#mint julips

 Opening the door all three took a deep breath, enjoying and savoring the bread Abue made. Funny, the triplets can’t really recall what their grandparent’s names are. They have asked several times they only keep getting the same answer; from their grandfather, Abue, “As a world-famous baker if I can’t give away my secrets I can’t give away my name! That is only for the ears of my beautiful wife” He then proceeds to blush and say how much he loves Ela, the triplets can barely protest at that awful answer as their grandfather runs out the door saying something about he has not bought flowers for his wife that day. Asking their grandmother Ela will get them stuck in a “Why?” loop. When the triplets protest that as family they have to know her name, Ela smiles and tells them “Although I’m a scientist I don’t know everything about it, and yet I still love it, you don’t need to know my name to love me, you know who I am.” Really, the triplets have an easier time understanding their grandmother’s handwriting than dealing with the mystery that is their grandparent’s name.  

Regardless it was still very fun to go to their house. This time the house was full with altars to honor the loved ones Abue and Ela had lost throughout the years. Bubblegum absolutely loved the flowers of Cempasúchil that where on the altars and decorated everywhere the girls looked. Bubblegum could not get enough of this beautiful flowers their gorgeous yellow color, their 20 amazing petals, and how big they can be gave her plenty ideas for a dress, headband, or even a beautiful skirt. Popcorn was eyeing the newest resident of the house, a skeleton dressed up on a dress with a huge hat, and the makeup on point. God forbid the triplets ever refer to the skeleton as well…. a skeleton, because she was not just a skeleton she was Catrina. Abue’s and Ela’s drinking/mourning buddy. Minty was trying to see where Abue was, if he by some miracle was not in the kitchen maybe she could sneak in a cake or two for herself. Before the triplets could break formation to do their own mischief something, or rather someone picked them up and hugged them,

“Mis hermosas nietas!” Abue hugged them as tight as he could.

He literally could not have enough of his beautiful nieces. A hand was gently placed on the gentle giant’s shoulder,

“Yaah, the girls would like to breathe you know?” Ela teased her husband while calling him “love” in the language Ela could not get enough of Aztec.  

Abue stuck his tongue out at his wife before placing his nieces down on the ground and ruffling their hair.

“Can we have pan de muerto?” Minty cut to the chase; although she did love being and visiting her grandparent’s pan de muerto only came once a year. She had to have as much as she could while it was available.

“Minty! How rude of you!” Bubblegum scolded her sister; she then looked at her Abue and Ela and kissed them both on the cheek. “How have you two been?”

“Well” Ela smiled “I have been asked to join La Academia Mexicana de Ciencias”

The triplets were shocked with awe. Their grandmother got asked to join the Mexican Academy of Science; anyone wanting to join them has to go through an admission process.

“Y” Ela continued smiling, “I was also offered the position of secretary, although the letter did say I could take vice-president and we could even negotiate on the position of president.”

“WHAT?!” the triplets screamed in unison, they always knew their grandmother was awesome but to be asked to join the academy of science PLUS offered one of the highest positions spoke volumes of how respected she was in the science community.  

“You of course said yes right?” Popcorn asked excitedly.

“Oh dear, this old bones of mine are about to give out. My task from now on is to inspire and help as many people as possible. After all my time is almost up in here, what good is my position if no one else follows in my steps?” Ela smiled gently, “But” their grandmother continued “Although that is true, there are still some idiots running their mouths about ‘women should not be in science’ and while I cannot beat some sense into them I’ll just prove them wrong.”

There it was the same fire that got her in trouble when she was younger and protested for woman’s suffrage. Even from a very young age she was not afraid on voicing her concern and discomfort when people were being treated unfairly. The same fire that got her in jail a couple of times and almost got her killed that one day in October, Abue certainly does not like talking about that day.

“That’s so cool Ela!” Popcorn said, you could almost see stars on her eyes.

“I’ll beat them up for you Ela” Minty said while she cracked her knuckles

“I’ll dress you up for the celebration!! Oh oh! I was picturing some nice Mexican pink with some floral arrangement going throughout the dress” Bubblegum’s hand started twitching, itching for a notepad and a pencil to draw out her design which she then will proceed to make it come to life after a quick run through the mall.