[Illustrative photo by Ademir Almeida]
I would have been 5 years old, around 1943. I was at Uncle Amadeu's house in his Estancia in Butiá. The house was close to a stream that ran close by. A shallow passage allowed access to the other side of the stream. Crossing the stream, continuing up the hill, further on, was the house of Grandparents Eufrazia and Fernando.
Cousin Cláudio would have been 13 years old. He was teaching me to fish. In the clear waters of the stream, it was possible to glimpse some tiger fish.
First we looked for some worms to use as bait. Then we sat on a lawn and Claudio told some stories while he prepared the hooks. Claudio was always very sensitive, even at a young age he knew how to relate to a child.
I don't know what adventure he had told me that led me to say, out of the blue:
- Let's run away ?
Subject for experts: can a child who is happy suggest such an idea? Happy and enjoying the environment at his uncle's house, the patio with a long lawn to a "pond" below, the animals, the fishing, a devoted cousin.
Claudio, surprised, was slow to react. Finally he said:
- TO RUN AWAY ???
And I quickly said "Yes, run away".
New silence, a little longer. Finally Claudio said "I agree, let's run away".
Then I asked "When?" and cousin "Today afternoon".
He saw that I agreed and so he said "Today, around 3 o'clock, go to the kitchen and get some things to eat tonight. I'll come by later and get some things for myself. Let's meet here at this place at 4 o'clock. But don't forget to grab a poncho."
I didn't understand the final recommendation and asked "Why bring a poncho?"
Claudio explained: "To sleep outdoors, the poncho protects you from the dampness of the grass and the cold. The nights are cold."
I agreed that I would take a poncho or my Renner cape (Note: a very popular winter cape).
Then Claudio continued with the details of the plan.
"We'll go for a walk, and when it starts to get dark, we'll choose a place to spend the night. We'll settle in and then we'll eat what each of us has chosen and has brought."
It was starting to get complicated but I said it was fine.
Then Claudio said: "Let's agree on the following: after eating, let's talk a little, then you lie down to sleep and I take care of you until one o'clock in the morning. Then I wake you up, I go to sleep and you protect me until six in the morning. But you have to keep your eyes open because wild boars, snakes, lizards can appear. When the day comes, call me if I'm still sleeping."
It was that type of silence, longer than other silences. Claudio is just waiting. And more silence.
Finally I said, "Let’s leave it for another day. Let's see if we can catch some tiger fish."