The girls woke up early the next morning. Mostly due to their growling stomachs. Though unlikely, they went into the kitchen to see if there was anything to eat.

Alma sat at the table, chopping up cucumbers.

“Good morning girls. Sleep well?” she said.

“For the most part,” said Morgan.

“That’s good to hear. Sounded like there was a bit of a commotion last night.”

“You could say that.”

Rico shuffled into the kitchen. He frowned in disappointment at the cucumbers.

“Serves you right for scaring us,” said Flor.

“I think that toad scared you more than anything,” said Rico.

“To be fair, toads are pretty creepy,” said Morgan.

"That's not why she's afraid of them. She thinks they'll suffocate her in her sleep if they get mad."

Morgan tried her best not to laugh. “Really?”

Flor clenched her fists, her face red. "I kicked that toad by accident because I thought I heard an owl."

Rico’s eyebrows raised high into his forehead.

"Don't joke about that! Owls are scary! The ones with black feathers turn into witches..."

He stopped himself. Morgan furrowed her brow.

"Er... evil witches," Rico quickly added.

Alma cleared her throat.

"Okay, that's enough. If any of you want a non-cucumber breakfast, you'll have to wait until I come back from la plaza," she said.

"Can we come too?" asked Flor.

"If you're not too tired from your late night shenanigans."

"Great! I'm going to go get ready!"

“And I’m going back to sleep,” said Rico.

Flor skipped out of the kitchen with Rico limping behind her. Morgan hung back, lost in her thoughts.

"Are you alright sweetheart?" Alma asked.

"Huh? Yeah..." Morgan answered. "I better get ready too. Can’t really run around in my pajamas." Morgan left the kitchen, still thinking about what Rico had said. It shouldn’t have bothered her as much as it did. Or at least, she wasn’t exactly sure why it did.

Her thoughts were interrupted by some whistling. Curious, she looked out one of the living room windows.

A boy came huffing and puffing up the mountain road carrying a big brown paper bag. He stopped once reached the end of the trail to catch his breath. The boy looked over at the house, spotting a pale face in the window.

“BRUJA!!”

He stumbled backward, tumbling down the mountain trail until he crashed into a bush.

"Crap!" exclaimed Morgan. "Guys! Someone fell down out there!"

"Who?" asked Flor as she and Rico came into the living room for a look.

“Short kid? Kind of heavy?” asked Rico.

“Yeah!”

"Oh no! Juan!" cried Alma.

She practically flew out of the kitchen, flinging open the front door before rushing outside. Morgan and Flor ran out after her, careful not to fall themselves.

Together, the girls help untangle Juan from the bushes.

"[Are you okay?]" asked Flor.

Juan nodded, rubbing his aching arms. "[Just a couple of scratches and bruises.]"

"[What have I told you about being careful up here?]" said Alma.

"[I was! But I thought I saw a ghost or a...]"

He stopped upon seeing Morgan.

"Uh, hola?" Morgan said.

“[Juan, this is my friend Morgan,]” Flor explained. “Morgan, this is my accident-prone cousin, Juan.”

“[Oh right! My dad mentioned her!]” said Juan.

He held out his hand to Morgan, wearing a grin identical to José’s.

“Nice to meet you!” he said in his best English.

Morgan took his hand. Juan gripped it tight, shaking her whole arm so hard, she worried it was going to pop out of its socket.

“Nice to meet you too. You know English?”

“A little bit. I learned in the school.”

Alma clapped her hands together. "[Well with that out of the way, did you need something, Juan? Or did you just come to say hi?"]

[“Oh right! My mom sent some pan dulce for you guys.]"

He searched the ground, looking for the paper bag he had been carrying. Morgan lightly tapped him on the shoulder. She pointed at the dozen pastries scattered all over the mountainside.

“[Aw man.]” Juan sighed.

Alma patted him on the back. “[Well it’s the thought that counts.”]

* * *

La Plaza, as Morgan had guessed, turned out to be the town square. People milled about, coming in and out of the square buildings that surrounded its perimeter. A couple turned their heads at the four of them.

“Stay close. I don’t want anyone getting lost or separated,” said Alma.

"Will do," said Morgan. The last thing she needed was to get lost in a place where she didn't understand anyone.

Flor swiveled her head around, seeing what had and hadn’t changed since she had been here last.

“Everything as you remembered it?” Morgan asked.

“New paint jobs here, closed shops there, but other than that, yeah,” said Flor.

The group entered one of the shops that sat in the corner of the square. Alma got out a list, looking it over.

“Go ahead and grab anything you like. Within reason of course,” said Alma, before repeating herself in Spanish for Juan’s sake.

Juan made a beeline past the fruit bins and straight to where they held the chips while Flor gravitated towards the sweets.

“What kind of snack do you want? Salty or sweet?” Flor asked Morgan.

“Actually, I’m more in the mood of soda,” said Morgan.

Flor pointed to the refrigerated section in the back. “Try the apple soda, its one of my favorites.”

“Apple soda?”

“It’s really good.”

Morgan was skeptical but shrugged and walked over to the sodas. She scanned the various selections until finding an amber colored bottle with an apple on it.

“Maybe it tastes like sparkling cider?”

Morgan suddenly sensed another presence.

A guy with curly hair had approached her, giving her a smile.

Oh boy, here we go, Morgan thought to herself.

“¿De dónde es?”

“Uh, no hablo Español.”

“You’re American?”

“Yeah…”

Curly leaned closer. “You have very beautiful eyes.”

Flor tapped her chin. She finally settled for a pack of marshmallow cookies, reaching for it.

The pack began to shake. Followed by the entire shelf it sat on.

“[Earthquake?]” said Juan watching at the chips bags bouncing around.

Flor whipped her head over at Morgan and the guy. She snatched the pack and waved it in the air.

“Hey Morgan! Come try these!” she called out.

“Be right there!” said Morgan.

To Flor’s relief, the snacks stopped shaking.

Morgan pushed past the guy, ignoring his disappointed looks. He reached over to grab her sleeve.

“Hey, be careful around…”

BAM!

An apple flew out of the bin and struck him right between the eyes. Morgan covered her mouth, horrified.

Flor quickly pulled out another apple, holding it high above her head. “[S-s-see if I don’t throw another one!]”

The guy scowled but backed up nonetheless. Morgan shuffled awkwardly to where Flor and Juan were.

By now Alma had taken notice of the situation. She whistled, motioning them to come over to the register. 

“[Flor, control yourself,]” Alma scolded, even as going as far as wagging a finger in her face.

Morgan rubbed her arm, feeling guilty about what happened. She opened her mouth to explain. Alma jerked her head at the other customers who were now staring.

Alma quickly paid for their things. She didn’t even bother to wait to get her change before ushering everyone out of the store. The curly hair guy glared at Flor as they passed him.

“Brujita.”