Bruno's New Beginning

Synopsis:  Taking place after the events of Encanto, Bruno just happens to rescue a prominent woman named Carmella from possible death by nearly falling in the barrio’s well.   

‘You know how it is.  You get a certain feeling in your bones and then you go off and do it.’—Mole to Rat, The Wind in the Willows 

Chapter 1—Down to the Barrio  

‘No.  No, not again.   It can’t break again.   I don’t have enough spackle…’, Bruno whined in his sleep.   He was having that nightmare once more.   He hadn’t had it for a long time, but he still feared, being Abuela’s youngest, that she still didn’t accept him for who he really was.   Their reparations were still ‘broken’, but she reminded him daily that she loved him dearly and reassured him he was welcome back to ‘la familia Madrigal’.    

‘I heard you shriek in your sleep, Bruno.’, Dolores said, patting Bruno’s hand to calm him.    Her latest union with Mariano had been a jovial, cheery, and festive occasion.   Bruno was feeling a bit better his vision for them had come true and they were happy.   Being a part of la casita made him feel better.    

‘I had the nightmare again, Dolores.’, Bruno whispered.    It was then Abuela served them and Julieta called a family meeting.  

‘The neighbors need us and we’re called back to the barrio.   Be yourselves, put your best foot forward !’, she reminded them.    Bruno straightened his poncho.  

‘No stress, huh ?   Why are my hands trembling and covered in sweat ?’, he thought to himself.    Mirabelle was to his right and gave him a necklace she made herself.   It was the most gorgeous monarch she had crafted and gifted him just because she knew he needed a bit of a pick-me-up. 

‘Tio Brunito, it’s so much nicer to see you smile !  I don’t know what you’re stressing about, but you’re going to be fine.   Wear our family symbol with pride.   We love you.  I love you.’, she said.     Bruno felt even more relaxed, especially when he placed the necklace around his neck.   He kissed Mirabelle’s nose and hugged her tightly.   Any nervousness he had experienced earlier from the nightmare had melted into happiness, confidence, and a newfound sense of purpose as he joined the Madrigals for their annual trip to the Columbian countryside.   

Chapter 2—Hero of the Barrio 

Bruno prefaced his prognostications with a warning; ‘I’m simply the messenger.   What I see is a fragment but there are grains of truth hidden within’.    Most people took this well.   There were still the naysayers that saw his gift as something bad, but they were few and far between.    Bruno felt surer and more authentic than he had before.    

Suddenly, he heard a horrifying shriek from the center of the city where the well was located.  A local prominent woman, Carmella, was hanging precariously along the rim of the well.   Deftly, quickly, and swiftly, Bruno helped her up and was stricken by her beauty.   

‘Thank you, Bruno.’, she said, her cheeks turning red.   Bruno laughed awkwardly.   It was the first time a woman outside of the Madrigal family circle who hadn’t run in fear from him or cowered due to misunderstanding.  

Carmella took Bruno to her home and invited him inside.   She fixed him a traditional Columbian meal and brewed the best cup of coffee he had ever drank.    She was the mayor of the town, but her niece was next in line for the role.    The more Bruno talked to Carmella, the more he fell in love with her.    

‘Bruno !’, he heard the call to supper from Abuela.    He took her hands into his own and vowed that this wouldn’t be the last time they would see each other.    She patted his hands tenderly and said, 

‘I know.   You are a true hero.   You showed that today, especially by shining light into my otherwise dim life.’, she said, poetically.    

Chapter 3—The Courting of Carmella 

Over a period of the next few weeks, Bruno would go to the barrio to see Carmella.   He would often take sweets of his own that he had crafted and give her the latest news of the goings on in familia Madrigal.    It was said that Dolores herself was going to be getting married by the end of the year and everyone was looking forward to gearing up for another celebration.  

‘She wants me to be the one to give her away.’, Bruno said, with some pride in his tone.    It had been Dolores that kept him safe for all these years and now he could finally repay the favor.    

‘What about you, though?   You sacrificed everything for your family.’, Carmella said, kissing him passionately.    Bruno ruffled her long, dark hair and stared into her almond eyes.  

‘Someday.’, Bruno said, with a playful wink.    He then invited her to the family wedding when it had been planned so she could finally meet the family she had heard so much about.  Given how polite, funny, friendly, and garrulous she was, she would have no trouble fitting in with the rest of Bruno’s nutty bunch.    

The wedding was an incredibly festive event.   There was singing, dancing, eating, and laughing.    Abuela was quite impressed with Carmella, particularly when she had told her she had been mayor of that barrio for at least a decade.   

‘It’s such a treat to finally meet you face to face.   I haven’t really seen your daily life and honestly, it’s not much different from ours.’, Carmella remarked.    

‘I’m just pleased for my little dove in finding such a lovely companion.    Tell me something, though, Ella, who’s taking your post once you’ve officially become a Madrigal ?’, Abuela asked.     Camillo blanched, turning into a variety of different family members, spitting out some wine.  

‘Abuela !  She hasn’t made the decision, jeez !’, he whispered through gritted teeth.   

Carmella laughed.   

‘We have been dating for a few months now.   If anyone knew about our plans, it was Dolores, and we all know she can’t keep a secret.’, Bruno stated.   

‘My niece, Juanita, will be taking over after I leave.   She knows the people well and everyone loves and respects her.   Besides, she has a huge family that needs the room while I’ve been going about the mansion solo.’, Carmella confessed.     Although she was a bit older, Carmella wasn’t totally against having children of her own, but Bruno would have to be accepting to the idea himself.     

Chapter 5—Happiest Day of His Life 

The Madrigal family, slowly, had been repaired over time.   Dolores and Mariano had triplets of their own that they named Adella, Barbara and Zara.    It wasn’t known what the triplet girls would grow to do on their own, but they certainly were adorable, sweet (and sometimes loud) little bundles of joy that familia Madrigal loved, cared for, and pampered.  

It was April and finally time for Bruno himself to tie the knot.   He had become nervous, fretting that Carmella would bolt.  

‘She hasn’t run away after 1 year of being with you, idiot !’, he told himself.   

  Tears filled his eyes as Mirabelle’s dad, Augustin, led Carmella down the aisle.   Carmella had experienced much heartache in her life with the early death of both her parents died in a freak fire that had happened after a violent storm came through the neighborhood.   No one could have predicted it, but Carmella had lost everything.    In spite of that, the barrio had come together to help her and even her niece had helped her in keeping all of her affairs straight as she grieved.    

Carmella came down the aisle, looking stunningly gorgeous.   Bruno’s mouth dropped when he saw her.   His heart fluttered wildly in his chest and he felt a renewed sense of joy in his whole  being.   It didn’t matter that she was a bit younger than he was.   As far as he knew, they could still have a family and there would be more gifts for everyone to savor.   

Bruno had never thought a fairy tale would occur in his life, but once Carmella was standing by his side, it was clear that his ‘happily ever after’ had not been far off.   He had owed that to Mirabelle and he let her know that daily.    In a sense, Bruno had become her adopted dad and helped her appreciate just how special she was.   She had, indeed, sewn the family together and she continued keeping the family strong even though a few tempests came and went occasionally.    

Chapter 6—The Children 

No one had ever considered that Bruno would be capable of having children at his age, but it appeared, he was still quite virile.   Carmella easily became pregnant.  Soon they had a son named Oscar, and a year later, little Angelina.     

When it came for Oscar and Angelina to receive rooms of their own far away from the nursery, the two were exited.   Mirabelle had seen them grow big and strong and beautiful in their unique way.   Oscar looked exactly like his dad and even had the Madrigal dramatic flair.   In fact, the youngster loved being in plays and adored being in front of large audiences.    He could be quite the comedian and savored people’s laughter whenever it occurred.   As for Angelina, she was the quieter of the two and favored her mother’s looks.    She had the voice of an angel.  Other than Camillo, Angelina could calm Auntie Pepa with her voice, keep anxiety in the household to a minimum and sing anyone or anything to sleep.   

The ceremony had always been another massive event for the Madrigals and a chance for everyone in the community to come and celebrate.   

‘I’m anxious !  Lina, give me your hand, please.’, the elder Oscar asked.   It was unlike him to be so nervous, but the coming of age rite had always given every Madrigal a case of the jitters.    Angelina held her elder brother’s hand, softly caressing it.   

‘You know you can calm yourself easily too, I’ve seen you meditate, how you breathe.   There will come a time when you have to do this alone.   Yet you know I’ll always be there for you.   No worries, Oscar.’, Angelina said, sweetly, kissing her brother’s cheek.   

Chapter 7—The Gifts 

Oscar ascended the long staircase to his door, touched the enchanted candle, which glowed brilliantly and then reached out to grasp his own doorknob.    The door blazed a brilliant gold, revealing him repairing machines of all kinds and crafting with his hands.  His eyes were open, like Papa Bruno’s.   He squealed with delight and hugged Abeula.    Abuela chortled lightly.  

‘A fine gift for a fine repairman !’, Abuela crowed.   Oscar could do so with a simple touch of the hand and seeing that he could fix so many things even with his words, it was apropos he was now known as ‘Wordsmith’ or ‘Craftsman’.     

‘Go on, Lina.   You’re next.’, Mirabelle said, lightly pushing her niece forward.    She gulped hard and began to ascend the staircase, nervously twirling her sable hair around her finger.     She stopped being nervous as soon as she saw she would be right next door to Luisa.   She loved Luisa immensely and she was overjoyed little Angelina would be her ‘next door neighbor’.    

Angelina shakily touched the candle and then reached out to grasp her doorknob.   Like Oscar’s her eyes were wide open, but it had her surrounded by music with what looked to be angel wings behind her.   

‘A beautiful gift.  I’m proud of both of you !’, Abuela said, hugging the children close.   

Epilogue 

Bruno’s appearance became even more youthful upon the gift ceremony and the induction of his and Carmella’s darlings into the Madrigals.   Even young Mirabelle was making strides in the world and becoming a young woman of high regard.   Someday, she would become the matron of the Madrigal casita, but for now, she was simply the thread that kept everything sewn so neatly and nicely together.    Angelina and Oscar had brought light to the casita, and little Abdella, Barbara and Zara each had a unique talent of their own.   Abdella could see far distances, Barbara could make topiaries and cut hair like a pro and Zara had the ability to barter and bargain like a master salesman.    The Madrigal family had never been so prosperous, but now they were using that to help those who truly needed it.   This is what Columbia was to them; a vast extended family having no end.   No one would ever be left out, made to feel less than, or pushed aside.   All gifts were welcome, and everything was accepted with unconditional love. 

The End