Rhodia River - In the stream of love [Book 1]

Chapter 1 - The Friends

1998

In the reign of Royal Hill, the sun shines in a cloudless sky on another beautiful morning in the Rhodia River neighborhood.

It's a housing district for working-class families but non-slum, well-presentable, mostly quiet, and with decent residents.

They have the main square called Praça da Granja, the church, tree-lined and paved streets, houses with minimal fences or walls, buses traveling, and finally, the main avenue.

This one is busier, with small and varied shops and people traveling on the sidewalk. There is a facade of Cascais Bakery, Cor-de-Rosa Stationery Store, and Malthus Snack Bar.

Near the snack bar, Monica Silva walks hurriedly to the local. She's 19, light-brown, serious, and responsible, dressed socially and wearing a woolen coat.

***

AT THE MALTHUS SNACK BAR

Monica enters and takes a look. The cafeteria is in normal activity. It's a rectangular enclosure, with plastic tables, and a marble counter for cash and orders. Monica smiles, she likes the place.

Aurélio Malthus, 42, is the owner of the business. Aurélio is cleaning the counter with a flannel. There's ambient music.

Monica goes anxiously to the owner. "Good morning, Seu Aurélio! Have we something new?"

Aurélio smiles at the customer, "Today, we have coxinha without catupiry. I always thought people liked the sauce."

Monica grimaces, she hates catupiry, "Of course not, it makes my mouth taste weird. I'll take two."

"They were fried just yesterday. Health inspectors are watching around if we're serving old savories."

Aurélio takes the savories.

Monica replies, "But you would never do that to us, your loyal customers. At least I think I deserve the good and the best."

Aurélio laughs, "Your friend has arrived and is making my day."

Monica looks at the tables with more attention. She sees Annie Lime, 19, a brunette and loving person, sitting at a corner table, devouring pastries with zero civility and a cane juice cup. Monica takes the coxinha and goes towards her.

The two girls meet, and Monica sits. Annie reacts in surprise.

"Monica! You really came, it was taking too long. Do you want to starve me?"

Monica laughs, "You'll never die of hunger while at the Malthus Snack Bar. I don't know how he manages to keep the stock."

"You talk as if I'm a heartless starving man."

"You're not like this."

"Hungry?"

"Heartless."

Monica laughs louder. In the background, Aurélio stiffs a laugh.

Annie speaks back, "Oh, you're annoying! So, what are you going to do today?"

Monica takes a thick brown envelope from her purse. The sheets of paper taped on the computer are the reason for the thickness. Monica hands the contents over to Annie.

Annie wipes her hands on napkins, takes the envelope, and looks at it. She leafs through it.

"It's your first book." She stresses the title, "'Love came later'. And why hasn't it arrived now?"

Monica explains, "It came later because the couple will take a while before they fall in love."

Annie becomes interested, "Um... I get it... So, do you think you can do it?"