Building My Life

Chapter 10 - Would It Be an Angel?

Upon returning to the building, Teodoro was already having lunch. He held up his plate and invited Josias. “You can go in there and grab a plate if you want.”

Josias approached the counter. “Would you believe that I almost saw the boy who encouraged me not to give up?”

“What do you mean, give up?” Teodoro frowned. “Were you trying to kill yourself?”

“No, but all of a sudden, when I was on the bus, this guy in religious attire sat behind me. When I was leaving, he asked if I needed help. When I asked him to pray for me, he smiled and promised that not only would he pray for me, but that my life would be great and successful.”

Teodoro stopped chewing and swallowed. His face was serious. “And you don’t know who it is?”

“He got on at Rainbow Garden, but I had never seen him before.” Josias scratched his head. “Although the neighborhood is large and I didn’t know everyone.”

Teodoro smiled, but not in mockery. “Look, son, I don’t know. The way you say it, it sounds like you had a vision. It seems that God saw your affliction and sent that boy to encourage you.”

“As if Everaldo were an angel?” Josias was moved, his eyes going wide.

“Yeah...” Teodoro was a little awkward. “I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’ve heard so many people telling stories like that... I’m not religious, but I respect those who believe.”

“I just wanted to meet him again to say that everything is fine,” Josias said with a sigh. “Well, I’m going to go upstairs, put the towel away, and come back to eat. And again, thank you very much, Mr. Teodoro!”

Josias strode to the stairs and took them two at a time. He had not expected to be invited to eat, so he considered this one more blessing from God promised by Everaldo.

“Where is he?” Josias wondered.

***

The days went by. Josias was already getting used to life in Happiness Slum. During the day, he went out to look for work. Sometimes Teodoro showed him the want ads in the city newspaper with something interesting. But Josias had still not managed to find anything significant.

Was it because Josias was still wearing the same outfit? When Josias chose to apply for a more formal job downtown, Teodoro lent him a dress shirt. But because Teodoro was paunchy, it was obvious to everyone that the shirt was not his. And as they say, the first impression is the one that lasts.

Did Josias need to meet with Everaldo again for the “prophecy” to remain valid? He even tried to find him one of those days.

He went to the bus stop where he had gotten off that night, at the same time. But when he boarded, Everaldo was not on the bus. The driver and the fare collector were the same. Josias, embarrassed, made up an excuse. “Sorry, I forgot my money; I won’t be able to continue.”

The fare collector smiled because Josias didn’t try to ride the bus for free, and at the next stop, he got off. Josias didn’t want to keep trying to find Everaldo like that every day. So, he returned.

When he was walking down the main street, amidst the usual bustle of lively residents and partygoers, Josias found Melissa coming out of that bar full of drunken customers, some of them whistling disrespectfully at the girl. She was wearing shorts above her knees, showing off her beautiful legs.

Josias felt that this was a dangerous place for Melissa and promptly went to her. She saw him approaching and smiled. “Look, if it isn’t Josias.”

Josias smiled and noticed that she had a bottle of beer in her hand. “Isn’t it early for this?”

Melissa laughed. “No, it’s for my dad.”

Josias’s eyes widened. “He doesn’t let you date anyone, but does he let you hang around in that place?”

Melissa was surprised, moved by Josias’s concern for her. “Well, he doesn’t lock me up in a castle, either. I can go out; I have friends and some schoolmates. Only when it comes to a serious relationship does he advise me to be cautious.”

Josias smiled, satisfied with what he heard. “OK, go take that beer before it gets warm. See you, Melissa.”

“See ya.” Melissa looked again at Josias’s attire. Was he shirtless again, and in the same sweatpants? But she didn’t dare to ask; she just smiled and said goodbye to him.

It turned out that, since they met at the pharmacy, Josias had not told her that he had run away from home to escape a probable death, or that he had not even seen the funeral of his murdered father.

As he remembered his father, the smile faded from Josias’s face. However, he held back tears as he entered the building.

Teodoro was at the counter and asked him, “So, did you manage to find your guardian angel?”

Josias glanced at Teodoro and smiled playfully. “Not quite. I met another angel, a much more interesting one.”

Teodoro laughed, already understanding what he meant.