Date: Thu, 06 Jun 2002 11:01:52 -0400
From: Tom Cup <tom_cup@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Innocents by Richard Dean - Part 2 Chapter 7  Gay - A/Y

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************************************************************************

The Innocents
By Richard Dean
Part 2
Chapter 7
Ricardo's Awakening

Letters to Ricardo


My time aboard our research vessel seemed to pass more slowly than in past
tours of duty.  Especially troublesome were delays due to equipment
malfunction or damage to the cabling, which trailed behind the ship when
attacked and bitten by sharks.  Once when another ship failed to give way
after being warned by a representative of the Brazilian Navy to alter it's
course and steam round our vulnerable cables.  That ships' failure to
comply with the order issued, caused a delay of one and a half weeks
production.  As the ship continued on its course, its' propellers sliced,
chewed and entangled the wiring within the cable, as it ran over each of
the two mile long cables.  The lengthy cabling had to be reeled in to the
huge aft spools.  Only then could close investigation determine the damage
and ability of the crew to repair them.  Because both cables were damaged,
a frantic call was made to our company headquarters in Houston to
airfreight replacement wiring, connectors, sonar phones and other
accoutrement necessary for such a complex mix of equipment.  Petrobras
(Petroleus Brasil) and Brazilian customs co-operated fully to lessen any
delay in delivery.  Once fully operational, the crews' nerves were frayed
from the exhaustive and hasty repairs.

I couldn't have been more surprised or elated, when I received three letters
written by each member of our family.  The first letter chosen to read,
naturally, was from Toninho.  I noted while smiling, Toninho was shaving and
using my after-shave lotion in large amounts as the scent from the paper
wafted to my nares.

[Alo Daddi
I  am right ingles for you.  I am verri worri my frens of street.  Thems am
hurts verri mush.  Thems am hongeri.  No works, you helps fix hokay? Paulo
says no dicionario I am using.  I am pees off with it. I am right portugues
nou.

Pae, the conditions of my friends are difficult for me to see.  Gran and
Paulo are trying to help the "criancas do ruas" in their way, but are unable
to come to an agreement to a solution.  Gran says that employment and
education are the solution.  Paulo says that it will take money, lots of it
to feed, clothe and house them.  I say to Paulo it sounds like he wants to
put them somewhere out of sight.  Arguments between the three of us help
little, solve nothing.

I beg you, beseech you, implore you to give us your considered thought on a
solution not for the whole number of children who are the lost, but  'some'
of them in a way that will give them hope and desire to live as human
beings.  Pae, you've saved me.  I need to honor you by saving some of them
too.  My fortunes are not theirs.  I have your love and those of our family.
  Pae, they have none.

Gran reminded us about the party you want to host for friends and
acquaintances from your work, when you return to us.  We are planning to
make it a successful party.  May I have your permission to ask those
powerful people to help us, to join us in our small venture of saving the
children?

I love you Pae, from the very depths and fiber of my soul.   We look forward
to the day you return to us...perhaps sanity will return to us too.  Your
'favorite' Son,

Antonio Ricardo Dean]

I shamelessly wept and cried aloud, to view his anguished words to me
written by his own hand in English.  Without a dictionary and misspellings
too, he could not have been more poignant crying out to ease the burden of
his friends and acquaintances.  When he wrote in Portuguese, he stood taller
and abler in my eyes; the adult manner he assumed, to assist and aid those
less fortunate than he.  My young son had truly become my young man.
Throughout the world family is alike in commonality.  In our small orb, our
family is unique; lack of blood relationship notwithstanding.

As friend to all, our Miss Flavia, but Gran to one, I chose the second
letter from the matriarch of our family.  This gentle, kind, honorable and
loving addition to our union, gave equally to all, her love and sweet
banter.  Without fail when walking about she would touch or pat us signaling
her attention that we were important and meaningful to her.  Without this
lady our family seemed small and with little direction.  She accorded us her
mothering glances, smiles and reinforcement, which impressed us all.  Her
reminders not to slouch, sit straight and tall, bemused us. She gave us
remedies, should our daily bowel movements fail.  She was our Duchess in
details refined or could be bawdy too when times were quiet, reflective and
small.

[Dearest Ricardo:

Your letters bring such joy into this household, which I read to the boys
during our evening meal.  Once finished your letter is passed around the
table so each of our men are able to recall your special words to them.  For
the first several days after you leave we are saddened until someone recalls
an incident in which you were a part, and that brings laughter, smiles and
good memories.  Each retelling by Toninho of how he walked up to you, a
proper stoic gentleman, and Paulo's attempt to send him away.  He recounts
how you, with your words, made Paulo know to leave well enough alone, and do
your bidding.  Paulo then gives his version, and little plays of back and
forth, "yes, I remember exactly his words."  "No you don't, you were too
scared, frightened."  "yes I do, I do really, Gran, I remember as if it were
yesterday."  Ah Ricardo, they so enjoy each other with their tugging and
teasing.  At times they seem so young, and at others as adult, gentle, and
refined as you.

I must report to you of events that have happened these past three days or
so.  The three of us went to the Mercado Central area, in hopes that Toninho
could make contact with some of his friends or acquaintances, to become
updated on news and information.  I became familiar with the term, "street
children" and what it implied and entailed.  I report I am enraged, shocked,
shaken, and sickened too, of sights I've seen with my own eyes.  I couldn't
believe what confronted me.  I've seen horrors of the aftermath of rapes,
theft, drug usage, death by starvation, and worse....murder!  I've talked to,
met victims, have seen the results of misuse of justice.  Ohh, my dear
Ricardo, I cry at the sheer cruelty of thugs, police, businessmen,
politicians in their zeal to rid themselves of these abandoned  children.
I've cried myself to sleep at night because of my 'education'.

Knowing my grandson, was at one time, one of the "dead walking" fills me
with the dread of knowledge that he was not, but for the Grace of God, one
of those nameless victims of 'vigilante exterminators".  Both Paulo and
Toninho bear wit ness that it was You who rescued and saved my sweet child
from horrors that besiege and beset my mind.  Age, aching bones and joints
preclude me from falling to my knees to kiss your feet for your heroic act
of rescue of my Toninho.

Age, does not preclude me from doing something about this, however.  With
the aid of your best friend and your most 'favorite son', we've contacted
neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, customers of Paulo, television and
radio stations, to join with us in a March of Silence to demand justice and
the protection of children, no matter their station.  With the money from
the sale of my little home, we are purchasing candles, and white cloths to
issued to each marcher.  Paulo at "Herbies" wheel will lead this procession.
Large signs attached to Herbies sides and top proclaiming:  Justica seja
feita! Salve Os Inocente!  (Justice be done!  Save the Innocents!)

We will march on Friday at dusk.  We shall arrive at darkness, light our
candles.  Lit candles in one hand, white cloth waving from the other.  All
traffic will be impeded.  In front of the City Hall, we shall stand.  A
funeral dirge will be broadcast  from the speakers mounted on "Herbie".  We
shall remain there for one hour only, and then disperse as we came.

Ricardo, this we CAN do!  We shall do this every week, until something IS
done!

As ever your servant,

Flavia]


I was astonished and pleased about her resourcefulness.  Also that she felt
so adamant about the injustices perpetrated on these kids prompted response
on the entire family.  Her action gave me impetus to try to awaken knowledge
and subsequent acts from the corporate charity arm of both Petrobras and
Halliburton Geophysical Services Inc. (HGSI)

Last, but not least, the letter from my dearest friend would fill me in on
all of their concerns and suggestions.  I wondered about this curious event
of three letters arriving at the same time; two of which were filled with
the societal issues and magnitude in assaulting this enigma of the street
children.   Tearing open   Paulo's envelope, I extracted his letter, which
read thus:

[Ricardo, my love:

Our home is a hotbed of activity, it seems as if squads of teenaged
youngsters are arriving every hour and are assigned tasks to which they
attack with zeal.  The ringing of the telephone is constant; neighbors
arrive at all hours with donations of money and materials.  In command, Miss
Flavia issues forth with directives to her lieutenants, Toninho and me, who
rush about to carry out her orders.  I can't tell you how busy "Herbie" has
been--we've had to fill his tank with petrol twice this week, considering how
stingy he is on his usage, its indicative of the constancy of his trips to
and fro, sometimes as a passenger bus, other times ferrying or collecting
donations and supplies.  I couldn't tell you, how Miss Flavia survives all
of this.  She is so cool and collected it frazzles my nerves to think of her
strength and commitment to the cause. Toninho has waxed and polished
"Herbie" to a sheen of a twinkling star as the sunshine reflects its' rays
with impertinence to those who become hypnotized by his brilliance.  He's
never looked better since we've owned him.

Ton, has a squad of 6 girls sewing/hemming the edges of 4x12 pieces of white
cloth.  These are then tied around a candle and placed in a box until full.
The box is sealed and in it s place another empty box sits to be filled.
Where he found 6 sewing machines I haven't a clue, but he's got them
stationed on the back patio with electric cords running from the interior of
our house to the patio.

While this goes on, in our computer room, he has 3 computers set up in a
network configuration, and has his operators sending out e-mails to places
throughout the country, trying to get other cities to have Silent Marches
too.
So far Sao Paulo will have one, as well as Santarem.  He's hoping Brasilia
will follow too.  The activity going on here is exciting and through it
all, Miss Flavia manages to stay informed.

I've been assigned 4 lusty looking strong young men who join me in "Herbie"
to pick up and deliver supplies and equipment.  Our garage only has enough
room for "Herbie", now.  These guys are so damned hot my tongue gets hard.

Yesterday, Miss Flavia and Elena, Senhora d'Souza Calvalcante -- she's our
neighbor who has the larger home than we, down the street --  I never knew
or was aware that they are such bosom buddies, yet she arranged with her
husband to allow Miss Flavia to address his Chamber of Commerce meeting.
Elena told me that Miss Flavia told them she knew that some of the
businessmen sitting within the room were participants to the hiring of
'security police' to watch and protect their business.  She told the entire
group, that if and when she found out the persons responsible for this crime
against nature, that not only their families would be publicly shamed, but
that she would institute a public blacklisting of the businesses involved,
and a community shunning of them and their families.  She would drive them
into bankruptcy, with the assistance of her legions of supporters.  She said
also that she would start an investigation into the political hacks who
assisted in this travesty of justice and lawlessness.  Some angered
businessman got up and left the meeting.  Miss Flavia, said it's so
fortunate that the most evil smelling of us left.  Elena told me that not
only was her husband shocked and stunned, there were few clapping for her
stand and resolve.

What do you think of our Miss Flavia, Ricardo?  I wouldn't want her to be
pissed off at me, that's for certain.  Elena told me that when they got back
to her home they both drank down a couple shots of Johnny Walker Red--to calm
their nerves.

Yesterday the Governor of the state of Rio de Janeiro, stopped by with his
minions following his steps, and declared to Miss Flavia, he was going to
issue a proclamation in honor of her work and success in marshalling such
interest in this cause.  With my own ears I heard her tell him he "should be
ashamed" for not leading this cause himself, because he was elected on his
promises of betterment for the citizens of this state.  "Why do you promise
what you know you cannot fulfill?" she asked him.  He was stunned in shamed
silence.  She told him if it has to take "an old lady with a cancerous
condition" to do what others have failed to do, then she "would do it."  He
left our home with a smarmy smile on his face, but we could hear the fires
of rage burning in him.  I fear we have a political enemy in him, Ricardo.

Elena's aunt has signed over the deed of ownership of an old warehouse near
the Centro Mercado to our Miss Flavia with the stipulation that it be used
for the good and care of the children of the street.  From her list of
volunteers she has culled out several engineers and architects to work out a
solution to configure this building into class/training rooms, kitchen and
dining facilities, several large bathrooms and showers on each of the three
floors, with several large areas for sleeping and housing options.  Where
she thought she would obtain beds and bedding, God only knows.  She needs
only to call out to her volunteers and within a matter of a few days,
results come forth.  Already she has received enough paint to cover the
building inside and out.  She told Toninho and myself, that she can put the
older street children to work doing that; painting.  Perhaps they can learn
to become painters and renovators, too she added.

Word of mouth has made our location and address known throughout this city.
Swarms of people, stand outside of the gates, waving handkerchiefs in honor
of our Miss Flavia.  Sometimes she will walk out there to converse with
them, amid their cheers and huzzahs.  She has assigned several ladies of the
neighborhood to take stand outside to speak with them, and accept their
little monies to contribute to the cause.  We have collected 281,050 Reais
($5,623.00 US), thus far, Ricardo, in little less than a week.  Donations
keep coming in.  We have formed committees to work out how to plan for job
training, schooling, and a luncheon program.  We may have room to house up
to 200 children, but that is only in the planning stages.  There is a large
task which faces us and our strength and attention.  We go to bed, exhausted
and filled with hope of the future for some of the children.  We know we
can't do it all, nor should we even try.  Perhaps we can make this a program
of "No handouts, but a hand up!"

Ricardo, my eyes are too heavy to continue.  There is so much you need know.
  Know this!  We love you from the bottom of our hearts.  We await your
return with eagerness.  We need your direction.  Miss Flavia admits she has
taken on a chore that is actually beyond her control and body power.  She
tires easily and eats little.  I believe her health is failing day by day.
I dare not mention this to Toninho.  He would fall apart completely without
your direction and strength.  All of us need your direction and strength.

As ever, your friend,

Paulo]

************

My mind is assailed with thoughts of mixed feelings.  All of this
information at a singular time is overwhelming and confusing.  I fell into
bed exhausted and proud of the accomplishments of my collective few.
Throughout all of this "Herbie" has proven his worth and cost.  He continues
his missions courageously and valiantly as reports have it  I can think of
careers, jobs and assignments for these children.  Someone must take charge
and responsibility for their education, housing, feeding and tending to
their souls.  Not in any religious sense.  Not that it wouldn't help.  We
must have a staff of volunteers to teach and train our children.   To
encourage not discourage them.  Every child who enters the doors to this
building must be given a job, a chore, a task in order to fulfill their
sense of community and accomplishment.  It would take a Manager, a Director.
  Who could do that?  We would have to have enough funds able to pay them a
salary.  What about the salary for the head educator, the principal of our
school?  Paulo seemed the answer to that question.  The manager/director of
the entire facility would be difficult to field.  I thought I would sleep on
it amidst the other questions which raced and discomfited me.

I fell into a semi-sleep, tossing and turning, the question of who tortured
me.  Within an hour, I awakened, and sat upright in my bed.  The answer of
who came to me.

"Beto!"

*************************

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