Camilo’s troubles all started when he had stayed out in the rain a little bit longer than he should have when helping his little brother Antonio find their neighbor’s lost cat. They had given Antonio his ruana to cover both himself and the cat from the rain, which signaled that their mother had begun wondering where they were.
So, it made sense as to why the moment he’d opened his eyes today, he felt hot and his nose was snuffy. He groaned wearily as they got up, and right on cue, someone knocked on his door rhythmically. “You can come in!” Camilo croaked, instantly recognizing the rhythm as Mirabel’s favorite song as he sat in a large and fancy loveseat in the corner of his backstage room.
They heard her sandals click-clack across the theater and theatrical stage that were in the front of Camilo’s room, before opening the curtain to the backstage, which was Camilo’s bedroom, or more fittingly, dressing room. “Buenos días, Camilo! How’s my favorite chameleon doing?” Mirabel sat next to Camilo, handing him a plate of arepas. “Are these Tia Julieta’s?” Camilo asked. “Nah, they’re from the regular market. Mama is out getting more ingredients, and she has a ton of people to help in town.” Camilo groaned, taking one of the arepas and taking a bite of it. “Que sucede? You seem a lot less energized today.” Mirabel placed her hand on her cousin’s forehead. “Oh my gosh, you have a huge fever. I’ll go see if we have any leftover empanadas and let everyone know you’re sick.”
Mirabel’s attempt to get up was immediately thwarted when Camilo pulled her down again. “Sick? Me? I’m fi- ACHOO!” Camilo sneezed, and turned into Mirabel for a split second, before turning back to himself. They sniffed, letting out a nervous chuckle as Mirabel raised an eyebrow at them. “Go to bed, tonto. I’ll get your mom.” Before Camilo could object, Mirabel had left the backstage and left the room. Great. The last thing Camilo needed was their mom causing a blizzard to run through his room.
As good as going back to bed sounded, Camilo decided to get dressed, putting on his brave face as they left the comfort of his room. After all, he had people he needed to help with his gift. What good was he if he couldn’t?
“Camilo’s sick again! I can’t believe this!” Pepa shouted as she raced towards Camilo’s room. Camilo turned into Dolores quickly, smiling at his mother as she came to his room. “Camilo went to bed again, I could hear it. I wouldn’t disturb him, hm.” They said, giving his best Dolores impression. Pepa sighed, the cloud above her head fading away. “Gracias, mija. I’ll be back, I promised Julieta I’d help her shop.” Camilo nodded, waving goodbye as he sneezed, turning into his mom.
“Wow, I can’t believe she still buys your impression of me. Hm.” Camilo yelped and fell against the stair banister as Dolores showed up with a basket of laundry. “Good morning to you too, hermana.” Camilo sneezed again, turning into a warped version of Dolores. “Go back to bed, Camilo. Or else I’ll get mom.”
Camilo was about to say something, but he let out a loud sneeze that made him turn into Dolores again, then Pepa, and then a handful of other people. Before Dolores could say another word, Camilo ran away, shifting into a random person from town to hide from his family coming after him.
“Thank God that’s over.” He sighed as he shifted back. They began to walk through town, mentally checking off his list of people he was supposed to be helping today.
“Camilo! We need another Hernando over here to help us lift this couch, por favor.” One of the kind elderly women who Camilo was particularly fond of called out towards him.
“¡Por supuesto señora! That’s what I’m here for, after all!” He shifted into Hernando and ran towards the large couch they were moving into this old woman’s new home. But of course, Camilo sneezed at the worst time possible, which led to him barely being able to hold up the couch as a little girl.
“¿Oh, Camilo, estás bien? Te ves un poquito enfermo.” The woman asked when he shifted back to Hernando. “Estoy bien señora. ¡Solo son, uhm, alergias! Tengo más trabajo que terminar. I’ll see you later!” Once he had the couch inside, Camilo ran off to his next job.
“Camilo! ¿A donde estas? I swear, when I get my hands on that boy!” Pepa shouted angrily, a thundercloud slowly forming over the town. Yeah, not good.
Camilo went to his next job, helping a girl his age named Maritza with her family’s market business. “Thanks so much for your help, Camilo.” She said, giving him a bright, gap toothed smile.
“It was no iss- ACHOO!” Camilo sneezed, and turned into a man about twice Luisa’s size with the head of a thirteen year old. The girl stifled a laugh, and he could see Abuela spotting him from across the crowd.
“Wish I could talk more, but I’ve got places to be and people to hide from!” Camilo shouted as he ran off.
“Camilo! ¡Regresate a casita este momento!” A voice shouted. A hand grabbed his wrist, and Camilo was met face to face with his dad. “Papá! I’m fine! There’s nothing to wor- ACHOO!”
Camilo turned into a person with the body of his father and the head of his mother, but the outfit of his grandmother. “A tu cuarto. Now!”
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Camilo was stuck laying in bed while he waited for his Tía Julieta to return. The other members of his family took turns watching him to make sure he didn’t run off.
“Not to say I don’t appreciate the gesture, Mami, but I feel like I’m on my deathbed now.” Camilo grumbled. “Well, it serves you right for running off when you’re sick! What were you thinking? I almost flooded the town! Luisa had to look under each building!” Pepa huffed as she crossed her arms.
“I know, and I’m sorry. I just didn't want you all to think I was useless.” Pepa’s gaze softened as Camilo kept going. “I was given my gift to help people, entertain them. So if I couldn’t be out in town doing that, what good did I serve? What am I if I can’t help anyone?” He sighed.
“Ay, mijo. You’re so much more than your gift. We all love you so much, and I’m so proud of how big of a help you are. But when you’re sick, you’re sick. Nobody is going to love you any less if you’re not out there helping each minute of each day.” Pepa placed a kiss on her son’s forehead before she got up to leave.
“Julieta should be back in a few minutes. Descanse, mijo.” Before she left the room, Camilo called out to her.
“Te amo, Mamá.”
“Te amo más que el mundo, Camilo.”
