Chapter 2 Which Way Do I Go

Josias hadn't remembered to pick up his watch or his wallet, nothing more. All he wanted to do was get out of his house as soon as possible. The only thing he remembers at the moment was that when he went to take a shower, the clock said seven in the evening. He supposed it would now be half-past seven at night. So the neighborhood bus was still running.

Josias quickens his pace and goes to the street where the bus passes. As he approaches the bus stop, a boy is waiting for the next time. Josias sits on the bench and is also waiting for transport.

As he sits, Josias leans over and heaves a sigh of dismay. The boy who is waiting to drive with him would never have imagined that the boy who sighs had just lost his father murdered by loan shark collectors.

Josias still didn't want to shed any tears; he doesn't want to draw undue attention from the other boy. He puts his hand in his pocket and counts the money he collected in a hurry to escape. Yes, the money would be enough for the trip. But where exactly did Josias go?

Josias's neighborhood (probably not anymore) is called Rainbow Garden, where the majority of the residents are manual laborers. It wasn't a classy suburb, but it wasn't an ugly, sloppy neighborhood either, since the population was humble. Residents did their best to keep the neighborhood clean and orderly. There was a Residents' Association that looked after the neighborhood and looked for basic services with the City Hall, such as transportation; Street lighting; security; education, and health. The streets were paved and residents had sewage, telephone, and gas.

But, as everywhere, there is always the bad apple that bothers the good apples. And in the Rainbow Garden, it was no different. The moneylender that Josias's father had the folly to borrow money from was known in the neighborhood. His house was one of the best; it looked like a Beverly Hills mansion. And the henchmen who worked for him put fear in the neighborhood. They did the dirty work. When the police came to arrest, they were the ones who were arrested. The moneylender managed to get rid of the evidence and remained at large.

The bus approaches the horizon. For the first time, the other boy notices that Josias is shirtless, and sweatpants are not a typical piece of clothing to be worn by someone who is going to board the bus bound for Downtown. Josias, however, has his thoughts distant; he didn't even care about the other's critical eye.

The bus stops, the rear door opens and the two boys enter. The changer also notices Josias's little dress. Josias, walking around the bus like a somnambulist, oblivious around him, sits on one of the benches and leans against the window. The bus travels and Josias follows the landscape. The second guy sits behind Josias, with visible curiosity.

The bus leaves Rainbow Garden and continues through Lagoon City. And that's when Josias realized that he didn't have enough to spend a night anywhere. Therefore, he could not continue his journey to Downtown or a wealthier suburban area.

Wandering around Downtown or in a noble neighborhood in the state where Josias is would be unwise. People would easily take him as a beggar, or a deviant drug user, or a mental imbalance who had run away from the asylum. And becoming a beggar was all that Josias didn't want.

That was how, when paying attention to the landscape again, Josias realized that he was passing through the entrance to Happiness Slum. The name had nothing to do with the appearance of the area; it was a low-class, bad-reputation place. However, it was the only worthy place for someone with a financial situation like Josias.

Josias straightens up on the bus seat and starts thinking about getting off the bus, when the other boy, overcome by curiosity, stops the other, taking him by the wrist. "Hey, man, are you in need of help?"

Josias looks indifferently at the guy. He's dark, handsome, with glasses, a long-sleeved shirt, and jeans. He is the same age as Josias, probably a religious boy who is going to church.

Josias doesn't want to be rude and gives a slight smile. "No, man, thank you very much."

"Are you sure? Do you need some change?" The boy starts looking in his pockets for some money. But when he releases Josias's wrist, he pulls the signal wire for the driver to stop at the next bus stop.

"Do you really want to help me, buddy?" Josias speaks more firmly, "Pray for me."

The boy stops looking for money, looks at Josias, and smiles widely. "Sure, brother, I'll pray for you. What's your name?"

The bus was slowing down as it approached the requested stop. Josias notices and responds quickly, "Josias Rocha."

"Josias Rocha. I, Everaldo Siqueira, will pray for you and plead that God will bring you the best for your life. You will get out of this and be successful. And I believe that you will have the willpower to overcome your adversities! Amen?"