The next day, Wednesday, Melissa is surprised by Fabrício's presence so early in the day.
Really early, because Simeão is still leaving for work, wearing jumpsuits and William is wearing school uniform shorts.
“Fabrício?” Simeão asks with a visible strangeness, “Did you lose anything here?”
“Mr. Campos, good morning. Is Melissa at home?” Fabrício asks trying to captivate with a smile.
“Of course she is.” Simeão does not mean to be rude, “If you doubt it, she must still be asleep.”
William gives a sarcastic laugh and puts the backpack on his back. Fabrício realizes that William will not accept him as a brother-in-law and asks him out of teasing.
“Are you going to school without a uniform shirt? Do they let you in?”
William just smiles as if to say 'I can do it' and leaves, bumping into Fabrício violently, inti
Josias informs Fabrício that he and Melissa are going to date. Fabrício decides to insist on this dispute.“She will be? This means that she is not yet. So she is not cheating on you for seeing me.”“It won't be for long. Soon I will not allow you to approach her.” Josias responds boldly.However, Fabrício tilts his head back and lets out a hearty laugh. “What are you going to do about it, my comrade? I have more money and power than you. You are just a bricklayer helper. You can't afford to give Melissa a decent future.”“And you have? What is your job?”Josias's question takes a little pride out of Fabrício. It takes a few seconds before responding. “Well, I'm going to study Economics.”“Attend class, not work as an economist!” Josias burst out laughing, “Let me guess: you are the one who will spend all your twenty years studying, stud
"That's right, Mom, I was forgetting about the graduation party!" Melissa collapses on the couch, her eyes wide."But, I haven't forgotten." Dora spoke with a smart smile, “I'm almost done with your dress at the sewing machine. It will be cute, my daughter.”"If it looks like the mold magazine you showed me, I can be crowned the prom queen!" Melissa maintained that illusion."And how are you going to be queen without a king?" Dora remembers it.Melissa has a jolt, she feels like she's fallen out of the clouds. The mother still doesn't know that Josias ran away from home with only the clothes on. Obviously, Josias does not have an Italian-cut suit stored in his dresser.How does Josias go to the prom?If she invites him, that will be the excuse for him not to go. ‘Sorry, Melissa, but I don’t have a suit’.However, she remembered that Josias's clothes he wore at Pamela's barbecue were from Wallace. And when
The first time Pamela fell to the ground, Josias did not hear about this story. Melissa didn't tell him. Now the boy is witnessing this same situation.Pamela doesn't know what to do. Fabrício wants her to seduce Josias so he can be with Melissa. Now Josias is in front of her, concerned about her fall. Was this an opportunity?“Josias, don't worry.” Pamela knows this trick. She tells men ‘don't worry’ and they do the exact opposite.“What do you mean, don't worry?” Josias reaches out and lifts Pamela off the floor like a gentleman, “Did you get hurt? I think Seu Teodoro has something in the lobby.”Luckily there were no serious wounds or bloody scratches like the last time.“You don't have to, I didn't have a scratch. It’s just the scare.” She responds sweetly with a smile.Josias is surprised. This Pamela, who is in front of him, sweet and pleasant, is much better than
“Josias, I'm really sorry about things that happened. I had no idea.” Pamela speaks in a regretful tone.In other circumstances, she would be genuinely moved by Josias's suffering. However now she is pretending for him to think that she has her good side.'A boy who had this disastrous background will never be able to rise in life!' Thought Pamela with contempt, although she was smiling at Josias, ‘This filthy room, with cracked walls, and very little furniture is all he will get. That’s why his best clothes are donated.’“Now you understand my situation.” Josias speaks relieved to see that she is reacting ‘favorably’.“Yes, I was a fool to judge you too hastily.” Pamela does not face Josias when she says this, a sign that she is lying and knows it.“Now we can understand each other better and stop causing problems and headaches for your best friend.” Josias is more excit
On Thursday, Josias is at the construction site, excited about the service. Now he is learning to lay tiles in the bathroom. Robson is an excellent teacher.“Ready for another day of lessons, Josias?”“Always ready, Robson.” Josias smiles at him.“That's right. Keep going so you will be promoted soon. You know, Romualdo has been telling me a few things.”Uélton approaches and unceremoniously leans his ear to listen to what seemed to be confidential information. Robson notices Uélton eavesdropping, but just smiles slightly and goes on, “It looks like Romualdo is getting another client, another house to build. If things go right, some of us will go for this new work.”Josias and Uélton look at each other.“As if Romualdo was a construction company?” Josias asks.“It’s that. At the moment, Romualdo informally deals with business. But, he is very
Uélton scandalously asks Josias if he took Pamela to the room. The attention of the other masons was unduly attracted, as they think that there was indecency between him and Pamela.“Hey, Josias, I thought you were a good boy,” Robson spoke in a tone that sounded mocking or scolding, depending on who was listening.“Leave the boy alone, he's not made of iron!” Milton opines with a chuckle.Well, whether there is immorality or not, the fact is that the general opinion of the workers is that Josias deserved to date a girl, even more with the appearance of him.But, Josias went red like pepper and tried to justify himself, “Calm down, guys, I don't want to get anybody pregnant.”“That's it, let's be careful,” Robson advises without even letting Josias know if he was joking or serious.Romualdo arrives and the workers stop joking. Romualdo is a respectable and conservative gentleman; they do
In the afternoon, after the end of classes, the students at the school where Melissa study fled away, once again giving the impression that they are fleeing Auschwitz. Melissa, Jenny, and Pamela are walking civilly."These people who run from school will regret it when it comes to getting a job," Melissa speaks with disdain."Do not worry, dear." Pamela says, “We, as women, don't have to worry about that. We only study so as not to be illiterate, but boys are the ones who have to worry about jobs!”"So explain to me why precisely the boys are the ones who run in the front and with more speed?" Melissa replies defiantly.Pamela was about to swear at Melissa when she saw Fabrício from a distance and stopped in time.Fabrício decided to show up when Melissa left school to surprise her. He's wearing a blue shirt, jeans smelling new, and impeccably white sneakers. He also held a gift in his hands, properly wrapped with a pink b
So Pamela and Melissa say goodbye, the last one entering the house with the gift in hand. Upon entering the room, Melissa unwraps and sees what she got from Fabrício.She decides to sit on the bed, such a surprise.Inside the gift box was a walkman, a novelty in the music market. This device had been invented last year, and now in 1980, it was still expensive for the lower classes.But, Fabrício comes from a family with good financial conditions, and he easily bought one for Melissa.Melissa stood for long minutes admiring the new acquisition. Now she could listen to whatever cassettes she wanted, while the rest of the family continued on the normal radio. She just couldn't walk on the street with this, as she would get undue attention.It wasn't that Melissa was afraid of being mugged. Probably thieves wouldn't even know what they were stealing!It is just that, as said, she does not want to give the impression that she is snu