August 8, Friday

The driver brought me Dona Maria Thereza’s washing today, as he does every Friday. The weather is very dry and cold and my hands get chilled doing the washing in the creek, but it makes me proud to be working for the vice president’s wife. Keeping the freshly washed clothes clean is a challenge with all the red dust swirling. It’s hard to stay warm at night, and I will be glad to leave the tent encampment soon. Dona Maria Thereza’s assistant, Dona Célia, has found us a house in the Cidade Livre, where many workers are improvising places to live.

“Hey, son, come say hi to your Papai!” Carlos lurches to the front of the tent as Luiz enters, and Luiz scoops him up in his arms.

“How was work today, Luiz?”

He takes off his jacket and sits on the cot. “It was a bad day today, Eva. One of the metalworkers fell from a high floor of the ministry building scaffolding. He died.”

“Oh, that is awful! So sad. That’s the second accident this month, isn’t it? I know you are being careful, yes?”

“Yes. But the workers need to organize to demand better security for us. He wasn’t wearing any safety gear. But it’s also a problem that a lot of these guys are from the sticks and are not very well educated. Even if you give them equipment they don’t use it.”

“These guys come here for a job to make a better life. So sad for his family. I hope he didn’t suffer.”

“I think he died instantly. But let’s talk about happier things. I was just notified today that we can move to our little house in two weeks.”

“Oh, Luiz, I will be so glad to have a place to really call home.”

“They will charge us rent, but it will be reasonable. We’ll need to find a way to get some furniture. I have a few ideas but be thinking about that too.”

“I will love to think about that! I will make our home cozy and nice, I promise you, Luiz.”