Building My Life

Chapter 20 - Let’s Go to the Party

Melissa startled herself. “You aren’t inviting me to one of those parties we see in the movies, are you? The ones with drinks, drugs, and s*x?”

The two friends looked at Melissa for a few seconds, as if they didn’t know what to do or how to lie to her.

Finally, they both smiled and assured her, “No! None of that, dear friend! It’s a safe party. There will be residents from Rainbow Garden and Saint Gabriel; it’s a good start.”

Melissa smiled in excitement. They weren’t guys from Europe Garden, but it was worth it. The school bell rang, and the three joined the rest of the students as they headed to class.

***

Meanwhile, Uélton approached Josias; the two had already finished their work and were being dismissed by Romualdo.

“Rest up for tomorrow, young men,” Romualdo said before walking away to join the adult masons.

Uélton was washing his hands with water from a hose. “Anyway, the workday is over. Are you up for a party today, Josias?”

Josias raised his eyebrows in surprise. The first day had been strenuous; Uélton had spent the whole day joking about how he couldn’t take it, yet now he had the energy for a party?

“I don’t know, dude.” Josias took the hose to wash up. “Today was exhausting.”

“Oh, and you don’t have any other clothes to wear, do you?” Uélton joked, inadvertently hitting on the truth. Josias hadn’t even considered that.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t,” Josias admitted regretfully. “I’ve never really gone to parties.”

“Well, there’s going to be one here in the favela, and your girl will probably be there.” Uélton smiled mischievously.

Josias smiled from the corner of his mouth. Seeing Melissa would never be too much for him. The problem was what to wear.

Uélton, realizing his friend was considering it, proposed, “My older brother is probably your size; maybe he’ll lend you some clothes.”

In another life, Josias would have strongly refused. But as things stood, he couldn’t say no. It was better than showing up at a party wearing Teodoro’s baggy clothes. “Okay, I accept!”

“Great, come over to my house. I’ll show you where it is.”

After Uélton gave him the address, Josias went home. He informed Teodoro as if he were his father.

“I’m going to a party tonight, Seu Teodoro. Is that okay?” He stopped at the counter.

“No problem at all, my boy.” Teodoro smiled broadly. “Are you going with someone?”

“There’s a boy at the construction site named Uélton who invited me. I’m going to his house, and he’s going to lend me some clothes.”

“Ah, of course, son!” Teodoro chuckled. “My outdated clothes wouldn’t exactly help you impress the girls.”

Josias shook his head. “That’s not what I meant...”

“Calm down, boy.” Teodoro handed him the room key. “I understand, and it’s better this way. Have fun. But please, don’t get into trouble. If things start going south, come back here immediately.”

Josias promised he would and went up to his room. When he grabbed his towel to bathe, he realized he would have to go to Uélton’s house in the same clothes. His sweatpants had already been soiled with cement, and this time, they wouldn’t be easy to wash. He wondered if Uélton would change his mind.

And that was exactly what happened when Josias showed up at Uélton’s house. As Uélton had mentioned, the house was another one built right up against the sidewalk. Anyone passing by could see Uélton’s father lying on the couch watching television and his mother preparing dinner.

However, the bedrooms were at the back of the house, which was a relief. In Uélton’s room, he shook his head at Josias’s appearance. “No, man. I’m going to lend you a towel, and you'll take a shower.”

“I already took one at Seu Teodoro’s building!” Josias protested.

“Well, you got dirty again just by putting back on the clothes you wore to the construction site.” Matching words with actions, Uélton opened his dresser drawer and pulled out a clean towel, handing it to Josias. Josias sighed as he surrendered and accepted it.

After showering for the second time, Josias returned to his friend’s room wrapped only in the towel, and Uélton was once again frowning. “What is it now?”

“Josias, I caught a glimpse of your briefs.” Uélton reacted as if he were touching on a delicate subject. “And I think you need to borrow a pair of those, too.”

Josias reacted negatively. Was he really going to wear another man’s clothes — and now underwear, too?

“No way, that’s too much!” Josias made a bold and unexpected decision. “I’ll just go commando, then! Just iron your brother’s pants and shirt, and give me some privacy to get dressed.”