We were a happy family .My father was the head of a Restaurant with prestige and I can prety much say that was a good job. He worked in the VIP restaurant on Airport of Lisbon, and we spent much time together, which does not mean, we hadn’t problems. There were constant helth problems of my mother-hypertension to the depression of the angina pectoris that were attenuated with the medication from Dr Piedade and with therapy and medication of Dr Daniel Sampaio. I was an happy teenager that alternated with states of deep drunkness in the company of my friends famous dj's and the new generation of punk musicians. Attended the University more for vanity than by genuine love for journalism, the university realized that it was not a question of causes but the pressure to have a story that the other day was more ephemeral and that no one matter. I confess that I am a frustrated philosopher. With nostalgia I remember the lessons of philosophy in secondary school where asking questions that the teacher-Goncalo- could decipher and his inability to solve the labyrints of my mind he gaves me a 18 that was not a 20 per principle. 20 is for God said Professor Goncalo with enigmatic pose. I end up being the spiritual guide of a group of troublemakers in Moscavide. They saw in me some success but of whom I hung up for reasons I will explain further on.
Until that day came with a mysterious phone call:.
- Hello want to talk with Mr Jose Fernandes
- Who is this please?
- Damasio eh eh eh
- You must be mistaken
- that’s the home of chefe Dantas
- yes
- He he he can i talk to him ... I'm talking about new york in America
- Pedro you know any Damasio?
It was my sister who answered the call and passed me the phone
- Hello Mr. Damasio how are you ?!!!! My father is not at home
- he is in work?
- yes he is...
- Eh eh he
Patricia- what a big cromati!
Pedro - I think he worked with our father
Patricia –do you think we should call dad
Pedro-no .... we tell him when he gets home
Patricia-ok
At the time my mother was admitted to hospital Julio de Matos and was released that day after two weeks in hospital because her aunt had died one to whom she was very connected. My mother in addition to suffering from depression has post traumatic stress due to having lost two brothers in epilepsy when I was a child.
We Catch-31 to Alvalade near the hospital.
Pedro – I Wish I can stay in the beach with all this sun
Patricia - realy
Pedro - you already knew your grades?
Patricia –i failed...i’m absent to many times and now I am working ...
Peter - what ?????
Patricia-yes
Pedro-where do you work?
Patricia - in a clothing store in Columbus ... it’s a part-time job but i make good money
Pedro-well, I knew that should go to the liceu Camoes
Patricia – it’s not a school that i need now pedro... I want now to earn money
Pedro-But you have only 15 years patricia.
Patricia-Pedro, someone has to do something ... the father is about to lose his job and is not asking for money every day that we help
Pedro-Don 't worry that if by chance the restaurant closed, the father will get unemployment and then get something else
Patricia-you live on the moon Pedro, our father with 48 years ...nobody will hire him
The restaurant where my father worked was about to be bought by a chain of American fast food but he would receive a compensation fund and go to fill unemployment after nearly 30 years of well-paid work, would receive about 1500 dolars that was ,at the time a salary well above average.
As I worked from 7 to 12 in the cinema bar where earned 450dolars free of taxes and pay half of my tuition and it gives me money for books and drinking for the week-end with my friends.
We're not in any way with the rope in our throat as my sister suggested.
Now there is a sensitive issue : how to explain the new situation of my sister to my mother.maybe she Understand her irreverence. As for my father i think he was aware of everything. Patricia always known well to give back to my father.
The hospital was a large green space with some buildings where patients were separated by the severity of diseases and sex. In the arms of my mother were so ladies who mainly suffered from depression, some visibly sedated. When we arrived my mother showed a torn smile. It was his last day. When we arrived, the doctor called me to give me the latest recommendations. Follow with Risperdal increased a little dose of litium and would follow the treatment in hospital in July.She complains about the chages but unfortunately her current Dr no longuer belonged to the area where we live. This was the first contested measure by my mother since she was taken a long time in the hospital of Santa Maria and is fond of doctors. I explained to her that there were excellent doctors and that it would be well treated.
Fill a series of paperwork and guided out of the hospital where we waited my uncle Mario.
Uncle Mario- hi-girl how you feel then?
Mae-I and, they don’t let me see Dr sampaio anymore. I will be followed by a doctor who I does not like.She dresses like a whore
Uncle Mario- They have good doctors here ... and now you have to look ahead and let the sadness back. You know that hurts you to be too preoccupied with things. My wife helps whenever you need.
My aunt Lina who was sister of my father and was married to the brother of my mother.
was a lady with 53 years but appeared 40 with his blond hair and always looking good, and was the first friend of my mother when he came to the city of Lisbon .She was sister of my father who came from the same village, and who would marry my uncle (brother of my mother) and had a child of my age who was named Rui. Rui was my pal and my companion and he was studying computer science.
At home, my mother get mad with my sister because the house she sais was a mess. We went to the dinning-room and drank coffee and ate a yogurt cake that my aunt had left ready the day before.
Later we were visited by some neighbors: Dona Tereza who used to be a nurse in a babys hospital and by the way was very good looking.
At 5:30 as usual I went to work . I spent some minutes at the bookstore and look at the new books.
When I start working Juvenal asked me for my mother and the give the usual warnings. It was a quiet night and I read 30 pages of my new book. Juvenal came as usual at 11:30 and went to cash register to count the money.
Juvenal- business is no good ... so you i can not pay the salary Falcao
Falcao-, do not worry if you cannot pay me today I have some money...
Juvenal- take a pack of cigarretes ... today I cannot pay the taxi
Pedro-In the weekend we will have lots of people
Juvenal-Bandeira Freire does not see anything he only puts sheet in this cinema
Pedro- the new york Triology is going to be a good movie we will have alll the pseudo intellectuals
Juvenal - ahh ok ok look you want to go drink a beer at Bairro Alto
Pedro- we should go there, you know my friends went there ....
Juvenal-I know the great suffering ....
Peter- my father gave me some change I think that today the end of the night step by tecnico
Juvenal –you must be crazy
Peter-the one that got me in the head is back and sometimes she gives me a free ride. She thinks that I and my friends are PJ's . she’s a very cute girl
Juvenal-you must be in love pedro like me and laura
Pedro-look i’m 20 years and I do not want to be tied to anyone
Laura was cuety that Juvenal was hanging around with and would later marry and him. She used to come every day with girls who wanted to take me out. I had a catch at the time at Costa da Caparica and I do not like to be involved
. Also they always scare me. I was with very high libido and then all weekends I would go to tecnico around 4 AM
.
We take the elevator to bairro alto and we went to Catacumbas Jorge was already there with a brazilian girl that studies at Universidade Nova de Lisboa. We sat toguether and we ask for 3 girafas and an imperial to Juvenal:
Jorge -then-Mr. Juvenal the business is going well
Juvenal- as normal
Jorge - I go there on the weekend to see New York Triology at midnight.
Pedro-I follow you and then I help to make the break with Juvenal
Juvenal-jorge got some invitations and take your girlfriend
Lavia - I love film Mr Juvenal
Pedro- you will stay here. I was thinking of going to Johnny guitar
Lavia-I wanted to go home to Brazilian house.
Jorge - lavia one day we go to Casa do Brasil don’t rush!.
Pedro-Juvenal do you want to come to Johnny?
Juvenal - I will go home... laura is waiting for me
Pedro - Ze Pedro will enjoy your presence....
Juvenal – no thanks ...se you tomorow at 6
Pedro-ok
The night was pleasant and went into the street Marques de Abrantes. we went inside A Small Victory from Faith No More was playing and Henrique Amaro was playing. We went to the bar where Kalu served us two bourbon whiskeys Jorge started to negotiate a bottle of wiskie with Kalu. The atmosphere was calm until a group of German punks come inside and there the thing heated up. I think one of the guys had a band that would play in the next day Johnny Guitar. I went to the a spot and sounded the first achords of the Clash. Should i stay or should i go followed by Cramps with All Woman are bad.
2 skinheads start messing around with Jorge because of his tanned skin, Miranda, a promise of boxing that was the security gard at Johny take them outside and beat them up
Pedro- it's getting warmer ....
Jorge - they are two, we are two
Peter-I do not think so... a gang should be out there. And maybe is better to call someone
And then came with scarves that day Liverpool had played with the Benfica. We came out quietly to the sound of PIL” This is not a love song”. When we arrived the door, people seemed to be celebrating:
we greet the security guard?
Joaquim - I was alone I had those two skins
Peter - good these guys do not interest anyone.
Joaquim – So you guys go
Peter-we going to gringo's. You want to come.
Joaquim-ok guys good night and take care. The night is dangerous
Jorge-ok ma man see you
When we arrived at the gringo's a new girl was at the door.
Today is only for customers
- We are friends of Luis
That the girl pulled us inside with some regret for the other persons who waited outside.
The first thing I noticed after being there was the new decoration. A harley motorcycle was on the second floor. And photos of Elvis Presley everywhere.
Peter - it's very rockabilly
Jorge-sounds like
Lavia - look luis is there
Luis – you’re the guys
Luis was my pal university and was a playboy. He also was a famous DJ
jorge – stay pedro
Pedro - I have something to do tomorrow sorry xau
I got a taxi and went to tecnico ... Mafalda was expecting me
