Capítulo 3: Falling in love with the policeman
AT THE POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Chief Carlos pins the thief on the wall; he wants to know if there is a gang forming in the neighborhood. There's tension and suspense. The thug starts to stutter and doesn't look straight in the eye.
"Y-you are going crazy, man! T-there are no gangs forming here, no. I did it on my own!"
"What's your name?"
"Uélton!"
"Well, Uélton, I think I'm going to let you spend the night here to let you reflect on what you've done. If there's no one behind you, then you're just an inexperienced person. Think, reflect on what you want in your life."
Uélton is almost crying, "Okay, "cop", it was my bad..."
Carlos looks almost fraternally at Uélton; he could be his little brother.
Carlos straightens up and leaves the cell, letting Uélton let out a sigh of relief.
At the reception, Carlos walks slowly, going to his desk. It's a small neighborhood police station, just for cases like these of minor importance. Some policemen are doing other things, answering the phone, and listening to residents and their complaints, while Carlos turns on his computer to report his action.
Someone has already left Uélton's documents on his desk. When Carlos starts typing, the monitor turns itself off. Carlos reacts impatiently and slaps his hand on the monitor until it lights up again, making it clear how the police station is doing.
STREETS
Carlos is in his car, he drives home. With a tired expression on his face, he yearns to relax. As he passes by the entrance to Fábio's house, LOUD SAMBA MUSIC with QUESTIONABLE LYRICS hits his ears like a sword. Dislike reaction. Carlos brakes the car, looks at where the "music" comes from, parks beside it, and gets out.
At the entrance to Fabio's house, Carlos approaches the loose guy's residence. Célio is standing in his living room window, anguished, hands on his ears. Carlos knocks loudly at the main door.
"Police! Open this door now!"
Fábio appears at the living room window, shirtless. Fábia is beside him keeping him company. She smiled seductively, clearly willing to deflect and distract the cop.
"Is there a problem, chief?"
"What the hell is this music? And even if it was your taste, why do you need the volume so loud, for the whole neighborhood to hear?"
Fábio looks away, "It looks like someone's already been gossiping!"
From a distance, Célio screams, "I didn't say anything, did you hear?"
Carlos completes, "I don't think so, by now you must be deaf. Here's the thing, buddy: You're not the only resident of this neighborhood. And the River Rhodia Environmental Park police station is here to ensure a peaceful environment. That means we're keeping an eye on any funny guy who wants to get in trouble. Turn the volume of this crap down right now, there are a lot of working fathers here who need to sleep to get up early!
Fábio grimaces and goes inside.
Fábia tries to distract him, "Do you want to come in and have coffee, you cop?"
Carlos responds harshly, sharply, "Stay on your own, miss!"
Fábia Peres takes offense and also leaves the window. The volume is turned down. Carlos walks away, and Célio is visible to him.
"Thank you, Chief Roldão."
Carlos approaches him, "Mayor Tito is thinking of setting up surveillance or something to prevent this kind of abuse. For now, you can only count on the police station."
"I know. We are having a meeting on Saturday."
"I'm not aware of this."
"I pasted posters on Rhodia Avenue."
Carlos smiles indulgently, "Stick one in the police station so that many residents can read it. Excuse me and good night."
"Now that I'm going to have it!"
Célio closes his home window. In the foreground, Carlos is moving away and allows himself a smile.
FÁBIO'S LIVING ROOM
Fábio and Fábia are sitting on the sofa, talking with wine. The room is better furnished. Fábio is from rich parents who have spoiled him too much. Fábia takes advantage of the situation, she's very donkey to live for herself.
Fábio complains, "What an outrage, my parents didn't spend a lot of money in this district for us to be treated like that."
"I agree, dear."
"We have a right to privacy, we are free citizens."
"I agree, dear."
Fábio makes fun, "And you look like a broken record player with this repetition."
"I agree, dear."
Fábio no longer thinks it's so funny. He serves himself with more wine.
"How was your day?"
"Ah, do you believe that Monica suggested that you didn't throw away those indecent magazines? I told her that you are a decent boyfriend and that you were going to fulfill the agreement once I did my part."
Fábio reacts weirdly; he does not stare at her.
"And how did Monica find out what we talked about?"
Fábia disguises herself, "It's just that the garbage truck didn't pass and dogs tore my bag. The magazine 'Mr. Hot Guy' flew off the street and the naughty Monica saw it."
"Didn't the garbage truck pass? It's been here every day."
"Yeah... I put it on a Friday. It happens, dear, that on the block where I live, the truck passes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Here on your block, the days are different."
Fábia Peres manages to deceive Fábio.
"Look, I didn't know that."
Fábia gets up, "Well, the rough is to face troublemaker Monica accusing me of dirtying the street."
"Monica, a troublemaker? Never, sweetheart, she is—"
Fábia turns to him, furious, "Not complete! There you go drooling over that little one!"
"Stop with that! She grew up, she's not two meters tall, but she's not that short, plump girl anymore. This is good because as soon as she grows up, she stops being chubby and stays—"
"Fábio Dance!"
Fábia takes a vase from the coffee table and threatens to throw it at the boyfriend.
Fábio gets fearful, "No, dear, that vase my mother bought at Praia do Canto!"
"Do you care more about the vase than about your head? I deserve it!"
Fábia Peres leaves the vase and picks up his purse.
"Where are you going?"
Fábia responds with SARCASM, "Didn't you hear the officer? It's time for the little kids to sleep. Good night!"
Fábia Peres gets out stepping hard.
Fábio serves himself more wine, never minding, "Tomorrow you'll come back."
CARLOS'S LIVING ROOM
Carlos is already bathed and wearing light clothes, a tank top, and shorts, sandals on his feet. He emerges from the kitchen with a beer can in his hands. Carlos is single; the house shows it by the furniture and the slight disorganization. Carlos sits on the couch and takes the remote to turn on the TV, but stops when he hears a woman's voice.
"Carlos? Can I come in?"
Carlos leaves the remote and the can and goes to the door. She opens it and appears Miriam Abreu, 18, red-haired, helpful. She has a plastic bowl in her hands, indicating something to eat. Carlos smiles and lets her in.
"I brought it for you. It's my mother's recipe: iced coconut cake with lemon-flavored icing. I even scraped the peels to give them a green color.
Carlos opens the pot and sees the generous piece.
"Thank you very much, Miriam. Do you want anything?"
"No, I came to see how you are doing. You know, Cassio told me that you prevented a thief from robbing Monica. Surprising."
"Isn't that right? Surprising that in our neighborhood these delinquents start to appear, robbing in broad daylight!"
Miriam is embarrassed, "Actually, I meant 'surprising' was your performance."
Carlos reacts without understanding her praise, "Nothing is surprising, Miriam. You are a good friend, but I just did my duty."
"So, since you want to see it in that light... Keep doing your 'duty', which we are grateful for. Well, I'll be right away."
Carlos smiles at her, "I'll tell you how it was later, but I already know that it's delicious."
Miriam smiles, nods, and decides to leave. Carlos accompanies her to the door and closes it. Then he sits back on the couch and turns on the TV news. While the anchor narrates the news, he takes another sip and tries the cake. A delight, he reacts positively.
CASSIO'S ROOM - MORNING
The following day, Cássio and Miriam are each on a sofa, coffee cup in hand, talking about yesterday. The door to the living room is open.
"So, did he approve of the cake? Can you imagine if it was the same for your wedding?"
"Oh, Cassio, God hears you. I'm very hopeful. And I'm pretty in love, especially, when you narrated to me in detail the rescue of Monica."
Cassio scoffs, "The idiot Célio, wanting to impress Monica, ran after the thief. But he was more sluggish than a snail, he was never going to reach him. The police car came out of nowhere doing the "uó, uó, uó, uó" and after overcoming the miscreant; it took a turn and blocked the street. Not even the bus that was going to leave could, because the street was closed. The bad driver didn't want to wait for Monica, can you believe it?"
"There are people who have no clue."
Sandra's voice is heard, "Indeed, right?"
Cássio and Miriam are frightened by Sandra passing through the door; they haven't seen her before.
"Sandra! Come on, it's time for coffee."
"How are you, Sandra?" Miriam asks her.
Sandra, always serious, looks Miriam up and down, "I'm fine, thank you."
Cássio explains, "I'm here curious to see if Miriam managed to win Chief Roldão."
Miriam is laughing, "Don't mind, girl, your boyfriend is really silly."
Sandra barbs, "I know my man pretty well."
Cassio doesn't catch the hint, gets up, and goes to get another cup of coffee.
Sandra makes sure that where she is sitting she is not getting her clothes dirty, knowing about her boyfriend's unhygienic habits.
She thinks by herself, "So does it mean that Miriam has an eye on that handsome Chief, Roldão? Naughty girl..."
Sandra smartly smiles...
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