Transfōrmāxun
In her drēm
Jasinta run۔d θrū θe
Sao Paūlō xantē·town ov Leonōr, qās۔t
bī her landlādē, hū wuz wēeld۔ing
a blak frī·pan. Jasinta jag۔d leftsīd۔ward, down۔ward a slīt۔lē slōpē hil līn۔t on ēq sīd wiθ xantē۔s: tīnē won and twū-rūm۔s xak۔s
konstrukt۔d ov diskard۔d skrap۔s ov metal, wōod, and
kardbōrd, fasen۔d
tūgeθer wiθ nāil۔s and
wīer ōr rōp, top۔d wiθ
rok۔s ōr brik۔s tū kēp θe metal۔ē ōr plastik rūf۔in from blō۔ing awā. Θat erlē ēvenin, θe skī not kwīt blak, moθer۔s wuz kōok۔ing on ōpen fīer۔s in front ov θā's xantē۔s. Θe ār smel۔t
ov rīs and nūdel۔s
miks۔t wiθ θe stink ov
garbaj and pūp. Nērbī, grūp۔s ov filθ۔ē brown-skin۔ē bōē۔s, klōθ۔t in rag۔s, hapē۔lē plā۔d fōotbal wiθ a bal komprīz۔t ov rag۔s tīnot۔t tīt۔lē tūgeθer. An ōpen sūer trikel۔d along θe senter ov θe mud۔ē lān. Az Jasinta run۔d,
xē fēel۔d her brest۔s flap۔ing aganst her rib۔s insīd her fād۔ē yelō koton dres. Xē had los۔d
won ov her sandal۔s,
and xē trī۔d tū māntān
her spēd wiθout slīd۔ing
on θe sliperē mud. Bēhīnd xē, θe pat-pat-pat ov persistent fōot·step۔s, az θe fat landlādē xout۔d obsēnitē۔s and, evrē tīm xē rēq۔d wiθin strīk۔in distans, rāz۔d menas۔lē θe frī·pan. "Kom bak yū renq! Pā now!" Θen, az
Jasinta run۔d, a smal
naked bōē step۔d
direkt۔lē akros her
paθ, fōrs۔ing xē tū
lurq rītsīd۔ward. Her bār fōot slīd۔d akros grēn slīm. Xē xrēk۔d
az xē los۔d her
balans, fal۔d hevē۔lē on her rump, and slīd۔d down·hil in θe slō۔lē flō۔ing sūer, it’s grēn۔ix brown water fēel۔ing warm. Wen xē lōok۔d
up۔ward, her landlādē
wuz upon xē, frī·pan kom۔ing
down۔ward tōward her
fās. Xē rāz۔d her hand۔s,
not wiθ palm۔s out۔ward in self۔defens, but wiθ her hand۔s klasp۔d tūgeθer, finger intertwīn۔d, fās۔ing not her vīōlent θret
but muq far۔er up۔ward, tōward wār xē envixun۔d heven wud bē. Krī۔d xē, “Jēsus, sāv mē!” * Jasinta
awāk۔d – from wut xē
rēalīz۔d wuz a
nītmēr. Her hand۔s, xē nōtis۔d,
wuz stil klasp۔d
tūgeθer. Xē sit۔d up in her singel bed, rēq۔d ōver, and swiq۔d on θe lamp. Sāf, stil in her tīnē rūm, on θe sekond
flōr·level ov Kōtinhō's Bōrdinghous. Xē
lōok۔d up۔ward at θe blister۔ē sēil۔in, and sā۔d outloud, “Θank yū,
Jēsus!” Her dijital
klok indikāt۔d 12:43
(slīt۔bē after mid۔nīt) and 13 Nōvember 2015
(18 dā۔s bēfōr her
rent wuz ekspekt۔t). Lōok۔ing at θe wōod۔ē krūsifiks on θe
sīd·tabel, xē θank۔d
Jēsus θat xē dint resīd in a favela
(θe Pōrtūgal۔ēz word
fōr θe dirt-pōr krīm-infest۔ē
hilsīd xantē·town۔s
θat liter۔d Brazil
nāxun in Souθ Amerika kontinent), and prā۔d
fōr θōs hū dū۔d. Erlē۔er θat dā, xē nekst
rēmember۔d, her best
emplōē۔ōr, Guilhermē
Alves, had infōrm۔d xē
θat his trādkō wuz transfer۔ing
hē tū θe distant sitē ov Rēō de Janerō -- wiq mēn۔d
xē wud nōlonger bē klēn۔ing
his apartment wons per wēk. Θat lēv۔d xē wiθ ōnlē twū apartment۔s tū klēn. Θus, xē wud bē ern۔ing les θan her minimum ekspens: rent and fūd. Xē swiq۔d of θe lamp, and lā۔d on her rēr۔sīd, ī۔s ōpen, sē۔ing nothin but blak. Her terifī۔ē
drēm, wiq had sēm۔d az
rēal az līf, wuz fast fād۔ing
from memōrē, but -- her hand verifī۔d
bī tuq۔ing her fōrhed
-- xē wuz stil perspīer۔ing. Won mōment disaster had sēm۔d iminent – her landlādē
had bēn on θe brink ov bēt۔ing
xē mersē۔leslē wiθ θe
hevē objekt, and if xē survīv۔d
xē wud bē hōm۔les,
poses۔ing nō mōr θan an
ōld dres sōk۔d in smel۔ē slīm – and θe nekst
mōment xē had awāk۔d
in her klēn warm sāf bed, in a rūm hūz rent had bēn pā۔t. Yet ēven
θat rēalitē, alθō a vast imprūvment ōver her drēm, wuz prekārēus. Unles xē kud fīnd mōr work, θe nītmēr kud
bēkum rēalitē. ‘If ōnlē Ī
kud qānj mī ōn rēalitē θat kwik۔lē,’
xē myūz۔d, θen rēturn۔d tū slēp. * Wen xē
nekst awāk۔d – bēkuz
ov a θrob۔ing pāin in
her belē -- it wuz don, Sundā mōrnin, but stil tyū erlē tū gō tū qurq. Her first θot wuz tū rēmember θat xē had los۔d her best job, represent۔ing almōst haf in ern۔ins, sō θat, if xē dint
fīnd anoθer kwik۔lē,
xē kud nōlonger aford her rūm rent. `But
fīnd anoθer job wār?’ xē wonder۔d. Bārlē a wēk go۔d
bī wiθout xē lēv۔ing
her nām wiθ apartment bild۔in
manaj۔ōrs ōr on yet
anoθer faktōrē wāt·list. Wiθ ōnlē an
elementārē·skūol edyūkāxun, xē wuz not kwalifī۔d
fōr anēθin beter. Θen xē rēmember۔d, vāg۔lē, her nītmēr, wiθ θe θot
θat her līf kud bē – and sūn posibel۔lē
wud bē – muq wors. Tū konserv
monē xē skip۔d
brekfast; insted, xē flōpōr۔d
herself a drink·glas ov water and sip۔d
it, wix۔ing her
husband wuz θer tū help. Θen, agin, xē
rēflekt۔d bak on θe
afternūn xē had marē۔d
Alfonso Maqadō at Jēsus Our Sāvyōr qurq, in θe tīnē vilaj ov Bōa Vista, in hil۔ē farm۔land ov Rio Grande dū Sul,
Brazil's souθern-mōst provins. Xē had
bēn dres۔d in wīt lās
and karē۔d yelō
dafodil flower۔s, and
evrēbodē sā۔d xē apēr۔d byūtēful. Sō ful ov promis, her world sēm۔d θen! In Rio Grand dū Sul θer wuz skant work and an
ōver-abundans ov yung job sēk۔ōrs,
θerfōr θe kupel prepār۔d
tū rē۔lōkāt nōrθ۔ward tū Sao Paūlō, Brazil’s
big۔est sitē. Alfonso, a klever man hū bēsīd farm۔in nolej wuz adept at fiks۔ing bīsikel۔s, had sāv۔d enuf monē tū rē۔lōkāt. Ōnlē θe bōld had an opōrtūnitē ov eskāp۔ing subsistens farm۔in, tū step intū θe world
ov riq۔s, wiq kud bē
glimps۔t evrē nīt on
televixun. But Sao
Paūlō wuz swarm۔ing
wiθ milyon۔s ov oθer
bōld rūral pēpel۔s wiθ
big drēm۔s and litel
edyūkāxun ōr market۔abel
skil۔s. Nun ov θe manē bīsikel stōr۔ets Alfonso visit۔d nēd۔d asistans; wen θā dū۔d, θā wud trān kin۔s tū fil vākansē۔s. Won xop ōn۔ōr
komplān۔d θat hē had
fend۔d of siks oθer
job-sēk۔ōrs θat sām
dā, wiq diskouraj۔d
Alfonso. Hē drēm۔d ov bēkum۔ing
a kar mekanik, but no۔d
ov nō wā tū lern how. Hōm۔les bōē۔s monopolīz۔d xū-xīn۔in. Θen a woman
from qurq ofer۔d
Jasinta a job klēn۔ing
an apartment in a lukxūrē apartment bild۔in,
and θat job lēd۔d tū
twū oθer۔s. Alfonso, mēnwīel, branq۔d intū stēl۔in, wiq koz۔d Jasinta slēp۔les nīt۔s. And hē sūn diskover۔d θat θe sprol۔ing
sitē wuz divīd۔d intū
teritōrē۔s ov gang۔s, hū rēzent۔d independent θēf۔s. A gang invīt۔d
hē – θreten۔lē – tū
jōin, but wons jōin۔ing
a gang and bēkum۔ing
privē tū it’s sēkret۔s,
depart۔ing it wuz
difikult – and dānjerus – and Alfonso kontinyū۔d
tū hōp θat his un۔lēgal
aktivitē۔s wuz
temporārē. Θe Bībel sā۔d, “Dū not stēl”, and hē
want۔d desperāt۔lē tū ōbā. Nor wuz θe kupel redē tū birθ a bābē until hē
had stābel (mēn۔ing
alsō lēgal) ern۔ins. Inixal۔lē Alfonso mān۔lē stēl۔d fūd, but lāter hē
spexalīz۔d in rēmūv۔ing rādēō۔s from park۔t kar۔s and sel۔ing θā tū a gang
membōrt. Won nīt polēs kom۔d tū θe twū-rūm apartment
θe Maqadō kupel wuz rent۔ing,
and arest۔d Alfonso
fōr burglarē. Hē rēmān۔d in jāil 183 dā۔s awāt۔ing lokōrtrīal, θen dur
lokōrt prōsēd۔ins fēel۔d astonix۔d tū sē θe gang membōr tū
hū hē had bēn sel۔ing
rādēō۔s, testifī
aganst hē. A dēal had bēn arānj۔t bētwēn θe gang (hū rid۔d θāself۔s ov a kompēt۔ōr) and a polēs-man (hū
rēsēv۔d kredit fōr an
arest). Θe juj sentens۔d Alfonso tū fōur yēr۔s in prison. Jasinta,
devastāt۔ē, konsider۔d rē۔lōkāt۔ing
bak tū Rio Grande dū Sul, but xē kud not bār tū tel θā's familē۔s θat Alfonso had bēn jāil۔t fōr stēl۔in, and, θer bēing nō work
fōr xē θer, xē wud ōnlē bē ad۔ing
tū her pōr familē’s burden. Xē visit۔d her husband evrē Sundā
after qurq, until, not kwīt won yēr lāter, oθōritē۔s rē۔lōkāt۔d hē tū a lō۔er-sekyūritē prison muq far۔er west۔ward. Twīs her emplōē۔ōrs
rē۔lōkāt۔d from θe ārēa, but bōθ
okāxun۔s θā rekomend۔d xē tū nū emplōē۔ōrs, θus xē kontinyū۔d tū ern enuf tū pā her
rent and purqas fūd. A yēr go۔d bī, and θen anoθer, wiθ
nō komyūnikāxun wiθ her husband. Xē rē۔lōkāt۔d tū a qēp۔er nābōr۔hōod, tū a qēp۔er rūm. Oθer man۔s
somtīm۔s aprōq۔d xē, but xē rēfyūz۔d θā's entrētē۔s; xē wuz stil marē۔d, and θe Bībel stāt۔d θat adulterē wuz a
sin. Anoθer lōnlē yēr go۔d bī. Suden۔lē – θe mōrnin after her
nītmēr, az xē wuz remenis۔ing
about her boq۔t līf –
Jasinta sit۔d up in
bed, wints۔ing wiθ
pāin. Her hand rēfleks۔lē go۔d tū her abdōmen. Insīd ov xē, somθin fēel۔d teribel۔bē rong. Polino, θe māntānans man at θe apartment bild۔in, had tel۔d xē θat θe sām θing had
bēn rong wiθ his ant, menxun۔ing
a long word θat xē kud not rēmember. “Θe
kyur iz surjerē,” hē had tel۔d
xē, but ovkōrs xē kud not aford θat. “If
yū dōnt fiks it, yū kud dī,” hē sā۔d
θe doktōr had warn۔d
his ant, hū after surjerē had ful۔lē
rēkover۔d. Jasinta’s
pāin go۔d awā az suden۔lē az it had arīv۔d, lēv۔ing xē pant۔ing, and afrād. * Θe won brīt
spot in θe līf ov Jasinta Lemos Maqadō wuz atend۔ing
qurq on Sundays – wiq wuz wen xē fēel۔d
nēr۔est tū her best
frend, Jēsus. Θus θat mōrnin, weār۔ing her wīt dres wiθ big
red dot۔s, az xē wok۔d along trē-līn۔t Bōlevard ov Ānjel۔s past blok۔s ov xut۔t stōr۔ets, θer wuz bouns in her
step۔s, and a smīl on
her pritē fās. Alīk almōst evrēbodē in
provins Rio Grande dū Sul, and mōst pēpel۔s
in Brazil, xē and her husband had bēn birθ۔d
intū a strikt Kaθolik Kristēan familē.
But upon rē۔lōkāt۔ing tū Sao Paūlō θe kupel
swiq۔d tū an
Ēvangelikal Kristēan qurq, wiq alsō senter۔d
around θe tēq۔ins ov
Jēsus, but inklūd۔d
hartwarm۔ē
modern-sound۔ē ۔s and long sermon۔s aprōprēāt tū dā۔ē līf. Xē and Alfonso alwās manaj۔d tū put ten persent ov
θā's mēger ern۔ins
intū θe kolektxun dix, a praktis – dub۔d
tīθ -- θat Jasinta, sins her husband had bēn jāil۔d,
had manaj۔d tū almōst
alwās kontinyū. Jēsus Saves
Ēvanjelikal qurq, lōkāt۔d
in a konvert۔t
wārhous, fētūr۔d a
fōur-man۔s ēlektrik
myūzikband, and an inspīer۔ing
yung minister۔ōrt. Θe seremōnē bēgin۔d wiθ a līv۔ē
song θank۔ing Jēsus
fōr kom۔ing, folō۔t bī a serēs ov prār۔s, θen a long sermon about
θe impōrtans ov tēq۔in
qīldren mōralitē not bī mēr word۔s
but bī dēd۔s. Jasinta internalīz۔d θe mesaj, but xē fēel۔d sad θat xē stil had nō qīldren, nor anē
rēalistik prospekt ov birθ۔ing
anē. Intū θe
kolektxun dix xē dūtēful۔lē
put۔d in eksakt۔bē won-dē۔ten ov θat wēk’s wāj. But xē fēr۔d
θat it wud bē her last tīθ dur a long wīel, espexal۔lē if xē sūn bēkum۔d, az sēm۔d
probabel, hōm۔les. Θe qurq
seremōnē end۔d wiθ al
parixinōr۔s stand۔ing and xout۔ing θā's prāz ov God,
Jasinta az loud۔lē az
anēbodē. Az evrēbodē
depart۔d, Jasinta
rēmān۔d in her
pyū. Wiθ θe end ov θe eksilarāt۔ē seremōnē, her grā līf,
wiθ it’s lūm۔ing blēk
prospekt, rēturn۔d tū
her mīnd. If xē skimp۔d on mēl۔s, xē kud posibel۔lē hav enuf monē fōr won
mōr monθ’s rūm rent, but afterward, if xē kud not fīnd anoθer job, her landlādē
wud ēvikt xē. Wiθout a plās tū baθ and
stōrkēp her klōz, hōld۔ing
on tū her rēmān۔ē twū
job۔s – her ōnlē sors
ov fūd monē – wud bē difikult, ēventyūal۔lē
probabel۔lē not
posibel. Her husband, if hē wuz stil
alīv, langwix۔d in som
distant prison. Her pōtenxal۔bē līf-θreten۔ē abdōmen pāin sēm۔d progresiv۔bē wors. Alredē almōst āj 25 yēr۔s ōld, and stil nō bābē. Nēel۔ing at her pyū, xē bow۔d her hed and xut۔d her ī۔s. Xē rēmember۔d
θe prēvēus nīt’s nītmēr. At her mōment
ov impend۔ē dūm, xē
had kal۔d on Jēsus tū
sāv xē, and hē had yank۔d
xē out ov θat teribel smel۔ē
rēalitē and had set۔d
xē down in a beter won. `Beter, but stil
not gōod.’ Wut xē nēd۔d, agin, xē θink۔d, wuz tū bē yank۔t out ov her present
sitūāxun, intū a gōod rēalitē: won wiθ a
husband emplōē۔t, and
a nest sūt۔abel fōr
bābē۔s. “Jēsus,” xē
prā۔d, az xē had dur her
nītmēr, “plēz sāv mē!” Xē ōpen۔d her ī۔s, rub۔d θā wiθ her finger۔s, and stand۔d tū gō. Turn۔ing
tōward θe īel, xē sē۔d
a xōrt lank۔ē man wok۔ing kwik۔lē tōward xē – her husband
Alfonso. Xē
lōokstārl۔d, inixal۔lē in non۔belēf. Θin۔er,
hē wuz weār۔ing a nū۔ix xōrt-slēv۔ē wīt xirt and a pres۔d blū trouser. Hē wuz grin۔ing
wīd۔lē. “Alfonso!?” “Jasinta!”
hē kal۔d bak jōēful۔lē, run۔d θe rēmān۔ē fyū step۔s. Sūn θā wuz embrās۔ing. Spēq۔les wiθ hapē۔nes, it sēm۔d alīk a long tīm bēfōr xē
fīnal۔lē pul۔d awā and eksklām۔d, ”Yū iz out ov prison!” “Dur almōst
a yēr now,” hē anser۔d. “Θā rēlēs۔d
mē fīv monθ۔s
erlē. Al θis tīm, lōok۔ing fōr yū.” Hē ad۔d,
“Bak in Rio Grande dū Sul, nōbodē no۔d
wār yū wuz.” Xē xāk۔d her hed nō. “Ī kud not gō bak, pōr az θā iz, and ad tū
θā's burden.” Xē lōok۔d at his nū klōz, wonder۔ing if hē had stēl۔d θā. “Ī hav a
job now,” hē kontinyū۔d. “I·iz an otō mekanik, kan yū bēlēv it? Θā tēq۔d
mē in prison – an eksperiment prōgram fōr imprison۔ērs ov non-vīōlent krīm۔s hū demonstrāt gōod bēhāvyōr. Ī hav a partnōrt now and wē hav a won-kar
garaj θat iz our work·plās. Wē iz onest
and θūrō, θus wē hav a stedē flō ov kustomōr۔s.” Jasinta kud
bārlē bēlēv wut xē wuz ērhēr۔ing. “And yū,”
hē sā۔d tentativ۔lē. “Yū dint rē۔marē?” “How kud Ī
rē۔marē wen Ī iz
alredē marē۔d?” Xē θrō۔d
up her arm۔s and lōok۔d tōward θe qurq’s hī sēil۔in. “Jēsus no, Ī dū۔d
not lōok at anoθer man.” “Az fōr mē,
Jēsus no, Ī alsō rēmān۔d
fāθful,” hē tel۔d xē,
and θā hug۔d agin. Wen θā pul۔d awā, θe qurq wuz almōst
emptē, ōnlē θrē ōld woman۔s
talk۔ing tū θe
minister۔ōr bēlō a
stānglas windō depikt۔ing
bābē Jēsus in θe arm۔s
ov his moθer Marē in a hōrstābel. Along
θe sentral īel, mistōr and mises Maqadō wok۔d
tūgeθer, hand in hand, out۔ward
θrū θe tal dubel-dōr۔s
intū brīt sun۔līt. Jasinta had not nōtis۔d erlē۔er,
but it wuz a byūtēful dā, warm but not hot, not hyūmid. Θā stand۔d outsīd θe qurq. “A mirakel
θat wē fīnd۔d ēq
oθer!” xē eksklām۔d. In θe sprol۔ing
sitē and it’s suburb۔s
resīd۔d ap 20 milyon۔s pēpel۔s. “Sins yū
dint gō hōm, Ī no۔d yū
wud stil bē in Sao Paūlō,” hē anser۔d. “And Ī no yū gō tū qurq evrē Sundā. Θus Ī gō tū a diferent qurq evrē Sundā; Ī iz
won ov θe first tū depart, and stand outsīd θe dōr ī۔ing evrē parixinōr. Θen, tū bē sertin, Ī gō bak insīd tū qek fōr
stragel۔ōrs. Ī no۔d
Ī wud somdā fīnd yū.” At θe word
“stragel۔ōrs” Jasinta
laf۔d. Xē stil fēel۔d
dāz۔ē, az θō awāk۔ing from a drēm. It had not okur۔d
tū xē θat Alfonso had bēn rēlēs۔d
from prison, and had bēn serq۔ing
fōr xē. Xē rēalīz۔d θen θat, down dēp, xē bēlēv۔d hē had bēn kil۔t, θe fāt ov manē man۔s in Brazil’s vīōlent
prison۔s. Alfonso
kontinyū۔d, “Ī hav sāv۔d som monē. Wē kan rent an apartment. Dū yū stil want bābē۔s?” Θat koz۔d xē tū turn tū hē agin, ī۔s tēr۔ē, fōr mōr hug۔s. “Lets wok,”
wuz al xē kud fīnal۔lē
manaj tū sā. Az θā strōl۔d along Bōlevard ov Ānjel۔s hē tel۔d xē about his mekanik۔s garaj, but xē kud not
lisen klēr۔lē. Xē wuz θink۔ing
about her prār, and how, fōr θe sekond okāxun dur les θan a dā, Jēsus had yank۔d xē from a bad sitūāxun
and set۔d xē down in a
muq beter won. Suden۔bē her hand go۔d tū her belē and xē
tiltlēn۔d fōrward wiθ
pāin. “Wut iz
it?” Alfonso krī۔d. “Wut
iz rong?” Θe pāin
fēel۔d sō xarp xē kud
bārlē talk, ōr θink. Θe long nām fōr wut
wuz probabel۔lē rong
xē had fōrget۔d. Alfonso
dart۔d intū θe strēt
and hand·wāv۔d ōver a
taksē. Hē ōpen۔d θe dōr and help۔d his wīf – stil bend۔d ōver dubel – intū θe wīt kar. Tū θe drīv۔ōrt hē direkt۔d, “Tū θe nēr۔est hospital. Kwik۔lē!” * Θe surjerē
tū rēmūv her apendiks wuz a sukses, and won yēr lāter, in a θrē-rūms۔ē apartment abov Alfonso’s
nū dubel-garaj work·plās, Jasinta, nurs۔ing
θā's bābē doter Diōnēsēa, wuz ekstatik۔lē
hapē. * *
* |
*To write a comment about the story or the
language, click here. This story is from a collection of Christian short stories, Christianity, by Flora Morales. Click link for details. You have read the story in species language Peoplese, Alike English version. Did you notice how the spelling of the root word never changes? How the past tense is always formed by adding hyphnette "d"? For a quick overview, read Peoplese home page. So are you ready for pure Peoplese? The Sound Spell Same (SSS) version completely eliminates the need to memorize spelling words -- because if you hear a word, you know exactly how to spell it, if you read a word you know exactly how to pronounce it. A 7-year-old boy, after five 15-minute learning sessions, henceforth could spell any of thousands of words in SSS Peoplese. Spend 20 minutes reading the Peoplese SSS page, and you are ready to go. To read the above story in Peoplese SSS, click here. green-giraffe.org home page. |