Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 7 'Cats'

MONICA’S LIVING ROOM - DAY

Now Monica receives Annie. She is chewing on a bag of cookies, while Monica is satisfied with a cup of green tea. There is a cup for Annie on the coffee table. The two friends go on talking and eating —drinking at the same time.

"I didn't see you yesterday, my friend, after the incident. So, did everything do well?"

"If you are referring to me arriving at the publisher on time and delivering my manuscript, yes, of course, it worked. Now let's see if it will work out for me to be called by that phone and be informed that they are going to publish. And may they pay me at least R$ 2.00 per book."

"Monica, this is very little! They will sell the book for at least R$ 20.00; why only two bucks for you?"

Monica smiles smartly, "If I sell a million copies, I will earn TWO MILLION royalties, do you understand?"

Annie chokes on the piece of cookie she chewed, "Yeah, I hadn't seen it from this perspective!"

"That's how you win in life, darling, thinking calmly and in the long run. What's the use of paying R$ 10.00 if I don't sell even 100 copies? Besides the publisher kicking my ass, I won't have the heart to write another one."

Annie speaks in a not-so-convincing tone, "Oh, dear, I wish everything would work out."

Monica notices her friend's tone, "Is there a problem, Annie?"

Annie gets up, drops the package, takes the cup, and drinks all the tea at once as if it were whiskey.

"Jonas. He picked me up at the Malthus snack bar. It looked like I was committing adultery."

Monica straightens up in the chair. She holds emotions, "Did he offend you, did he hurt you?"

Annie is quick to answer, "N-no! Just that idea that he and his parents have... That Seu Aurélio is a cruel competitor that needs to be fought."

"Oh, dear, there is room for everyone! The neighborhood is so big..."

"I just wanna see what it will be like if a Dalmerri or Extrabom appears in the neighborhood!"

Monica reacts humanely, penalized.

"I'm going to talk to him, friend."

"No, Monica, you don't have to..."

Monica gets up and goes to Annie. She puts her hands on her shoulders and applies strength.

"What a hell you don't need, you do! Jonas needs to understand that we are in capitalism, where the customer is the boss. If you want to eat at the Malthus cafeteria or Seb's bodega, whatever, it's your money!"

Annie speaks softly, "Actually, it's my parents —"

"You understand, friend. And don't worry about it. I'm here to help you."

Annie is thrilled, "As always, right!"

Such a touching moment between friends, the two embrace.

RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION

Célio comes in. Tito receives him effusively.

"Good morning, my boy!"

"Seu Tito, do you have any more posters? Chief Roldão asked to put one up at the police station. He wasn’t aware of the Assembly."

Tito is intrigued. "Didn't you stick in the snack bar?"

"I stuck in several strategic locations, sir. But, the neighborhood is large, it will need more."

"I’ll provide more posters; you can leave them to me. For now, you have nothing to do. Take your money."

The association's furniture is second-hand. Tito opens a rusty drawer, moves inside, and takes out two R$ 10 bills. Célio receives them with a smile.

"Thank you, mayor!"

Célio leaves. Tito smiles with the "mayor".

"And so I win another voter. That way, I’ll run for Parliament on Royal Hill!"

MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Aurélio at his post is placing fresh snacks. Men in uniform from a certain soft drink company deliver crates. There are already customers at tables.

A conveyor asks Aurélio, "Can you check it out, sir?"

Aurélio leaves the other side of the counter and checks the bars with the invoice. Meanwhile, Ed comes in and sits down.

"All right, young man."

"Sign here, please."

Ed calls him restlessly, "Seu Aurélio, can you serve me, please?

"One minute!"

Aurélio puts the note on the counter and signs. He delivers to the loader. The loader cuts off the company's carbon and delivers the client's copy with the payment slips. He thanks him with a nod and leaves with his colleagues, taking the empty bottle racks.

Aurélio approaches Ed, suspicious of what he will "ask", "What will it be this time, son? Please, something that really fills you."

"I won't complain if you serve me a cheese pastry."

Aurélio scratches his head with the pen. "Look, Ed... I have this flavor, but... Did you never notice that cheese tastings don't taste like anything? The cheese melts and mixes in the dough when we fry, at the end the tart is hollow. Turns a lie!"

"But, it's already something. Better than water like yesterday."

"I have ground beef pastry that I made yesterday —"

Ed replies haughty, stubbornly, "A cheese pastry, Seu Aurélio..."

Aurélio is not satisfied. "You wish is my command... and to drink?"

"Mineral water!"

Aurélio closes his hands and holds on to not choke Ed.