It rained a lot in the city named Victoria, and especially in the Tabuazeiro neighborhood.
A lady in her fifties, but still keeping her hair very blond, was looking at the rain from the terrace of her house. She was hanging the laundry when the weather changed in seconds from sunny to the flood of Noah's day. From where Mary Angela was, she could also watch her poor daughter walking down the street, returning from another day of leaving CVs in companies, fighting against storm with a useless umbrella that only served to shade, protecting from rain was another kettle of fish.
She decided to go down and receive Katherine, her beloved daughter, who was certainly soaked. When Katherine entered, she awkwardly tossed her umbrella in a corner of the room and took off her soaked shoes. Her regular blouse and worn out jeans were partially wet.
Mary Angela thinks, ‘Did she get anything with those clothes? What a failed mother I am, I couldn't give my daughter better clothes.’
Then, she talks, “So, daughter, how was another day of adventure?”
“It looked better than it did yesterday.” Katherine squeezed her blond hair, as if she wanted to dry it. “I went to the Downtown and there were more options for businesses. I got in a commercial building with several offices and take advantage a lot.”
“I hope they call you, daughter. So you can solve your problems, since your poor and useless mother can no longer...”
“Don't start, mommy.” Katherine hugs her, “You have done a lot for me.”
“Well,” The hug was broken, “I'm going to take another medicine; I'm in pain again. The cinnamon tea that Gilda prescribed for me is not working.”
Katherine gets once again thoughtful about what could cause her mother so much pain, that she cannot even remedy it. She even talked about the importance of consulting a doctor, but Mary Angela refused, saying that this would hinder her in her search for work. Since the two lived alone and the money they received was no longer enough, Katherine agreed with her mother.
She picked up clean clothes, took a shower and then poured herself coffee and cookies to ward off the cold of the rain.
Katherine thinks, ‘It was just what I needed, getting the flu and the phone ringing calling me for a job!’ Not that Katherine was a pessimist, but things like that used to happen to her. Losing her father early in life, and not being able to count on the older brother who left home and never gave a sign of life cannot be considered luck.
But, not everything was unlucky. Mary Angela always reminded her of her happy moments, like, for example, her boyfriend Edward. Edward came from a well-known family, lived in the neighborhood, loved her deeply and was responsible and hardworking.
Add to that the fact that he is look-gooding, has an athletic body, legs that match with the athletic body and the habit of leaving the famous “three-day beard” that makes him look more manly and older than his brother
he is the youngest
.
Add luck to the fact that he is 22 and still a virgin
Katherine is also
, and add even more the fact that it came from him the idea of “I decided to wait” when the two started dating.
“Other men,” Mary Angela said, surprised when she found out, “In the attributes of her boyfriend, they would have taken advantage and fooling around with all the female neighbors. But, not Edward. He respects women and decided to respect you too, besides having a focused mind to work and grow in life. You can consider yourself unlucky in other aspects of life, Katherine; but in the case of Ed... You hit the big prize!”
Yes, Katherine had to acknowledge. It must be admitted that it must not be so easy for Edward not to take advantage of Katherine. In addition to being blonde, her body was in shape for those who are 20 years old. If Katherine wanted to, she could snap her fingers and in seconds a line of men would be ready to worship her and inflate her ego. But, while many girls like Katherine were already worn out more than truck tires and with three toddlers to care for, she decided to adopt the “beautiful, modest and homemade” style.
***
Meanwhile, also in Tabuazeiro, in another simple and poorly finished house, a tall guy was doing push-ups on the living room floor. Another guy is watching television, lying on the couch. Well, he needed push-ups more than the first one who is doing it.
“Enough, isn't it? It's distracting me.” The guy in the couch complains.
“Jeff, you could accompany me.” The athletic guy invites.
“Yes, keep throwing in my face that I'm out of shape.” Jeff snorts.
“You go on like this because you want to.” Edward stopped and sat still on the floor, looking directly at his older brother. Jefferson was also handsome, but unlike his brother, his beard was nothing 'sexy'; he seemed to be a beggar who lives on the corners of Vila Rubim. His aversion to "working hard" made him thinner, which made many people think he was the youngest child. “Anyway, I'm sorry for offending you.”
Jefferson gave a reconciling smile. It weighed in favor of Edward the fact that he was on vacation from work while the one who should set the example had not found a job in two years, barely left home and gave expenses and disgust to the retired old father. Even annoyed by this, it was impossible not to be in favor of peace when Edward waved the white flag.
“You are not to blame, little brother. I'm a grumpy bore.”
“Well, this can change.” He gets up, cleaning himself as he can with his hands, sweat running down his shirtless chest. “Tomorrow I’ll buy the newspaper and you check the ads to find some job...”
“No need, Ed!” Jefferson spoke quickly, and squirming to see the TV since Edward was in front, “Let me look for it myself.”
