Date: Sun, 11 May 2003 11:32:07 -0400 From: Tom Cup Subject: The Innocents: Paulo and Beto by Richard Dean - Part 4 Chapter 2 - 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 6 Added 5/11 Of Our Teenage Years Chapter 12 Added 5/5 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 Part 4: Paulo and Beto By Richard Dean Chapter 2 Both children, streetwise beyond their tender years, walked the familiar trek to their favela located high in the hills overlooking the city and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean which from the heights showed the beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana with antlike figures cavorting at various sport activities, sunning themselves. Nearing the favela (ghetto) dotted with ramshackle abodes tacked on to the wall of their neighbor, hastily constructed to shelter the occupants from the elements until they could make amendments as soon as they were able financially with whatever lumber, concrete block, tarpaper and if they were fortunate metal sheeting to tack on to side walls and/or roofs. With no running water or sewage disposal efficiencies, they had to sidestep running open ditches teeming with offal and residual odors that seemed commonplace to the residents. Women and children with buckets, jars searched for water at the nearest open water source. Some communities had the luxury of a communal faucet and tap installed by the leaders whom to the residents were the de facto mayors/government of the favela. This act of generosity was politically motivated and to further the allegiance of the residents. Rarely would police wander into the overcrowded favela to investigate a murder or other disaster fearful of being attacked or run out by the leader of gangs that controlled the area. Even taxi drivers would not enter some of the more dangerous favelas for fear of being attacked for their money or the theft of the taxicabs. When unseasonable rains cascaded down the mountainside many hovels were swept away with the deluge causing loss of life and limb. The contrast of the haves and have nots seemed light years distant. Within each favela organizers of Samba clubs created dancing school for their representative contingent to vie for the honor, distinction and personal pride of the members to be judged on display, routine and popularity. Some cash prizes were awarded for the costuming, dance steps, musicality, theme and routines performed during the celebration of Mardi Gras. Poor though the participants were they saved their money to belong to one of the clubs as the distinctive celebratory highlight of the year for every family. Not every one was without work, some held full or part times jobs but because of the lack of affordable housing and payment of a living wage they existed from hand to mouth to feed and clothe their families. Theft, drinking, drug exchanges, prostitution, illicit black marketing of goods are rampant within these favelas. As one walks through one of these ghettos the cacophony of sounds of radios blaring out the music of every type and genre crescendo with the normal sounds of building, yelling or shouting trying to be heard above the din. As unhealthy an atmosphere through it all live a people generous with their smiles, eager to dance with rhythmic sway of hip and groin emulating copulation and an amiable affectation to display their bodies to enhance their sexual prowess and athleticism. Catholicism is the national religion of choice. As such they insist certain condemnatory conditions must be followed in order to gain entry to heaven. No birth control is allowed. The poor breed like flies with few amenities or other costly pleasures. As such no family planning is followed. Although they love their children, they force the older children out of their residences to fend for themselves so that the younger remaining children are fed and clothed. And so it goes, family after family disgorging their offspring to beg, steal, rob and become a general nuisance to foreign travelers, the general population and businessmen alike. The unwanted become derelict and an eyesore which are a blot on the consciousness of the more well off. An estimated 2 to 3 millions of children are abandoned throughout Brazil. Many businessmen to preclude children sleeping/living in the doorways, alleys and sidewalks of their premises hire guards to dispel these unwashed, sickly, hungry, despondent children from the area. All too often they hire thugs to run them off. Many have been beaten suffering disabilities and broken bones which can not heal as emergency care is withheld or non-existant. The unfed sicken more and die. Some have been murdered by squads of roving off-duty policemen hired to eradicate them. Hope for a better life for these unfortunate children is an unknown word or thought. Given the opportunity they will become valuable and resourceful citizens to their country. Javier and Clara have seen, encountered and endured these repulses by society. They've had to harden themselves simply to live and exist for another day. Hungry bellies propel them to walk on through the smegma of their social order in hopes of seeing their parents and brothers and sisters once again, if only for a short while before they must resume their forced lifestyle. "Keep a sharp eye on that drunken lout over there Clara. I don't trust him. Look how his eyes are sweeping back and forth. He wants something. Perhaps it's a girl or a boy. Don't look at him, but be aware and on the alert. Run if you have to. If it comes to that I'll try to divert his attention. I won't be far behind you." "I see him Javier. I'm not dumb you know.", she rejoined. "No you're not dumb but you're unaware at times. I want you to defend yourself if you must. Prepare yourself before something happens. Stay alert. Walk like you have a purpose." Exasperated, Clara denounced, "OK. OK." With determined faces they skirted the possible danger, walking with straightened backs they continued for another kilometer until they reached the neighborhood of their youth. Recognizable landmarks brought back familiarity of sights and sounds. "Remember, we're here on a visit. If conditions are favorable we'll stay. If not, we'll leave. Don't go crying and blubbering like last month. It's not Mae's fault. She had no other alternative; conditions such as they are." "Jesu Christo Javier! Lighten up. Why do you continue to remind me time after time? It's the same tune you play." "I'm the oldest. You're my responsibility. I won't have you mucking it up!" Swallowing her bitter words, Clara said nothing except to nod her understanding. God, how I hate it when he rattles on and on about the same thing. I mustn't let it get to me, but it does rankle, she thought. Catching sight of the miserable hut, Clara ran into it screaming, "Mae, Mae! We're here!" Startled Gloria Carpazetti de Sousa set her youngest child on the hard packed earthen floor and opened her arms wide to accept her eldest daughter within her embrace. Tears flowed from her tired weary eyes. "Minha criancas...I've missed you children too much." Opening her arm she swept Javier into her embrace enclosing her two children with tight secure bonding. "Javinho you are so handsome. You look remarkably like Toninho." Blushing in pinkness Javier blurted, "O Mae, I love you too. We've missed you. Ola Albertinho. Come give your big brother a hug and kiss." "Shhhhh children, your Pae sleeps. He's had a hard night last night." In an angry retort Javier voiced "You mean he's drunk again don't you Mae?" "You don't understand your Pae Javinho, he has issues that are difficult for him." "I love my PaPae MaMae, but his problems are our problems too. It isn't fair to burden you with that. He's a big strong man MaMae, why can't he have the strength to say no to it?" "I don't think it's that easy son. The reality is that he has a problem that isn't readily dismissed as you wish it. I want him to admit it to himself. He cannot do it yet. One day perhaps. I pray it's soon because we can't endure things as they continue to get worse. I went out two nights this week in order to earn enough money to eat. Don't get that moral look of disgust in your eyes, Javinho. I must do what I have to do." In resignation Javier replied, "I know MaMae, you are a soiled Saint, but I don't have to approve of that kind of behavior. We were taught by yourself to dismiss that kind of work. It's unseemly." Gloria responded, "Lets talk no more about this. Come sit down for a bite to eat. I want you two to go with me someplace. But first let me explain something about your oldest brother that I've kept from you for too long now." As they sat at the table to enjoy their repast, Gloria explained all that she knew of Toninho's plighted efforts. How he was adopted by an Americano scientist. She told them of their efforts to respond to circumstances that captured the attention of the media and started an entity that assisted children like themselves to be schooled, fed and clothed and enter into a profession that would make them secure for the rest of their lives. She told them of the Lady Flavia, their grandmother who came to Rio de Janeiro to live with them and assist in their venture. Sadly with more tears in her eyes, she related that their grandmother had passed away before Toninho had reached his majority and then of his subsequent death. She told them she was wracked with immense guilt of sending her eldest son to make his own life on the streets of Rio...much like she had done with themselves. The depth of her guilt in abandoning her children lay so heavily on her heart, she could never make herself known in public as Toninho's parent. Pride, remorse and regret consumed her every minute of every day. "What is this place? Where is it MaMae? Why do you feel they will admit us as students? Neither Clara nor me have anything to offer them. What is to become of our brother and sisters? Will they take them too?" "Listen to me clearly children. I will escort you to the place called My Brother's Keeper which is located in the Distrito Central. They will, I believe, accept you because of who you are; your heritage, your name, your relationship to Antonio. His name is revered within the community and is the symbol of hope and renewal. I want you to have those same ideals for your futures. There will be no argument about this. I do not easily give you up now as I easily gave you up over a year ago. It is something I must do. I could not save Antonio. By God. I WILL save/sacrifice you two, if I can save no others of our family. We shall...." "MAMAE!" Javier bleated, "are you saying what I think you are saying? You want us to go to that place to be saved and the rest of our family is going to rot here in the favelas? NOOOOO!" Both children rushed to their mother's side attaching themselves to her. Crying, blubbering, shaking. The noise awakened their father who rushed into the room demanding to know "what in the bloody hell is going on in here"; didn't they realize he is `a sick man'? The younger children came into the room hearing the outbursts. Too young to understand the implication of the decisions made in that room, they hovered frightened clinging to their parents for security. Federico approved of his wife's decision knowing full well he was as guilty as she. For over an hour they explained, cajoled and prophesied that they would have worthwhile lives in their future endeavors if they accepted the decision. Resigned to the parental decisions made that day, Javier and Clara gave in to the ultimatum. Both knew they in all probability not see their parents or other siblings for years perhaps. Dutiful to their parents wishes they acceded. With tearful good-byes to their father, Federico and their siblings, they followed Gloria out into the bright sunshine of the afternoon stumbling after her down the path to a future unfulfilled with fearful anticipation. ************************************************************************ 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.