Bubo's Second Wind

Synopsis:  Bubo Marquez has his sights set on Isabella, especially after Dolores’ wedding to Mariano.   She politely turns him down.   Heartbroken, he seeks advice from Bruno.  Bruno tells him to do what he loves, which in this case, is stargazing and fixing anything that breaks.   Bubo is a walking encyclopedia and a little odd and dweeby.  

Chapter 1—So, Wanna Go Out ?

It wasn’t long after Dolores tied the knot that Bubo saw his opening to try courting Isabella himself.   Every day the Madrigal family would help the community with their gifts and talents and Isabella was finding her own way with new plants she could grow.   She was starting to grow things like fruits and vegetables, but her favorite thing to produce were mangos and bananas.    She loved sweet fruits and saw how much joy they gave to everyone.   While growing some mangos to some orchard owners who wanted to start a grove of their own, she accidentally bumped into Bubo.   

Bubo turned scarlet in seeing Isabella after having seen her on many occasions.   She hadn’t dimmed in her incandescence and Bubo still found her ethereal.  He could wax poetic about her any day.    

‘Didn’t mean to bump into you.’, she said, placing an errant hair behind her ear.   Her laughter was symphonic to Bubo’s ears.    His nerdy heart palpitated, and he took a deep breath. 

‘I’ve been wanting to say this for quite some time but, would you like to go out with me ?   You know, break curfew at ol’ Casa Madrigal ?   Surely you must go out sometimes.’, Bubo said.    Isabella found the gesture very endearing but there was nothing about Bubo that she found attractive.   Certainly, he was a poet par excellence, but beyond this, they held no common ground.   She let him down easily and Bubo returned home, terribly heartbroken. 

Chapter 2—Pouring His Soul Out to Bruno 

The next day Bubo was inclined to talk to the Madrigal augur.   People were far less frightened now and society was beginning to see him more like one of themselves.  

‘So, you’re back.   I knew I should’ve seen that coming.’, Bruno said, lackadaisically.   Bubo knew this man had years of experience behind him and with a successful marriage and family, what better person to ask than someone who was living the dream ?  

Bubo began to pour his soul out to Bruno, and Bruno stopped him right there.  The young dweeb didn’t even need a prophecy.   

‘I’m gonna stop you there, Marquez.   You need to simply be yourself.  Do things you enjoy.   Don’t change for someone else.  Learn from my mistakes.’, Bruno said, patting the young encyclopedia’s hand.    The young man straightened his posture and smiled, hugging the prophet.    

‘I owe ya, Bruno !’, he said, cheerfully.    Bruno beamed a huge smile and waved as he watched the awkward teen go his way, guitar draped behind his back in hopes of serenading a new love into his life.  

Chapter 3—The Brightest Heavenly Body 

Meteorites were predicted to be in the summer sky and Bubo knew exactly where to look to enjoy the spectacular cosmic display.    While he was waiting, he began to sing a song he called ‘Buscando’.    A young woman named Catalina who happened to be stargazing heard this enchanting melody and walked closer to its source. 

‘Nice pipes there.’, Catalina commented.    Bubo felt his heart fluttering uncontrollably, so much more so when he had been with Isabella.    

‘Songwriting is more a hobby than a profession.   I’m Bubo.  And you are ?’, Bubo offered his hand for her to shake.   Catalina introduced herself and gave his hand a firm shake.   A singe of energy surged between them.   There was passion, adventure, promise.   The two would have to take it slow, but they were certain that in time, like anything else in life, this budding friendship would grow into a romance.   

Chapter 4—A Celestial Marriage 

Over a period of months and a few years, Bubo and Catalina finally tied the knot.   He had followed all of Bruno’s advice and it had worked like a charm.   He didn’t have to do anything unique or different.   He was authentic and Catalina understood Bubo deeply.   Bubo understood Catalina’s thirst for knowledge and love of country.    She also had an angelic soprano voice that would make angels weep.   She could sing to anyone and calm them.   Today, she would be singing at her own wedding in unison with Bubo.    

Epilogue 

Since it was clear that the Madrigal family had been the catalyst to bring two starry-eyed lovers together, they had been invited to Bubo and Catalina’s wedding.    It was intimate and cozy, but it was obvious that both families were going to be incredible together.    Bubo would continue working in repair while Catalina would remain a teacher in the local district.   Both were beloved by everyone they met, and they had become a ‘Madrigal’ family of their own renown.   Bubo was a mechanic but a bit of a handyman and could fix almost anything.   Catalina had become a counselor and often soothed through music with accompaniment from her beloved.     

In time, Catalina and Bubo had a family of their own, fraternal twins Yolanda and Donaldo.   Both little ones kept the couple on their feet, tired for days and taking naps as needed.   Bruno was their godfather and Mirabel their grandmother.   Donaldo and Yolanda grow day by day knowing that the whole community loves and supports them, they have a magical family backing them in every instance and parents that adore them equally.  The two are bound to shoot for the moon and land among the stars someday.  

The End