Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 17:51:31 -0500 (EST) From: "Publishing@TomCup.com" Subject: The Innocents: Paulo and Beto By Richard Dean Part 4 chapter 11 - A/Y Copyright 2000-2003 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? 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Check it out at http://www.tomcup.com! ********************************************************************** The Paratwa Partnership, Inc. is a publication and marketing agency and is not responsible for the content of the Tom Cup Library, TomCup.com or its affiliate sites, or stories written by Mr. Cup or his associates. ********************************************************************** The Innocents Part 4: Paulo and Beto Chapter 11 By Richard Dean richard@tomcup.com Paulo and Beto Chapter 11 The duration of the drive was silent as each occupant was reflective in their thoughts. Elena thought, Flavia, you've told me and now I've seen it with my own eyes. We'll do as you direct. You're grandchildren will do well with Ricardo. He'll nourish them and lead them to bright futures. My husband and I will be a silent party to it, but with such love of you, Toninho and Ricardo too no one will ever know. Ricardo too, was captive to his thoughts, You've been a busy old lady haven't you Flavia? Directing us as before when you reminded us of the necessity to have daily bowel movements for good health. Oh dear Lady, I miss your warm and gentle hands as you brushed them on our cheeks, your reassuring pats on our backs when we had tense moments living within confined quarters. Times when we were swimming together in the pool.Those were the happiest days of my life. All of us together. Partners. Confidants I can still smell that citrine scent you wore when you speak to me. Even now whisps of it waft in the air surrounding me. Oh I get it now. Carla is exuding that same scent. A coincidence, Flavia? Have you no shame? You know every weakness I have and you are using them against me^Ćactually for me, I know. I know. I trust you and Toninho are gloating because you've, no doubt, visited Beto and Paulinho, too, eh? I am your servant. Hehehehe. I was going to add: hand-! maiden, but that won't work very well will it? Lets just leave it as: your servant. No! Don't leave. You're fading awaaaaay! "Mestre, we're here. Aunt Elena and Carla have already headed into the house. I told them I would wait here until you woke up from your nap. Did you have a pleasant dream? You were smiling and suddenly you started to pout when you awakened." Several silent moments were spent until Ricardo could adjust and acclimatize himself to his bearings. "Ahh, yes, Javier. I dozed off it seems. We had best join the ladies don't you think? It's been a long while since I've been to this place. Nothing has changed in appearance, apparently." "Why have you not returned sooner, Mestre? This is still your home as our uncles tell us." "For lots of reasons, Javier. I don't want to go into them right now. I have good and bad memories that need to get sorted out. The best reason stands before me. You and your sister, of course." A wide smile effused Javier's face. He likes us. He really likes us! "Thank you Mestre. I have your bag. I'll follow you inside." "No Javier, I don't want you to follow me. I'd prefer you walk next to me. We'll walk inside together, as it should be." Ricardo placed an assuring hand on Javier's shoulder as they entered their home. "Ah, there you are. You've finally awakened. We missed you." Elena welcomed. "Sorry I dozed off for a bit, Elena. I didn't realize I was so tired." "Not at all, Ricardo. Javier take Mestre's bag upstairs for him if you don't mind. Dear Clara is making us some cafezinho. Come back down as soon as you can and join us. Then I have to get home. I've things that must be done so we can have a familial meeting later in the evening. Do you want us all to meet you here or at our place, Ricardo?" "Why don't we meet at your place, Elena. Since the boys haven't a cook, we can eat with you, if you don't mind me intruding on your hospitality." Smiling Elena enjoined, "Intrude all you want dear man, any time. I've been after those two to hire a maid/cook, but they protest saying they don't mind eating piecemeal. Now that we have the children here, I suggest you strongly advise them to hire one as soon as possible. I have one in mind that would be ideal. She's eminently qualified for that position." "A wise suggestion, Elena, but I don't want to step on anyone's toes. Let's talk about that and other things that must be approved tonight. Will that be alright?" "Your tact and diplomacy haven't failed you, Ricardo. Of course. I've got to run. See you around 9-ish?" "Of course, that will give us all a chance to get settled in, bathed and rested." Clara entered the living room carrying a tray filled with cookies, cups, saucers and a coffee pot. The odor of rich coffee filled the room. Clara protested, "Aunt Elena do you have to leave before your cafezinho?" "Very well, dear. Cafezinho first. Then I must run. Would you like to join me, dear? That will give the boys some time to be together and do those `man' things. It will give us some time to do our `girl' things, too." With pleading eyes Clara asked, "May I have your permission Mestre?" Javier entered the room as he overheard the conversation. Interjecting he responded, "Mestre, we must ask permission. We were told by our aunt and uncles that to do otherwise would be disrespectful." "They were correct, yes. Very well, Clara, you have my permission. I want both of you children to know we are all concerned for your welfare and safety. We need to know where you are, with whom and for how long you will be out of our sight at all times. If some accident were to occur while you were away from us^ĆI can't bear to think of our worry. I don't want you to be so coddled that you feel as if you're prisoners, but I do insist you inform one of your relatives or adult present in either home where you will be and receive permission first. Is that clearly understood?" "Yes Mestre", both voiced in unison. After they partook of cafezinho and a cookie or two, Clara joined her aunt Elena and departed. Javier gathered up the coffee service and cups to take them into the kitchen. Returning from that task Ricardo asked him to join him on the lanai so he could recapture the peace and beauty of the lawn and flowering plants and bushes. A soft breeze rustled through the trees swaying the branches in tune with the masterstroke of nature. Hints of sweetened odors wafted from the splashes of color as they sat on the sofa side by side. Ricardo placed a protective arm over the shoulders of Javier and pulled him closer to his side. Javier edged easily to accommodate his need of solace and comfort. They sat wordlessly taking in the sights as they settled in their solitude of thoughts and peace. Melancholic memories of times like these drifted into Ricardo's thoughts. Times when he and Toninho and more often than not, Paulo too, would sit on the ! balcony of their small apartment gazing off to the distance of the sights and small sounds of Rio de Janeiro which lay below their height. "Are you sad, Mestre?" "Sad? Hmmm, I miss him, Javinho. He was our light^ĆOur bright shining moments. I miss him, yes, and I have you too. He is in you. I can feel it. It may sound crazy, but when I look at you I see parts of him. Yet you're different. You're alive and wonderful, filled with joy, kindness and respect. You exude a freshness unsullied or tainted by the ugliness of this world. You've given my heart a new beat, a new sound, a new pulse." "Were you and Toninho, ummm, uh, intimate?" Ricardo tightened up for an instant which was felt by Javier who remained silent, fearful he had overstepped his bounds. He felt Ricardo relax from the shock and temerity of his question. "Yes we were, my boy." Ricardo stated with a sigh. "Will you be intimate with me?" asked Javier as he looked into the depths of Ricardo's eyes. Ricardo returned his gaze as he responded, "Is that what you want, Javier?" "I don't know, Mestre." With a warm smile Ricardo retorted, "You may ask me that question again when you DO know, Javier." "Mestre?" "Yes?" "Do I make you sad?" Several warm tears slid down his cheeks as he replied, "No Javier. You don't make me sad. You make me happy." In answer, Javier turned to Ricardo's hand and held it up to his lips and kissed it. "I love you, Mestre." In a building in the Central District of Rio de Janeiro known to many as Our Brother's Keeper, Beto declared to Paulo, "Before we go home and meet with Ricardo, I want us to make a detour and see if we can locate the children's mother, Gloria." "We haven't a clue where she lives Beto", Paulo protested. "I've got that covered. Javier made me a map with the directions. He offered to direct us there, but I felt he should stay away from that place until we've made face-to-face contact with his mother first." "Is that wise, Beto? Sometimes foreigners wandering about in the favelas are not received generously or favorably." "I've got that covered too, my dear. We'll take the OBK van. We'll leave `Herbie' here. Our strongest support comes from the residents of the favelas. The OBK logo will allow us to enter the most dangerous areas that I know. "Good thinking Beto. It makes sense. First, I want to call home and let the children know we'll be later than usual. I wonder what they'll want us to bring home to eat? I hope it's nothing from McDonald's again. I can't stomach that greasy sawdust they call fast food. The kids shovel that crap in like it's manna from heaven, but it's not to my liking. I know Ricardo would put his foot down hard when it comes to fast food outlets. Wonder where they are? At home or at Elena's?" "Try them both. You'll find them at either." Beto retorted assuredly. Replacing the receiver on the telephone cradle, Paulo informed Beto that Clara was at Elena's, Ricardo and Javier were at home. They would be having dinner at Elena's around 9 pm as well as a meeting about the children, their education, health and the like. "That should give us ample time to make our run to the favela, get home to shower and shave and be at the Calvalcante's in ample time to spare." "Sounds like a plan to me, Paulinho. You're the designated driver. Ready?" "Yep, let's blow this joint!" he remarked with a wink. ********************************************************************** 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. Tom Cup's "Of Our Teenage Years" is scheduled for publication and release in paperback in the Spring of 2004. Check it out at http://www.tomcup.com!