chapter 1: Carnaval Connections

The vibrant colors of Maracaibo Carnaval painted the streets with joy in the balmy February of 2004. Amid the sea of revelers, nine-year-old Elysia Grati sat in the bleachers, her eyes wide with wonder as dancers in elaborate costumes twirled by. The air was thick with the scent of fried food and the melody of gaitas, the traditional folk music of Zulia.

“Papá,” Elysia tugged at her father’s sleeve, “can I have some money for jugo mango en leche?”

Leonardo Grati, a man whose eyes sparkled with the same curiosity as his daughter’s, smiled and reached into his pocket. “Of course, mi cielo,” he said, handing her a few bills. “Be careful, and come right back.”

Maria, Elysia’s mother, adjusted her daughter’s ribbons. “Remember, stay where we can see you.”

As Elysia made her way towards the juice stand behind the bleachers, she couldn’t help but feel the electric atmosphere of the carnival. Venezuela was changing; talks of social reform and “21st-century socialism” filled the air, but here, in this moment, politics seemed far away.

Approaching the stand, Elysia’s attention was drawn to a commotion nearby. An elderly woman, draped in layers of tattered clothing, was peering anxiously into a small nook beneath the bleachers. Her wrinkled face was a map of worry, but her eyes held a peculiar sparkle.

“Mi gatito,” the old woman murmured, “where are you?”

Elysia approached cautiously. “Señora, are you okay? What’s wrong?”

The woman turned, her eyes brimming with tears. “My cat, child. He’s trapped under there, and I can’t reach him.”

Just then, Elysia noticed a boy about her age hovering nearby, curiosity etched on his face. Without hesitation, she pointed at him. “You! Help me rescue the cat!”

Surprised but eager, the boy nodded. Together, they squeezed into the narrow space, coaxing the frightened feline out with soft words and gentle hands. Finally, they emerged, dusty but triumphant, with the cat safely in their arms.

The old woman’s face lit up with joy. “Oh, gracias, mis niños! You are angels!” She reached into a worn cloth satchel. “I don’t have much, but please, take this as a token of my gratitude.”

From her bag, she produced a small jade amulet. As she extended her hand, the amulet slipped, falling to the pavement and breaking cleanly into two pieces.

“Oh no!” the woman gasped

Elysia quickly bent to retrieve the pieces. “It’s okay,” she said, smiling. “Now we can share.” She handed one piece to the boy.

As they examined their unexpected reward, they noticed an etching on the jade. Putting the pieces together, they read: “GENESI GRATIARUM”.

Elysia squealed with delight. “Look! It has my name on it!”

The boy looked puzzled. “Your name is Gen?”

“No, silly,” Elysia laughed. “My last name is Grati. Elysia Grati – but you can call me Gen if you want.”

The boy grinned. “I’m Daniel. I guess you can call me Esi since that’s what my piece says.”

They both burst into laughter. “No, I like Daniel,” Elysia said, then blushed as she realized how it sounded. “I mean, I like the name ‘Daniel’.”

Still giggling, they bought their juices and headed back to the bleachers. As they approached, Elysia noticed her father engaged in conversation with a stern-looking man and woman.

“Papá,” Elysia called, “I made a new friend!”

Leonardo turned, a slightly strained smile on his face. “That’s wonderful, mi cielo. Daniel, is it? I was just talking with your parents.”

Daniel’s father, Diego, nodded curtly. His crisp suit seemed out of place among the colorful carnival-goers. “Daniel, it’s time to go. We have matters to attend to.”

Eva, Daniel’s mother, placed a gentle hand on her son’s shoulder. “It was nice to meet you, Elysia,” she said, her smile warmer than her husband’s.

As the two families parted ways, Elysia couldn’t shake the feeling that something significant had just occurred. She clutched her piece of the jade amulet tightly, watching Daniel disappear into the crowd.

Little did she know that this chance encounter would set in motion events that would shape not only her life but the future of the world itself. The Genesis of Grati had begun, amidst the joyous chaos of Maracaibo Carnaval, with two children, a broken amulet, and a promise of something greater than themselves.