A Story of Friendship

Learning the truth

Marigold and Zipacna kept digging a hole deeper in panic.

Lots of confusing faces in the room as Hugo spoke. "What's the big deal? It's just cake roll."

"The big deal is that there is a big-blaming argument between Papá and a human Filipina who baked that cake." Marigold explained as Zipacna put the box of cake roll inside the roll.

"Why?" Alastor asked.

"WHY?!" Marigold was about to explain, but, honestly, she didn't know about that and her father's story with that Filipino girl. "Well, uh, a-actually, I-I'm not really sure." Then, she turned to Zipacna. "You have any idea, tio?"

"Well, no, actually." Zipacna said. "Hermanito only told me that he got into a little fight yet loud argument with a human Filipina. Even your mother never told me."

"Then I guess we should ask Grandpa and Grandma?" Clara suggested.

"Ask us what?" They heard a familiar female voice as La Muerte and Xibalba entered the dining room.

Panicked, Zipacna covered the hole and the box with the dug soil, and Camazok did the distraction. "What dip do you want for dinner? Ketchup or hot sauce?" He showed the bottles of ketchup and hot sauce."

"Hot sauce!" Xibalba swatted the bottle of ketchup from Camazok's hand as he headed towards the kitchen door without noticing the dug hole on the floor. "I want to be a little spicy. I'm gonna go wash for dinner. Be right back." He said before closing the door.

"And I'm gonna get something from our chamber." La Muerte excused herself before leaving the dining room.

Everyone sighed in relief when La Muerte and Xibalba left the room without hearing the conversation about the Filipina.

Then, Marigold continued the conversation to the rest. "Listen, everyone. Anytime Tio Zipacna and I ever asked Mamá and Papá about the argument or that Filipina, they'd get so upset they couldn't talk. Best not bring it up."

"But that human Filipina, Agatha Galido, was really nice to me, even though she knew I'm Xibalba's son." Hugo said. "I wonder what happened."

"I wish I know, hermanito." Marigold sighed. "If we can't tell Papi and Mami, I don't know who—" Then, she remembered someone who can tell them. "We can ask Candlemaker! If anyone knows people's stories, it's the book keeper."

"I'm in!" Alastor raised his hand.

"Me too." Algner added. "It would be fun!"

Then, Kyroc and Clara tugged their mother's skirt. "Mami, can we go too?" The twins begged.

"Of course, nuestra pequeño y pequeña." Marigold smiled at her twins as she carried Clara while Juan Carlos carried Kyroc. "You two are your grandpapi's nietos. You should know all about him too."

"I guess it won't be hurt that I should know about that too." Juan Carlos chuckled.

"My little brother cannot keep secrets from me anymore!" Zipacna snapped. "And I should know what was his issue with this mortal Filipina."

"I don't know about this, guys. Maybe I shouldn't come." Camazok said. "I-I'm not part of this family."

"You are now, to us." Zipacna corrected.

"I think everyone in this family should know Papá's story with this Filipina." Marigold said. "And we should ask Candlemaker tomorrow morning."

The next morning, the curious family left the Land of the Forgotten to meet Candlemaker in the Cave of souls. When they arrived there, Candlemaker and the Book startled when they saw their favourite family.