The lonely man

    Eustáquio lived alone in a mansion of an elegant neighborhood. He had a high standard of living but restricted himself to staying indoors only. He had only the company of his cook and his gardener. Antero, the cook, was a quiet, reserved old man. He's been with the family since he was a teenager. He was a cook from the parents of Eustáquio. Ildenor, the gardener, had been in the house since he was young. He was a sullen, grumpy man; he divided the room of employees with Antero. From time to time they fought because Ildenor wanted to use the room for sex which Antero would not accept. Eustáquio had fair skin like those people who never catch even a ray of sun; short hair, very black and smooth; black eyes; always wore a brown cuff that was fashionable in the 1890s, a brown top hat and an ebony cane and ivory cape.

    Eustáquio gave the orders on what he wanted to eat for lunch then went to his favorite room in the house: the hall of memories. It was a large room with decorative flooring suitable for dancing parties. There were 8 pillars in pink stone adorned with true leaves also in stone. Scattered all over the room were small cylindrical pedestals 40 centimeters long. On top of each was the body of an embalmed person. It was a kind of different embalming where the image of body and face was totally preserved. Even the eyes were the same. For those who looked fast, I hardly saw that they were people who were not alive. They were all members of the Eustáquio family and some household servants and some close friends. At the bottom of the right side against the wall there was an embalmed person who was always covered by a sheet. Eustáquio had no more living relatives. He was content to sit in the hall of memories to remember what he knew about the statues that were there. He had not been seeing visitors in years.

    Suddenly, the bell was rung. It was Antero warning that lunch was served. Eustáquio ate slowly and with little appetite. After finishing, he decided to take a walk in the garden. It was a very hot spring day, and the lady's flowers of the night exuded a strong perfume that he liked very much. The moonlight was very present: the full moon was brightening the whole garden. Eustáquio sat on the stone bench near the fountain. There was a sound of swaying leaves. He got up and went to see.

    --- What do you want here? --- He asked for who it was.

    No answer. Two meters to the side, another bush moved.

    --- I will not hurt you. Introduce yourself! --- He ordered firmly.

    A little head began to point at the side of a jasmine tree.

    --- Come here! I want to talk to you. I will not hurt her. --- Said Eustáquio.

    A little more appeared. It was a boy. He wore short pants and wore a very old T-shirt. He was barefoot and with dirty feet.

    --- What is your name?

    --- Jim. --- He replied softly.

    --- What do you want here in my garden?

    The boy showed him a piece of bread sheet. It had two flowers drawn on the paper with a great sun in the background. The quality of the drawing showed great talent of its creator.

    --- Did you draw it? --- Eustáquio asked, analyzing the drawing. --- These are very good drawings. You have great talent. How old are you?

    --- I'm ten. --- He replied timidly.

    --- Where do you live?

    --- Right here, on the other side of the wall. --- He pointed his finger at the side of the field.

In the direction the boy had pointed out, there was only one large wasteland. Beyond, there were some houses as luxurious as Eustáquio.

    --- But there? --- Exclaimed Eustáquio, finding it strange that such a poor boy should live in a luxurious house.

    --- I’ll show you. --- Said the boy climbing on the bench. --- Look, my house is that of bricks.

    Eustáquio climbed on the bench to look and was stunned: there was a community of miserable people living in the vacant lot. Two houses were made of bricks. Very small and had no roof: this was just a black plastic canvas cover. One of them was the one the boy had said to be his. The other houses were of canvas, boards and cardboard.

    --- How long have you lived there?

    --- For two years, where we used to live the river took over. We lost all the furniture with the flood, my father got some bricks and made the walls.

    Eustáquio was thinking about how much he stayed in the house without leaving, without seeing what was outside. He had not even realized that his neighborhood was changing.

    --- What does your father do for a living?

    --- He's a bricklayer. But it does not always have service. These days he had nothing to do with it.

    --- Who taught you to draw so well?

    --- Nobody. I've always liked it. I like to draw plants, flowers, landscape.

    --- Do you always come to this garden to look at the plants and flowers?

    --- Yes!

    --- And where do you go? --- Eustáquio asked as the wall around his house was very high.

    --- The broken wall. It's easy to jump.

    --- Can you show me where it is? --- Eustáquio asked, astonished to know that the wall of his garden was broken.

    --- Come! --- Jim called.

    The two of them walked to the edge of the wall. There were bricks heaped on the floor. More than half the height of the wall had fallen.

    --- It’s here. Then I step here and I pass through... --- Jim explained pointing at the pile of bricks on the ground that supported the climb.

    --- Don’t your parents complain about you being so late on the street?

    --- My father is not home. When he has no service he stands at the door of the bus station trying to polish some shoes, otherwise we have nothing to eat.

    --- Have not you had dinner?

    --- Not yet.

    --- Come with me. I want to show you something.

    Eustáquio took the boy to the back of the house. There was a hose loaded with sleeves at harvest time. There was also a guava tree laden with ripe fruit.

    --- You can take all you want. Take to your dad too. Do you have siblings?

    --- Yes, a sister and a brother. --- Jim answered with a smile on his face.

    --- Then take to them, too. I think they'll like it. Get a little bag over there. --- Pointed Eustáquio to the laundry room. There was a cabinet above the washing tank full of plastic shopping bags.

    Jim picked up a small bag and went to get the fruit. The hose was too tall for him so Eustáquio suggested he climb onto a pile of bricks that were stacked beside the wall. With the guavas it was easier because the tree was still young and had lower branches.

    After filling the bag, Jim said:

    --- Thank you!

    --- But that is not all. There's one more thing I want to give you.

    --- Wow! What is it? --- Jim asked with bright eyes.

    Eustáquio waved the boy to the dispensary. It was a small room that was outside the house whose door was facing the laundry room.

    --- You can have it drawn. --- He pointed Eustáquio to a packet of paper-craft on a shelf. --- The leaves are a little yellowish but it's still good for you to have fun."

    --- Hey! --- Exclaimed Jim, with bright eyes.

    --- These pencils you can take too. I do not use this anymore. --- Said Eustáquio showing four pencils that was in a little glass.

    Jim took the pencils and papers but he could not get them in the bag since it was jammed with fruit. Eustáquio advised him to take another small bag to put the drawing material. --- Now you'd better go home. If your father arrives and you are not there he can be worried.

    --- Thank you man! --- What's your name?

    --- Eustaquio. You can go back to draw anytime you want. Or get more fruit.

    --- Ok!

    Eustáquio went back inside thoughtfully. For so many years he had been out of touch with strangers who had forgotten how good it could be. He decided to go to bed and rest; it had been a very different night.

    The next day, he hoped the boy would return to the garden again. He had enjoyed his company. He stood in the garden sitting on the bench waiting. He heard footsteps. It was Jim coming in with a pencil and a piece of paper he had won.

    --- Hey, Jim!

    --- Hi.

    --- What are you going to draw today?

    --- Hmm! --- He exclaimed putting the indicator in his mouth. He looked at the plants to find something that would stimulate him. --- I'm going to draw that one there. --- He pointed to a daffodil.

    --- Good choice!

    Jim sat down next to the flower and placed the sheet of paper on the floor.

    --- I have an idea! But I do not know if I'll find it.

    --- Which is…? --- Jim asked curiously.

    Something for you to support the part, that's really bad. But I do not know if I'll find it. I'll be back.

    Eustáquio went to the office to look for a clipboard he had. Different steps were approaching. Jim acknowledged that they were not from Eustáquio. He was afraid. He thought of hiding. Before he could do so, Ildenor came very close to him and asked in an ogre's voice,

    --- What are you doing here? Who let you in?

    --- It was the… --- Jim tried to respond, trembling afraid of the old man's sharpness.

    --- You can leave, Ildo. --- Interrupted Eustáquio, approaching. --- I allowed him stay in the garden.

    Ildenor looked at the boy reproachfully.

    --- This is not going to work. --- He said leaving.

    --- Who is this? --- Jim asked, still shaking.

    --- It's Ildenor. Do not mind him. He looks like a gravedigger but he's my gardener. Everybody all tremble with fear until they get used to it.

    Jim drew it again.

    --- Did your brothers like the fruits you took?

    --- Yes. Everyone ate.

    --- How nice! You can take it whenever you want, as for the clipboard... I did not find her on the lawn. But I promise I'll give it to you later. Now, I want to be around here, watching you draw.

    The next day, Eustáquio was sitting on the bench waiting for Jim. As soon as he arrived Eustáquio said:

    --- Shall we come in and help you look for the clipboard?

    Jim did not answer. He was afraid. He had learned from his father not to enter the house of strangers. Eustaquio was being good to him but he was still a stranger.

    --- You are afraid of me? --- Eustáquio asked hurt.

    --- My father said I cannot go into the house of strangers alone.

    --- Ok! I understand. --- Eustáquio answered with his hurt feelings.

    Minute of silence.  Jim continued to draw.

    --- I think I should go. Good-bye! Eustáquio said standing up.

    --- Wait!

    Eustáquio stopped.

    --- I think you're good. I can go with you inside.

    The two entered. Jim swallowed hard as they passed the hall. He was in panic but he tried not to show it.

    --- Hahaha! You're scared are not you? Understandably, but rest assured that they are all dead. They can do no harm. --- Eustáquio approached one of the statues and said to the boy: --- Tap your finger on it to see how hard it is. --- Jim did not even think about it.--- Let's go to the library. There is the most likely place to find it.

    The library was just past the hall of the statues. They were all clad in wood. There were shelves with books up to the ceiling. A staircase ran from side to side for anyone who wanted to take books from above. Jim asked if he could climb the ladder to look up as Eustáquio sought the lowest level. With great dexterity, he climbed the ladder and began to search. Sometimes he would pull a book or another believing that the clipboard was between one of them. At times he would climb off the stairs and lean against the shelves where he could easily move. Eustáquio found the boy's talent for a chimp curious.

    Suddenly, news! Jim pulled out a large purple book. When he opened it he had a surprise: the pages of the book were cut into a small box with a peculiar-looking glass. It looked like a bottle of genius. Jim took the bottle and began to analyze.

    --- Do not mess with it! --- Eustáquio shouted nervously. --- Jim was startled and let the book fall to the floor.

    --- Excuse me! I did not know!

    --- Jim! --- Eustáquio said, taking a deep breath to calm down. --- Wait... Put everything in place as it was. Do not touch it again.

    Jim put the glass inside the book and then put it back to the place of origin. He no longer wanted to look for the clipboard, so he decided to go down. As he started to descend, Jim noticed something between two books: it was a small piece of wood from the drawing board that was pointing.

    --- I found! --- He shouted.

    --- Then pull. --- Said Eustáquio.

    It was a light wooden board, thick, carved, very beautiful. Jim went down with his hand.

    --- It's very pretty! --- Exclaimed Jim, scanning the clipboard.

    --- Did you really like it?

    --- Of course!

    --- You can have her for you! It will help you draw wherever you go.

    Jim's eyes widened with happiness.

    --- I want to use it right now!

    --- Then let's go to the garden.

    After a few minutes of silence as Jim drew, he stopped drawing and turned to Eustáquio:

    --- What was in that little glass?

    --- A very special potion.

    --- What’s the serve for that?

    --- It takes people to another world where things are very different.

    --- Is it better there than here?

    --- Hard to say. I just know it's different. Some like to live there and others prefer it here.

    --- Which one do you prefer?

    --- I do not know. I've never been there to see what it's like.

    --- Do you know anyone there?

    --- I know people who went there. But I lost contact.

    --- Why?

    --- Whoever goes there cannot come back. You can no longer have contact with who is here.

Jim did not quite understand what the man was saying. He decided not to think about it anymore and pay attention to his drawing.

    The next day, Jim came very sad and crestfallen. He carried the clipboard with the drawing material.

    --- What's it? --- Asked Eustáquio.

    --- I cannot accept these gifts. My father said to return. He said I cannot accept anything from strangers.

    --- But... that's not right! These are things I do not use and for you are important! --- Eustáquio was indignant.

    --- Here it is! --- Jim said putting everything he had won on the bench.

    --- Wait... Let’s do like that: You leave everything there in the closet of the laundry. When you come to draw you get it. After you finish keep it there again. Oh, it will only be borrowed!

    Jim kept thinking, analyzing...

    --- Fine! So today I want to draw something quite different. I do not want to make a flower or a plant.

    --- But it's what you like the most...

    --- I want to draw you! Would you allow?

    Eustáquio was perplexed by such an intimate request.. I did not know what to say. He had an extreme shyness never liked taking photos.

    --- It's all right! He authorized himself without wanting to.

    Jim started the drawing.

    When he finished, he handed it over to Eustáquio.

    --- Oh my! You are very talented! It was excellent!

    --- I'm glad you liked it. Keep it for you!

    --- Ah! I cannot! It's very good and you should save it. Mount your briefcase with your works and put it together.

    --- I do not have a briefcase.

    --- You will have one day, you will have many drawings to put on it.

    Time was passing by and the friendship between Eustáquio and Jim was getting stronger every day.

    One day, Eustáquio was waiting for his friend sitting in the same seat as always. He came in a little sad and said,

    --- I am very hungry. I have not eaten anything today.

    --- Let's go to the yard. --- Called Eustáquio. --- They must have fruit there.

    The fruits were already running out. At great cost managed to find two guavas and three mangoes.

    --- I have to share with my brothers and my father. They are all very hungry too. I cannot stand drawing today. I'm sorry. --- Jim explained with his fruit bag.

    Eustáquio had nothing to talk about but he was worried about the boy. There were no more fruits if he came back hungry the next day. The father was very proud and did not want to accept presents.

    The next day Jim did not go to the garden. Not the other either. Almost a week passed and nothing came of it. Eustáquio was really worried. Under the conditions in which the boy lived anything was to be expected.

    After six days, Jim appeared in the garden. He was very pale and thinner.

    --- Are you all right? I missed you during those days.

    --- I was very sick. The doctor at the station said that I have anemia.

    --- Have you eaten today?

    --- Only the soup the girl from the station gave me before I have come out.

    --- Has your father been working?

    --- He has not left the house because his foot is bruised. It's been a long time since he had a job.

    Eustáquio was emotional by the situation of the boy and his family. It was very distressing. He wanted to help but did not know how. He wanted to adopt the boy and take care of him. He had found many moments of happiness in his company. He wanted to reciprocate.

    --- You know, after the last time you came here, I looked around the hose and found that there was a big cluster of green sleeves hidden away. I think by now they should be good to eat. Let's look at it? Eustáquio explained.

   --- Yeah. I like mango. But can I take to my brothers too?

    --- Clear! They like it too, huh?

    --- Yes, they do.

    Jim ate a mango right there under the hose. Then he made a drawing of a violet, which did not take long.

    --- I'm not going to stay here for a long time, not only because I'm weak, but also because I have to take the sleeves to my brothers. They did not eat anything today.

    --- Clear. I understand.

    --- Thank you. --- Jim thanked him.

    Eustáquio shed tears as the boy left. He had always had everything since birth. He had never missed anything. It was very distressing for him.

    Once again Jim disappeared. He has not been in the garden for more than a week. Eustáquio was very worried. "Did he get very sick and died?" He imagined. "Or did the father forbid him to come here again?" Some possibilities were more likely. Eustáquio's concern was so great that he decided to go to the boy's house the next morning to ask for him.

    Arriving at the door, he clapped his hands. Nobody answered. He knocked again and no one answered. He decided to come closer. The house only had walls and no ceiling. This one was black canvas. He looked out the window and saw a room. Not only there was an old broken chair in a corner with some clothes on top, but also there was a mattress where two children and a man were asleep, mattress that were very dirty and without sheet. It was not very hot that night but they were uncovered. They were thin, pale children. The girl had her hair all tangled up. Eustáquio went to look in the other window. It was the other room where there was a two-burner stove and an old table with two chairs. Jim was not in the house.

    Eustáquio suddenly heard footsteps. He craned his neck to the front of the house and saw Jim coming in with a man holding his hand. Eustáquio did not want to be seen so he decided to hide; they might think he was invading their privacy. He was a very well-dressed man in his thirties. Eustáquio could not see but was hidden listening: "Toc, toc, toc!" Knocked the man loudly on the door. Jim's father came and opened it.

    --- Hi!

    --- I came to bring the boy. --- Said the man.

    --- Did everything go right there? --- Jim's father asked.

    --- Yes! --- The man opened his wallet and handed him some high-value banknotes. --- Here he is. Have a nice day! --- He said goodbye and left.

    Eustáquio decided not to talk to Jim or his father. He saw that at least the boy was not sick. He went home expecting him to return to the garden to draw briefly.

    Two days later, Jim appeared in the garden.

    --- I'm glad you showed up! I missed you. --- He said.

    --- I missed you too.

    --- Why have not you come these days?

    --- I was busy.

    --- Is everything okay at home? Did you eat today?

    --- Yes. Now we're eating. My father went shopping.

    --- How nice! Did he get a job?

    --- No. --- Jim said already drawing.

    Minutes of silence; Eustáquio could not let go and decided to address the matter:

    --- Are you in any pain?

    --- Just a little.

    --- Where does it hurt?

    Jim did not answer.

    --- Is it here? --- Eustáquio asked, placing a hand on his buttocks.

    Jim did not say anything. He seemed not to want to respond.

    --- We are friends. You can answer that I will not tell anyone. Is this where it hurts? --- He asked, showing the area again.

    Jim thought a little more and nodded.

    --- I'm better. It does not hurt much.

    Eustáquio could not disguise it and let out an interjection of anguish. Minute of silence. He did not want to see the boy in that situation anymore.

    --- Jim. Look at me. I cannot stand your situation anymore! --- Started to cry. He put his hand over his eyes and controlled himself. --- I always wanted to have a baby, a boy, as nice as you. But my wife was taken from me during childbirth, my son also left with her. I want to help you. This is making me very bad. I want to see you well and happy. Drawing, feeding, smiling... you deserve a better life. Come with me.

    They went to the library.

    --- Get the bottle up there. --- Eustáquio said pointing to the large purple book.

    --- Are you leaving for the other world?

    --- I have no reason to stay here. I have no more happiness in this place. I see you do not either. You are suffering from everything that is happening to you. In the other world you will not have any of that. I want you to come with me. Let go together live in a better world. This is not good!

    --- I do not know... and my brothers...?

    --- It will be easier for your father to take care of only two. It will be better this way. There you will always have what to eat. No one is going to provoke you pain. You can draw every day. And you will always have my company, my friendship. I'll stay with you!

    --- Just drink this from here?

    --- Yeah, just drink.

    --- Are you going to drink, too?

    --- Yes. After you, but let's drink in the garden. There are lots of flowers there. It's a beautiful place to open the portal. That's where we met. I wish it were there. Do you agree?

    --- Ok! --- Jim said coming down the stairs with the glass in his hand.

    Arriving in the garden, Eustáquio explained:

    --- Now take a sip and lie down on the bench. As soon as you drink I’ll take the bottle and drink it, too.

    Jim opened the glass, took a sip of the liquid, and lay down on the bench. Eustáquio began to cry. He tried to get the bottle but he could not. He wanted to drink his sip to go to another world. He was desperate when he could not. He lay on top of Jim crying.

    Suddenly a voice called after him. Eustáquio immediately recognized that voice. He got up and saw his father.

    --- Dad! How do you... how can you be here?

    --- My son! You still do not understand. But now is the time. Come with me.

    They went to the hall of memory. Eustáquio's father led him to the back of the hall on the right side where the statue was covered with a sheet.

    --- Now you'll understand everything just by looking at it. --- Said the father of Eustáquio pulling the sheet that covered the statue.

    Eustáquio looked at it and he was shocked: the statue was of his body! He began to cry desperately until someone pulled his arm. He looked up and saw Jim smiling at him.

    --- Now I'm here with you. Your father is too. I lived very sad but you saved me. I do not feel any more pain, I'm not hungry. I'm much better here. Let's get together and be friends!

    Eustáquio bent down and hugged his little friend. It was the first time he had hugged his beloved friend

                                                                        The end

The End