Rhodia River - In the stream of love

Chapter 9 Bad customers (1)

MALTHUS SNACK BAR - DAY

Monica and Célio are sitting at the table, which has already been served. They eat and talk.

Célio begins, "Monica, I understand that you have been brave since we met, but... Now we are in other domains. We left our parents' skirts. So I ask you to be careful when facing certain people."

"Oh, are you worried about me, Célio?" Monica reacts with emotion.

Célio reacts by shaking his head, "N-no, Monica, what’s is it? Your father will be here shortly after, knocking me down. I respect you, I'm not flirting with you."

Monica launches a joke, "Especially because in flirting you are not very good."

Célio did not catch, "Anyway, that Ricardo worries me. Mysterious, creepy, alone... He has already got into some trouble and you know that he cannot be trusted. Today you were with Carina and Fábia, but... Imagine, one day you’ll go there alone, at night..."

Monica says thankfully, "I appreciate the concern, Célio, but I'm not that careless. I’ll never be alone with him at night. And for now, Ricardo hasn't been involved in anything serious like drugs; that's why you can face it."

"Yes, but electricity cat is the first step. I told the girls to call Escelsa, but the cat issue has to be with the police station. This is a crime, Monica."

"Yes, and Mayor Tito was elected promising order and decency."

Aurélio approaches with the apron on his clothes, "Excuse me, young people. Did you say electricity cats in our neighborhood? From whom?"

"Look, Seu Aurélio, we still don't have proof, but we believe that who started it was —"

The noise of the door opening and the presence of someone make Monica interrupt herself. She pokes Célio.

It's Ricardo approaching them, arrogant and scowling as always.

"Where's the owner of this joint?"

Aurélio breathes deeply, wiggles in negative, and goes to attend. There is tension, "What will you want, young man?"

"What do you have the best?"

"Annie Lima already ate the best yesterday, but if you want..."

"Hey man, never tell the customer what's missing, emphasize what you have! That discourages a potential purchase."

Monica and Célio puzzledly look at each other.

Aurélio answers, "We have these snacks that were fried today."

"The problem is that I never know what the oil used in these fries is like. You keep repeating the same oil for months, too lazy to change it for a new one. It gives us cancer."

Some customers are beginning to be afraid to continue eating.

Aurélio is getting embarrassed, "I assure you that I change my oil every week."

"Do not assure me, but the health surveillance. See me then two coxinhas."

Aurélio promptly picks up the coxinhas. Instinctively he puts it in a paper bag for travel.

Ricardo exclaims, "Are you packing for the trip? You don't even know if I'm going to eat here!"

Aurélio is mocking, "Are you going to eat here, or is it for the trip?"

"I'm going to travel to Hawaii with the Engineers!"

Ricardo takes the bag, puts his other hand in his pocket, takes a five-dollar bill, and hands it to Aurélio. When Aurélio makes the change, Ricardo starts to leave.

"Hey, your change."

Ricardo laughs dismissively, "You can buy a broom; you need to clean it up here."

Ricardo laughs and leaves. Aurélio claps his hand on the marble, irritated. Célio and Monica get up and go to him.

"Are you all right, Seu Aurélio?"

"Very well, Célio, just anger. Some people come into the world just to take away our joy, it’s not possible."

Monica says, "This is not going to end like this, Aurélio. I'm still going to dig deeper into this cat story."

Aurélio calms down a little; he smiles and puts both hands on Célio's shoulder and the other on Monica's shoulder. The two smile back.

COR-DE-ROSA STATIONERY

Tito gets into the stationery shop. Located on the same Rhodia Avenue, the commerce belongs to Rosa Martins, 20, with loose hair with unruly strands. She approaches the customer, knowing who he is. The stationery store is crammed with products, it doesn't have enough amount of clients to sell and free up space.

"What can I help you with, Seu Tito?"

Tito, who was looking for an A4 sheet, did not like her calling "Seu", and tried to hide it.

"Does the young lady have some ream of A4 sheet?"

"Yes, I have here."

She takes him to the product location. She crouches and picks up. In the background, Carina opened the door and entered.

Tito says to Rosa, "You have a lot of things here. It’s a big investment in the store, or else sales are not good."

"Yeah... It’s a new neighborhood, people are starting to get used to it. And there are new residents every moment."

"And that's why I need to help you with new residents, and therefore new customers for you."

Tito walks with the ream practically glued to his chest. Rosa still doesn't notice. They go back to the starting point and Rosa spots Carina, looking.

"Can I help you with something, dear?"

"Do you have acrylic paint?" Carina asks her.

"Yes, I do, on your right. Sorry, the store is a bit messy, but it will get better."

Carina responds sweetly, "Well, it looks like it’s full of many options. I liked it; I won't have to take a bus to go to the Tribo Estônia anymore."

Rosa smiles and goes to the other side of the counter obviously to receive from Tito.

Tito acts like a smart politician, "See? You already have a loyal customer. It's like that in the beginning, then it gets better."

But, Rosa is already smart.

"Um, um..." She extends her hand, "R$ 15.00."

Tito acts like a trickster. "You know, daughter, the Association is currently without funds, some residents do not want to collaborate. If you have a way to pay later..."

"But, how am I going to get my business forward if everyone asks me to pay later?"

Carina approaches the counter with the paint.

Rosa asks her, "Just the paint, dear?"

"For now, yes. Ah, Mayor Tito, I heard that the Association is in difficulties."

Tito makes a joke of it, "Yes, daughter, but you don't spread around. It’s a temporary lack of funds."

"I will help with these sheets. I’ll pay for it."

Tito sets his teeth on the street. Rosa grimaces in annoyance but says nothing, it’s better than letting goods go without receiving the money. Carina pays for her paints and the ream, Rosa gives her change.

"Thank you so much and come back soon!"

"I'm going back! Bye, Mayor Tito!"

"Your gesture will be remembered, dear!"

Carina leaves. Tito is still smiling, but his smile fades a little when he meets Rosa's frown.