Date: Sat, 21 Jun 2003 07:59:05 -0400
From: Tom Cup <tom_cup@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Innocents: Paulo and Beto  by Richard Dean - Part 4 Chapter 4 -
    A/Y - AF

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The Innocents Part 4: Paulo and Beto
By Richard Dean
Chapter 4


Beto rose from behind his desk walked to the chair in which Paulo had
collapsed wracked in sobbing tears and grief.  Sitting on the chair arm he
enfolded his arms around Paulo in supplication, consolation and support.  He
noted the letter with words rife of influence lay on the floor staring
manifestly back at him.  Beto's mind was a jumbled whirl of ideas and
thoughts ruminating in telepathy.  We've got to notify Ricardo as soon as
possible.  It's his right since he's suffered so much in the sacrifice of
Antonio et alia. Elena and Julio too.  The children?  We can't allow them to
reside here.  There's only room for our students.  We'll care for them at
home... clothes, schooling...the works.  Paulo is no shape at the moment to
handle the children or even think clearly about them.  We must find out
where their mother and step-father live...we can ease their financial burden
or assist them in finding full-time employment before she does something
which may lead to more loss of life.  She must be insane with grief.   The
young man;  what's his name?  Ah yes, Javier.  He'll know where they live.
Fear not Toninho, we'll protect your brother and sister.  I promise you
that.  Duchess Flavia you can rest in peace, your grandchildren are safe and
unharmed.

In a calm collected tone of voice Beto inquired, "Have you finished reading
the letter Paulinho?  Do you understand the implications of what she means
to do in the future?"

Turning his gaze to Beto he replied, "I haven't read all of it.  I couldn't
go beyond the part where she identifies her children by her first marriage
with a fellow she named as Benedetto Carpazetti.  Read it to me please, I
don't think I can concentrate to read it further."

Reaching down to pick up the fallen letter from the floor, Beto began to
read the letter aloud.

______________________________________________________

Sir Director,

My name is Gloria Carpazetti d' Souza.  At the age of 15 I fell in love with
my third cousin Benedetto Carpazetti.  When we discovered I was pregnant we
decided to marry.  Without the approval of my parents we eloped from Porto
Alegre to Santos and became married.  Six months later I gave birth to a
healthy son whom we named Antonio (Toninho).  During that year my father
became very ill with cancer and died in December.  My mother had to scratch
a living for herself without financial assistance or insurance.  She was
unable to help us financially when Benedetto became unemployed as a dock
worker in Santos.  We scraped enough money together and moved to Rio de
Janeiro.  He found a position as a desk clerk in a hotel.

By the age of 21, I had three children, Antonio-6, Javier-1 ½, and Carla-5
months. (See supporting documents of births & marriage).   Our union became
strained when I discovered my husband had a roving eye.  As a lusty
hot-blooded Italian he felt justified when I withheld sexual relations with
him in fear of becoming pregnant once again.  Within a year he had had
several paramours and finally was found out by an outraged cuckolded husband
and was subsequently shot wherein both himself and his pregnant bitch lay
murdered.

I was destitute with 3 small children to feed, clothe and house.  I became a
prostitute and subsequently dabbled in drugs.  For the next 3 years some of
my tricks would move in with me.  Sadly one more daughter came out of that
arrangement.  With four children I stayed out longer on the streets.  I met
my current `husband' Ayrton.  We have been together since that time with an
issue of two more children, a daughter and a son.  Six children, my
`husband' well advanced in alcoholism and he was unemployed.  Most times
when it was time for me to go to work, he would be at home, despising the
children and the tasks associated with caring, feeding, diapering those that
still had not been toilet trained.  It seemed to him a degrading situation.
Needless to say, I found out 5 years ago that I have what is known as AIDs.

I am not proud of what transpired to bring us to the point where it was
necessary to turn Antonio out of our home, such as it was, to fend for
himself.  I've cried and tortured myself for allowing it to happen.  3 years
later we sent our Javier and Carla to the streets.  At times I hear
screaming from my subconscious that tells me to end this life.  I have an
alcoholic man, 2 of my youngest children (son and daughter) with AIDs like
myself.  The other daughter, a half-wit.

I have followed the news reports of Our Brother's Keeper with deep interest.
  My mother somehow ended up in Rio and with the assistance of Antonio
started to march on government offices decrying the inhumanity of the
so-called street children.

Many times I would wander the street near OBK simply to get a glimpse of
Antonio or my mother.  My heart was torn apart when I did see him one day
driving a Yanqui, his guardian I believe.  I wanted to scream out Antonio's
name and make myself known.  I could not in all honesty do it...my shame,
lifestyle, and circumstances would have tainted him and brought vilification
to the name of Carpazetti.  When my mother died I cried and beat myself for
abandoning her.  When Antonio died I screamed.  I killed him by my
selfishness.  Had he not been turned out he would still be alive I pray.

Please Sir Director, take my two full-blooded remaining Carpazetti children
from their hells and give them peace of mind.  Give them a chance for a
clean decent life.  Educate them.  Allow them to walk freely among others of
your class.  Enclosed are two documents which have been signed by me and
witnessed by two reputable businessmen relinquishing them to
________________(blank name...you fill it in).  I have been assured this will
constitute a legal document so that they can be adopted, name changed if
necessary, and raised as any other middle class child would be.

I assure you Sir, I shall not interfere or desire to be involved in any
manner with them, if you will do this.  I shall never see them again,
knowing in my heart this is one act of goodness I can do for THEM!

Please do not attempt to contact me or my remaining family.  We shall not be
where you may assume.  We will be consumed in the fires of hell.

Into your trust I place my children.  Bless you!

Senhora Gloria Carpazetti d' Souza


________________________________________________

"We've chores to do, Paulinho.  Let's see to those children.  They must have
eaten by now, eh?"

"What do you think she means by `consumed in the fires of hell', Beto?"

"I can't be entirely certain about it, but I believe she means to take the
lives of all of them."

"BETO!  We can't allow something like that.  We've got to stop
them...uh..uh..her!"

"Listen to me clearly my sweet.  I am not going to jeopardize these children
by telling them their mother may be afoot to murder/suicide.  We need to
shelter them and keep such possible ugliness from them.  I refuse to
undermine their love for their mother and half-brother and sisters.  I
repeat, I will not allow ourselves to cause them panic or fear of the
unknown.  I told you it is my belief that she intends to do her family harm.
  Believe me, Paulinho, as soon as we find out where she lives from young
Javier, we'll make an effort to contact them and assist them in whatever
means are available."

"But you could be wrong, Beto.  How in good conscience can you not act on
this information?"

"My conscience tells me that we can save `some' of them; not ALL.  That's
the premise of Our Brother's Keeper.  Those are the exact words of Toninho
and Lady Flavia if you'll remember.  I also believe Ricardo would do the
same thing if he were in our position.  Work with what you have.  We can do
it by helping 100 poor souls at a time.  In this case it'll be 102 of them.
Come on now, we've got to attend those kids and try to get them settled."


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