The Circus Freak - and the boy who was afraid of clowns

Sixth chapter

SIXTH   CHAPTER 

            NATÉCIO GAVE JACIARA THE AFTERNOON FREE. He even mentioned the promotion, because he was afraid that she would report the sexual harassment. So, he tried to make up for the stupid thing he had done.

On her way out of the factory, the black Escort was waiting for her. She got in the car, and hugged the driver tightly. She untangled her hair with her fingers, and laid her hand on the knee of the person who navigated the car.

                 “Tough day?” She asked.

                 “Pretty normal. And you?” The other person asked.

                “My son is going mad, that's the only explanation for it." She shook her head with disapproval. She unclasped the magnetic closure of her small black purse, which made a funny noise when opened.  She took a red lipstick from inside her purse.

                “Why are you saying that?”

                “He's been seeing things moving, he gave life to an old clown light fixture, and he was talking nonsense...”

                Jaciara's driver didn't make any comments, listening to what Jaciara was saying. They crossed the huge heavy gate as they exited the factory, waving at the guard.

Now one of the driver's hands was holding the wheel and the fingers on the other hand tappedin between the passenger's leg.

“Hey! Hold on! You are rushing things!” Jaciara was surprised. But she soon relaxed. Now she had one of her feet on the car seat. She was opening herself for the sensual touch. Meanwhile, her high heels pressed against the dashboard lining.

                “It's leather, you dirty girl! If you damage it, he will kill me with his own hands! He likes the car better than me!" Teresa said. She was the financial department chief's wife. And they started to laugh out loud. It was a mocking laughter, because they were free for the afternoon, and had nothing to worry about... It was somewhat a wicked laughter. They spent the whole afternoon together, hanging out as rich mature women. One of them had the rest of the day off; the other one didn't have to work for a living.

                They went window shopping downtown. In the toy section, with things for young children between two and four years old, Jaciara saw what she wanted: a horrible, gruesome doll that she thought was funny. It was a four-foot-tall clown, with huge, bright, white teeth, that opened up into a smile. It was floppy. The red, blue, and yellow colors were all mixed up on what looked like a watercolor texture of really bad taste. The head was big and made of low quality plastic, covered with a shiny and smelly paint.

                Before entering her home, Jaciara put the clown away in the spare room. She took a shower, watched her soap opera, and had some of the soup that Renato insisted on her eating.

                When she was getting ready to go to bed, she gave him the medication that the doctor had prescribed. That was the last night he would have to take them.

                “On Monday we have an appointment.” She reminded her son. "I don't know why he won't just give you a check up here, at home. We have to go to the office." She covered him with kisses, and changed the lilac sheets for thicker ones. It was a cold night.

                “I'll turn off the lights, Renato,” she said with her finger on the switch.

                “No, mommy,” he whined. “Please, leave the light on! I am afraid, please... Or, get rid of the light fixture... I see things on it at night, mom...”