1980Josias Rocha opens the door to his room and enters; then he closes it again. He got out of the shower with only a towel wrapped around his waist and went to the wardrobe to put on fresh clothes.He carefully opens the wardrobe because of the warped doors. His father wanted to assemble the furniture on his own and was not efficient.As Josias pulls on his briefs, he hears a loud noise from the living room door. His father is watching television.It looks like somebody has broken the door open.Next, angry and disturbed voices alternate with the frightened voice of Josias's father. Not just one visitor, Josias hears three or four voices, which means a gang.There is a fierce discussion going on in the living room.Curious and a little afraid, Josias goes to the door to listen better. He does not dare to leave his room and see who these men are, but by their tone of voice, he can tell that they are not good-natured people."I swear to you, I'll pay next month, even if it's half!" Tha

"Amen!" Josias responds, somewhat moved. Despite the need to get off, (the driver gets wild when asked to stop and no one gets off the bus!) Josias wanted to stay a little longer. He felt a connection with Everaldo that he could not explain. But it was time to get down.After the two say goodbye with a handshake, Josias heads to the front door (the driver also notices Josias's scanty clothing) and disembarks.When the bus goes on its way, Josias and Everaldo see each other for the last time, the two waving their hands on their foreheads, the typical military greeting.So Josias turns on his heel and faces his new neighborhood."Well, Josias!" he said to himself, trying to cheer up, "Time to get to know your new neighborhood!"Josias walks down the widest street, the main one. That's because, in Happiness Slum, there was no type of urban planning.The main street was the only one opened by City Hall, as it was a street connecting Happiness Farm. The family who owned the farm sold all th

When Josias reaches into his sweatpants pocket and pulls it out, he deposits the few remaining bills and pennies on the counter.The old man sums the amount, and responds with a tone of concern, not mockery, "You don't have more than five bucks, buddy. I can't let you stay here, not even overnight."Josias takes the money back and puts it away. "I know, so I thought I could count on your mercy. As you're already aware, my father was murdered, the moneylender probably knows that my father had me as a son, and if they find me, they will either kill me or want to torment me until I pay the debt. I won't be there to suffer either. My mother got divorced and disappeared from the city; she is probably in Europe with a very rich guy. I have no one here.""So let's do the following." The elderly man goes to a dresser and opens a drawer. He takes something and closes it.When he turns around, Josias realizes that it's money."I'm gonna pay you a ticket to the bus station, and you'll look for a

Josias finishes crying and breaks the hug. He wipes away tears. “Thank you very much for your consideration, Seu Teodoro.”“You welcome, young man. Come on; I offer you coffee.”Josias takes the opportunity to ask, “Seu Teodoro, how does it work here? For example, I know that we are not in a five-star hotel, but in my room, there is not even a sink.”Teodoro smiles, he understands that Josias did not want to be ungrateful. “I understand. Well, downstairs here are the bathrooms. I did my best to have the men's and women's bathrooms so that everyone was comfortable and had no complaints. We have families with children, and I wouldn't be comfortable with letting children bathe with adults.”Josias agrees with the head, it was necessary to be careful. But, families with children? When verbalizing the question, Teodoro explains, “Here I had some two-bedroom apartments built, providing that families could co

Teodoro smiles when he sees Josias enchanted by a resident girl of Happiness Slum. “My boy, take it easy with that heart. Do I know her by any chance?”“Her name is Melissa.” Josias responds as if he is singing, “And she lives further on.” Josias, however, shakes his head, “Well, what am I doing? Okay, the girl is beautiful and nice, and she was admiring my chest, even though I am not muscular; but, I need to find something. She must think I am a pervert for walking without a shirt.”“There is nothing wrong with a man walking around without a shirt, especially in this heat.” Teodoro ponders, “But, as I warned you, better to start buying your things.”Josias smiles as he remembers. “Her father is very strict; he doesn't want his dear daughter to marry a poor man. So I better get ahead.”Josias starts walking out of the reception. Teodoro asks him, “Hey, where are you