To Serve a Cold Dish

Standing before the old unkempt building felt surreal. It was the only thing left in his name in this city. He remembered how his deceased father's best friend had kept him here within locked doors, comfortable furniture and making him delicious food all the while his father's side of the family together with some of his mother's side dismantled and divided the wealth into their own pockets. Julio couldn't help but think of their soft words and gentle manner that lasted until the very end. Even when they had stripped him of all, leaving him and his mother with a single three store building, a common car of the year and 10.000 reais on the bank accaunt. They discribed the goods and smiled at him. "In respect to your deceased father's last wish, you were left with a commoner's life. As your uncle I suggest you accept it with a meek lowered head. And keep on quietly living off the old building's rent. After all, a lot of people wished they could have kept their heads to do the same." The middle aged men's smile was gentle like that of a priest, his spilled words went through the air as weighless soft cottons. But it made julio's eighteen year old neck go cold and he became paralysed with fear. He bowed. Curving his back deeply he thanked this uncle of his with. Signed the documents offered and went quiet for time enough to slip away from the city unbothered. Remembering the feelings of that time julio released a nostalgic sigh. He was twenty- seven years old now. He had nine whole years to make sense of how that happened and learn how to get back at them. He grinned as the blue collar worker broke the rusted lock on the gate of the building.  He simply offered the man a handshake and slipped a hundred reais bill on the man's palm. Seeing that surprised gaze, he felt good. After all, he promised himself that his words would be softer and his manner much lighter than theirs had been back then. He chuckled out loud. "Being worse than them suits me well"