Free Childhood of the Dead by Jose Louzeiro, translated by Ladyce Pompeo de Barros Page A

smart. He wanted to get Dito involved in a deal that could only begin in Rio de Janeiro. And that same afternoon he promised to meet Dito and drive him around in a car. He kept his word. He picked Dito up, and the two went for a ride, Crystal talking about nice things such as he had never heard. The car was a new Galaxy, plushly upholstered, with a cassette playing soft music. The city was soon left behind. Crystal had straight well-combed hair and a white shirt, white on white with the cuffs carefully folded back, a watch on one arm, on the other a silver ID bracelet. Once in while he pressed a lighter on the dashboard, the button remaining sunk in until it warmed up and clicked. He would then take the lighter and touch it to his cigarette. Dito was amazed! He also offered Dito a cigarette. Dito had never been treated so nicely. After a few quiet moments Crystal talked, chatted, saud he was getting older and had to find himself a suitable substitute.
    â€œI’ve been in your shoes,” he said and stared at Dito through expressionless eyes set in lightly purpled eyelids. “What saved me was this.” He’d pointed to his head. “This is what puts a man ahead of losers. From what I saw at the bar, you’re a smart kid. You can go far. How old are you?” After Dito told him, he continued, “at your age I also didn’t know very well what I was gonna do. Until the day opportunity knocked. Each person is born under a star. Mine shone that day.” The man looked far off, as if remembering. “And I didn’t waste time. I jumped in with both feet. No indecisions. Today here I am. I’m not rich, but I have enough to live on.
    â€œWhat do I have to do?”
    â€œCome sometimes to Sao Paulo and then return to Rio. Travel and earn a lot of money.”
    Dito had smiled. He doubted there could be something that good for him. At any rate, that didn’t seem to be the best moment to discuss his doubts. He preferred to let the guy talk; to observe his hands, his polished nails, his creased pants and white shoes and socks.
    After about a two-hour trip the man manoeuvered through a detour, and took the road to the gas station. He got out, Dito followed him. He was neither tall nor short, he had a kind- hearted manner of speaking, and called everyone friend. An attendant took off the gastank cap, another threw water at the windshield. Crystal wasn’t concerned with topping off the car; he told them to check the tire air pressure, especially in the front tires. He put his arm around Dito’s shoulder, and they went to the bar. He asked for a shot of cognac and a Coca-Cola. Besides the soda he told Dito to choose a sandwich or a sweet.
    â€œGo on, eat up, ‘cause we still have a lot of road ahead of us.”
    Dito accepted the grilled ham and cheese, for he had not had lunch. He had liked being with this stranger, who talked to him about everything, and who gave him a vision of a grand future. He even got the feeling that just one step, one movement, was enough for him to leave his misery behind and become an important person like Crystal. Crystal pulled out from his pocket a wallet full of large bills. Dito also saw credit cards and check books in the glove compartment. He was certainly an important man, who knew what he was doing. And Dito thought he was lucky to have fallen into his good graces.On the road again the Galaxy rolled so smoothly that Dito couldn’t hear the engine. When he became important, this would be the car he would have. He would take long trips, just to check out the car’s performance. By afternoon’s end, after the intense sun shine waned, they were still far from Rio. Dito thought this had been the happiest day of his life. From as far back as he could remember, he couldn’t recall anything like it, nor a person who had treated him with such kindness. There was no doubt Crystal was his friend. Otherwise he wouldn’t be doing all