Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 10 Bad customers (2)

MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Célio and Monica pay for the lunch and say goodbye to Aurélio.

"I received it from Seu Tito and I came to honor you soon."

"I thank you for your preference, Célio. With this money, I’ll buy a broom, as the citizen said."

Monica replies, "Ah, don't you mind that guy, Seu Aurélio. Yes, clean up your business, for hygiene and customers, but not for him." She turns to Célio, "I need to stop by the Cascais bakery."

"I’m gonna see Cássio in the square".

Monica is thrilled, "Thanks for the invitation, Cé. I loved it." She says to Aurélio, already leaving, "Bye, Seu Aurélio!"

"Bye!" after she left, he is mocking Célio, "how is it? 'Cé'?"

Célio adds dignity, "Hey, Seu Aurélio, it’s not a good tone to make fun of a lady."

"Am I missing something?"

Célio talks almost to himself, "IT´S ME who is losing if I don't act soon. Time is cruel."

"I can get nothing with this philosophy."

Célio speaks when he leaves, "We’ll talk later, Seu Aurélio."

Aurélio laughs and takes a flannel to clean the counter.

CASCAIS BAKERY

Annie and Jonas are saying goodbye together with a light kiss. There is no more grudge and spite. But the loving mood is broken with the entrance of Monica to the bakery.

"Annie?!"

Jonas and Annie move away.

Annie answers her as if scared, "Hi, Monica... I didn't see you earlier."

Monica replies teasing, "Of course not, I was at Malthus snake bar, with Célio."

Jonas reacts with disgust, "You don't speak the name of the place cause my father just arrived."

Annie disguises it, "And that is precisely why we have to go."

Annie pulls Monica close to the door. She talks in a low and pleading tone, "Please, Monica, I beg you! You don't need to talk to him. We understand each other already!"

Monica replies in the same tone, "What did you guys understand? Will you never eat at Seu Aurélio again?"

"It's not like that; I'm just gonna try to balance things out. Jonas is my boyfriend, Monica. You’ll understand when you have yours."

The phrase bangs Monica in full. She takes a deep breath and then speaks over Annie's shoulder in a normal tone, "Pack six rolls for me, Jonas!"

"You said it, Monica!"

Jonas moves further away. Annie takes advantage and thanks Monica by giving hugs and kisses. But Monica is still not convinced.

GRANJA SQUARE

Cássio once again is training alone, kicking for the goal. This time Célio accompanies him. After a few moves, Cássio approaches his friend taking a breath.

"Boy, is there a job in the association for me, do you know? I need a little money."

"I don't even have one for me. Today I have the day off."

"Yeah, apparently my career is going to be in the sport. But, look at this", Cássio does a wide gesture, "it doesn't work, nothing to compare with Canongas Football Club."

Célio replies firmly, seriously, "That's why I want to help, Cássio. You touched on an interesting point. I want to be a great leader, not in the sense of Cuba, but in the sense of having the power to help people. And what better profession to do that than politics?"

"My father said that politics is not a profession —"

Célio doesn't care much, "That's why I decided to stick to Seu Tito and learn as much as possible to be someone who can help others in the future."

"And do you think Seu Tito wants to help someone?"

Célio looks puzzled, "He gave the worth to win an election for that. If he doesn't do anything, especially his campaign promises, he will be excluded from society."

Cassio rolls his eyes, "You are already learning to speak difficult just like them."

Célio laughs, "You don't have to be very smart, just read the dictionary."

"You’re starting to talk like Sandra."

As a joke, Célio takes Cássio's ball when he least expected it. They start playing head to head, laughing, it’s the complicity of friends.