Episode 13

I had already had lunch and was once again reviewing some contracts when Flavia knocked on the door and came in.

— Mr. Caique, the first selected candidate is already waiting. His name is Fernando Viana. Here is the form he filled out and HR's opinion.

I received the documents from Flavia's hands and read a little about Fernando. He was 26 years old and had good professional experience, having worked in various positions. He lived in Madureira and would take the BRT* to get here. HR's reference stated that he was polite and helpful. He expressed himself well and was attentive. He showed a willingness to work, even reporting that he had lost his last job due to the pandemic.

— Ask Fernando to come in, Flavia. Please.

— Yes, sir. — While Flavia went to get the young man, I drank some of my water that was on the table and leaned back in my chair just as he entered.

Fernando came in shyly, looking around. When he finally saw me, he swallowed hard and approached more decisively. He was a young man of considerable stature, neither too short nor too tall. He had strong features, which gave him a striking beauty. Hair cut short on the sides and a little longer on top and observant eyes. I could see some tattoos on his arms too.

— Good afternoon, Mr. Caique.

— Good afternoon, Fernando. Welcome to my company. Please, sit down.

— Mrs. Michele from HR told me that I would have an interview with you as well. — He was nervous. I have always been observant, but after I became paraplegic, I started to notice even more, even to identify the look of pity in people.

— I just want to know who I'm going to hire in my company. We always work with outsourced companies, and now I'm changing that. Michele really liked you, and I trust my team very much. It says here that you have completed high school.

— Yes, I just didn't go to college. But I finished my studies.

— Where was your last job, Fernando?

— I was an office boy at a notary's office, but then the pandemic came, and I was the first to be laid off. So, I did odd jobs when we were coming out of quarantine.

— But today you are still unemployed.

— Yes, and I really need it. I have a small child at home.

— It doesn't say anything about that here. We have very good daycare assistance, and your child can be included in the health insurance you receive.

— No, sorry, I didn't explain myself properly. I have a small child at home, but it's my five-year-old sister. I don't have children. I live with my mother and her.

— So, you are the man of the house.

— Yes. — He became a little sad at that moment. Fernando was very easy to read, very expressive. — I lost my father a few years ago, and my stepfather left us for another family.

— I'm so sorry.

— Thank you. So, I'm looking for a job to help them. My mother works with sewing, but the amount of orders hasn't returned to normal after the pandemic. And we need to pay the rent before we get evicted. — It hurt to hear that. I had my problems, but other people had theirs. Fernando could be involved with something wrong to get money, but he was here asking me for a job.

— I'm going to ask that your little sister be included in your health plan as your dependent, even though she's not your daughter.

— Included? Does that mean that...

— The job is yours, Fernando.

And he smiled.

I hadn't seen such a sincere, genuine smile in a long time. Happiness and relief were etched on Fernando's face. It felt good to provide that for him. So much so that I caught myself smiling along with him and hadn't even realized it.

— I don't know how to thank you.

— Just be a good employee.

— I will be, I promise.

We heard a beep and I looked at the door to see Saulo standing there looking at us.

— Come in, Saulo. Let me introduce you. This is our new employee, Fernando Viana.

— Nice to meet you, Fernando.

— It's a pleasure, sir.

— Have you been there long? — I asked Saulo.

— A few minutes. I didn't want to interrupt your conversation.

— I didn't even see you come in — I said, and Saulo smiled and sat down looking at his cell phone. — Well, Fernando, I hope you enjoy working with us. I'll talk to Flavia about your sister.

— Thank you very much, Mr. Caique. I'll be here. — Fernando stood up, and since I was sitting down and now close to him, I found him taller than when he came in. He spoke to Saulo again, who accompanied him to the door. I felt good about helping someone.

When Saulo turned to me, he was looking at me curiously.

— What is it?

— I just saw a smile from you that I haven't seen in years.

— Smile?

— Yes, that you directed at the young man.

— Come on, Saulo. I was just being polite to a nice person. And I felt extremely good about helping someone who clearly needs it a lot. I think he is almost being evicted from his house.

— Really?

— Yes.

— I saw that you also gave him a benefit that is intended for children.

— I did. He lives with his mother and five-year-old sister. He doesn't have a father; he's already deceased, and his stepfather abandoned them.

— A very difficult situation.

— Very.

— Your mother would freak out about this.

— Her problem. I'll wait for the next interviewee.

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