Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 23 Long life to Aurélio (1)

MONICA’S LIVING ROOM

Monica is attentive to the computer, feverishly typing her second book. She hasn't even received a response from the first publisher. She stops for a while, checks her notes and drafts, and then types again. She starts speaking what she's typing.

"She shivered at the light touch of his fingers on her pink and pure face. He, however, an accomplished gentleman, knows that she is innocent and does not advance like a truck driver— " She catches herself,

"What a horror, Monica, don't offend Sula Miranda fans!"

Monica checks her draft again, "I'm glad we now have a computer, if it were a typewriter, I was f—"

Annie's voice interrupts Monica right in the "f-bomb".

"Monica!"

Monica suddenly gets up and goes to the door, opening it. She smiles when Annie passes inside, and immediately grimaces as if chewed drooling okra at the sight of Jonas entering with her.

"Good evening, Monica." Jonas greets her coldly.

"Monica," Annie says, "we need to talk to all three."

"Sit down, please." Monica welcomes them.

"Aren't we getting in the way of your work?"

Jonas is ironic to himself. "Work..."

Annie didn't hear it, but Monica did, and she gives him a cold look.

"I was offending a working

class, I need to revise this. But when I have a friend who needs to talk, it can wait."

Everyone sits down.

Annie starts, "Monica, my friend... I just came here to say that you don't have to worry anymore. Jonas and I are fine. No more fighting. When I asked you not to meddle, it was serious."

"Annie, I didn't want to go over your decision just to hurt you. I needed to check if the reconciliation had been legitimate."

Jonas reacts indignantly, "Sorry, Monica, but who are you to define what is legitimate or not?"

Monica opens and closes her hands, "For the years of friendship I have and I owe Annie even before she met you, I think I can express my opinion. You, Jonas, have been very stressed with your father's bakery, and have adopted a provocative stance with the Malthus Snack Bar. If it were just a matter of competition, there is no need to involve my friend in this. Now, unless there is another reason..."

Jonas widens his eyes.

Annie intervenes, "There is no reason beyond that, Monica. Jonas just misses his beloved, since he is always in the bakery."

Jonas excuses himself, "As long as she comes to see me, I don't care if she later goes to Malthus or any corner bar."

Monica goes well on the point, "She doesn't go ‘to Malthus’, she goes to the Malthus Snack Bar."

Jonas and Monica just machine-gun themselves with their eyes; an innocent Annie doesn't notice.

"Are we understanding then, Mo? I don't want to be in a fight. As Seu Aurélio said, a friendship like ours can't die like that."

"I think he told me the same thing!"

Monica and Annie get up and hug, in a touching moment of reconciliation. But, for Jonas, now it’s he who looks like someone who ate aloe vera.

He thinks, "Seu Aurélio, Seu Aurélio, Seu Aurélio... Everything is him! Don't these girls realize the danger that this bastard is?"

No one notices Jonas's bitter look.

MALTHUS SNACK BAR - DAY

Friday. Monica, Annie, Célio, and Cássio are happy and gathered at the counter, to celebrate the reconciliation of their friends. Aurélio is vibrant with happiness for participating in this.

Cassio begins, "Come on, I didn't even know you girls were fighting."

"Good thing," Monica says, "so the gossip boy doesn't spread out over Royal Hill."

"I think someone is calling me a gossip."

Célio scoffs, "Do you think?"

General laughter.

"People", shouts Aurélio, "Enjoy that there is no one yet, savory on the house today!"

Monica, Célio, and Cássio vibrate, but Annie, showing concern for Aurélio's release, turns to her purse and starts looking for the credit card.

"And what do you want, Annie?"

Annie answers simply, "Pizza pastry, Seu Aurélio."

Aurélio will get it for her. In the background, Carina and Rosa enter and join the group.

"Good morning everyone!" Says Rosa.

General compliance.

"Wow, Aurélio, you could start selling coffee for us to take like in American films."

"At Cascais Bakery, there are several types of coffee, Rosa." Annie advertises the bakery.

"The bakery is after the stationery shop, here is closer to me. Mango juice, so" She turns to Carina, "Take it and tell them, my friend."

General attention from everyone, even Aurélio. 

Monica asks, "Did something happen, Carina?"

"Guys, we were so excited about the posters to help the police station that I didn't pay attention to an important detail... I talked about the correct paper for printing... But the printer is missing."

General surprise reaction.

Rose completes dismayed, "And in my stationery, I don't have it, just an ordinary printer and copies."

Célio complains, "Awful! Why is it so difficult to do work for the good of others?"

Aurélio gets closer, "My youth, the elderly here are having a hard time understanding."

General laughter.

Carina explains, "That’s it, Mr. Malthus: you can't print posters on coated paper on a regular, ribbon printer. It has to be a specialized printer, and it only exists in printer shops. Too expensive for ordinary people to buy."

"So the problem is to order the service for a printing company, like the ones you only have from Whitehouse onwards?"

"I believe that in São Marcos John we can find someplace that makes cheap," explains Rosa, "But that's it."

Suspense for a moment, everyone wants to know where Aurélio wants to go. He is thinking, and then deciding, "OK."

"OK, what?" Célio asks him.

"OK, I'll pay, uh. How much should it cost?"

General conflict reaction, everyone is surprised. They want the money, but not Aurélio's.

Monica gets revolted, "Hell no, Seu Aurélio! You don't have to make such a great sacrifice for—"

"For the safety of our neighborhood? For your safety? Is that what I'm hearing?"

Women are already touched; men are always rational.

"Seu Aurélio," Célio says, "You have to see if you are not going to be short in money. We worry about you, we are not insensitive kids."

"Yes," Cássio adds, "Let's wait and find out first, then you put your hand in your pocket."

It’s Aurélio's turn to be touched, "Boys, you can count on me for whatever. I was your age, I know how it is. Leaving home, your parents' wing, your first electric bill, your first job... Dreams, hopes, the will to change the world... That's why I understand. Okay, see how much it will cost and let me know, in the meantime, I’ll separate the checks."

General vibration, noise, everyone shouting "Long life to Seu Aurélio!!" The girls start to cry, including Annie and Carina. Everyone goes to the other side of the counter and hugs him collectively. Touching moment, friendship, togetherness.