5 more minutes

Sam is a 17-year-old ordinary teenager, living in an ordinary neighborhood, in an ordinary city, in the non-ordinary United States of America.

He studies in a public school near his house. He has many friends and many of them are as old as he is. They like pretty much the same things: American football, baseball and video games. Oh yeah... and they love weed.

Sam is in his bedroom. He is listening to music. Someone knocks on his door.

- Sam.

He cannot hear because the music is too loud.

- Saaaaaaaaam...

- Mom ?!?!?

- Turn it down.

- Oh, sorry.

- Wow. Look at your bedroom. When was the last time you cleaned it? When was the last time you made your bed?

- I don't know.

- Come on, Sammie. You gotta keep your bedroom tight.

- Why should I make my bed in the morning if I'm gonna unmake it at night?

- My God. Your are sooo lazy. Just like your father.

- HEEEEYYYY !!! I CAN HEAR YOU, HON.

- SORRY, BABY, BUT IT IS TRUE.

- OK.

Sam starts listening to music again.

- Saaaaam. You know what? Turn it off. Now.

- But you were talking to dad.

- Turn it down. NOW.

- Ok. Relax, mom.

- How can I relax? Look at this place. It is a mess.

- I'll clean it up later, mom. I promise. Now, can I listen to my music?

- Sam, your grandma is really sick.

- Grandma???

- Yeah. Your father and I are going to the hospital to see her. I want you to go with us.

- Today???

- Yeah. We are going in the afternoon. After lunch.

- But mooooom...

- But mom what?

Sam points to his shirt. His mother does not understand. He insists.

- Mom, look at this. What do you see?

- I see a number.

- Good. What number is this?

- 49.

- Good. Aaaaaaand...

- And what?

- Doesn't this number ring any bell, mom?

His mother takes a good look at his shirt and says:

- No. Nothing.

- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS.

- What is it?

- It is a football team, mom. EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.

- Well, I am not everybody.

- It is the greatest American football team ever.

- NO, IT'S NOT. THE GREATEST IS NEW YORK GIANTS. (says his father from the kitchen)

- DADDYYYY.

- SORRY. I COULDN'T HELP LISTENING.

- Mom, I can't go today.

- Why not?

- Today is Superbowl.

- And?

- Aaand? The country... no, the world stops to watch it. And the 49ers are in the finals.

- Look, son. I don't care. We are going to visit your grandma.

- I'M NOT GOING. I don't wanna go.

- Yes, you are.

- No, I am not. Pleeeeease, mom. I'll go tomorrow. I promise.

- We don't know if she will be alive tomorrow.

- Grandma??? Of course she will. She is a very strong woman.

- Listen. I never force you to do anything, you know that. But I really would like you to come with us.

- Mom, you know I love grandma, right? But it is Superbowl...

Sam's mother looks at him. She wants Sammie to go with her, but she has made a promise to never force him to do anything he does not want to. She wants him to take his own decisions. 

- Ok. You stay home. But tomorrow you're going to visit your grandma.

Sam stands up, crosses his heart and says:

- Cross my heart and hope to die.

His mom leaves the room. After 20 seconds she returns and hugs him for a long time. He does not understand. She is crying.

- Mom? Why are you crying?

- Nothing.

- Really?

- Yeah. I think that all this situation with your grandma makes me a little bit more emotive.

- Are you sure?

- Yeah.

She kisses him and leaves. She turns around and says:

- I love you, Sammie.

He cannot hear. He is listening to music.

* * * * * * * * * *

Sam is at his girlfriend’s house. Her name is Mary and they have been together for 6 months. He does not know if she is the woman of his life, but he does know that she makes him feel good.

Although her parents are out of town, they are not alone. Paul and Linda are there too. Paul is Sam’s best friend and whatever he does he invites Paul to be part of it. Besides, Paul is a huge fan of 49ers too.

- Can you believe that my mom doesn’t know 49ers?

- Whaaaaaaat? Get outta here.

- I am serious.

- I didn’t know that such a person could exist.

- Me neither. Well, this person does exist. And she is my mom.

Both start laughing. The girls are in the kitchen preparing some bologna sandwiches.

- Hey, Sam.

Paul drops something on Sam’s lap. It is a plastic bag with some green inside.

- What’s this?

- I call it ‘fun’.

- Is this what I think it is?

- Yes. Weeeeeeed.

- Awesome.

Sam stands up and hugs Paul. One of the things they like doing together is smoking. And I am not talking about cigarettes.

- Did you bring beer too?

- Of course.

- Wow. I mean… Wow. Beer, weed, girls, football… we don’t need anything else.

- We don’t, but we have.

Paul shows Sam another plastic bag. But this time the content is not green. It is white.

- What the hell is this, man?

- What do you think?

- Is it cocaine?

- Yeeeeeees, bro.

Sam gives the plastic bag back to Paul.

- I don’t want this.

- What?

- I’m not using it.

Suddenly the girls arrive from the kitchen with a platter full of sandwiches.

- Guys, we didn’t have mayo so we… Ooooh.. what is that?

Mary gives the platter to Paul who immediately grabs two sandwiches and stuffs them his mouth.

- White happiness?

Sam did not know that Mary likes it. At least he had never seen her using it. She takes a 5-dollar bill, puts some cocaine on a piece of glass and using the bill she sniffs some.

- WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

- I am having some fun.

- Are you nuts?

- No. Why?

- This is dangerous.

- No, it’s not. Come on. Try some.

Sam refuses.

- Come on, baby. I am the girl here. Not you.

- No, thanks.

- Alright. Suit yourself.

Paul turns on the TV. A reporter from ESPN is interviewing 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who seems really confident.

Sam grabs a sandwich and a beer. He will smoke some weed later, but will not sniff anything. Well, that’s what he thinks.

3 hours, a Pearl Jam halftime show, lots of beer, bologna sandwiches, marijuana and cocaine later…

Sam, Paul, Mary and Linda are hugging each other and chanting 49ers songs. They are happy because 49ers are the greatest team of the United States of America and have just won Super Bowl.

"We are the champions, my friend. And we’ll keep fighting till the end… Cause weeeee aaaare the champions… Weeeee are the chaaaampions… No time for losers cause weeeee are the champions… of the world."

They do not talk anymore. They just laugh, drink beer, smoke marijuana and sniff cocaine. Sam, who said that wouldn’t use it, now cannot stop.

- Take it easy, man.

- I like this shit.

- I can see that. But, can I have some too? You’ve got almost everything yourself. I didn’t know you like it so much.

- I didn’t know either.

- Ok, gimme some.

- Just a sec. Let me…

Sam sniffs some more and then looks at Paul who is laughing. He turns around and looks at the girls who are sleeping. Suddenly a painting on the wall catches his attention. It is a white horse. Funny. It seems that the horse is TALKING to him.

- What the…

- What’s up, Sammie? Having fun?

- Am I talking to a horse?

- Yes, you are.

- That’s aweeesome, man.

- I know, right?

- How come am I talking to you?

- It’s because you are high.

- I am, aren’t I? I guess it’s the effect of the cocaine.

- Yes, it is. It happens all the time. 

- I can’t believe I am actually talking to a horse on a paiting.

- Don't worry. You are not alone. Everyone can talk to animals and things when they have some snow.

- Paul can talk to you too?

- No, he cannot.

- But you said that everyone...

- Yeah, but Paul didn't have any cocaine today.

- What? Why not?

- Because you had all of it.

- Really? Wow. It was my first time.

- I am afraid it was your last time too.

- What? What are you talking about?

- Well, Sam. As long as I enjoy talking to you, good-bye.

- Why good-bye? Are you leaving?

- I ‘m not going anywhere. You are.

Everything gets dark. Paul disappears. The girls disappear. The painting disappears.

***********

Sam opens his eyes. He is wearing a white robe. He doesn’t know where he is or what he is doing there. A man with a white beard approaches. He is whistling.

- Excuse me.

- Yes?

- Where am I? What is this place?

- Here? It’s Heaven.

- Oh, thanks. WHAAAAAT? HEAVEN?!?!?

- Yes, Heaven.

- Oh, no. If I am here it means that...

- Yes, you're dead.

- WHAAAAT? AM I DEAD?

- Yes, you are.

- How come?

- Overdose.

- But… but… but…

- I know. Shit happens.

- But I can’t be dead. I am supposed to visit my grandma. She's very sick and...

- Oh, she's dead too.

         - WHAT?

- She died yesterday. Just like you.

- Oh My God. My mom must be devastated.

- She is. Losing her mother and her son on the same day. It's not easy.

- And my dad?

- He is trying to be strong for him and your mom. 

- My grandma is dead and I didn't have the chance to say good-bye and tell her how much I loved her. And I didn't say good-bye to my parents either.

- Well, you had the chance to say good-bye.

- No, I didn’t.

- Yes, you did.

- When?

- Remember when your mom told you she was going to pay your grandma a visit? Well, that was your chance.

- Yes, I remember. But… but…

- Instead of going with your parents and spend some time with your family you decided to watch a football game.

- But it was Super Bowl.

- So what? You could have recorded and watched it later.

- IT WAS SUPER BOWL.

- It was just a game. Just... a... game.

Silence.

- Am I gonna see them again?

- Yes.

- When?

- I don’t know.

- Send me back, please.

- I can’t. I don’t have this power. Who lives… who dies…  who resurrects... it does not depend on me.

- You’re not God?

- No, I am not.

Silence.

- I wish I could have told them how much I love them. I wish I had 5 more minutes.

- You had the chance. You had many opportunities, but you always took it for granted. You mother told you every day that she loved you. Every single day.

- She did? I never heard.

- Of course not. You were always busy listening to your favorite music or reading or playing video game.

- But… but…

- Your father loved you too.

- My father. No way. He never told me that he loved me. That’s I am sure.

- No, he didn’t. Well, not at least out loud. But everything he did, he did for you. He wanted you to study in he best schools because he wanted you to be better than him. He would spend nights and days in the mechanic shop, working hard to make that happen.  

- That's why I could barely see him.

- He was so proud of you. He thought you were becoming a fine young man. He really loved you.

- Oh My God. I never noticed. How could I be so stupid? If I could go back I would tell my grandma, my mom and my dad how much I love them.

- Sorry. There is no coming back.

Silence.

- Well, Sam. It was nice meeting you, but I have to go.

- Nice meeting you too. Can I ask you a question before you go?

- Sure. What is it?

- If you are not God, who are you?

- Me? I am just a dream. And you are about to wake up?

**********

Sam wakes up. He looks around. He knows where he is. It is his bedroom. He looks at the alarm clock. It says 10 am. He runs to his parents’ bedroom and jumps onto the bed. Nothing. The bed is empty. He checks the living room and then the kitchen. Still nothing. He sees a note on the table. “Off to the supermarket. Be right back”. He goes to the bathroom. He will take a shower and brush his teeth. He is so happy. It was just a dream. When he just finishes putting his 49ers jersey he hears a noise coming from the kitchen. It is their parents. They are back from the supermarket.

- MOOOOM. DAAAAAAD.

He hugs both of them. 

- Wow. Someone is in a good mood today.

- Mom, you look so beautiful.

- Thanks, honey.

- You too, dad.

- You don't have to lie, son. Why are you so happy? Is it because of the game?

- No. I am happy because of you. I am happy because I am alive. I am happy because you are alive. I am happy because I am here. I am happy because you are here.

His mother laughs.

- Well, I am going to prepare your lunch, ok? I will leave it in the oven.

- Why?

- Your father and I are going to visit you grandma. I know that you...

- I am going with you.

- What?

- I’m gonna see grandma. It’s been a while I don’t see her.

- Are you sure? You never liked to visit her. Besides, it is Super Bowl. I saw you talking on the phone with Paul. You said you would…

- I’ve changed my mind. From now on I want to spend more time with you guys. I realized I have spent more time with my friends than with you. I really want that to change that.

- And the game?

- Well, mom. As someone told me: It's just a game.

His mother cannot believe in her ears. As a sensitive woman, she starts to cry.

- Come on, mom. You don’t have to cry. Come here. Give me a hug. Come on, dad. You too.

It is a beautiful scene. The three of them embraced in a warm hug. No one says a thing. They just hug. After almost 2 minutes, Sam looks at his mother’s and father’s eyes and says:

- I love you, mom. I love you, dad.

**********

5 more minutes. That's all Sam wanted. And miracously he got it. But as you know, miracles do not happen everyday. So do not waste time. Tell people that you love them. Tell people that you care about them. And do it today. 

Tomorrow can be too late.

Ela que sabe.

Santinha

Ela que sabe.

Não sei vocês, mas cresci pensando que minha mãe era a pessoa mais esperta do universo. E olha que ela só teve a oportunidade de estudar até a quarta série do primeiro grau. Ela teve que trabalhar logo cedo, como milhares de crianças desse nosso Brasilzão.

Desde pequeno temos nossas curiosidades. Por que isso? Por que aquilo? Por que posso isso e não posso aquilo? Por que meu irmão pode e eu não posso? Por que tenho que ir para o quarto quando começa esse programa na televisão? Por que colocam a mão nos meus olhos quando duas pessoas encostam a boca uma na outra? Crescemos com essas questões mais do que filosóficas a nos cercar e perturbar nossas pequenas mentes.

Lembro que quando uma dessas questões rodeava meus pensamentos eu recorria à ele, o cabeça da casa,  àquele que ostentava a honra de segurar o controle remoto: meu pai, o seu Barriga. Lembro dele olhando para mim com aquele ar sério. E depois de pensar muito dizia: Pergunta pra sua mãe. Ela que sabe.

Lembro como se fosse ontem:

- Pai, posso ir para casa do Marcelo? A gente vai jogar vídeo-game.

- Não sei. Pergunta pra sua mãe. Ela que sabe.

- Pai, posso por essa calça nova para ir para escola?

- Não sei. Pergunta pra sua mãe. Ela que sabe.

- Pai, posso voltar depois das onze?

- Não sei. Pergunta pra sua mãe. Ela que sabe.

Penso até que o comercial de um famoso posto de gasolina foi inspirado na minha mãe, pois tudo que queremos saber ou comprar é só perguntar pro pessoal que trabalha nesse tal posto.

Quero deixar claro que não estou dizendo que meu pai sabia de nada. Algumas perguntas ele respondia. E com muita clareza.

- Pai. Posso ir ao cinema com meus amigos?

- O que sua mãe disse?

- Não.

- Então não.

Havia momentos que ele era firme na resposta.

- Pai, posso ir para praia com meus amigos?

- Já perguntou pra sua mãe?

- Ainda não.

- Então fala com ela primeiro. Ela que sabe.

Isso me deixava cada vez mais apaixonado por aquela mulher simples da roça da Bahia, mas que sabia de tudo. Ficava imaginando porque ela não fazia parte do governo brasileiro. Ela com certeza seria uma cientista fenomenal. Poderia até participar de um grupo seleto naquela tal agência espacial... não recordo o nome agora... ah sim... NASA.

Ficava imaginando minha mãe à frente de um resgate inter-planetário, todos nervosos, apreensivos, sem saber o que fazer, até que alguém perguntaria para o presidente da nação mais poderosa do mundo: - Senhor, presidente. O que faremos agora? E ele diria sem pestanejar: - Pergunta pra ela. Ela que sabe.

Me impressionava também a precisão com que previa a hora exata que eu iria cair. Lembro como se fosse ontem. Estava descontraidamente correndo pela casa e nada, absolutamente nada havia acontecido. Corria livremente fingindo ser um super herói. Minha mãe estava na sala, compenetrada em seus afazeres domésticos quando, sem mesmo olhar para mim, ela dizia as palavras proféticas:

- Menino, pare de correr pela casa. Você vai cair já já.

Dito e feito. Era queda na certa. E aos prantos, com o joelho esfolado, eu me aproximava, implorando por carinho e compreensão. Ela, com toda sua sabedoria, continuava com seus afazeres e então soltava:

- Eu te disse, não te disse? Eu avisei.

Então, depois de entender que eu havia aprendido a lição, e depois de muito choro, ela vinha ao meu socorro. Me acariciava, me abraçava, me beijava e, o mais legal, soprava meu machucado. Se esse sopro ajudava na cicatrização do machucado é algo que nunca saberei, mas que aquele gesto me acalmava, ah me acalmava.

Não havia limite para seus conhecimentos:

- Tá com dor de estomago? Chá de boldo.

- Passou muito tempo debaixo do sol? Banho de ovo.

Passado um tempo percebi que esse talento, essa sabedoria, esse dom não era algo apenas da minha mãe, mas de todas as mães. Senão todas, da maioria. Fiquei imaginando o porque disso e cheguei a conclusão de que não há explicação. O que elas sabem não se aprende e sim se herda. Se passa de geração para geração. 

Antes da minha mãe teve a minha avó. E antes da minha avó teve a mãe da minha avó, também conhecida como minha bisavó. E antes da minha bisavó teve a mãe dela. E assim por diante. 

Essa sabedoria também é conhecida por instinto maternal. Aquele que procura prever o que é melhor para sua prole. Pode ser que em alguns momentos ela erre. Serão momentos raros, mas acontecerão. Afinal de contas, ninguém é perfeito. Nem mesmo nossas mães. Mas se elas não são perfeitas, são quase. 

Minha mãe foi perfeita dentro da sua imperfeição. Acertou em quase todas as previsões, mas errou em uma: não previu o dia que iria partir. Nos deixou bem antes do que imaginávamos. Mas partiu no momento certo de Deus.

Mães são assim. Elas vêm e vão. Nos enchem de carinho e amor. Nos preparam para as batalhas da vida. Se necessário morrem por nós. E quando finalmente entendemos isso, elas partem. Tristes, talvez, pela separação. Mas felizes por terem feito o melhor, apesar de muitas vezes acharem que falharam. 

Parabéns à todas as mães do Brasil. Em especial para Almerinda, Simone, Lucélia, Dora, Lika, Elis, Nice, Marta, Cleide, Dani, Patricia, Kelly Cristina e Kelly.

FELIZ DIA DAS MÃES

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY