On the shoulders of a giant
- Look at that, Alya. That poor thing! Let's see what's going on.
- Leave him alone, Didi, his parents might not like it. They'll think we're trying to hurt the child. You're tired of knowing that everyone is suspicious of those who are different.
- Let it go? Imagine, Alya! He's crying. Come on, we have to do something. It's very dangerous to leave a child like that alone, without adult supervision. If it were my son, I'd never let that happen, I'd hold onto his hand all the time.
- Why are you crying on this beautiful sunny day, my little boy?
The boy sniffles, rubs his hands over his face to see better and stands there without saying a word, his gaze roaming over the man crouching in front of him.
- See, you scared him, Didi! Let's go before he starts shouting and we get into trouble.
- What's that, woman? You're going to abandon a crying child?
The boy begins to smile shyly, sticks his finger up his nose, and finally asks the man:
- Are you a child too?
- Clever boy! It took this young lady a whole year to figure that out, and now she keeps telling me, "You're a child! You forgot to grow up! Don't think I'm your mother! She used to spend her days praising my beauty, my muscles and the shine of my curls - he comments as he twirls on the ground, twitches his biceps and runs his fingers through his hair. Ayla, pretending to be shocked by her companion's display of vanity, pats him on the arm.
Passers-by look on curiously as the couple of circus performers exchange jibes with theatrical gestures. Meanwhile, the boy watches the scene mutely, without understanding anything. After a few more seconds of detailed examination, he adds seriously:
- You're not a child. You look like an old man!
- Come on, kid, you have no right to offend me. You should know that I'm very popular with women, they turn around in the street to look at me when I walk past.
-Ah Ah Ah! Clueless! Don't listen to him, kid. What he lacks in stature, he makes up for in conceit.
Didi momentarily loses his good humor. In an attempt to disguise his bruised ego, he straightens the sleeves of his leather jacket and dusts off his corduroy pants.
- Well, we're here to help you solve your problem... what's your name again, my cherub?
- Gabriel
- It's even an angel's name, Alya. It couldn't be more perfect. Your parents were inspired when they baptized you.
The mention of his parents makes Gabriel sad again. Tears streamed down his face and the sobs reappeared, more and more frequently.
- Xo, xo, xo. Don't be sad. You lost your parents, didn't you?
Gabriel nods, opening his mouth. Passers-by look on curiously. Some move away, barely concealing their disgust. Alya and Didi hear an upset woman shouting "Pedophiles...freaks...Police!", while her husband drags her away.
- Come on, Didi. Leave this child alone. It's almost time for our show to start.
Didi ignores Alya's arguments. All he can think about now is this beautiful child with the golden curls and the frightened look in front of him.
- Come on, kid. Let's go and find your parents. Here's what we'll do: I'll put you on my shoulders so you can see if you can find your parents walking through the crowd. Deal?
Faced with the prospect of a unique adventure, Gabriel calms down and stretches out his arms to Didi.
- Man, don't you have any sense? You're always complaining of pain in your arms and legs. How are you going to carry this child on your back?
Didi crouches down next to a step and asks Alya to help the boy onto the croup.
- Whoa!" he says during this complicated operation. Now hold on tight to my neck so you don't fall off.
Gabriel admires the world from above, enchanted. His father never wanted to carry him on his shoulders, he always said it was dangerous. That only when he turned six would he be allowed to climb up.
- Everything okay up there? Is your head touching the clouds?
Gabriel stands up, moving his head from side to side in search of the clouds, while Alya and Didi laugh.
- Ohooo, quiet up there, otherwise we'll both end up falling.
Didi holds the boy's legs with his left hand, while rummaging through his pocket with his free hand.
- Look what I found here, a lollipop!
With the lollipop stuck in his mouth and his dreamy gaze wandering between the lion cages and the clown walking through the crowd on his stilts, Gabriel holds Didi's face with his tiny hands. The four o'clock sun, as it descends, warms the backs of the three of them, creating a feeling of warmth. Anyone who sees them walking along calmly might think that they are just one of the many families who have taken advantage of the fine weather on this Sunday to go to the circus.
Ayla looks at her man, who extends his hand to her with a proud smile on his face. It's been a long time since they felt like this, united and happy...
- Gabriel, my son. God be praised! I thought I'd never meet you again. Where have you been? And who is this dwarf?
The smile on Didi's face went out like a candle flame. Reluctant to let go of his cherub, he lets his hands slip down Gabriel's little legs, while the boy's father takes him off his shoulders.
Ayla watches the scene without a peep, her gaze fixed on Didi, whose eyes never leave Gabriel's face. When, at last, the child and his parents leave, after uttering an almost inaudible 'Thank you very much', Ayla pulls Didi by the hand towards the trailer where they live, and suggests in a hoarse voice, close to his ear:
- Let's go, baby, shall we?
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Voltar