Uélton puts both hands on Josias's wrist, wanting to get away from him. Josias still presses his friend's body against the wall without plastering it, with a force he thought he didn't have.

“Let go of me, man, this wall is scratching my back,” Uélton asks.

“Answer my question, man.” Josias is tough and domineering.

“No, I didn't want to make you look bad.” Uélton is practically whining, “I spoke without thinking. If Pamela was making a conspiracy to get you away from Melissa, I'm not part of this. Let me go, man; I thought we were friends.”

Josias lets go of Uélton's shoulder and he relieves himself. He was already thinking he was going to get punched by Josias.

“Thanks, buddy. And I'm sorry for the fail.”

Romualdo appears after listening to the last lines. “Guys, good morning. Is everything okay here?”

“It's okay, Seu Romualdo.” Josias replies with a smile, “Uélton and I were hitting a pending issue, a misunderstanding.”

Romualdo looks at Uélton and he disguises the panic he was feeling a little while ago. Then he turns and leaves. Uélton turns to Josias.

“Since the matter is serious, could you explain to me what happened to my mother having to donate my older brother's clothes?”

Josias looks at Uélton. He thinks twice before speaking. “Okay, but that gets between us! Don't spread it, because someone can find out and bring problems to me.”

Josias, then, between preparing the mortar for plastering, explains to Uélton everything that happened. Uélton is stunned by the end of the story.

“Dude, why didn't you tell me before? My mom could have donated some briefs.”

Josias shakes his head. He has something against wearing underwear from other guys. The shirt and pants are enough. “I can handle it until Friday.”

So Uélton stares well at the sweatpants. “I don't know, buddy... sweatpants tend to highlight people's private parts. And you are here, outdoors, a lot of people passing by on the street... some lady will notice it without wanting to.”

Josias instinctively places the paint can between his legs.

Later, in the room where the kitchen will be, Uélton was telling Romualdo what he discovered. “Do you understand, Seu Romualdo? He is now without underwear under that sweatshirt, because he was only wearing one for four months, and my mother threw it out, so grimy that it was.”

“Poor boy.” Josias's critical situation made Romualdo's heart aching. “Teodoro told me his story. I will help him.”

Uélton takes Romualdo by the arm when he decides to walk away. “Ah, he doesn't much like people to know. He did ask me for a secret, but I decided to tell you because you can help him.”

Romualdo smiles, understanding, “You can leave it, Uélton, that I won't say it was you.”

At lunchtime, Josias is sitting in the same can of paint, using it as a seat, and is eating from the lunchbox that Teodoro prepared for him. Romualdo approaches and holds out some money bills. Josias is surprised.

“Seu Romualdo? What's that?”

“I thought that of all the people in the world, you would recognize that this is money.” Romualdo smiles with the younger man's surprise.

“I know this is money,” Josias smiles, joining in the joke, “I wanted to ask why you are giving this to me now.”

“I talked to Teodoro the other day. I needed more information about you.” Josias stops chewing and swallows, staring at Romualdo who continues, “He told me everything. Now I understand why you are always shirtless. Come on; accept your payment for the week. And after lunch, you can go. Enjoy the afternoon to buy some clothes.”

Josias smiles in thanks. He takes the bills and puts them in his pants pocket. “Thank you very much, Seu Romualdo. God reward you. And who knows, one day I might as well reward you.”

Romualdo gives a good laugh. “Don't say that, young man. I am paying you for a service that you are doing here at the construction site. It is not a matter of charity. You don't need to reward me or anything.”

Josias, however, is determined. “It turns out that the deal was to pay me Friday, and you are paying me now, in advance. In other words, this is a gesture of kindness from you; it is not merely because I am in charge. And I will not forget that, Seu Romualdo.”

Josias is, again, with that serious countenance, the posture of a future businessman. His attitude does not match the current situation. Romualdo turns away from the young man with great admiration. “He won't be in this life for long,” Romualdo mumbles to himself as he guides other masons on the slab frame.