Chapter 1.2

Chapter 3

He got off at Clark St. subway Station; the first stop located in the Borough of Brooklyn once the East River is crossed. With the map in hand Federico headed south until he reached Montague St. and then quickly found the address Paula had given him. The building was one of the typical homes in Brooklyn Heights and likely had some historic past to exhibit. He pressed the doorbell of the apartment and then he looked long the street, which made him feel pleasant. Although the state of maintenance of the exterior of the houses was not even, the appearance of the whole was venerable and neat. Federico immediately felt he would like to live in the neighborhood. As he was lost deep in his thoughts he did not realize that the door to the house had been opened, several steps above the level of the street. Paula's unmistakable voice pulled him out of his cloud. He raised his eyes to her and could not contain a whistle of admiration. The girl had carefully dressed and made up and looked spectacular in her black suit, which highlighted her feminine silhouette, at the same time sexy and elegant. The young man looked at himself and felt a little out of place in his simple street clothes.

"I hope the whistle is out of approval." said the woman in an amused tone.

"Yes ... I did not really expect ... You look magnificent! I wondered if it was really me who you were waiting for."

"Yes, you fool. You do not look so bad yourself, although there are a few things that could be improved in your outfit."

“Definitely. But I thought that to go to walk to visit properties being dressed in casual clothes was more appropriate. I'll look like a poor relative by your side."

"I do not have red-haired relatives. If you are going to talk to your future landlord, you better make a good impression. But let's go now; I've arranged several appointments to visit apartments in the vicinity" said as she walked down the stairs to the street level.

Both began to walk and Federico took the side of the sidewalk giving the side of the wall of buildings to the woman. Paula was quick to appreciate the gentleness.

“Do they preserve the good manners in Argentina?"

“Unfortunately not. Only my father instructed me in dealing with the other sex, especially by example. Do you find it outdated and even ridiculous?"

"Quite the opposite! I'm flattered to be treated with deference. In Brazil the courteous manners are also being lost among the young, and here in the United States, at least in New York, I think they have never existed." Apart from her usual Brazilian joviality Paula looked particularly pleased. Then added.

“To complete the gallant picture, why do not we walk arm in arm?"

The young man did so and started walking.

“You know? In the past, a black woman walking from the arm of a white man would have generated resentment and criticism. Also in Argentina?"

"We do not have many people of African descent in Buenos Aires. I suppose that going with you would produce mainly envy, particularly among men of all ages."

"How come they do not have blacks? Didn´t the Spaniards bring slaves to the country as did Portuguese in Brazil?"

"Yes, they brought many. But several plagues that devastated the city of Buenos Aires in the nineteenth century decimated the color population, as well as the wars of independence. But the last factor for the disappearance of blacks was the great wave of immigration."

“What do you mean?"

"Immigrants who came from Europe far outnumbered the population that already existed in the country, and the vast majority were single men. There were not as many full families as they went elsewhere, including the United States."

“And what was the consequence?"

“Those who arrived were looking for women among the existing population, including Indian and Black. There was a great miscegenation. So the African genes have not disappeared, they are lost in the crucible of races."

"The same thing happened in Brazil. Come on, we're getting to the first of the addresses I've written down. Here we have to talk to the manager."

Brooklyn Heights is a residential neighborhood of middle income people located in the Borough of Brooklyn in New York City. The area is known for its architecture of low brown stone houses, many of them built before the Civil War and therefore of high historical value.

The typical house is three or four stories high with the main floor above the level of the street which is reached by typical stairs. Basements are often at a lower level than the street and were intended to be used as work areas including the kitchen. The living rooms are on the first floor and the bedrooms on the second floor. The back parts of each lot soemtimes have a private garden. Apart from these characteristic houses of the area on some of the streets still exist authentic mansions.

Along the coast of the East River stretches the Promenade, a wooded esplanade from which a magnificent view of southern Manhattan, the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges and the Statue of Liberty can be seen.

They had already visited the seven apartments Paula had chosen and were a little tired of walking. The woman said.

"Why don´t we go to stroll the Promenade and look for a seat to talk about what we've seen? It's two blocks from here. Do you know what it is?"

“Yes. I think I mentioned to you that when my father lived in New York many years ago, the first apartment he rented was in Brooklyn Heights. My mother and my grandparents visited him so they have told me about this area and I have seen some of their photos."

They did find an empty seat looking at the bay and the Manhattan shoreline opposite. The view was magnificent and Federico walked a few steps along the edge taking pictures with his cell phone. The walkers were mostly women pushing baby carriages or escorting little children scurrying along the wide sidewalk.

A man appeared to walk seemingly without a hitch. Federico sat down next to the girl and suddenly extending his cell phone asked the passerby to take a picture of both of them. The man, unaccustomed to being addressed by strangers in the street seemed surprised at first but immediately smiled.

"Of course." he said with a wink. "Sit closer together ... well ... now put your arm over the back of the seat ... no, surround her shoulders ... that's perfect. Now smile! ... let´s see, one more shot."

The episode with the friendly passer-by produced a positive effect on both youngsters. They both stared into each other's eyes, and Federico gently pressed the woman's shoulders and brought her close to his face. Their lips joined in a long, passionate kiss. They lost count of the time they were in that situation until suddenly they felt themselves observed. In fact a child of about six years carrying in his hand a red balloon located at three steps was staring at them. Startled Paula sat aside and composed her figure. Blush had stained her dark complexion. Finally she overcame the embarrassment and said.

"Don´t you want to come to my apartment?" Montague St. is only three blocks away."

As they walked arm in arm they talked about the apartments they had seen. Finally Federico said.

"I think the most appropriate one is Henry St.'s. It's small but rent is lower and fits better my income."

By all answer Paula stretched her neck and kissed him on the cheek. Henry St.'s home was only three blocks from her own apartment.

Upon arriving at her house, Paula phoned a lunch delivery store, which she had previously agreed with the boy. In the meantime she set the table with silverware for two, and they sat down to wait for the order to arrive in an armchair near the window overlooking Montague St.

"It's a small window." Federico argued, looking at the opening in the wall. "You hardly see a small rectangle outside, and even though we're on the second floor little light enters through it."

"Are the windows in Buenos Aires broader?"

“Yes".

“Also in Rio de Janeiro.” Paula was a " carioca", that is to say born in Rio de Janeiro. " The cold climate makes the difference. These houses, especially the old ones, are designed to keep the heat inside due to the then scarce heating means."

Federico had walked to the window and watched the universe visible from it.

"What do you see?" asked the girl.

"Come and see with me."

Paula did as requested. Both bodies got close in order to share the vision of the street and the young man's hand rested on her waist and pulled her towards him. The woman let him do and finally laid her forehead on his shoulder. Federico was about six inches taller so he had to tilt his head to bring their lips in touch again. He kissed Paula's mouth, cheeks, chin and her neck as his hands ran down her back and beyond. At that moment the doorbell rang and Paula tried to pull away but her body was held fast.

"If I cannot open the door, there will be no lunch for both of us today." Said ironically the girl.

"Who cares?" The man's cuddly tone made it clear that instincts were prevailing over his brain. However Paula broke off and got outside the apartment returning after a few moments with a package of appetizing scent.

"Let's eat this before it cools down."

Resignedly Federico sat at the table with her and ate the menu they had purchased. Unconsciously they both swallowed in a hurry, for what they were really interested in at that moment was dictated by hormones and not by hunger.

"Fortunately there are no dishes to wash." said relieved Paula. "I'll just dispose of these cardboard containers and wash the cutlery in a moment."

On returning to the room Federico was already sitting on the couch waiting for her. When the woman sat next to him she was literally lifted in the air and placed on his lap.

"Look," Paula said looking at the window. "It has begun to rain."

"Perfect for love."