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Mirabel sat at the edge of her bed and tried to shake off the conversation with her abuela. She glanced around the room; it was the same room every Madrigal child grew up in until they turned five. At five, she was supposed to have received her gift and new room, but she didn't.
Antonio's things were packed nicely and stacked on his bed, ready to be moved after the gift ceremony tonight. If all went as it should, he would have his own magical room and magical door. And Mirabel would be left behind once again. She straightened up. She knew what she had to do, and it didn't include sitting around feeling sorry for herself. Her little primo and soon-to-be former bedroom buddy needed her support.
She opened a drawer and pulled out a small wrapped package stenciled with designs that matched her dress. Mirabel put her fingers in the loop of the bow and dangled it over the edge of the bed.
“Everyone is looking for you,” Mirabel said. There was no response. “This present will selfdestruct if you don't take it in three, two, one...”
Antonio's tiny hands popped out from under the bed and grabbed the present. Smiling, Mirabel scooched under the bed to join her small cousin hiding there.
“Nervous?” Mirabel asked. Antonio nodded.“You have nothing to worry about.” Antonio nodded some more. “You're gonna get your gift and open that door, and it's going to be the coolest ever! I know it.”
“What if it doesn't work?”
“Well, in that impossible scenario, you'd stay in here in the nursery with me. Forever. And I'd get you all to myself,” Mirabel teased. Antonio looked over at her with a mix of regret and love in his eyes.
“I wish you could have a door,” he said quietly. Mirabel's heart dropped. Antonio was a shy, quiet child who barely spoke, but he always felt comfortable enough to talk to Mirabel about how he felt. She loved him very much for all his shyness and thoughtfulness.
“You know what? You don't have to worry about me, because I have an amazing family and an amazing house and an amazing you,” Mirabel said. “And seeing you get your special gift and your door, that's going to make me more happy than anything.” Mirabel walked her fingers toward the present and pushed it closer to him. “But alas, I am going to miss having the world's best roomie.”
She nodded to the present. Antonio opened it and pulled out a hand-knit stuffed jaguar from the box. He immediately held it close. “I know you're an animal guy. And I made this so when you move into your cool new room, you always have something to snuggle with.”
The house rattled the floorboards beneath them, reminding them it was time for the gift ceremony.
“All right, hombrecito, you ready?”
Antonio nodded. Mirabel moved to leave but turned back for one more cuddle with her little cousin.
“Sorry, gotta get one more squeeze,” she said. The house playfully raised the floorboards, sending both of them tumbling out from under the bed. “Okay, okay! We're going! Ow!”