Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 15 Miriam has a rival (1)

STREETS - DAY

Monica follows her path, she has already turned a block. She is in the back street. She keeps walking, looking up, and some passersby notice her.

Ahead, Monica is already feeling crazy and almost giving up. Until she stops walking and does a victorious smile.

In Monica's view, there’s a tangle of spliced ​​wires, obviously irregular. She looks from the top of the pole, going down to a certain house, and sees ‘number 33’. Monica smiles, triumphant, she found the irregularity. When she turns to go to the police station...

...Monica bumps into Fábio, only in shorts and sneakers, running. Fail.

"Why don't you look where—", she notices him, "Fábio?"

A pseudo-charming Fábio smiles at her, "What is it? Ah, you never noticed me without a shirt, right?"

Monica is indifferent, "Dude, a worthly shirtless man is just my dad. And he's better than you."

"Come on! Age reaches everyone, Little Monica. And that's why I don't want to waste mine. You, not that you need it, but you could also take a walk with me..."

Monica advances on Fábio, she just threatens to slap him.

"Just now, your hysterical girlfriend complained that you called me. Did you write my number on your head?"

Fábio jokes ironically, "Your number is easy to record."

"And which one of Fábia is it?"

"She doesn't have a phone."

"That cocky blonde...? How does she communicate with her parents?"

"Using the good-old Post Office."

Monica wiggles. And in doing so, she sees Célio walking with the posters and glue.

Fábio also looks at the same angle and sees him, "Oh, my God! Look what the other is doing!"

Célio reacts by hearing his name and goes to them, "You have something to say, do it to my face!"

Fábio scoffs, "With this behavior, you could only be a pamphleteer."

"It’s a job like any other, and in my current situation, better than nothing. I cannot be an executive in a Multinational company with only 19."

"Yes, my dear, but I prefer to start being a boy from that Multinational and go up the steps little by little than to stay in these jobs that have no ascension. I’m going, Monica, and think about what I told you!"

Fábio runs away.

Célio questions her, "What did he say to you?"

"To take a walk with him. Right after the jealous donkey accused me of giving him the phone, when in fact he got on the list."

"She's very dumb."

Monica is supportive, "And don't mind what he said, Cé. If this little job was what made our snack yesterday, then you are to be congratulated. You are going far!"

Monica walks away. Célio is confident and grateful.

"I know I'm going far, Monica. But, I want to go with you."

MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Annie breaks in with a crying face. Aurélio is always solicitous, he leaves the counter and approaches her.

"Wait a minute, wait a minute... What is this bad face, princess?"

"Don't pay any attention, Seu Aurélio. Do you still have ice cream?"

"I'm waiting to arrive. Come on, let's sit down. Today we're going to talk."

Aurélio chooses a table and pulls out a chair. Annie sits down. Then he does the same, face to face, human and supportive, big daddy.

"Tell me your problems."

"Seu Aurélio, first of all, I want you to know that I like it here and I like what you have to offer."

"Thank you very much, Annie. But, what about that face?"

"You have seen how upset Jonas is."

"Unjustifiable, there's room for everyone."

"I told Monica and she reacted like a beast to Jonas... She said she was going to teach him a lesson. But, yesterday I showed up first and made amends with Jonas. So I asked Monica not to get involved anymore."

"And Monica got involved..."

Annie is about to cry, "She gave a slap so big that it’s marked so far on the poor guy!"

Exchange of gazes between Aurélio and Annie, both got very shocked by the situation.

"Annie, Monica is your best friend, but... That way she gets a mess."

"I still haven't had the chance or the courage to say that to her."

"Do you want me to talk to her?"

Annie smiles weakly, "Thank you, Aurélio... but, no. Leave this cucumber with us. You have this wonderful cafeteria to take care of."

Aurélio smiles: "It's just a snack bar, folks!"

Annie regains some of her moods.

POLICE STATION

Carlos is at his computer, typing and talking with Monica, already seated. The conversation already started.

Carlos asks for confirmation, "So you looked up and saw the wiring completely modified."

"'Modified' is not much, chief! A hideous mess, that doesn't let me understand how it didn't explode."

"Do you know that it sometimes explodes? In slums, it tends to set shacks on fire."

"I don't want to be a classist, but we aren’t in one of them. Here the people have a certain purchasing power; so, who would be interested in a forbidden power connection?"

"There is always someone who is not so easy on the money, and sometimes a house and a big car disguise", He types more, "Number 33?"

"Yes. Mine is 30 on the back street, the one on the Carina is 32... Do you understand? It was in a sequence of houses that the messed connection affected; the houses on the other side of the street did not have a blackout."

Carlos gets up, goes to a bookcase or shelf, and searches until he finds a map of the neighborhood. He goes back to Monica and unwinds on her street.

"We are still organizing, but we intend to paste this map on one of the walls. Look here, I am not an Escelsa employee, but I think we can understand how it works."

Monica points the directions with her finger, "I live here, and the house is on this street, on the same block as mine. My neighbors and other houses just on this side have also been without power, even here."

Carlos approaches his view. Monica's finger is at number 08.

Carlos is thoughtful, "You know, yesterday a shy little girl came, named Carina Sousa—"

Monica reacts suddenly, "Ah, one of my neighbors!"

Carlos smiles at the cut, "And she said that she and others were suspicious of those who live in No. 12."

"Ah... Ricardo Oliveira..."

"Do you know this guy?"

"We had a little party between neighbors and let's say he didn't behave very well."

"He has a look of a vodka fan."

Monica laughs. In the background, once again, Sandra enters and is impressed by the scene.

She gets frowning and starts thinking, "But, is it possible? Is everyone flirting in the face of the officer? Now it's Monica, she came to thank him for being saved on Monday. Ridiculous! Even more ridiculous is Miriam to have some hopes."