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Years later, fifteen-year-old Mirabel woke up early, eager to tackle the special day. There was so much that needed to be done for her little primo's gift day! As she hurried around her room to get herself dressed, the house could barely keep up! It slid her shoes and green-rimmed glasses in her direction but barely caught her nightgown as she quickly changed into her embroidered skirt and blouse. Now she was ready!
The bedroom door opened. “Okay,” Mirabel said to herself. She exhaled. “You got this.”
The house quickly propelled her downstairs, past a portrait of Abuelo Pedro, whom she only knew through Abuela's stories. In the photo, he was young and handsome. “Morning, Abuelo.”
Mirabel began to set the table in the dining room. As she did, the house stirred, opening window shutters to let in golden rays of sunlight. Outside, a swarm of eager children from the village gathered at the window, anxious for tonight's big party. For them, the Madrigal family's gift ceremony was a huge event. The whole town looked forward to it and would come to celebrate.
As Mirabel prepared for breakfast, the children excitedly yelled questions from the window.
“Hey, when's the magic going to happen?!” a little boy shouted.
“My cousin's ceremony is tonight,” Mirabel answered calmly, continuing to set up. It was important that she helped as much as she could. Today was a big day for her family.
“What's his gift?” yelled the same little boy, hoisting a cup of coffee.
“We're going to find out,” Mirabel said.
“What's your gift?” another child asked.
“Who's asking?” Mirabel teased, not stopping her work for a second.
“Us!” said the little boy gesturing to the three other children with him.
“Well, ‘us,' if I only tell you my part, you won't know the whole story,” Mirabel answered.
This time all the children chimed in. “What's the whole story?”
“Ah, you're not going to leave me alone, are you?” she said, returning to her bedroom. In order to tell children the whole story, Mirabel had to tell them all about her family and their magical gifts. And she would need a little help from Casita.
Casita was always there for Mirabel and the rest of the Madrigals. They shared a special bond, and each day was a new adventure at the magical house.
Ready to tell the story, Mirabel turned her attention to the drawers along the wall.
“Drawers,” she said. They opened immediately for her. “Floors.” The tiles on the ground flipped open and closed as if saluting her. “Doors.” All the bedroom doors in the house glowed with magic.
“Let's go!” Mirabel shouted. Hurrying about, she and the house joined forces to wake up the rest of the family. Soon, every single member of the Madrigal family scurried to get dressed and grab a quick bite. Once the family was up and ready, everyone headed toward town to prepare for the special day. The children gathered at the front of the house to watch the magical Madrigals stroll by.
“Oh my gosh, it's them!” They squealed and pointed. “What are the gifts?! What does he do? What does she do?”
Mirabel smiled graciously. She supposed the kids had waited long enough. “All right, all right, relax,” she said.
“It is physically impossible to relax!” screeched the little boy holding the cup of coffee. Mirabel eyed him with concern.
The rest of the children jumped in. “Tell us everything! Who can do what? What are their powers?”
The little boy with the coffee cup turned red and shrieked louder. “Just tell us what everyone can do!”
“And that's why coffee's for grown-ups,”Mirabel said, snatching away his cafécito.
As the children followed Mirabel through town, they passed a beautifully painted mural of Abuela with her triplets: Pepa, Bruno, and Julieta. Mirabel explained that they were the first to receive the magical gifts. Tía Pepa was given the power to control the weather with her moods. If she's happy, there's sunlight for days. If she's sad... better grab your umbrella! Tío Bruno had the power to tell the future. He mysteriously left the family long ago. And now the family didn't talk about him. Next, Mirabel pointed out her mom, Julieta. She could heal an injury or illness with her food. As Mirabel and the children rushed by, her mom served arepas to a long line of people with various maladies.
All around Mirabel, the town buzzed with action and alegría. Children dressed in jerseys played soccer. On the other side of the street, a group ran a rowdy game of tejo. Every time a player struck the target with a rock, there was a loud pop, and everyone cheered. In the mercado, shoppers haggled with lively vendors for the best deal on hormigas Santandereanas and candles.
The children continued to follow Mirabel through town as she pointed out family members. Up next were her thoughtful father, Agustín, and the life of the party, Tío Felix. Neither man had any special magical powers, as they had married into the family. As for Abuela Alma, she was the most revered Madrigal of all! The entire village loved and respected her because she ensured that the family used their magical gifts for the good of the comunidad. As Abuela and the family hustled through town, helping people with a variety of tasks, the citizens called out to them with respect and adoration.
“Make way for the Madrigals!” a villager shouted.
“It's a big day!” another person exclaimed.
“Good luck tonight!” said another.
Mirabel paused to take a long look at her magical family. She yearned to make them proud.
“Wait!” one of the kids called out, watching the family walk by. “Who's a sister? Who's a cousin?!”
“How do you keep them all straight?” another kid asked in disbelief .
Mirabel faced the children with a flicker of amusement behind her oversize glasses. “Okay, okay, okay, okay...” As the children huddled closer, she identified her three cousins and two siblings and their magical gifts.
Cousin Dolores could hear a pin drop. You wouldn't want to whisper your secrets around her! Cousin Camilo was a shape-shifter, which was annoying when he shape-shifted into you! And Cousin Antonio, well, he didn't have a gift yet, but he would receive his today.
Mirabel pointed out her two older sisters: graceful Isabela and strong and responsible Luisa.
Isabela was Miss Perfect. She could make flowers bloom out of thin air with a flick of her dainty fingertips. Everyone adored Isabela, including the handsome Mariano, who was right at that very moment staring at Isabela with googly, lovey-dovey eyes.
Luisa was super strong and responsible. Her biceps were as huge as her kind heart. Need a palm tree moved to provide better shade? No problem! Luisa's got that! Is that church facing the wrong direction? Not a problem for Luisa! No request was ever too much for her.
Once Mirabel finished describing her sisters'and cousins' magical gifts, the bells of the town rang out. It was time for the family to go home. Abuela gave a satisfied grin at all the work that had been accomplished.
“Family, let's get ready!” she called out.
“Let's go, everybody!” Luisa yelled.
In a flash, the family gathered and headed home together. Mirabel hurried to follow them.
“But what's your gift?” a little girl asked, stopping Mirabel just as she was about to enter the house and escape their questions once and for all. Mirabel tried to stall and come up with a clever answer when Abuela Alma appeared at the doorway.
“What are you doing?” Abuela Alma snapped.
“Oh, uh,” Mirabel stammered. “They were just asking about the family and—”
“She was about to tell us about her superawesome gift!” one of the other little girls exclaimed. Abuela looked at Mirabel, confused.
“Oh, Mirabel didn't get one,” Dolores answered, popping up from out of nowhere. Mirabel winced. She should have known that Dolores would hear that. Thinking she'd been helpful, Mirabel's cousin smiled and returned to whatever she'd been doing before. Mirabel peered over at Abuela Alma, who shook her head in disappointment and walked away.
The children stared at Mirabel like they'd been duped.
“You didn't get a gift?” the first little girl asked, looking up at Mirabel with sad eyes.
Mirabel was starting to spin an answer as a man and a donkey approached. “Uh—”
“Mirabel! Delivery!” the man called out. He quickly filled her arms with a basket of supplies for the ceremony. “I gave you the ‘special' since you're the only Madrigal kid with no gift. I call it the ‘not special' special. Since...uh, you have no gift.”
Mirabel stood frozen. The children stared up at her. “Thank you,” she said.
“And tell Antonio good luck!” the man replied, giving his donkey a pat. “Last gift ceremony was a bummer. The last one being yours that did not work.” The man departed.
The kids were silent, staring hard at Mirabel. All she could do was to stand there with a cheesy smile and her arms full of supplies.
“If I was you, I'd be really sad,” said the little girl.
Mirabel forced a big smile and shrugged.“Well, my little friend, I am not, 'cause the truth is, gift or no gift, I am just as special as the rest of my family.”
The children glanced over at her family performing amazing magical feats around the house and then back to Mirabel.
“Maybe your gift is being in denial.”