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
Josias gets furious when he learns from Pamela that Melissa won a gift."Pamela, if you don't tell me now what Melissa won and from whom..." He speaks threateningly and very close to Pamela, she is vibrating with the approach and with the manly and tough tone of his voice very close to her."Ain, Josias, I don't want to pour water on your beer..." She says not so convincingly."I still don't drink, so you can pour!" Josias grabs Pamela by the shoulders."Okay, can you drop me first?" Pamela pretends that she is offended and Josias releases her, “Fabrício approached us when we left school and gave Melissa a package. She was embarrassed, but accepted for education.”"If she wanted to be polite, she had to throw the package on the floor and step on it!" Josias yells with his face closed."You know very well that Melissa is not that temperament." Pamela observes, “And if you're one of those hot-head guys, you can forget
Josias is walking home, furious, frowning, looking more at the floor than ahead. When he passes the Hope Street corner bar, he sees from a distance Jeremiah drinking with another girl.Josias had some money in his pocket and decided to buy a bottle of soda to drink with dinner. He intends to keep it in Teodoro's refrigerator.When he enters, he finds the messy and chaotic environment strange. Samba was played on the radio, at a volume too loud for Josias's eardrums. Some customers talked too loudly as if they wanted to compete with the music. It was still early in the evening and they were already drunk; imagine when it's ten or eleven at night!Josias approaches the counter and asks the bar owner for a bottle of soda. After being served and paying for the product, Josias turns his back and prepares to leave, when a scene catches his eye.On the plastic table where Jeremiah and the other girl are, three men older and stronger than Jeremiah is approaching
To the surprise of everyone involved, the older brother of the first girl smirks and asks, “What's your name, little boy?”“Josias Rocha.” Once again, Josias pronounces it as if he were an important authority.“Tiago Bento, but everyone calls me Tiagão, I don't know why.” The other two brothers and sister laugh. Tiago extends his hand and Josias greets him.Jeremiah is stunned, gaping. In addition to Josias defending him, he managed to tame the beast. Tiago is black, almost two meters tall, and much stronger and more muscular than Jeremiah. The other two who are next to him could very well be his bodyguards since Tiago looked like he was someone important.“Josias, we need to talk about your heroic act.” Tiago continues, “Elisa here spoke very well of you.”“He's my hero.” She speaks sweetly.Seeing this, Josias is sure that he had done the right thing in saving h
Admired by Josias's decent and civilized stance, Teodoro congratulates him. “Very well, Josias Rocha! I see that you acted with principles. I would say that your father would be very proud of you, but it looks like he didn't teach you that.”"No, he didn't teach me." Josias confirms, "My mother taught me something about ethics and citizenship before she got divorced and disappeared from the city."“Anyway, once the subject of the bar has ended in a happy ending,” Teodoro rubs his hands, “we will continue to deal with the first subject. Young Rocha, you spoke as if you had lost Melissa. Aren't you going to ask her father for permission?”"I went to the football field to look for him, but I found Pamela first." Josias is crestfallen and shoulders slumped.“Pamela? Did she tell you?” Teodoro frowns, "Isn't she the one you suspected of slandering you to Mr. Campos?"“Yes, but nothing has been proven
William gets a fright as if he were not the reason for his mother's fright.“Calm down, mom, what is this astonishment for?”“What happened to you, my little boy? Did you fall, were you mugged?” Dora approaches her son with great concern.Simeão, however, smiles maliciously. “It's the fans, dear. William is very skilled, scoring a lot of goals, a performance worthy of a professional player.”“And that is why they tear up his clothes and chase my son?” Dora does not want to hear about young girls chasing after her son. She turns to William and looks at him, almost menacingly. “Son, remember one thing: Mom wants you to finish high school and fight to fulfill your dream, to be a football player. Don't get distracted by these bitches, don't get any girl pregnant, because that will ruin everything, understand?”“Yes, mother, I understand,” William speaks obediently and submis
Friday. Uélton and Josias talk about what happened yesterday.“Jeez, where does this Fabrício come from when you least expect it?” Uélton asks with a frown.“It looks like someone let him know when he must show up. The worst is that this is becoming dangerous.” Josias shakes his head in denial, “She has already accepted a gift, that is, she has already opened the door to a possible friendship.”“As long as she stays just in friendship, and date with you...” Uélton tries to add.“No way, buddy.” Josias enters the bathroom to finish the tiling job, “If Melissa is my girlfriend I will be her friend. Without space for others, this is how it will be.”Romualdo approaches the two with money in hand.“Ah, you are here, so let me take advantage.” Romualdo enters the bathroom and separates the notes.Uélton and Josias each rec
As in the movies and soap operas, this time no cars or pedestrians are passing on the avenue to help Pamela. She runs and screams like a possessed, but Fabrício is faster and grabs her around the waist.“NO! Let me go, you bastard!” Pamela screams at the top of her lungs.“Schiii!” Fabrício orders in her ear, “Do you mean that the best friend is keeping an eye on her younger brother, seducing the minor?”“I am too, damn it!”“But, he's younger, and he's Melissa's brother! Come on, Pamela, you're on fire for Josias and him, but you're not for me?”“Get your paws off me, let me go! Or I tell Melissa everything, and the plan is over!”Fabrício smiles wickedly, somewhat devilishly. “If you tell her, I'll tell her next that you're misleading the little brother. She will never forgive you. And I can add some details to shock her even more.”