Encanto Shorts

Chapter 2: You're Very Sweaty

Bruno walks into the kitchen, humming to himself, and spots Julieta. He smiles. "Your hair is frizzier today."

"You have more rats," she replies, pausing in her cooking to smile at her brother, who indeed has rats covering his head and shoulders.

"It's good for them to get out once in a while," Bruno explains, sitting on the counter. He swings his legs, watching her cook in silence.

Soon after, Pepa enters, muttering to herself. She stops when she notices her siblings. "How do you get ash out of cloth? I fried part of my wardrobe."

"No idea, sorry." Julieta shrugs. "Arepas?"

"Sure," Pepa says, sitting on the counter on the opposite side of Julieta than Bruno. She stares quietly at her brother for a moment before saying. "Your ruana is about to get caught in the drawer."

"You have mascara on your cheek," Bruno replies, moving his ruana. Without a word, Julieta hands Pepa a napkin, which she then uses to clean her cheek.

The three remain silent for several more minutes. Julieta keeps cooking, Bruno pets his rats, Pepa hums and looks out the window. Casita sets up plates just as the arepas finish, and the three share a meal in silence, smiling at each other.

"Bye," Pepa says after a moment, abruptly sliding off the counter and exiting the kitchen. The other two reply in kind, but she doesn't wait long enough to hear them.

Julieta goes back to cooking. Bruno switches to the floor so his rats can run around easier. They don't start a conversation, only occasionally sharing glances and smiles. Sometimes she hands him some food, knowing he never eats enough, and sometimes he tugs on her dress to get her to look at something funny the rats are doing. Any words exchanged are short and to the point.

Bruno smiles to himself. It's so good to be home.