaware I had an audience.

***

Miguel made sure he wasn't being followed by any his relatives before he found himself on the plaza full of people and mariachis and music.

A bark came before he was suddenly tackled and licked by a hairless dog.

"Dante!"

Miguel laughed as he tried to pry himself away from the stray dog's grip but it was no use, Dante had him in his paws in a tight grip.

Dante's ears perked up when he caught the sound of something tapping. He barked and tried to pull Miguel towards the sound but the boy was too busy observing the mariachis playing.

Dante wandered around, following the tapping sounds until he spotted a young girl tapping her foot in a fast pace to a nearby band of mariachis playing.

Dante eyed the girl with interest, she was pretty and was about the same age as Miguel and doing weird moves.

"Dante!"

Dante turned to see Miguel and he barked happily and pointed to the direction of the tapping girl. Miguel was already a few seconds ahead of him.

***

As soon as the music stopped, I continued tapping until I halted with two taps.

I was breathless behind measure but I was also grinning so much. Back at the states, I rarely had time to hide myself from tap dancing without being spotted.

A clapping sound came from behind me and on instinct, I have a swift kick and a yelp followed after followed by a bark.

Taking my shoe off (since I had no other weapon), I pointed it at the sound to see a boy about my age looking at me like I was about to kill him and a hairless dog beside him.

"Quién son Que?"

I asked a bit harsher than I intended too but what would a girl think if she was being secretly watched by someone.

The boy raised his hands as he stood up "Mi nombre es Miguel" He was still eyeing my shoe so I slowly put it back on my feet.

"Mina es Angelita"

I answered as we shook hands. The dog beside him began to sniff at me "He's your dog?" Miguel shook his head.

"He's a stray but I do treat him as if he was my own. You're new here aren't you?"

I nodded "My family just moved in, we're known to tailoring outfits" Miguel's eyes widen "You mean the house just across the Rivera home?" I nodded before my eyes widen.

"We're neighbors?"

We both asked at the same time that we chuckled "I guess we are. I just hope your family doesn't play music so much. My family thinks it's a curse" Miguel's eyes widen.

"My family too hates music only because it almost tore the family apart"

I shuffled my feet when I felt his eyes went down "Where did you learn to dance like that?" I smiled slightly.

"Mama Coralie was a Tap dancer in the states and Papa Fernando was a musician here in Mexico. I think I got this from Mama Coralie"

Miguel nodded "Makes sense, you don't look like a Mexican at first sight" I smirked before punching him lightly "Meanie"

The two of us walked back home, discussing our love for music and our family's hate for it.

"How long did your family hate music?" Miguel asked and I rolled my eyes "Ever since I was born. You know, my first word they taught me was Me odio música"

Miguel laughed before we stopped in our tracks to see our families conversing happily with one another.

"Abuelita, what is going on?"

Miguel asked an old woman beside a young man who was holding a pregnant woman. Both of them have the same features of Miguel so I guess they are his parents.

"Miguel! Mijo, we finally found a family who agrees to our ways of banning music!"

Great, not even a week has passed and already our families are buddy buddy with each other.

"This is Angelita, our little Angel in the house"

Abuelito said, pulling me roughly to his side. I smiled nervously while Miguel tried to pry himself away from his Abuelita's tight grip.

"And this is Miguel"

Miguel nervously looked at his Abuelita "um...Abuelita, Angelita and I already met" My Mama smiled "Maravillosa, I am sure we will all get along with our new neighbors" Miguel and I chuckled nervously.

I turned to Miguel and handed him a wrapped cloth. He gave me a confused look before he peered in and his eyes widened. I gave him a pleading look and he nodded to try and fix the shoes.

***

Later that night, I was busy cleaning up my new room when I heard something from my window.

Curious, I opened the window only to duck when a small pebble whizzed pass by me, barely missing my head.

I glared at the figure below "Realmente Miguel!, I almost got hit!" I whispered harshly as Miguel rubbed his neck and shot me an apologetic look.

"I wanted to give you this!"

He showed me a shoe box and I tied my basket to the sheets before lowering it down for Miguel to place it.

Opening it, I gasped "Mi zapatos! Gracias Miguel" He smiled and bowed before he briskly walled back to his home.

I admired the new leather of the shoe and the steels on the sole and head of the shoes were replaced by brand new ones.

I wonder how Miguel even managed to fix this since he said he didn't know how to make shoes let alone repair it.

I lay on my clean bed and drifted off to sleep.