Date: Sat, 03 May 2003 11:28:51 -0400 From: Tom Cup Subject: The Innocents: Paulo and Beto by Richard Dean - Part 4 Chapter 1 - A/Y - AF Copyright 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 by the Paratwa Partnership: A Colorado Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, except in the case of reviews, without written permission from the Paratwa Partnership, Inc, 354 Plateau Drive, Florissant, CO 80816 This is a fictional story involving alternative sexual relationships. If this type of material offends you, please do not read any further. This material is intended for mature adult audiences. Names, characters, locations and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. ************************************************************************ What's New at TomCup.com? The Innocents Part 4: Paulo and Beto By Richard Dean Chapter 4 Added 5/01 Of Our Teenage Years Chapter 11 Added 4/28 KOA Boy Chapter 6 Added 04/23 Stephen Miller's Journal Chapter 12 Added 4/13 Mentoring Brandon Chapter 8 Added 4/13 Raptors By Richard Dean Chapter 7 Added 4/13 Age Before Beauty Chapter 4 Added 4/08 Calvin: Identity Crisis Chapter 12 Added 4/02 Private Lessons Chapter 5 Added 3/06 In Memory of Steve: Chapter 9 Added 2/13 Short Story: Ambrosius Added 1/29 Short Story: Blair Manor Added 1/29 Sexfiles File 10 Added 11/30 Short Story: Can I Stay With You Added 11/30 Terms of Living Chapter 11 Added 11/16 ************************************************************************ The Innocents: Paulo and Beto By Richard Dean Preface In essence readers this story is a continuum of The Innocents. I suggest you familiarize yourselves with the cast of characters and events of that story to preclude confusion and consternation. Ricardo had returned to the US after the loss of his job/career due to being one of many whom were downsized by his company. He left Brazil broken hearted, dispirited and bereft of the death of his companion, lover and son Toninho. Unable to find a position within his specialization of Seismology he returned to University and within a year received certification to teach his second most favorite subject, US history. Through correspondence and telephone calls with Paulo he was given updates about the lives of his dear friends and events of Our Brother's Keeper as deemed appropriate in his stead as he was still one of the Board of Governors of that charitable organization. Chapter 1 As the sun rose steadily to spread its light and heat on the city and populace of Rio de Janeiro, life awakened slowly to most but too hastily to those whose dread of another day of seeking and searching for sustenance became commonplace. Within the cardboard carton which once held a refrigerator lay two small bodies. A boy of 13 and a girl aged 11. A gnawing hunger rumbled within the boys' stomach as he groggily opened his sleep crusted eyes. Rubbing them, yawning and stretching his lean musculature to rid himself of the kinks associated with lying on the hard ground, he reached into a cloth bag and extracted their morning meal consisting of three oranges, two bananas and several hard crusted rolls. "Clara! Clara! Wake up my little one. It's time to get up now." He jostled her gently but steadily. "Please Javier I want to sleep. I'm tired," she groaned. "You have to get up and eat. Today we are going to see Mae and Pae. Maybe their fortunes have changed and we can stay with them now." The likelihood of that occurring seemed out of the question to Javier, but he knew full well that he had to give his sister hope. For over a year, he and Clara had been forced to look to themselves as they were sent from their home. He knew the money his Mae made by renting out her body from time to time would go to finance his Pae's alcoholism. It's what he knew. That was the truth of the matter. If only they would take Clara back into their hovel things wouldn't seem too bad. He could by himself manage to survive. In a disparate world several miles apart from this young couple another couple awakened within an environment of cleanliness, order and meaningfulness. The couple understood they were more privileged than those whom they nourished in mind and body. Paulo and Beto were lovers and companions within their privacy but to the citizens of Rio they were givers of hope, educators of the needy and unwashed, purveyors of a planned livelihood to those few whom they chanced upon. Having completed their breakfast and enjoying a cafezinho Beto sunnily remarked to Paulo, "I don't recall having so much fun with so few people as we had last night at Júlio and Elena's place! It was exactly what we needed my dearest. At least it was what I needed. I felt completely at peace with friends and several drinks. Did you feel that way too?" Responding to Beto's warm glowing accolades of the small dinner party Paulo exuded, "Me too, sweetheart. We are so fortunate that we have such loving and responsible friends that make our lives enjoyable. Without you at my side I'd still be searching for it." "Bless you. You know the right things to say to me. I still can't get over meeting you for the first time in Fortaleza. My God, Paulo, I had to swallow my heart several times to get it back in place. You were the living dream that appeared in front of my eyes. Not only that, but next to you was Toninho. His smile, standing by your side looking to you with his trust and allegiance. It was noteworthy. Unlike any two handsome men I've ever seen." "I miss them so much, Beto. It's hard to explain, but I get misty eyed and my heart breaks anew when I think of the times I've missed with them." "Don't think like that sweetheart. We are both lucky that we have their memories engraved within our hearts and minds. They will be with us for eternity as well as our memory of Lady Flávia. We wouldn't be where we are today without any of them. They still direct and remind us that we have a job to do that enriches those who haven't the memories that we do. They've given us a rich resource that is immeasurable. The lost young kids. Remember what Lady Flávia called them?" Nodding with a wistful smile Paulo enjoined, "The living dead!" "Exactly! Oh oh, look at the time. We can't be late for school. I'll get the car out and meet you in the front." Brazilians are notably the kindest, warmest, most considerate people one would ever meet. It all changes once a driver gets behind the wheel of a motorcar, taxi, bus or truck. With eyes narrowed in angry-like concentration the rules of civility are lost, and woe betide the slow cautious driver. They'll be blown away by the horns blaring, other cars darting within and out of lanes. Traffic jams are constant with drivers cursing, shouting, displaying the one-fingered gesture stabbing into the air that does not mean `you are number one'! Each tries to out- maneuver, out-race the normal posted speed limit. Scrapes, dents, scratches and some cars running about lacking bumpers left embedded in another car are normal. Insurance rates are abysmally high. It's a frightening experience. As a passenger it would be best to say your prayers with tightly closed eyes. You WILL arrive at your destination with wobbly legs, sweat beaded brows, your heart beating as fast as you can remember and thanking the God of the Unwitting Passenger that all is well. Whew! Finally! Is it any wonder that the international racing scene is populated with Brazilian drivers of world renown? ************************************************************************ Send comments to: richard@tomcup.com To support this and other stories by the author, join at http://www.tomcup.com. If you like this story, check out Tom Cup's "Calvin: A Coming of Age Story." Available at Barnes and Nobles Bookstores, Amazon.com, your local independent bookseller, or from Tom Cup.com.