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2024-10-29 19:42:56The girl is startled and faces the boy who wants to help her. Between the shocks, there were seconds to admire. For someone in his 30s, Josias would be considered skinny; but for someone her age, Josias was muscular.
Josias donates R$ 2.00 of his already limited money to help her. “Here it is.” He turns to her, “Sorry, miss. But, I saw you so smiling when choosing the shampoo; I wouldn't want you to leave without it.”
The girl smiles in thanks. “Thanks. It's the shampoo everyone is using; I don't want to be left behind. My friends said it was great.”
“By the way, my name is Josias,” Josias spoke with such certainty that they would meet again. Meanwhile, the clerk adds up and receives payment from him.
“Melissa.” The girl responds, now taking a closer look at the boy who helped her.
They say that while men turn their heads and make it obvious that they are admiring a woman; a woman can do the same with a handsome man with only an imperceptible look. That's exactly what Melissa is doing.
When Josias receives his objects and change, he begins to withdraw. Then he looks at Melissa and informs her. “I live right there.” Pointing in the direction of the favela, he did not want to say directly where it was.
But, to Josias's surprise, she smiles and informs, “Let's go together, then.”
Instead of going ahead to buy more things, as agreed with Teodoro, Josias returns to Happiness Slum accompanied by Melissa. The two talk and get acquainted. Melissa lives with her parents and younger brother. The parents are residents of the slum before she was born, when they got married, the slum was the only place they could live according to their financial situation. She is finishing the last year of high school, still doesn't know what to do, afterward.
Josias, very smart, risks a maneuver to obtain certain information. “I imagine that when you get married, you won't worry too much about a career.”
“What wedding?” Melissa asks, laughing. “There are no suitable candidates, and my father is very discerning. He said he prefers me to be a spinster than to marry someone here and have the same fate as he and Mom. He keeps insisting that we were born for better things.”
Josias smiles too. Information obtained successfully: Melissa is still single, and her father is discerning. He doesn't want his baby girl dating any wretch guy. This only gives Josias more courage to strive to improve his financial situation.
It is because with each step they take, each sentence they say, Josias becomes more and more attached to Melissa. She has green eyes, a fit body, is friendly and orderly. Many girls of her age and situation would be snobs and would already be dating a bad boy. But, if she has managed to stand her ground up to now, and if she obeys her father and respects his opinion, then it is a sign that Melissa is the best candidate for a decent wife.
Josias stops walking when they reach the corner of Main Street and Hope Street, realizing that Melissa will continue.
“Well, Melissa, my way ends here. I live in the building where there is a sign saying about renting rooms.”
“Ah, I think I know where it is. Well, I live further on. So we say goodbye here.” Melissa speaks in a tone of pity. She was enjoying the company of Josias; she felt that he was different from the boys in the favela. As if he wasn't from here (and he wasn't!).
Josias and Melissa shake hands, both smiling. “Glad to meet you, Melissa.”
“Look, if I ever meet you again, I'll pay you those two reais,” Melissa speaks as if she's forgotten about it.
Josias shakes his head, frowning. “No problem, Melissa. Never worry about paying me; you are not indebted to me. I just wanted to help.”
Melissa then nods. After a few more words, Josias heads for Teodoro's building, grinning. Melissa returns to her house with a good impression of Josias.
When Josias enters, Teodoro is amazed at how quickly the boy has returned. He notices that there is only the pharmacy bag in his hand.
“Have you been to the Downtown yet, boy?” He asks, noticing Josias's silly smile.
“No. I ended up staying to help a girl at the pharmacy. Boy... what a girl...”
Teodoro is already a lived man. He understood perfectly what Josias meant and laughed.
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Building My Life Chapter 9 Going to Downtown
Teodoro smiles when he sees Josias enchanted by a resident girl of Happiness Slum. “My boy, take it easy with that heart. Do I know her by any chance?”“Her name is Melissa.” Josias responds as if he is singing, “And she lives further on.” Josias, however, shakes his head, “Well, what am I doing? Okay, the girl is beautiful and nice, and she was admiring my chest, even though I am not muscular; but, I need to find something. She must think I am a pervert for walking without a shirt.”“There is nothing wrong with a man walking around without a shirt, especially in this heat.” Teodoro ponders, “But, as I warned you, better to start buying your things.”Josias smiles as he remembers. “Her father is very strict; he doesn't want his dear daughter to marry a poor man. So I better get ahead.”Josias starts walking out of the reception. Teodoro asks him, “Hey, where are you
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Upon returning to the building, Teodoro was already having lunch. He holds the plate up and invites Josias. “You can go in there if you can.”Josias approaches the counter. “Do you believe that I almost saw the boy who encouraged me not to give up?”“What do you mean, give up?” Teodoro frowns, “Were you trying to kill yourself?”“No, but all of a sudden, when I was on the bus, this boy in religious style and clothes was on a seat behind me, and when I was leaving, he asked if I needed help. When I asked him to pray for me, he smiled and promised that not only would he pray for me, but that my life would be great and successful.”Teodoro stops chewing and swallows. His face is serious. “And you don't know who it is?”“He embarked at Rainbow Garden, but I had never seen him before.” Josias scratches his head. “Although the neighborhood is large and I don't know
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Josias takes the key from Teodoro and goes up the stairs. Upon entering the room, he takes off his sweatpants and places it on the back of the chair. Today is hot to have a beer, just as Melissa's father wishes. He leaves the balcony door open and lies down on the bed, takes off his briefs, and curls up on the sheet.Do not misjudge Josias for sleep naked. It's just that he is disgusted to wear the same briefs, and his sweatpants are also in utter misery.Josias wakes up the next day, which promises to be another hot day, already getting discouraged with the prospect of work. He gets up and goes to the balcony, looking at the horizon and the activity of the favela. The same girl from the other building meets Josias and this time she dares to wave a hello, to which he corresponds. At this point, the girl is wondering if Josias wears a shirt. If she knew...Josias takes the towel that is folded on the chair and wraps it around his waist, goes to the dresser, and t
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When Josias goes down to the bathroom, he decides to just wash his face and brush his teeth. He no longer cared about other men bathing uninhibited in front of him, as he only took a shower late at night, before going to sleep, just so he wouldn't meet anyone.As he approaches the reception, Teodoro is almost crying with the debut of “Lady”, by Kenny Rogers, being played on the radio with profusion. “The guy sings very well, how wonderful...” Teodoro notices Josias's presence, “Hello, boy, good morning. Are you going out again?”Josias reaches out his hand to prevent Teodoro from giving him more money. “Not today, Seu Teodoro. I am going to take a walk right here in the locality.”Teodoro raises an eyebrow. “Really? Well, I must warn you that here you will only find that type of job that requires a lot of effort and very little reward.” He makes a “money” sign with his fingers.Josias
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Josias gives Romualdo a gaze of astonishment. He had no intention of asking just in the construction site, but the opportunity came and he would not refuse. He just didn't expect to get this easy. Was Everaldo in action again?“Are you sure, sir? Here it looks like work done with care. I don't have a lot of construction experience; at most I helped as Uélton is doing.”Romualdo analyzes Josias's physical constitution from him. Because he was shirtless, it became easier. “You don't look like a fragile boy to me. You're not muscular, but I see a little strength in your arms and shoulders.”“I was never an idle person, or a sedentary person, as they say,” Josias explains, with a proud smile.“Then there is no more talk!” Romualdo sentences, “If you really want to, come tomorrow to start. And what you don't know how to do, we'll teach you. What do you say?”What to say? Of course, Josia
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The next day, he gets up in fright, because with the lack of a clock he has no idea of the time. Josias goes to the balcony, pays no attention to the girl in the other building, and only analyzes the traffic on the streets. People are going to work and children are going to school. Well, it means that it is not yet eight o'clock.Josias wears his underwear, determining that the first thing to do with the first payment will be to buy a pack of underwear and boxer shorts to stop sleeping naked. After he pulls on his sweatpants; he picks up the brush and toothpaste and runs down to the bathroom.When he is walking down the hall, a girl a few years older than him appears and intercepts him. She is a dark blonde and has a bath towel and shampoo in her hands, apparently a novice in the building.“Excuse me, friend.” She asks Josias, “I'm new here; do you know where the bathroom is?”“At the end of the hallway,” Josias said,
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After insulted by the guy who insinuated Josias to be a homosexual, he strides out of the bathroom, slamming the door shut, and frowns at the lobby, forgetting to brush his teeth.Teodoro is sweeping the floor excitedly to The Manhattans’ “Shining Star”, pretending that the broom was his dance partner. Josias for a few seconds forgets his anger and laughs at the scene. When Teodoro notices the boy, he disguises and returns to sweep normally.“We just work, work... We get to have some fun, too.” He speaks in an apologetic tone, “How can I help you, Josias?”“Seu Teodoro, can you at least put a sign in the men's room telling the men to close the door? Or rather, can you manage to separate the showers by a box?”Teodoro stops sweeping, he’s looking questioningly at Josias. How many demands!“What do you owe so many requests to, Josias?”Josias gulps; he fears he has overdon
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Chapter 3144 Benjamin Requests a Transfer
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At Café Montanha, Daryl walks in for a coffee and finds Rodrigo at the counter while Neilton serves the others. “Hey, are we back to the old tradition?” “Don’t be a clown, man.” Rodrigo laughs. “Yes, Thierry is at the supermarket, as we agreed.” “Hi, Neil. Can you make me a cappuccino while I enjoy a natural sandwich?” Daryl places his order. “Sure thing, Mr. Mountain.” Neilton heads to the back. Daryl sits on the stool. “So, how do you feel after getting back to your element?” “I don’t regret at all helping my dear wife at the supermarket, Daryl,” Rodrigo admitted while preparing the natural sandwich. “I’m not talking about regrets.” Daryl joked. “But it’s undeniable that after Uncle Francisco’s passing, you prefer to stay here, carrying on the legacy he left.” “Just like Crystal Blue.” Rodrigo smiled. “Hey, I’m aware that you’re looking to open another restaurant in Sunset Village. Do you think you can manage it? How’s the prospecting going?” Daryl picks up the sandwich but
