Braving It Out
Chapter 7 - Braving It Out
Charlie and Collin were walking down the stairs, to where Molly, Pentious, Arackniss, and Angel were waiting for the latter to show up.
The sharply dressed lady smiled brightly and spread her arms wide at the sight of her youngest son approaching them. “There you are!”
“Oh, thank goodness!” Pentious exclaimed, immediately scooping Collin up in a hug. Then at breaking the hug and looking fondly at his son, “oh, look at you… you’re so grown up!”
Charlie stayed at the back, just enjoying watching the scene, even as Molly fanned away a raincloud that Pentious started to form from happy sadness or whatever it's called.
“Penn, amor, you’re going to get him all wet,” the sharply dressed lady said.
Then Angel turned into a mini Pentious, gently grabbing Collin’s face. “You are making your papa proud,” the shapeshifter said, in a clearly mocking voice.
Pentious frowned and insisted, “I don’t sound like that.”
Of course, Angel was still mocking. “I don’t sound like that.”
Arackniss decided to intervene before his uncle was so stupid as to make a storm happen right here and now. “Abuela Vaggie says it’s time.”
Pentious turned to Collin and said, “we’ll be waiting at your door.”
“Okay, people, vamo, vamo, vamo!” Molly cried out, everyone but her twin moving.
Angel was still in miniature Pentious form as he repeated that, delighting in seeing his youngest nephew smile. Then his sister came in, grabbed him by the sides, and lifted him up, clearly not amused.
“All right, fine, I’m done!” The shapeshifter cried out as he was carried away.
The space with the staircase was filled as much as it could be, while still making a clear pathway to the staircase itself. On those steps was Vaggie, holding the Madrigal candle and taking some deep breaths. Finally, she turned around and faced the audience with a speech.
The rest of the family, minus Charlie and Collin and Collin’s parents, were together in the crowd. Ozzie was laying a hand on Angel’s shoulder. The shapeshifter was locking hands with Mimzy and has the healing chef’s other hand on his other shoulder (something of which only possible thanks Mimzy standing on a barrel). Arackniss and Verosika were locking hands together, too, like how Angel and Mimzy were, and Husk had patted the super listener’s head.
All of the Madrigal family listened to the same words they’ve heard before during these Gift celebrations. Of course, Charlie listened, too, but didn’t quite look as happy as everyone else. She thought it was a good thing she was hidden in the back, some distance away from where Collin is waiting to be revealed.
“Fifty years ago, in our darkest moment, this candle blessed us with a miracle. And the greatest honor of our family has been to use our blessings to serve this beloved community. Tonight, we come together once more as another steps into the light.”
The band played some percussion while the flower curtains provided by Verosika had opened. The crowd cheered as Collin was revealed to them, Vivienne even making the tiles ahead of the very young blonde change color as if to highlight it’s a very special path to take.
However, Collin was nervous again now that it was happening. He couldn’t quite move, even when Vivienne was gently urging him to via tiles under his feet. Charlie was worried about her cousin, becoming even more so when he turned to her and held out a hand.
“…I can’t,” the blue bow blonde insisted, whispering.
“I need you,” the little boy insisted back, just as quiet.
Charlie couldn’t quite argue with that, not when Collin needs her and the ceremony’s going on. However, just as she thought, the crowd was surprised at seeing her show up by Collin’s side. Vaggie didn’t exactly look happy. Even Pentious and Molly, who were behind her, seemed nervous; it was more poignant on the latter than the former. The same for the family in the crowd, although Verosika looked annoyed instead.
Charlie didn’t like all the looks she was getting; they made her feel like she was bad luck personified. However, she couldn’t back down now. So she lightly tightened Collin’s hand, getting his attention.
“Come on. Let’s get you to your door.”
Collin smiled and nodded, clutching Charlie’s arm closely against his face. Then the two got to walking, the blue bow blonde not being able to help but recall how it went at her own Gift ceremony.
A little Charlie in that white and gold dress was walking on her lonesome to the stairs, fiddling her fingers nervously.
Present day Charlie and Collin were going up the steps, the former seeing that Vaggie still seemed nervous. Pentious and Molly have gone back to smiling, feeling proud of Collin as he walked towards the door, but Charlie didn't notice that.
Little Charlie had the family candle in her hands, having a happy exchange with her grandmother. Then she positioned herself in front of the door and took a moment before laying a hand on the doorknob.
However, the door had slowly but surely dissipated, much to the shock of Charlie, Vaggie, and pretty much everyone else present. It didn’t get any better to the Madrigal matriarch when she noticed the candle actually flicker, like it was actually at risk of going out.
Present day Charlie watched on as Vaggie talked with Collin, also the same words everyone’s heard before with every soon-to-be-Gifted.
“Will you use your Gift to honor our miracle? Will you serve this community and strengthen our home?”
The very young blonde had place his hands on the candle and nodded, too nervous to speak. Not that his father and even his mother and grandmother didn’t understand. After all, they felt the same despite not seeming so.
Collin positioned himself in front of the door and took a moment to gather his nerves. Finally, he laid his hand on the doorknob.