Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 20 Neighbours demand their rights (2)

RESIDENTS' ASSOCIATION

Total silence. Célio is still standing, listening.

Tito is in an embarrassed beat, "We're still getting organized..."

Sandra screams, "Get organized before I'm raped!"

Célio reacts, "Turn your mouth over there, Sandra! I know who can help us."

Sandra turns to him, "Who?"

"It's Carina Sousa."

Sandra got a pretty strong angry reaction to the pronounced name, "That dead-fly Carina, getting involved in public security matters? She trembles just because someone holds out a gun!"

"I'm not saying that she will be the next Wonder Woman, but she can help us with—" Célio cleared

his throat, "Advertising. There is the software called Corel Draw, which she knows how to work like never before."

Tito says, "I've never heard of this girl, but if she can help, send her over tomorrow or today if you find her."

Célio is glad to help, "Leave it to me, Seu Tito!"

Cássio finally arrives, "And so, Célio, what job will be today?"

Sandra turns to him and smiles, "Good morning darling!"

Cássio barely blinks for Célio, he goes straight to the beloved girlfriend, "Little Sandra! Hi, my love, did you come to work too?"

Sandra almost has a stroke only with the hypothesis, "I came, as a citizen who pays taxes, to demand a fair return from the taxes with the government."

Cássio got frozen

and understood nothing.

Célio is mocking him, "She came to ask Seu Tito to help the police station."

"Aaaaaahhh, okaaaaay. Anyway, I'm going to work. The bills keep coming and my dad doesn't answer the phone, I don't know why."

Célio rolls his eyes. He separates some posters and gives them to Cássio, and also the glue, "There, go ahead and paste it on Carijó Street."

Cássio is a joker, "The street where Monica lives, right, Don Juan?"

The machine gun gaze of Célio sends shivers down Cassio’s spine and he leaves immediately. Sandra goes behind.

Tito questions Célio, "How does this simple boy have the courage to go out with this girl so awful and troublemaker?"

"Midnight Mysteries, Seu Tito; and don't worry, I'll talk to Carina."

After Célio left...

MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Carina, Monica, and Rosa are on the counter. Célio is with them, some posters in hand, and the conversation about the plan already started. Aurélio is on the other side of the counter.

Carina is thankful, "Oh, thanks for remembering me, Célio. Of course, I’ll agree to help. Mayor Tito deserves our support. And it's for our benefit too."

"You have a noble heart, Carina. You and Annie should be sisters." Aurélio mentions "Annie" looking at Monica. The hint was captured and she lowers her head.

Célio goes on, "As we are going to need from ads, nobody better than you with your gift to the arts. We’ll use your talent to convince our neighbors to help."

"People who move from Greater Victoria to Royal Hill think that the police here are public services, but not. It's private. Only the high ranking that takes care of the interests of the Hiller crown is financed by public money."

"That's why the Debora Park and Aurora Village police stations work well. But here..."

Rosa says, "Yes, the people have to wake up. Yesterday Chief Roldão found a suspected gang who is on the sidewalk late at night. I thought I was going to be attacked."

Célio says, "They know that here we are still getting ready and want to enjoy it. Chief Roldão is there struggling with a computer that turns itself off and is Windows 3.0"

Carina notices the ‘posters’, "I just will need better material. Chamex or A4 is not the best option. Very easy to tear or fade in the rain. Good poster paper is couché."

Aurélio is astonished, "See how this girl knows everything?"

Rosa completes, "Take it easy, dear. There is in the stationery."

"You fell from heaven, Rosa!"

"I fell from Bluffington to here!"

Everyone's laughing. The door

opens and Annie and Jonas pass in. Monica and Annie look at each other, the two are embarrassed. Then, between Aurélio and Jonas; he greets the boy with the head, and Jonas suddenly hugs Annie sideways as if to say "she’s mine!"

"Let's sit there, love. The counter is full." Jonas says to her but glaring at Aurélio.

The two move further toward the corner. Célio perceives the mood and turns to Monica. Rosa and Carina keep converging.

"Is there a problem, Monica? You faded as soon as Annie came in, and you didn't even go to greet her."

"It's friend problems, Cé. It’s not worth taking your time."

"Well, you are my friend too. If you want to talk..."

Monica disguises herself without being impolite, "Later, let's get back to your subject."

Célio laughs lightly, "My subject... As if the mayor were me..."

Monica thrills him, "Who knows, in a few years, I may not be voting for you as mayor of this neighborhood?"

Célio gets admired, "Really, Monica?"

"Of course! I said that you will go far."

"I may even go, but I don't know if wanna go alone..."

Monica feels goosebumps on the back of her neck. Célio is not flirting; he speaks seriously and with his heart. They are impressed; face each other for a few seconds. When Célio starts to take the courage to lean over and kiss Monica...

...Aurélio cut the romantic mood by hitting the cane juice cup on the counter!

He says, "Your sugarcane juice, Monica!"

Monica got scared, but smiles at Aurélio and picks up the glass to drink. Célio strafes him with his gaze, but Aurélio just smiles like a nut and walks away to see the other customers.

At Annie and Jonas's table, she is reading the menu and Jonas is looking at Aurélio in anger.

Annie asks, "Have you chosen, my love?"

"He interrupted their ‘love’ as if he were jealous!" Jonas replies gritting his teeth.

"Whose is the love?" Annie looks up.

"Monica and Célio were about to kiss and he interrupted. Malthus did it."

Annie gets touched, "Oh, how beautiful! They really like each other."

Jonas was going to insist, but Aurélio approaches them, "Have you already chosen?"

"Yesterday the savories were very fresh, Seu Aurélio." Annie praises him sweetly.

But Aurélio is distant, "Someone said that it’s necessary to change the oil."

CARIJÓ STREET

Cássio is on the street, pasting the posters on the light pole in front of Ricardo's house. He emerges from the living room window and sees him. In a moment, he leaves the house and approaches him.

"What are you doing there, boy?"

Cássio reads, "‘Special meeting with the residents of the Rhodia River Environmental Park this Saturday at 3 pm at the Residents' Association’. You are invited."

"This paper is not suitable for the poster, it has to be coated. And you don't say a meeting, you say ‘assembly’. Other than that, it's good to know."

"You are invited."

Cássio moves away, surprising the neighbor a little. Ricardo remains reading the warning with a mysterious smile.