Building My Life

Chapter 17 - Enough Jokes

Romualdo approached the young men with his usual smile. “Good morning, boys! It’s good to see you’re getting to know each other.” Romualdo noticed Josias’s attire. “Yeah, there was no way around it, right? The sweatpants won. But this is only temporary. Shall we begin?”

Romualdo turned his back, and the two boys followed him. The rest of the masons were standing in a corner, waiting for the day’s orders. Romualdo dictated the schedule like a true foreman.

When everyone went to perform their tasks, Romualdo took the famous hoe and handed it to Josias with a nod. Uélton chuckled again.

“See? You did manage to get assigned to it. I told you I suck with a hoe.”

Josias turned to Uélton with that same determined and firm expression. “Don’t say such nonsense, Uélton. One day I’ll teach you, so you can be proud of knowing how to handle one. Never settle for less. You have two arms that can do anything; you aren’t a cripple. And you can learn anything because you aren’t retarded.”

Uélton’s mouth dropped open. It was the first time someone had said so vehemently that he was capable of being good at something. Not even his parents had told him that.

“T-thank you, Josias. That’s very motivating.”

Uélton smiled and went to the pile of bricks, carrying more for those who were raising the living room walls. Romualdo had also witnessed the scene from afar, equally amazed by Josias’s maturity and wisdom.

“Who is this boy?” he asked himself.

The day went on normally. Uélton walked back and forth, carrying bricks for the masons, while Josias mixed the cement and water to bond them. Romualdo had left an empty paint can, and Josias filled it with mortar to take to the masons. It wasn’t an easy task, carrying a can full of cement to various spots.

As the sun heated up, Josias sweated and grew tired, but he didn’t complain.

Every once in a while, Uélton would pass by him and make a little joke about how he couldn’t handle the work. Josias laughed at first, but then he began to worry. Was Uélton really prepared for the toil of a construction site?

“How old are you, Uélton?” Josias asked as the boy uttered his twentieth joke.

“Sixteen,” Uélton responded, gasping for air.

Josias made a mental calculation. “Shouldn’t you be in school? Or do you study in the afternoon or at night? You haven’t finished high school yet.”

Uélton laughed. “I don’t want to go back; I really did quit. I’ve already learned what’s necessary: multiplication tables and enough Portuguese not to embarrass myself.”

Josias, however, shook his head. “If you don’t finish your studies, then you’d better get used to the bricks.”

Uélton laughed again, thinking Josias was also joking, and walked away. Romualdo cautiously approached Josias after the exchange.

“Where do you really live, Josias?”

“In Seu Teodoro’s building. He said he knows you,” Josias responded, turning over more cement with the hoe.

“Yes, I know where it is. You’re one of the tenants.”

“Now, I’m a legitimate one. Before, I didn’t pay a cent, but Seu Teodoro was very kind to let me stay. Now I’m going to pay, and I even plan on paying for the four months I fell behind.”

Romualdo put his hand to his chin. The boy had been there for four months. Then, after asking for a moment, Romualdo headed over to Teodoro’s building.

Upon arriving, he found Teodoro dancing with the broom again to the sound of “Special Lady” by Ray, Goodman & Brown. Romualdo let out a good laugh. “Yes, the lack of a woman shows! Who told you not to get married?”

Teodoro was so startled that he dropped his broom with a loud bang. “Look what you made me do, man!”

“What is it? Did I scare your girlfriend away?” Romualdo approached and leaned against the counter. Gradually, he stopped laughing. “I need to have a serious chat with you.”

“You can talk.” Teodoro picked up the broom and left it leaning against the wall, then turned down the volume on the radio.

“Are you housing the boy named Josias, the one who’s working with me at the construction site today?”