Three weeks later...
Malú goes down the stairs, as if he were going to the slaughterhouse, adjusts the yellow dress that Adelaide has separated for the occasion, in this case, the etiquette classes with her grandmother. He heads towards the dining room, when he passes the mirror and notices that he still has a stain of green paint on his neck. Dammit , Malú thinks, passing her hand to remove the last remnants of the painting class that she thought would be something free and ended up becoming a class on how to know how to paint a decent picture, something that the young woman is sure she will never use in her life. When he finally manages to remove the stain, he takes a deep breath and continues on his way.
The young woman stops at the door and is admiring the beautiful dinnerware placed on the table. Her grandmother carefully supervises everything while Adelaide settles the last glasses. The matriarch turns towards the door, meeting Malú's curious eyes and then immediately checks her wristwatch and concludes: at least her granddaughter was punctual for classes, which cannot say the same about the meals and other activities that the young man practices.
—Come closer and sit down. – orders the matriarch, pointing to the end of the table.
The young woman complies with the request by sitting at the table awkwardly. Then the lady takes the turquoise blue scarf that is around her neck, removes it as she walks towards Malú. She passes her handkerchief around the young woman who looks at her grandmother in surprise. Maria wraps the scarf tightly around her granddaughter and then waves to Adelaide who sets the first course on the table. The matriarch sits in her seat facing the young woman who snorts when she sees that this will not be just any meal. Etiquette class, what a pain , Malú thinks.
— Maria Luísa – calls the matriarch, staring at her granddaughter — Having good table manners is not frivolous, but polite. Table etiquette is much more than a set of rules. Behaving well at meals is part of the self–promotion of your image and demonstrates how much you care about making a good presence in your company when sitting at the table. It is a way of expressing, above all, respect. And I noticed you didn't have any instruction about it. I understand that your mother thought she was doing the best she could, but she forgot that you are an Almeida and being a member of that family means carrying your image at all times, especially at family events such as your father's wedding. So I ask you to take seriously what I am about to teach you. And a request of mine, it's not optional. So leave that side of you, how can I say free–spirited, and start acting as you should. Do you understand what I'm telling you?
Malú shakes her head saying yes.
—First, I ask you to place your napkin on your lap. – continues the matriarch, doing the same. —Now I will teach you the manners of sitting at the table. But first I want to reinforce some basic and fundamental rules, which you must not have been educated about. The first one: dress accordingly, today Adelaide chose her outfit, but I want you to start doing that. I reject jeans, a T–shirt, a tank top and any other type of attire that is too casual to wear when you come to eat with us. I know that in your other house, you did the style... Free to make meals, but now you need to understand that you must be prepared for any kind of eventuality. Second thing, don't be late. Try to arrive at the event between 15 minutes and half an hour after the start, even at our meals. Third thing : Keep it classy. Be gentle, speak softly and don't gesture with the cutlery in your hand. – Looking at Malú's hands that are already holding the cutlery, quickly releasing them — Continuing, fourth rule: Keep your posture. After a while of sitting, you may get tired and start slouching. Straighten up discreetly. Now we can start.
Malú straightens the table, while Maria gets up from her seat, looking at her granddaughter who seems lost among which cutlery to use:
— Start using the cutlery from the outside in – guides the matriarch being attended promptly.
Malú slightly leans her body towards the cutlery already served with the starter, putting her elbows on the table, looking for support, when her grandmother pushes her elbows and leads her abruptly towards the chair:
— Never rest your elbows on the table, it gives the impression of sloppiness. And food should be brought to the mouth and not the other way around. Try again.
Malú positions himself once more and then repeats the gesture of eating the first meal, receiving yet another reprimand:
— The fork is in the left hand and the knife in the right hand. At all times, the fork is used with the tines facing downwards. When resting the cutlery on the plate, the fork is on the left side and the knife on the right side, being able to touch each other or not.
Malú then tries to finish the dish under the supervision of her grandmother, who doesn't seem at all happy with her granddaughter's forkfuls. matriarch rolls her eyes:
— To signal to the servant that you are satisfied, place the fork and knife in a line on the plate, with the fork to the left or below the knife. For a clearer understanding, they should follow the positions of the clock hand when it hits 4 o'clock or 6 o'clock. Cutlery should no longer be leaning against the table, just resting on the plate – explains Maria, meticulously arranging the cutlery. —Adelaide, bring the next course.
Adelaide brings the second course, looking like it wasn't the last to be served. With each dish, Maria goes over the guidelines on how Malú should act:
— Fold the salad leaves instead of cutting them, just make a little bundle with the help of cutlery.
— Pasta like spaghetti and noodles should not be cut. Wrap a few strands around the fork and put it in your mouth.
— Meat knives are only used for red meat and poultry. Fish have their own knife, which is normally only used to remove skin and bones that may appear.
— Omelets, vegetables and other foods should be cut with a fork.
— When having a soup, take the spoon to your mouth from the side. Lean forward a little and prevent drops from falling on your clothes. – Maria explains, watching Malú take the spoon to her mouth, but before she blows to cool the liquid that is almost boiling — Don't blow the spoon, start taking it from the edges, where the food cools faster. – She lightly holds her granddaughter's shoulder and continues — And never, EVER, make noise with the soup.
Malú is about to get up from the table and put an end to that torture, when Graziela comes through the door with her reality show team, she walks towards Mrs. Almeida who watches her, annoyed.
— Hello, Maria – greets Grazi giving her mother–in–law a light kiss on the cheek, who doesn't return the greeting. She smiles towards Malú who watches them, curious.
— What are you doing here, Graziela? – asks Maria calmly.
—What did I come here to do? – Grazi repeats smiling at the camera, showing that they were recording — Well, my mother–in–law, we agreed that we would show the dishes that we will use at the rehearsal dinner. Don't you remember?
— Yes, I remember that I arranged with you two hours ago... and for some reason, which I don't know, you didn't attend – replies the matriarch crossing her arms.
— Well, you know very well, Maria, how busy my days have been with the preparations and… – Graziela defends herself, awkwardly.
— And you know I've always prioritized punctuality – interrupts Mrs. Almeida.
Graziela smiles at the team while making a discreet hand signal around her neck, indicating that they should stop recording them. The last thing she wants is for her conflict with her future husband's mother to air on national television. She gets closer to her mother–in–law, lightly touching her arm, who looks at her with contempt:
— Maria, you know that the program is important for Thiago's elections, I think you'll understand my little mistake and forgive him. – deduces Graziela.
— Graziela, I'll give you some advice: When things are important to us, we give extreme priority. We plan, organize, control the margin of eventualities and thus achieve success. This is how an Almeida thinks and acts. – Maria comments sourly. She gets close to her daughter–in–law's face and continues — now if you don't have that ability, I think it's time to review your goal of joining our family. – the matriarch smiles at the young blonde in front of her — Learn from this slip and do better next time.
— Thank you… for the great advice – thanks Graziela, holding her breath to the fullest — I won't forget.
— I'm glad we had this conversation – comments Maria, who turns to Malú — She's dismissed.
Malú lets go of her grandmother's handkerchief, in a hurry, she doesn't want to spend another minute between the two, so she feels Maria's hand hold tight on her shoulder:
— Place the napkin on the table, on the left side of the plate. Once you've finished eating, place the fork and knife with the handles facing to the right, slightly angled downwards.
Malú does exactly what her grandmother asked and then stands up, tilting her head slightly towards the matriarch who reciprocates. Then the young woman adjusts her dress and walks calmly until she feels the freedom of having passed through the door.
— I need to go, I have to continue with my schedule – Maria comments without waiting for any response from Graziela.
Grazi clenches his hands tightly, he can't believe that Maria decided to make things difficult at this point in the championship. Now, without her mother–in–law's support, she needs to come up with something that is better than having a relationship with the matriarch. She observes Malú's napkin a little out of the correct position and then adjusts it when an idea comes to her. Now all he needs is to convince Malú that this is the right thing to do.
— Guys, we can finish for today – recommends Graziela to the team's surprise — We'll be back next week with a great surprise. Something unique and exclusive.
— Graziela, I don't think Mrs. Almeida has any desire to join us for filming – alleges the film director.
—No, I know not. In fact, she's a small fish compared to what I have in mind for us. – explains Grazi smiling. — We see each other next week.
As soon as the team leaves, Grazi goes up the stairs of the mansion towards Malú's room, who is currently reading another book proposed by the “friend of the library”. She decided to call him that since she still couldn't figure out who could be the person with whom she exchanges tickets, no longer just about books, as time went by, the young woman started to open up more with that "friend" and tell how you feel frustrated with your new situation.
Even with the Speech Therapy sessions, she couldn't even feel a warmth in her throat, or a slight hoarse. Even though her speech therapist tells her that she needs to be patient, deep down she feels that she will be like this forever, forcing Ricardo to pressure her to talk to Ariadne. But Malú doesn't want to open up to the psychologist, why, if in the end the psychologist will only tell her to give her time and encourage her to meet Libras, or that she needs to accept her new life? A life in which she looks more like a sidekick.
No, not a supporting character, an extra... A ghost, just like the Phantom of the opera in the score taught by Jaqueline this week. Walking and unraveling the secrets of the mansion... During that time, she learned many things about the family, very different from what they had in her family. Starting with the fact that his father never listened to music. Not even in the car, he just gets in the vehicle and drives, without humming or touching his stereo. He also noticed that he has a habit of squeezing the steering wheel more when he's nervous, but he doesn't talk to anyone. Your grandmother plays the piano at dawn, beautiful and melancholy songs. Sometimes it is possible to hear your sobs.
Very different from Malú's house, when Anna was still alive. Her mother already started the day humming, being accompanied by Aline and Malú, they always laughed when one or the other got the lyrics wrong. Even though their house was smaller than the mansion, it had a lot more life. The mansion looks more like a work of art and the people, just figures exercising their function within that beautiful painting. And that is what Malú feels he is becoming too.
— Malú? – Grazi calls, knocking on the girl's door and making her wake up from her reverie — Can I come in?
Malú huffs and then gets up from the bed and goes to open the door to his room, he already knows what Grazi came to do there.
— Hi, dear – Grazi greets giving two kisses on the stepdaughter's cheek — Did I wake you up?
Malú shakes her head in denial as she walks away for her future stepmother to enter. Grazi observes the mess in the room with a certain camouflaged contempt. What a waste of space , he thinks as he tries to find a place to sit. Malú sits back on her bed watching her stepmother find a place to sit. Finally, choose the dressing table chair.
— You know, today I saw your etiquette class, I remembered so much about when I was younger and went through all those teachings – says Graziela, staring at Malú, who is not willing to have any evasive dialogue with her future stepmother. Grazi takes a deep breath and then continues, —I know this must all be boring for you. For me too it was... a lot. Lots of activities, little free time to do something different... Trust me, I know more about you than you think. That's why I came to reinforce my invitation for you to be part of my wedding and thus escape this suffocating routine. You know, I can get you out of all that and still you can have fun and get to know the city. But you don't have to answer me now, next week I have other preparations to make and my sister will be busy. So if you want to escape etiquette class, I'll be waiting for you in the entrance hall.
Graziela gets up and then gives Malú a light pat on the shoulder before leaving. The young woman stands still for a few moments, analyzing the tempting proposal. Why not?
***
Even though her hair was a little longer, it still sticks up, making her look like a porcupine. At least that's what Malú sees, as she tries, in vain, to fix her hair. Finally, he takes a headband and puts it on his head, at least that way his hair doesn't stick so high. At least that way, he's hiding the wrong done , Malú thinks about what his aunt would say if she were there. She looks at her cell phone sadly, still not hearing from her aunt. She looks at her reflection once more: That plaid dress was the only decent thing she had to wear, which goes with her black patent–leather shoes. Bourgeoisie , she says to herself in thought.
Maria Luísa goes down the stairs slowly, as if she doesn't want to reach the bottom. But before she could imagine it, she is already on the hall floor, finding Graziela and her grandmother having a light argument:
— I don't understand what authorization you think you have to take Maria Luisa to your events, without even consulting me. Today she will take etiquette lessons. – Claims the matriarch.
— I have authorization from her father who was the person who gave me carte blanche for me to do whatever I want. And that includes taking Malú with me – says Graziela, who then notices Malú's presence — Come on, Malú, we have a long day ahead of us.
— I hope you know that this behavior will be passed on to Thiago – warns Maria as she watches Graziela take her granddaughter's arm and drag her out of the house.
Malú is bewildered with so many lights around her. The only thing he is fully aware of is his arm being held by Graziela who smiles at the various cameras that surround them. She can't quite understand what's going on, especially with everyone talking at the same time:
— Maria Luisa, look over here!
"Does that mean you have a good stepmother and stepdaughter relationship?"
— Malú, are you going to help Graziela choose all the decorations?
"What do you think of your father's campaign?"
— Are you enjoying the city?
Feel your legs walking through the crowd of lights and people. He can only finally get a sense of what's going on, when he's already in the family car, with Graziela sitting next to him.
— It's good that Malú came, says Graziela, smiling. She notices that her stepdaughter is still scared and touches her shoulder— Don't worry, it's part of today, we're filming the reality show of the wedding, remember. Relax, act naturally and you won't even realize they are around us.
But it's impossible not to notice, when everywhere Maria Luísa walks, she bumps into one. She decided to remain seated half the time, while Graziela chatted with caterers, decorators, ceremonialists, musicians, etc. For a few moments he found himself wondering if it was her mother who was doing all this, would they have so many cameras? He remembers how reserved his mother was. Maybe she pulled it from her...
— Well, now let's choose the flowers – Grazi warns, interrupting Malú's thoughts, who agrees getting up from the bench. The stepmother holds Maria Luísa's arm — I hope you participate more this time, Maluzinha. I need your opinion.
Malú nods her head, as she walks beside Graziela. Hope that part of the schedule is more interesting.
***
The flower shop looks like a huge garden, with flowers, branches and trees everywhere. Malú doesn't have the face of a store. Graziela has a nervous smile on her face, showing she is uncomfortable being there.
— This is one of the flower shops in operation thanks to cooperativism, a way of uniting needy families, people who live on the margins of society, disabled people so that together they create wonderful places.– Graziela says looking at Malú, but the young woman knows that this is one of those moments when the person is talking to the other person, and passing information to whoever is watching. Malú nods, receiving a smile from her stepmother, who walks away, opening her arms in the middle of the flower shop — This is nature and it's one of my fiancé's proposals. And this is where I intend to... Oh sorry, I was wrong – interrupts Graziela putting her hands on her face. She fans herself — This heat is making me unfocused. There's no air around here, do you?
— No, ma'am – replies a black lady emerging among the flowers — The temperature here is ambient. It cannot be too high or too low. It has to be on point, or else we'll run out of flowers.
— And you are...? – asks Graziela, looking the woman from head to toe with contempt.
— I'm the florist's administrator, Lisbela – answers the woman, extending her hand to Graziela — At your service.
— Graziela Financhielli, future wife of Thiago de Almeida – answers Graziela, without touching the administrator's hand.
Lisbela faces Malú and gives her an affectionate smile. Reach out to the young woman:
— Surely you must be Malú, Thiago's daughter. – Malú touches Lisbela's hand, offering her a shy smile — You're just like your father, but there's something else...
— Come on, Lisbela, I have to choose the flowers for my wedding – interrupts Graziela.
— The flowers are there – retorts Lisbela, pointing all over the florist — you just have to go and see what yours will be. That's how it works here.
— Like a self–service? – asks Graziela annoyed.
— Yes – Lisbela answers, turning to disappear again among the flowers — Feel free, just call me when you choose.
— Thank you – thanks Graziela, with a slight irritation. She turns to Malú and smiles — Let's go look for my flowers.
***
The place is much bigger than it really looks, fascinating Malú who walks along the natural trails of the place. There are countless species of flowers that would make Anna dazzled. Maria Luísa smiles when she finally finds what she was looking for: the white lilies.
She picks one, just like her mother taught her, and smells it . It will be a nice gift for Graziela , he thinks as he walks back. Then he realizes that he no longer remembers the path he took to get there, despairing. She starts to walk faster and aimlessly. He can't find his way out of that place, he only sees flowers and bushes in his path. Her vision is spinning when she feels someone behind her.
Malú turns, facing his ebony face. The same face from her accident… the one that had invaded her mind these past few days without her permission. He smiles and extends his hand to Malú who holds it, the boy then leads her along one of the trails. Malú has no idea where that path would lead, but she feels safe, as she holds the boy's hand, in the direction that only he knows .