The Adam Boy

CHAPTER 1 - TWO SMALL FACTS

I was walking calmly on the tree-lined sidewalk of the east-west metro, when I came across a man in a wheelchair. I was going to pass by, but I was approached by him with "Hey boy, can you help me?". I didn't even turn my face so I could face him and answer him. I looked straight at the ramp that gives access to the station's turnstiles. It was steep and long. But, it wasn't just that, when you go up that first ramp, you have to turn right to go up another one as steep as the predecessor. Then, turn left to go up to the last one, but no less tiring. I turned my face to the stout man in the chair. He had a slight smile of "do a charity today and put another brick in your little house in heaven". I looked back at the triple ramp and a cold drop of sweat ran down my spine.

Only seconds passed, my head had already formulated a million things: that man weighed at least 90 kilos. It was tall and only one arm was almost as thick as me. I was going up those damn ramps and I was tired and out of breath, imagine pushing your chair! And if, in the middle of the first ramp, I lost my strength and could no longer climb with it, the chair would come back, run over me, hurt the man, and in addition to having invalid legs, should my arms also remain?

"Wow, sir, - I started talking without looking into his eyes, but looking at the ramp - I'm super tired, I woke up at five in the morning, I'm going to my second job and at night I'm still going to college, arriving at home almost at one in the morning to have to wake up again at five"

It was almost four in the afternoon and the sun was hot. And it didn't really come from my first job, but from a job interview, in which I had opened an internship for communication, my area, and going to an alternative job that I had, where I wrote for a regional website. With every second that passed, he sweated more and more. The backpack on my back was gaining weight with each instant the tension rose. I felt the drop of sweat break out on my forehead. That station was deserted at that time. Just further on, close to other bus stops, there were sellers of açaí and corn. The guy from the newsstand was inside, sure cooling off on a fan, drinking cold water and reading some super magazine. And there I was, standing at the beginning of a ramp, which cost me a lot of sighs every day, shortness of breath, tiredness and, certain that every day he was more sedentary. Standing next to a 40-year-old man, strong and big, in a wheelchair, asking me to help him access the platform.

As soon as I said my apologies, his smile faded. I seemed to have felt that my response had not been the best, and I looked at him. In less than ten seconds I realized the impact of my sentence and immediately tried to fix it:

"But do not worry! I'm going to stay here and find someone who can help you. All right?"

I realized that it had only made things worse. After all, we were both under a sun of over 30ºC, sweaty, thirsty and wanting to get on the subway right away. I saw and felt his disapproving face with my shameful solution. His gaze became more and more penetrating and threatening. If he could get up out of that chair and, with a slap, he would have left me sprawled on the floor. Me, with a face that everything was right, that that was the best solution in the world, I looked at him and gave a little smile of "Beautiful day, no? I'm happy, you too, we all are." And in response, he saw an increasingly closed look and a mouth with clenched teeth.

It was the longest three minutes of my life, when a boy, just over 18 years old, and taller than me, was passing by us. I soon screamed for him who turned right away.

"Can you help us? - I asked this time making a face of "Please, I'm a poor guy and I need help". And, placing my hand on the head of the wheelchair man, I went on: - He needs to take the subway. Can you go up with him?"

"Oh, sure! - replied the boy without even smiling, but without a doubt finding it all strange."

He took the chair and started to push up the ramp. The wheelchair helped him by turning the wheels to give more impetus, and I followed on the side as if everything was right and everyone was really happy. He was happy for me, for having found someone to help those in need. I walked beside him with the thought "I will accompany you, so that there is no incident and make sure that this boy, who is ready to help, is not a maniac or madman who can harm you to the inside of the station, safely taking you there ".