Isabela

In walked her older sister Isabela. She was still dressed in her sleep-clothes; a basic pink one-piece dress with shoulder straps. While their mom was busy preparing breakfast, Isabela, Luisa and their dad would take turns checking up on Mirabel.

"Hey Mirabel," she said, nursing a cup of coffee in one hand while carrying a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice in the other. Even under her make-up, Mirabel could tell that she was still a little groggy. She'd be sporting wicked bedhead if her hair wasn't always so immaculately perfect.

She put both drinks on the dresser before picking Mirabel up from under her shoulders. Even though Mirabel was almost as tall as her (if she could stand, that is), Isabel was able to lift her as though she were no heavier than an extra-large pillow. She sat her in her lap and stuffed the bottle of juice in Mirabel's mouth. She accepted the bottle without complaint.

"It's another gift ceremony," said Isabela, more to herself than to Mirabel. "And you know what that means."

Mirabel wanted to say "another stupid party", but her infantilized body wouldn't let her lips detach from the bottle as she nursed her bottle.

"It means wall-to-wall flowers on every damn building." She took a drag of her coffee. "I remember a time when I liked the smell of roses. Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach."

When Mirabel's bottle ran empty, her magically-imposed instincts allowed her lips to detach, licking at a stray bead of juice.

"You should tell abuela," said Mirabel.

"At least Diane's coming," said Isabela, wiping at Mirabel's mouth with a cloth. "I was this close to asking if she was coming yesterday. I mean, of course she was coming. Everyone comes to a Madrigal Gift Ceremony."

Diane was a local village girl around Isabela's age. While Alma was not-so-subtly trying to push Isabela and local hunk Mariano together, Isabela has been nursing a crush on Diane for a few months now. The only person who knew about it was Mirabel. Since no one could understand a word Mirabel said, this made her a "fantastic listener".

"I know the way she looks at you," said Mirabel in vain. "Just tell her how you feel already."

"I agree, she is adorable," said Isabela.

Lost in thought, Isabela put Mirabel's head on her shoulder and gave her a soft pat. Mirabel didn't need to be burped like actual babies, but it was what you did with babies and she did it anyway. Mirabel didn't burp. Instead, she wet herself.