CHAPTER THREE

Jânio

" We have lived here for a few years. I, for example, have been here for five years, it varies a lot. We are, as they say, a select group of people and we try to be as discreet as possible. We work, some study, and we share the place.

" Is this why you said you live in several places? " Clara asked Megan.

" Yes, we don't have a fixed residence. We have the big house, which is what we call it. I think when it was created, they gave it that name. They must have used it for family reunions, parties and the like. You will get to know it later.”

" What about the party?

" For me it's a party to finally bring you here, my dear, I've been wanting to bring you here for years.”

" And why didn't you bring me here before? " Clara looked at her in disbelief.

" It's like Jânio said, we are a select group of friends and imagine how many people would want to live here.”

" There's even a long queue waiting, I doubt anyone would want to move here. " Jânio said, getting up and going to take a shower. Hanna came out as soon as he entered and was wearing a beautiful transparent beige sweater that allowed her to see everything and she wore only the tiniest piece.

" Come," Megan called, "do you want to change your clothes? If so, let's see what you want to wear so we can go to the big house.”

" I'm fine, let's go.”

The two left the house for the night. They met Lipe on the way, already dressed in a yellow T"shirt and sneakers. There were a few houses, not all alike along the way, some with the lights on and movement inside, others with no movement at all and the lights off. Walking slowly, Clara found some dogs loose, as well as cats too.

Lipe and Megan stopped to pet the animals, who waved their tails and the cats ran their bodies along her legs in a sign of recognition.

" Whose animals do they belong to? " asked Clara, also crouching down and playing with them.

" This big boy here is Cilmo's," said Lipe, referring to the little mongrel dog that was on his back getting caresses on his tummy. " That little squirrel running is from Nica. You will see some more here and the birds that are sleeping now. In time you will get to know all the animals in Paradise.

Clara then learned that it was called Paradise, and the name did justice, because it looked like a real paradise. She would love to see it when the day was clear, but the little she had seen so far pleased her.

The big house was what the name said, what they called it; it was at the end of the road, the only house in that position, it faced the street at the end, behind it, there seemed to be only a bush. It was a typical farmhouse. It reminded Clara of the museum she went to a lot in her childhood, all white in Tudor style, tall and wide, and all with a balcony. The floor at the entrance was red tile, and the four steps up to the entrance were marble. Nothing exotic or fancy, just a simple big house that was pleasing to the eye.

Clara followed her friends into the house and there the movement was great. At least ten people were in the gigantic room. Clara looked around and up. The high ceiling was vaulted. Many sofas, puffs and couches were arranged, a stereo on a panel was on low and lively music was playing, even a chandelier of bright lights was spinning, giving the room a disco feel. Expensive carpets and even one that imitated " Clara hoped " a bear with its head open and its teeth showing, stood in the center of one of the rooms.

Everyone screamed when they entered and came to greet them with claps and cheers.

Megan was lifted from the floor and started to be carried by them. Clara stood there not knowing what to do. She smelled of cigarettes and many bottles of various drinks were empty, scattered around the room.

Someone turned down the music and after shouting at the top of her lungs, Megan was placed on the floor with a bottle of tequila in her hand.

" Let me introduce you to Clara, you assholes.

" You're the only one who's here to make things brighter! " shouted one of them to Megan, and Clara smiled at how friendly they all were. A bottle of a small drink was in her hands and she didn't even see when they picked it up or put it in her hand.

One by one, everyone was introduced to her and it would take her a while to remember everyone's names.

She was invited by a girl, Cilmo, to see the rest of the house and it was really big and if she went alone she would surely get lost and would have to be guided by the voices to find her way around again.

Clara was a little weak on drink and was already feeling a little dizzy when she returned to the living room. Couples were dancing to a song played by a young man sitting on a step separating the room from a second room, and Clara sat on a divan, her head resting on the soft, firm reel that served as her pillow, and sipped her drink as she became acquainted with Megan's friends, who would become her own as well.

" Let's dance, mister hair! " A young man held out his hand, inviting her. Clara more than quickly jumped up and danced with him.

" Why mister hair? " she asked, finding the nickname amusing.

" Because your hair is divine! You'll notice that everyone here has a nickname, my dear, we literally suffer bullying and apply it too, and if you don't like it, the more the nickname will stick, I warn you.

He spun her around and they didn't follow the rhythm of the music at all, but not a bit worried.

She laughed as she remembered Megan pulling her across the salon from her work, angry that she had said that something had come up and she had to meet a client and couldn't go out with her today. She had shouted in the middle of the salon and even with the dozens of hair dryers, it was possible to hear:

" How many decades have you not fucked for?!"

Her boss more than quickly asked her to let someone else attend to the client and off they went, both of them leaving the salon under the stars of many awestruck clients. Luckily, Ligia, her boss, knew Megan very well, who was a regular customer. And Clara was a great employee too, well liked by everyone at work and would not be fired.

Later, while taking a shower, obviously with Megan sitting on the toilet waiting for her, an audio message came in from Ligia:

"Please, aim like there is no tomorrow, huh? Calm down that little pussy of yours there and crazy Megan too, by God!"