Chapter Text
Chapter one:
I knew I should have gone back to bed as soon as I left the house and tried to catch a taxi; It was rotation day. I should have crawled back under my sheets as soon as that idiot driver drove past the curb and literally soaked my jeans from the knees down.
I should have come back!
But instead I took a deep breath and insulted him for about two minutes with every swear word I knew. Of course, I ignored the pedestrians who gave me disapproving looks.
It didn’t get any better when I arrived — twenty minutes late — at the office and my chubby, soulless idiot boss glared at me and then said with disdain:
— Besides being late, you still show up here wearing these filthy clothes? You should dress a little nicer, Tally. With the salary I pay you...
Oh yes. A BIG SALARY!
I could barely pay my bills on time. I had worked at that company since my internship in college. After I graduated, I ended up being hired and, as nothing better came along, I settled down a bit. Furthermore, I had a plan: Carlos was already waiting for his retirement and I had a good chance of replacing him. Of course, first, I would have to go through the ordeal of enduring it until that happened.
— I know, Mrs Carlos — I began. — But it turns out that na idiot driver passed by...
— Oh! No more excuses. I’ve had enough of them. Do you really think I believe your stories? I don’t understand why I haven’t fired you yet! He arched na eyebrow defiantly.
Because I’m the most competent in this entire building, you arrogant pig!
- I’m sorry. I’m going to go to my desk right now to make up for being late, okay? — and without waiting for another one of his attacks, I marched towards my table, spying his reaction from the corner of my eyes.
Carlos stood there looking at me for a moment, snorted and then left grumbling.
I tried to dissolve the pile of papers accumulated on my desk as quickly as I could. It was a sizable pile, but I was really efficient and would finish it pretty quickly.
However, around lunch time, my computer crashed and then completely shut down. I tried to turn it back on, but nothing happened. He was dead!
I hit the machine a few times trying to bring it back to life through torture, but not a single light came on.
— I need these papers on my desk by five! — Carlos roared from the door. You should have seen my collision with the machine.
- I know! But it’s not my fault if the computer crashed. How can I make all the contracts without the computer? He smiled wryly and placed a hand on the door.
— Like we did before they invented these complicated machines that always let us down. I looked at him without understanding. What the hell was that man talking about?
Carlos noticed my expression—skeptical, I imagined—and added
— Of course you know that computers weren’t always here, right? — he said slowly, as if I were mentally ill.
Grrrr!
- Of course I know!
I need this job! There’s no point in jumping on his neck and strangling him! I repeated to myself several times. However, I wasn’t entirely convinced.
“So get to work, Tally. You have until five. The typing machine is in the storeroom closet. It doesn’t lock, it doesn’t break, the cartridge doesn’t run out...
You will like! It’s very efficient. I even miss the time when the office was filled with the noise of buttons.
— A cynical smile appeared on his lips. A smile that said you won’t make it!
Let’s see, baldy! — and I went to get that machine. It was heavy and awkward to carry. I placed it on my desk and watched.
Hmmm... I had already heard about her.
But where is the button to turn it on? I tried any key. Tech. Tec, tec, tec, tec, tec, plim!
Plim? Did I break this thing? Oh my God! I was just missing this one!
Joana, who was laughing loudly, probably at my panicked face, left her table — two behind mine — and came to my aid. She was the company’s oldest employee, she certainly worked with prehistoric things.
— Tal, stop looking at the machine with that face! — she said, pushing her brown glasses with her index finger.
— This is not na alien object.
— No. — I agreed. — If it were, I would probably know how to use it. The problem is... — I was really scared of that noisy machine full of tecs and plins, but I needed to finish my work.
— You don’t know how to use it. — she concluded, still laughing.
— I don’t even know how to turn this thing on! — I whispered. Some people watched us with curious eyes.
Joana burst out laughing again and almost everyone in the office turned their attention to where I was. I must have turned eggplant purple!
“It’s quite simple, Tally. You put the paper here.” She took a blank piece of paper, stuck it in a slot, and then turned a huge knob on the side of the thing. Rec, rec, rec, rec. — Then attach it with this — she lifted a small, thin metal rod, fitted the sheet and then released the rod, trapping the paper. – And ready!
— Oh! It looks easy!
Joana didn’t seem to believe much in my conviction. She returned to her desk shaking her head slightly, raising her large glasses so she could wipe the tears from her eyes. I’m glad at least she was having fun!
I focused on the machine.
I tried typing with some caution, and realized that nothing came out on the paper.
— You need to press harder. — Joana shouted, still watching me. — You have to do tech.
I tried again Ah! It worked out.
— Joana, where is the delete?
She raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth slightly.
- How? — She asked as if I were speaking in Japanese.
— There is no deletion! I made a wrong number and I can’t find the delete key anywhere!
The entire office erupted in thunderous laughter, leaving me wanting to bury myself under the paperwork in front of me.
Urgh!!!
I spent the entire afternoon trying to sort through the stack of contracts, after getting a quick lesson on how to use the old-fashioned machine.
I left the office a little after six — with my head bursting from all the tecs and plins and recs — but not before calling the technician and making him promise to deliver my computer to me the next day. In the first hour!
I took a taxi and, as soon as I entered the avenue packed with cars, buses and pedestrians who insisted on crossing outside the lane, I regretted it. However, there was not the slightest danger to pedestrians, at least not at that time, with everything absolutely still as it was. I probably could have gotten home faster if I had walked too.
As soon as I entered my apartment, I remembered that I needed to find a good cleaning lady. Urgently! Nothing was where it should be. Clothes thrown all over the furniture, mugs and glasses scattered over the surface of almost everything, stacks and stacks of papers piled up haphazardly on the dining table. The apartment was getting too small for so much mess.
I threw my keys and bag on the cluttered table and went to take a shower. I let the hot water run down my neck and back hoping to relax. And I relaxed a little, actually. I put on my pajamas and plopped down on the couch, looking for something to distract myself while my dinner rotated in the microwave. I didn’t find anything on TV, so I turned on my mp3 and opened my favorite book. My book “book”, with cover and sheets of paper and everything. Not on my e-reader. I had several electronic books, including those stored on my cell phone, but this book in particular I simply couldn’t read any other way than the traditional way. It had my favorite dog-eared pages and I was torn apart from having read it so many times. I couldn’t explain why I liked that book so much, but it was incredible to be able to lose myself in past centuries, such different customs, such beautiful clothes, bucolic and peaceful landscapes, love being put to the test by the retrograde idea that poor and rich don’t belong together. They mixed, chivalry, the delicacy of first love... Good glucose!
I really couldn’t explain why — since I wasn’t a hopeless romantic — but I loved that book.
And it would be kind of difficult to get lost in the 19th century if I was reading on na e-reader!
I felt my joints hurt when I finished my dinner. It would be a relief to never need that century-old junk again, I thought, as I threw the plates and cutlery into the dishwasher.
My cell phone rang.
- Are you going out tomorrow? — asked the voice before I could even say hello.
— Hi to you too, Abigail. How was the...
— You will, won’t you? — she interrupted me hurriedly. “You’re not going to bullshit me again, Tally. You always end up finding na excuse not to leave the house.
Tomorrow you will leave! The voice became more threatening. — Not even if I have to look for you by force myself! Or I can ask Adil and his friends to stop by and...
— Calm down, Abigail. It’s true. No need to threaten. — I didn’t even want to imagine Adil and his troglodyte friends in my tiny apartment. I trembled just thinking about it. — I really need to go out and drink something. This week was hell!
She took a deep breath on the other end of the line. I could almost see the pout she must have been making.
- Do not tell me that! — Another sigh. —That’s why I need you to go out with us tomorrow. I want to tell you something.
Oh, Lord! Again?
— Did you fight with Adil again, Abs? — honestly, this was already crossing the line.
- No no. I mean, not much. But it’s not about Adil. — I heard the sound of a horn in the background followed by a muffled scream from Abigail: Get over it, idiot! — It’s not just Adil that I want to talk about. Look, I need to hang up now. See you tomorrow at Toca, okay? — more noise of horns.
- Beauty. — I was curious about Abigail’s mysterious subject.
Usually, she would start talking, even when I explained that she couldn’t talk because she had deadlines to meet or because she was simply in the middle of a shower. What would that crazy woman be up to this time?
I woke up at the right time, for a change. Thank God it was Friday! I arrived at the office at eight sharp — no mud stains, with my clothes perfectly clean and ironed — and I almost screamed with joy when I saw my CPU in its usual place. I ran to my desk and hugged the monitor.
— Don’t ever leave me again! — I murmured, relieved that I no longer needed the finger torture machine.
—Having na affair with the computer, Abigail? Look, you need to use some protection, girl! You know how it is! It may end
Catching a virus! — it was Gregório, the funny one, of course, laughing until he lost his breath.
— Há-há. — was all I told him.
The day at the office went by as usual — without a single minute to think about how I would get a cleaning lady and how I would earn more money to be able to pay for her. My salary was pitiful and the work never seemed to end. I had to find time to do extra... I just didn’t have time to find more time!
I left the office, took my car from the parking lot and went straight to the bar. Toca was three blocks from the office. Hi, it took a while to find a spot, it seemed like almost everyone had decided to leave the office and hang out at a nearby bar.
The roof in a large dark arch, with small windows on the facade and a large U-shaped door, made the bar look like na indigenous den. Leo’s Bar was the official name, but everyone knew it as Burrow. It was very rustic, even inside — the tables and chairs were made of rustic, unvarnished wood —, with the exception of the customers, who were always cool.
However, I wasn’t very cool. She was still dressed in her office clothes: dark jeans and a white short-sleeved shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail. Not too professional, not too cool, but I couldn’t mess with Nina again and I wouldn’t have time to go home and get ready in a more casual way.
And I wanted to go out and have some fun. I was getting exhausted and my vacation was too, too far away for me to even start planning it.
- Wow! A lot of water is going to fall! Look who decided to join the living! — Adil practically screamed when he saw me, causing many other people in the bar to stop what they were doing just to watch me.
— I’m alive, Adil! — I said harshly. — I just don’t have time to go out whenever I want. I work, you know? You may have already heard about it. Some people are not born with their whole life guaranteed and need to earn their own money.
— Hey! It was just a joke. Gimme a break! There’s no need to lecture me,” he complained, raising his two large hands with the palms facing forward, as if surrendering.
I really needed to drink something. She was starting to get naughty and bad-tempered.
After na hour or so — and four beers, perhaps? — Abigail took advantage of the fact that Adil had gone to the pool table (for a quick game, he said) to start talking.
— I want your help. Your opinion, actually. — his restless black eyes.
- All good. Spill it out! — I was more relaxed, the beer was starting to work on my body. She quickly looked at Rafa and then back at me.
— I think... I think I...
Her eyes were anxious, a little insecure. She looked scared.
Oh oh!
— My God, Abbs! You’re pregnant, aren’t you? — I was freezing. Abigail taking care of a baby! A baby that cries and leaks snot from several different orifices. All the time!
- No! — his horrified voice. — Tallulah, are you crazy? I’m not pregnant. — Her eyes darted toward Adil to make sure he hadn’t heard, and apparently he hadn’t.
— It’s just that you... I thought... That... That... Forget what I thought! I’m sorry, Abbs. Tell me what is making you so apprehensive.
Abigail lowered her head for a moment, looking at her almost empty glass, and then, with that I-got-done-again smile on her lips, she turned to me.
— I think I’ll invite Adil to live with me! — she said, bouncing in her chair. Her eyes bright with anxiety and excitement.
— Oh! — I brought my glass to my mouth and took a big drink. Frog... her delicate face withered a little.
— I knew you wouldn’t like it — she murmured, lowering her eyes and shaking her head slightly, making her brown curls flutter a little.
I looked at her, at my friend, my best friend, who was often my older sister. I knew my approval was important to her. I tried to appear less tense than I actually was.
- It’s not that. Of course it’s... cool. Very cool. I took another sip of beer. — It’s just... Are you sure, Nina? Are you sure he’s the right guy for you?
-I have! — Her voice was firm and her face serious, but the corners of her full lips insisted on rising a little.
— But you two are always fighting! —I realized the obvious. — Like cats and dogs! I’ve lost count of how many times you showed up at the house crying because of him.
— I know Tally. But I’m in love with him! I don’t want to be away from him for even a minute! Can’t you see that?
Of course I could. Ever since she met him, Abbs has been crazy about him.
— I know how much you like him. Everyone knows! But are you sure this will work? — I tried to speak kindly. I didn’t want to hurt her by giving my true opinion of him.
— No. — Abbs smiled. – I am not sure. Of course not! You can’t be sure of anything when you’re in love, Tally!
— Oh, yes! You can be sure that your heart will be shattered into a million pieces at the end. I took another sip. My glass was empty.
— Tally! It doesn’t always happen like that for everyone. — she saw my skeptical look and continued. — It doesn’t happen!
There are people who spend their whole lives together.
— Há-huh!
- Yes there is. Plus, we’re together all the time, except when I’m working. Half of my things are at his house. It would make it a lot easier if we lived under the same roof, and my apartment is bigger...
—And the other half of your stuff is at my house, I think...
— I knew that blouse hadn’t escaped from my drawer! But what do you think?
— I think... — I began cautiously. — I think if you’re going to be happy... If it’s going to make you happy, I’m happy too. She jumped out of her chair and hugged me tightly.
— Thank you, Tally! You know how important it is to me that you like the idea.
- Drop it! — I said, trying to lighten the mood. Let’s celebrate! It’s not every day that a friend goes over to the seriously committed side.
She released me and rolled her eyes.
— Oh, Tally! Sometimes you talk as if marriage is a death sentence. And wasn’t it?
Living for one person, as if your life only had meaning if they were around? Waking up and looking at the same person every single day! Sex with one person for the rest of your life! Having to take care of the house, the husband, the children, the dog, work... Wasn’t that a kind of sentence of slavery, at least?
I didn’t understand what drove a lucid person to get married. Although most of them didn’t seem to enjoy their complete sanity when they were in love.
- It is not! — she stated, probably seeing the disbelief on my face. — I hope you find the right guy one of these days, you know? It’s time to live a real love story and forget about the ones in books. I think it will be fun to see how you do when you fall in love for the first time.
— I already fell in love once! And there’s nothing wrong with enjoying reading love stories, at least in books they have happy endings! They don’t hurt anyone.
I didn’t like the direction the conversation was taking.
— Oh! No! You didn’t fall in love, no!
— Of course I fell in love! You know it.
We were in college. We were already friends at the time. She was by my side when I got involved with Bruno. One of those idiots who who knows why I ended up falling in love with.
— You didn’t fall in love with Bruno. You liked him, you were attracted to him. But not love. — She took a peanut and chewed it. — If you really loved him, you wouldn’t have been as calm as you were when we caught him kissing Denise. — She leaned back in the chair, her face triumphant.
— Just because I wasn’t crying in corners for decades doesn’t mean I wasn’t in love! Yes, I was devastated! What did you want me to do? To throw me off the bridge? If he wanted another girl, patience. Life goes’ Round! — I brought the glass to my mouth, but it was empty.
Damn it!
- Exactly! If you were really in love, the line would take a little longer to start moving. And you were devastated because you were left for someone else, not because you lost him. Give it up, Tal. You won’t be able to convince me. When you truly fall in love, you will prove me right.
There was no point in starting na argument with Abigail, she wouldn’t give in. And me neither. I sighed in defeat.
- I need to go to the bathroom. — the beer needed to come out! And I wanted the matter to die. — Order another round so we can celebrate.
I wasn’t drunk—not really. I had a few stumbles along the way, but that was kind of normal for me. I was just a little slower than normal, like in slow motion.
I entered the crowded bathroom and waited my turn. I practically threw myself into the bathroom when the door opened. I quickly unbuttoned my pants, balanced myself half standing, half crouching — there were no technical conditions to sit there!
— and... Ah! The relief!
It was then that I heard a “ploct”.
I looked down just in time to see my cell phone — with all my contacts, my calendar, my music — fall out of my pants pocket, float for two seconds and then dive into the toilet.
The sunlight hitting my face woke me up.
Oh! My head! How much did I drink yesterday?
I lay there for a while longer trying, unsuccessfully, to make the horrible feeling in my stomach go away. I sat up slowly, feeling like my head might explode into a thousand pieces. I went to the kitchen and drank two large glasses of water and a painkiller—maybe that would clear my system and lessen the noise inside my head. I had clearly exaggerated a little. A bit too much! Exactly the same night that your cell phone drowns in a filthy toilet.
I needed to buy another one. Urgent! What could a girl do without her cell phone? I wore light clothes — a white tank top, denim skirt and canvas sneakers;
I grabbed my bag and drank more water before leaving the house, it wasn’t safe to eat yet. I expected to find my new cell phone quickly. It would be a hassle to put all my data and files on it, since I couldn’t reach into the toilet and retrieve at least the memory card from my deceased device.
I entered the first store and went straight to the cell phone counter. Strangely, the store was also empty, just a saleswoman there without any customers. Was it a holiday or something and I didn’t know?
I put the matter aside as soon as I looked at the counter display.
The saleswoman, the only one there, approached with a smile on her delicate face.
— Looking for a particular model, dear? — she asked in her soft voice.
— Um... No. Not a particular model, to be honest. I need a cell phone that does it all. She arched her dark eyebrows.
- All?
- AND! All. Mp3, wi-fi, 5G, photography and filming, diary, some games, a good email program, that sort of thing. — I shrugged, trying not to show how desperate I was to have one of those little monsters in my hands.
— Do you need the device to have all these functions? — she asked curiously.
— Really need it, I don’t need it. But if there is already a device that has it all, why not buy it and enjoy it all?
What can he offer me?
— It seems like you really like new technologies. — He gave me a somewhat sad look.
- Clear. Who doesn’t like it? This little thing saves my life almost every single day!
— Okay. — she said slowly. — Maybe it actually saves some lives in certain situations, it would be a bit exaggerated to say...
— In all situations! — I corrected her. Everything depended on the cell phone.
I laughed and waited for her to do the same, but the saleswoman with gray hair and eyes and pretty features despite her age, maybe 50, didn’t think my joke was funny.
— Do you have what I want? — I asked a little apprehensively. She was making me a little stressed.
— I think I might have just what you need. — she said more to herself. Or at least that’s what it seemed to me.
She opened a drawer on the counter and took out a small box. She totally caught my attention.
— This model is not in the showcase. This is the last unit. — She said, getting closer.
Last?
— It’s a very special device. — she continued. I didn’t take my eyes off the box. - It’s very rare!
Oh! Damn it! Rare means expensive.
— And this one is on sale. A very good price! I almost feel bad selling it for such a low price. Huh!
— And we pay in installments by card, of course. Plus, it has everything you want or need. — she emphasized the word with a strange smile on her mouth. – It’s fantastic. I bet it will change your life, darling.
I observed the box in her hands. The words “Everything You Need in Just One Click!” they won me.
— I think I’ll take it.
- He is sure?
She was getting irritated with that woman. After all, did she want to sell me the phone or not?
-I have. — I confirmed by looking into her eyes.
A strange expression crossed her face. Pity, sadness and something else. Did she intend to sell the cell phone to someone else — a friend — and now she would have to sell me the last unit? Or did she intend to buy it for herself? But then why would she have shown me the device in the first place?
— You will not be able to return or exchange it! As I already said, this is the last device. — She said softly.
— Is it defective or something? Do you have a guarantee? — I asked a little suspiciously.
— Yes, there is a guarantee. And he has no flaws. Just because it is a unique piece, it cannot be exchanged, as there is no other similar to it!
— But does it work well? — I made sure.
- Perfectly well. It has everything you ever wanted in life. I’m sure you will be very satisfied. — And she smiled, her face happy.
What a sinister woman!
— I’ll keep him then!
- Excellent! I’ll explain how it works. — She took the small silver device from the box.
- Is so beautiful! — I exclaimed, unable to contain myself.
- Yes it is. — she said quickly without much enthusiasm. Look! Just two buttons, on and off. Oh!
— It comes with a charged battery, memory card and number. You will not be able to exchange it. This device only works with this chip.
- Beauty. — my old number was floating somewhere in the sewer at that very moment. —
- Where I pay? — I wanted to get out of there soon so I could look at him.
- Right here. Will the payment method be by card? — she still seemed reluctant somehow.
I bet she intended to keep him!
I reluctantly took my eyes off my future new monster to look for my card in my bag. I looked inside it and couldn’t find the card. I looked nervously at the saleswoman, placed the bag on the counter and looked again.
No cards. I kept looking, it had to be there! The last time I used the card was at lunch the day before and I was sure I had put it back in my bag.
Oh! I found!
- Here it is! — I said triumphantly, handing her the card.
“I’ll be back in a minute, Tally. — she said with a smile on her lips.
Wait a second!
- How do you know my name? —I asked with a little start. Her smile disappeared.
— It’s written on the card, dear. — She replied, without hesitation.
— Oh! — I replied a little suspiciously, as it seemed to me that she hadn’t even looked at the card once.
She left and quickly distracted me by looking at my new cell phone. So beautiful and modern!
— Just sign here. — said the saleswoman, in that strangely pleasant voice. I took my card, signed the note and returned it to her.
— Everything ok then? I asked, putting the card back in my purse while she put the small box in a bag.
—Everything is absolutely fine. I hope it brings you the happiness you are looking for. — And she handed me the bag. I smiled at her.
— Oh, yes he will!
I’m sure of that. — the voice was serious and so low that I wasn’t sure if I had heard him correctly.
- What did you say?
— Good luck, Tally. Hope to see you soon! — She smiled again, and when she did, her little face became so angelic, so beautiful, that I could only smile in response and say:
- Clear! See you later. — and left the store in a hurry.
Strange woman I thought again. But I had more important things to occupy my thoughts. Very important things. Things like turning on my brand new high-tech cell phone! I could wait until I got home like a normal person would, but I was too eager to see him in action. I opened the packaging, took the little monster and kept the box inside the brown leather bag to look at the manual later. I threw the plastic bag in a trash can on the street.
God bless the inventor of maxi bags!
I held the small silver device in my hands and pressed the power button. Nothing happened. I turned the phone around looking for some other button, but I didn’t find anything. I pressed the green key again.
Anything! What the hell! No wonder it costs so little. Does not work! Perhaps that was why the saleswoman acted so strangely and reluctantly. She knew it was broken.
I arrived at the practically deserted square and tried one more time. Anything! Anything!
I turned on my heel to go back to the store and say a few things to that weird saleswoman while she frantically pressed the green button.
Then, suddenly, the screen lit up. Gradually it became clearer until it became unbearable and I could no longer look at it. It seemed like everything around me was enveloped by this unbearably bright, white light. Blinded by the light; I ended up tripping over something and falling to the floor.
Little by little, slowly, the light dimmed and I tried to adjust the focus of my eyes, but I still wasn’t able to see anything. A few minutes passed before I could regain my vision. When my eyes finally returned to their normal state, I saw the rock my foot had caught, the grass beneath my body, the sunlight—natural and comfortable again.
What was that?
The cell phone must have died or something. And why all that light? It seemed to have come out of him, but that couldn’t be it, could it? I hadn’t heard anything about dazzling lights on the new devices. Maybe it had shorted out.
Still on the floor, I looked at my cell phone, which was turned off again.
It was then that I realized something was different. Very, very different! I looked around in amazement. My eyes searched for anything familiar. Anything that should be there. That it should have been there and that it wasn’t.