Tap Through The Beat

The Fight

I froze, barely unable to think straight as I caught my great great grandfather's sombrero disappear in the mass of people. Miguel quickly pulled Hector down the stage "We have to go now!" Hector became confused "Go? But we never -" Before any of us could say further, an announcement was being made.

"calma a todos, I have an important announcement to make. Please be on the look out for a living boy and girl, answers to the name of Miguel and Angelita. Earlier tonight they ran away from their families, they just want to send them back to the Land of the Living"

The two of us froze and Hector turned to us, looking shocked and angry at the same time "I thought you said you didn't have any other family members" I grew confused "I didn't say that I didn't have family members" Hector rolled his eyes.

"I wasn't talking about you, I was talking to him, he said that you have but he doesn't and your stuck here unless he gets to have his family's blessing. You lied to me!"

Hector said, hurt flashed in his eyes and I felt the sudden guilt throb in my chest "You don't understand, our families hate music!" Miguel said and Hector pressed his two fingers on the bridge of his nose.

"Ay, Miguel I'm being forgotten here and I need to cross the bridge"

He grabbed us both by the arms "That's it, I'm taking you two back to your family, you'll thank me later one day!" Part of me wanted to protest but a bigger part of me wanted to see my family and ease their worry for us both.

"No! Let go!"

Miguel yelled pulling away and promptly dragged me away from Hector "You don't care about us or what happens to us! All you wanted was your dumb photo!" Miguel angrily grabbed the photo and threw it away.

I gasped, Miguel never acted this way. Hector scrambled for the photo and Miguel took that moment to grab me by the arm "Take your dumb photo and stay away from us!" Miguel pulled me down a flight of stairs.

I pulled away just as Dante barked after us "Miguel, what on earth -" Dante cut me off when he began to pull Miguel back from where we came from.

"No Dante No!"

Miguel screamed before he added "You're not a spirit guide your just a dumb dog! Now get out of here!" Dante whimpered and I stood in front of him.

"Miguel, what's gotten into you? You never act like this before. Maybe we should get your Mama Imelda's blessing"

I was starting to get mad at him and his attitude "Angelita, music is a part of my life and I don't want it to be taken away from me" I froze.

"Is it really more important than family Miguel?"

We froze for what seemed like an eternity "Miguel, I always go with you because your my best friend. But, seeing you act like this makes me want to stop" Miguel turned away.

Dante whimpered at the two of us. He knew we rarely fight like this and would fight only if it is really important.

I tool a step back, taking Dante along with me "Miguel, go get your grandfather's blessing. Dante and I will be with our family" Miguel tensed up before he nodded.

It was then I realized that a lot of people were already staring at us and Miguel's hood was down "Go Miguel, they already saw you. I'll wait for you in the Terminal Department" Miguel nodded as he dashed away.

"I'll come back for you!" He yelled as he slid down a pipe line. I stared at his disappearing form before I turned and walked away.

Dante whimpered before he gave me those puppy dog eyes he always gives us to tell us to make up and stop fighting.

I patted his head and smiled bitterly "Don't worry, Miguel and I will talk once we are back to the Land of The Living." Dante still gave me those doubtful eyes but nodded anyways.

I walked to nowhere, passing by stalls and other shops and happy faced skeletons. I ran towards a secluded place where I saw the sea and wept, holding Dante for support.

"Maybe mi familia is right, maybe music really is a curse that drives you away from someone you love"

I angrily pulled Mama Coralie's shoes and tossed them away. I couldn't bear to throw them into the water.

***

The Gonzalez family had heard about a little skeletal girl just run by and Mama Coralie had stopped to pick up something.

Her Tap Dancing shoes.

They heard the sound of sobs and saw their Angelita crying her heart out to Dante who was licking and nuzzling her in comfort.

"I don't see the boy. They must have had an argument or something"

Raúl said as he grasped his sister's arm. Silvia nodded before her gaze went to Mama Coralie and Papa Fernando.

"Fernando, we must do something"

Mama Coralie said as she placed her old Tap Dancing shoes down near Angelita before putting on a new set of dancing shoes.

Fernando froze, he knew what Coralie was thinking but he hesitated. Coralie touched his arm.

"Mi amor, I know whatever happened to me is the cause of your reaction but you must let it go. If not for yourself, then for Angelita and I"

Fernando sighed as he went off somewhere only to come back with a guitar "For you and for our Angelita" The entire dead family  smiled at the two.

"What do you want me to do?"

Coralie smiled "We'll place Angelita back on her feet" Javier gave her a confused look.

"And how do we do that?"

Fernando gave a strum on the guitar and Coralie gave five tap beats and gave a smirk. A familiar feeling she had not felt since the banning of music and dancing was slowly coming through her.

"We'll just let her Tap Dance Through The Beat"