Stories of Paraná - Moment of Truth

Stories of Paraná - Moment of Truth

Moment of truth
Francisco Brito Lacerda

João Maria took care of her sisters, one seven, the other nine years.
The parents were in the fields, breaking corn.
The boy was very afraid of Nicola, a drifter who used to go there in the morning, almost always drunk, talking nonsense.
When this happened, the father away, only the mother at home, from clothing or stirring the pot, Nicola forced the poor woman preparing her cigarettes.
Required the haystack access.
The slowness in preparing cigarette, just nervous about his way, his mother heard threats, swearing.
Laying in the only room in the house, Maria João dawned with fever, trembling.
Nor could doze off right.
Imbued hominho the condition of the house, recommended the sisters were not out there, open the door to anyone.
Put the entire length of the door, a lock had prohibited access requests.
Still, the boy did not feel safe.
Being on the address in the mouth of the woods, lonely place, where there was no precision for help.
In order to spy if someone came twice João Maria stood on the bed, tapping his chin.
Joining the fingers of the right hand, rubbed them on the glass of the window, blurry.
How to respond fever that rose too? The mother had left him a capsule of three mixtures.
To be able to swallow the medicine, asked the younger sister to bring him a mug of hot tea. Only then sobered. The fever was down.
Came sleep.
Awoke to the sound of voices, uncertain whether it was dream or something real. The noise was coming from the other room.
One of the girls cried.
Cried in fear.
Rose João Maria to investigate the occurrence.
Sitting, Nicola held the nine years the dress. Put the girl on his lap was his intent.
Grabbing a rachão, idly on the floor near the fire, John Mary gave two Empowering Blows the man who fell.
Mal wanted to stand up, the boy hit him another thwack, this time with the eye of the hoe. The feature of who was going to die, the wanderer faded.
In the kitchen, strong garlic aroma emanated from the bean broth, to compete with the sweet smell of curly parsley that graced the tomato salad.
Sure it had fulfilled oppressive duty, the boy took the sisters by the hand.
Pulled them on demand yard.
Under the effect of the terrible scene, they did not speak, eyes united in the man who lay sprawled at the foot of the chair.
The path of his grandfather's ranch, on the other side of the river, the fugitives at every step turned their little heads. And saw the door ajar, the smoke coming from the chimney. Bonnet, protecting themselves from the chill, John Mary seemed even a hominho.

Francisco Brito Lacerda, lawyer


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.