Dalia and the Red Book (Dalia y el libro rojo)

DALIA AND THE RED BOOK

Mom, can I?

Yes, Dalia. Go to your father.

Otherwise, he'll probably be standing there

-the whole day. -Thank you.

They're for one another.

Oh! Hmm?

Hmm.

Oh, hello, sweetheart.

Looks like we're running out of time.

Has the big bad wolf sent you to devour me?

Come here, look at that little house.

Isn't it the most beautiful house in the world?

I'm sure it grew out of these very hills.

Something like this can't just be built.

This must be true magic.

What does the seed of a house look like, Dad?

Dalia, I can assure you,

that it is a wonderful seed.

Something worth seeing.

It has a color you've never seen yet.

About the size of a small acorn,

but weighs more than a well-fed elephant.

Yes, almost as much as my sweetie-pie.

Dalia, the seat belt.

Dad could write a tale about that little house.

With all the time your dad has spent

just staring at that little house,

he should be writing a saga of...

no less than seven volumes, my love.

Your mother's absolutely right, Dalia.

That little house is a lot of inspiration

for a simple story.

I think I'll have to write

a whole long book about it.

I'll have to talk to my editor about it tomorrow morning.

FOR SALE

Your editor is still surprised.

After all these years editing your stories,

will I finally edit your first novel?

Hm, well, "novel,"

it's a term I don't like very much.

I'd rather say the "book."

It sounds more like a hard cover.

Humidity and yellowed leaves.

I really want to write a book,

not just a novel.

And I'm gonna hand-write it, I'll use a pen and ink,

like in the good old days.

It'll be a real blast.

Don't you wanna make it harder?

- -

If it takes you three years

to complete a two-page tale,

how long will it take you to write a 500-page book?

Well, don't you worry, my editor lady.

It'll be fast, I can tell you that.

I'll start with it tomorrow.

And before the year's end,

you will be sitting next to the chimney's fire,

reading the... 800 pages of my book.

Are you serious? That's a nice idea.

But you know better than me that we don't

have a chimney at home.

Well...

I'll put Dalia to bed.

They're for one another.

Looks like lighting that fire will take some time.

SEVEN YEARS LATER

Mom, I'm here.

Mom? Hey, Mom?

Hmm. She still hasn't returned from work?

But I'm sure she left those prepared.

Oh, where are they?

Hmm...

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY, DALIA DON'T TOUCH

...happiness in little rolls.

Mm. Thank you, Mom.

What's that?

Hey, Mom, are you here?

Mom?

Dad's writing studio.

Whoa.

Hi, Dad!

Oh!

Daddy!

You're a very brave little girl, Dalia.

For a second, I thought

you wouldn't dare to walk this path.

Dad, you promised me a very special gift.

I see now.

If a treasure is promised to you,

you could cross any labyrinth, am I right?

No matter how many Minotaurs you could find along your path.

Daddy, you promised that to me.

Today's my birthday.

I know, Dalia, we're in February.

Time goes by so fast.

and we still don't have a chimney.

What about my gift?

So brave, yes, but so impatient.

I'd never forget your gift, sweetheart.

I've got it just right here.

Today I will give you something that you will never lose.

And although time passes, it will never reach that gift.

Can you guess what it is?

Mm...

Is it a friend?

Almost, but really,

I was referring to a character.

A character that will live in my book.

One that you can invent.

It can be however I want it?

That's right, how would you like it to--

I want it to be a goat.

A goat, you say?

Sure, why not?

And what's the name of your goat, Dalia?

It's obvious, Dad-- Goat.

He's my friend. He jumps everywhere

and never, ever falls down,

because he was born in the mountains.

Hm?

Why didn't Mom ever let me enter this room?

Dad always let me.

Hm.

I used to think you were bigger.

It's Dad's book!

Ow, what was that?

Yes, finally!

The story is beginning to work!

The door is opening once again!

This time, I'm going to make it.

Oh!

You will never understand it.

We will never move forward in this story.

Are you all right, Sister?

Ahh, it seems we're not the only characters

who got bored.

Is that the door opening once again?

That's very interesting.

-Dalia! -

Mom's here.

This was here.

Dalia?

Hm.

Oh, Dalia, Dalia.

Good thing I hid this.

If not, she would've eaten it, too.

Uh...

Hm.

There we go.

Dalia?

Dalia?

Are you in your room?

Yes, Mom, I'm tidying it up.

Tidying it up?

That's something I have to see with my own eyes.

Oh, no, no, no.

She can't see it. She can't see it.

Act fast. Come on, Dalia.

Think of something. Think fast.

Where could you hide it?

- -Hm.

Hello, Mom.

So, "tidying it up."

It sounded pretty strange.

I was tidying some text at the--

oh, never mind.

How was your day today?

We already talked about this, Mom.

Well, Happy Birthday!

I told you I didn't want any gifts.

I know, Dalia.

That's pretty silly, if you ask me.

You're already 12 years old.

You didn't allow me to make a gathering with your friends.

So, I bought you something insignificant.

It's nothing impressive, you have my word.

That's better.

Having high expectations could kill

even the smallest happiness you may have.

I love it!

This is the first time you surprised me

with something I really like.

Dalia, in fact, I have another gift.

That clock belonged to Dad.

Oh, I'm sure he'd like you to have it.

Your dad used to take it