Building My Life

Chapter 29 - Getting Tanned

Melissa spent a few seconds trying to remember who Fabrício was. He was likely one of the boys from Saint Gabriel that Pamela had introduced. The mere memory of that interaction filled her with contempt; she pursed her lips and shook her head.

“I’ll call him tomorrow. Right now, I just want to go to my room and read,” she said.

“The number is in the notebook. Goodnight, daughter.” Her father kissed her on the forehead, pleased to see she wasn’t one of those girls desperate for male attention.

***

The next day, Josias woke up and stretched, still sleeping naked. He rationalized it by thinking the new underwear he’d bought was too fresh to be used “for nothing,” and besides, the night had been far too sweltering. However, he decided to put a pair on before heading down to work.

When he entered the bathroom in his usual sweatpants and no shirt, he found Jeremiah mid-shower. The door had been left wide open. When Josias closed it, he noticed something new: an A4 sheet of paper taped to the door frame with a warning: “Please keep the door closed!” Josias smiled and went to the sink to brush his teeth.

“Satisfied?” Jeremiah provoked.

“Dude, you really have a thing for people watching you shower,” Josias muttered while brushing, not even looking in Jeremiah’s direction. “Not everyone wants to see you without clothes, you nut.”

“I’m just messing with you, you prissy brat.” Jeremiah turned off the water and grabbed a towel. “Seu Teodoro could have just spoken to me or given a quiet warning without making a scene. I find it hilarious, treating a bathroom door like it’s a matter of national security.”

“You’ll change your mind when it’s your wife or daughter,” Josias said, spitting out toothpaste with such force it was as if he were spitting on Jeremiah himself. After rinsing his mouth, he wiped his face and left without a single backward glance.

“Disgusting fellow...” Jeremiah muttered, clutching his towel, his hands trembling with irritation.

In the kitchen, while having breakfast with Teodoro, Josias wasted no time. “Thank you for posting the warning, Seu Teodoro. Decency and good manners thank you too.”

“Think nothing of it, young man,” Teodoro laughed while pouring coffee. “It’s always a pleasure to improve the lives of my tenants. I spoke to some of the others, and they all agreed.”

“Everyone except Jeremiah,” Josias commented, chewing his bread. “He seems to be one of those exhibitionists. Or maybe he thinks he’s in a ‘Mister Lagoon City’ contest.”

“Well, if he signed up, he might actually have a chance,” Teodoro joked. “At my age and with this paunch, they wouldn’t even look at my application.”

Josias relaxed and joined in the laughter. Teodoro hated gloom and did his best to keep everyone’s spirits up.

After breakfast, Josias headed to the construction site. Romualdo greeted him with a grin.

“Looks like you didn’t spend a dime of what I gave you,” he teased, noticing Josias was still shirtless.

“No way, Seu Romualdo,” Josias laughed. “I wasn’t about to get cement on clothes that still smell like the store.”

“Fair enough. And since those sweatpants are already ruined, you might as well keep wearing them. But not even a T-shirt?”

“The ones I bought are for home or for going out. I’m getting used to working like this.”

“Your choice, son, but...” Romualdo looked up at the sky, “the sun is going to be brutal today.”

“Good. Maybe I’ll finally get some color.” Josias tried to play along with the banter.

But the day demanded a lot of heavy lifting and plastering. By ten in the morning, the sun had reached its peak, baking Josias’s back and arms. Uélton walked past him, looking concerned.

“If you talk to my mom, she’ll find an old shirt of Wallace’s for you,” he said around three in the afternoon.

“Your brother Wallace is going to start charging me for his hand-me-downs,” Josias joked, shaking his head. “I’m fine, buddy.”

“It’s painful just watching you bend over in this heat with that hoe,” Uélton said seriously. “Doesn’t the heat bother you?”

“I’ll get used to it.” Josias shrugged and continued mixing the mortar.

But did he? As evening approached and the sun’s rays finally softened, the slightest breeze against Josias’s skin felt like fire. He said his goodbyes, wincing in pain when one of the masons clapped him on the shoulder.

When he returned to the building, Teodoro gasped. Josias was as red as a lobster.

“Good grief, Josias! Were you at the beach?” Teodoro was only half-joking.

“The sun was a bit much today,” Josias admitted through gritted teeth.

“I recommend some moisturizer or aloe. If you don’t have any, go to the pharmacy tomorrow. It sounds like a ‘woman’s thing,’ but it’s necessary when you’re exposed like that.”

Just then, Jeremiah returned from work, strutting in his overalls as if he were on a catwalk. Seeing Josias, he burst out laughing.

“Wow, look at that! That’s what happens when you make a habit of showing off!”

“Josias is working hard with Seu Romualdo,” Teodoro explained with a frown.

“Oh, so I’m the exhibitionist? You’re out there on the street for all the women to check out your body. But honestly, kid, you need to eat a lot more beans before you start making an impression.”

“At least they don’t see me naked, you prick!” Josias exploded, snapping his hand out toward Teodoro.

Fearing a fight was about to break out, Teodoro quickly handed Josias his key, and the boy bolted for his room.