Work Text:
"Oh! Oh, my baby!" Camila Noceda hugged her disappointed daughter as they stood outside their home. "Now, don't worry. Summer camp is only going to be for three months. You'll be so busy balancing checkbooks and learning to... appreciate public radio, the time will fly by!"
"But I don't like any of that stuff," Luz responded. "I like editing anime clips to music and—and reading fantasy books with convoluted backstories."
"Mija, your fantasy world is holding you back. Do you have any friends? Real ones, not imagined or drawn or reptilian?" Camila watched as Luz turned away, walked slowly toward the garbage bin, then looked back in her direction. Realizing she might have touched a sensitive nerve, Camila softened her tone and tried to smile reassuringly. "Summer camp is a chance to make some friends, but you have to try. Can you do that?"
"Yes, Mom." Luz looked sadly at The Good Witch Azura book she'd been holding and placed it on top of the trash. Before Camila could react to this, the phone in her purse vibrated.
"Oh. I gotta go to work." She walked over to Luz and kissed her forehead. "Your bus is coming soon. Text me when you get there. Cuídate mucho, mi hija. ¡Qué te vaya bien!"
"Bye, Mom." Luz didn't look at her as she walked away.
Camila went back inside for her car keys, wondering if she was making the right decision, as she often did in the past few days. Manny wouldn't have gone through with this...would he? She truly did love her daughter's exuberance and creativity, but the incident with the snakes was a step too far. Maybe this experience could help her find a balance and have an easier time getting along with other people. Luz never seemed to hang out with friends or invite them over. The last person she got along with was her babysitter Kathy before she went to college. Her beautiful little girl was such a bright light, even when the world dimmed around her...but she was always shining alone...just like her mother at that age. It would be months before they'd get to see each other again, and Luz had never been away from home this long before without a relative. Camila couldn't let that conversation be their last one until late July, so she pulled out her phone again and dialed her vet clinic.
"Hola, it's Camila... Listen, I'm going to be late coming in today. My daughter needs a ride to summer camp... A couple hours, give or take... Of course, that would be fine... Thank you for understanding, I'll see you later. Adios."
Going back outside, Camila was surprised to see Luz was already gone. There was no way the bus had taken her already. At the very least, she was relieved to see the Azura book was no longer in the trash. Had it still been there, Camila would've retrieved it herself. That book was Manny's parting gift to their daughter, and Camila knew without a doubt Luz would have regretted throwing it out later. She walked a short distance from her home and called out, "Luz? Where are you?"
"Eeh!"
Camila heard a sound, and turned towards an old abandoned house, thankful to see her daughter standing in front of it. "Luz? There you are."
Luz turned around to face her, "Hello... fellow human! Um... skin's sure weird!"
Perhaps she was trying to run away, got busted, and believed she was in even more trouble. "Very funny. But, I was thinking..." Luz seemed nervous. Maybe even afraid? That was the last thing Camila wanted right now. She walked over and placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "Instead of taking the bus to camp, why don't we drive?" Smiling, Camila dropped her arm away and held out her other palm. "I got the day off from work, and you'll have full control of the playlist."
Luz stared her mother for a moment before smiling and taking her hand. Relieved, Camila led her back home and into the car.
They stopped for a quick meal before getting on the highway. Camila handed Luz a sandwich, then watched her daughter give it a quick sniff before taking a bite. Her eyes lit up and she proceeded to wolf down the rest in no time. "Wow, mija. You must've been hungry."
Luz turned toward her. "Yeah, um, guess it's been a while since I've eaten...this...here."
"Alright, just try to pace yourself," Camila said, digging out the French fries. "We've still got a bit of a journey ahead of us." Luz nodded and proceeded to take the fries out a few at a time, seeming to savor each bite and every sip of her beverage.
Stopping at a traffic light before the on ramp, they heard a siren approaching from behind and watched as an ambulance zoomed past them. Luz used to love that sound back when her dad drove an ambulance...until the fateful day he became a passenger and never returned home again. After that, Luz seemed to freeze up whenever she heard the noise or saw the flashing lights. Her reactions faded over time, but never truly went away. Today, however, Luz turned towards the siren and watched the ambulance with interest. Maybe she really was starting to heal. Nonetheless, still wanting to put her daughter's mind at ease, Camila pulled out her phone and handed it to Luz. "Here, why don't you give us something else to listen to?"
Luz looked at the device quizzically, turning it over in her hand. "Oh," she said, tapping the screen as if she suddenly remembered how to use it and successfully choosing a playlist. The car speakers came alive with the sound of Manny's old favorites. Slowly but surely the girl her started bobbing her head to the beat, her smile becoming more pronounced.
After nearly an hour of sing-alongs, they made it to their exit, and Reality Check Camp was only a few miles away. Now that her daughter was in better spirits, Camila turned the radio down and glanced over at Luz. "Listen, baby. I know these next three months are going to be an adjustment, but please try to make the most of it. You're growing into an amazing young woman, and I want more people to see that. Learn to behave, try to make some friends, but always be yourself. Can you do that...for the both of us?"
"I can certainly try," Luz smiled and nodded.
"That all I ask, mija."
Upon arrival, Camila got her daughter checked in before dropping Luz and her luggage off at Cabin 7. A trio of kids were standing outside and talking. A girl in a black dress spotted them and waved her over. Luz turned back to Camila. "So, I'll see you again in three months?"
Camila nodded. "You can always call or text if you need something. And maybe send me a letter every once in a while." Tearing up a little, she pulled Luz into her arms. Her daughter gasped and tensed up before melting into the embrace. If Camila didn't know better, she'd think her girl had never been hugged before. "Buena suerte, Luz. I love you."
Luz wrapped her own arms around Camila and tightly hugged her back. "I...love you too...Mom."
They pulled out of the hug. Luz looked up at her mother with a tearful quivering smile. Camila kissed her daughter's forehead then made her way back to the car. The two of them waved goodbye as the teen trio made their way to Luz and they all started to get acquainted, the one in the black dress even offering a friendly handshake.
Later that evening, Camila had returned home. Between the drive to and from Reality Check Camp, and staying later at the vet clinic to make up for that time, it had been a long day. She stepped out of the car, pulled out her phone and sent Luz a quick text.
How's summer camp?
No sooner had she stepped into the door when she felt her phone vibrate with a response.
I think I'm gonna like it here
Camila looked at the message smiled, her worries seemingly abated. Maybe things were going to work out after all.