Two Sides of Me

by Nora Sarel

  Although it was easier for him to write in Hebrew, he decided to write in Portuguese so that he could share everything with Bernardo. He knew that here, in this Israeli home, he had the upper hand but didn’t want to abuse it. His conversations with Leo and his wife were in Portuguese too, although it was easier for them to communicate in Hebrew.

  They grew tired after making forty calls. Although none had refused giving their details but rather cooperated greatly, they had yet to find the Francisco de Oliveira they were looking for. They decided to take a break and tour Brasilia for a while. They didn’t want to bother Leo, which is why they didn’t call him as he had offered. Instead, they called a taxi and left, not before they said goodbye to Rosa and promised they would come back soon. Bernardo asked the driver to take them to the famous Square of Three Powers.

  The square was empty; it was only the two of them and the huge buildings. The silence intensified the impression of the democratic powers in Brazil. It hasn’t been long since they had brought down the rule of the generals. They stood overwhelmed in the middle of the square. The president’s palace on one side and on the other the senate and house of representatives – two enormous buildings, one concave and the other convex. In front of them was the court house. Three Powers, the executive, judiciary and legislative, all in one square; as suitable for a capital. It was apparent that governmental institutions took a large portion of city’s territory.

  “They say the city is built in the shape of an airplane. We are now standing on its ‘fuselage.’ If you look in front of you, to the east, you’ll see an eight-lane road spreading from the ‘empennage’, all the way to the television tower which is the airplane’s ‘cockpit,’” Bernardo pointed in every direction.

  “Everything is so big and breathtaking,” Gadi replied.

  They began walking down the city’s main avenue, the airplane’s ‘fuselage.’ Throughout were government and military buildings organized in rows, between them were green and flowery garden lots.

  “Here’s the Ministry of Interior, where I told people I work at. At least now I know where it is,” Bernardo laughed and then suddenly became serious. “Perhaps Francisco works in one of the governmental offices? Maybe he’s a deputado or senador?”

  “And if he is, so what?” Gadi asked.

  “Then he wouldn’t be listed, because he lives on account of his job. He’d be listed at the country he’s from.”

  “So, we won’t find him here?”

  “I don’t know,” Bernardo sighed, “do you remember Nessia said he was an important figure? So, he probably lives in Brasilia because he has an important position, but his address isn’t here. Maybe he lives at a hotel or a rented house, but his real house is somewhere else. Every Thursday he goes home for the weekend, get it?”

  “So, will we find him in Brasilia or not?”

  “I don’t know but we need to look through the list of senadors and deputados, check perhaps we find his name?”

  “What is a deputados?”

  “A parliamentary elected official,” Bernardo replied.

  “How many are there?”

  “Three senadors from each state.”

  “Regardless of the state’s size?”

  “No. Every state provides three senadors, just like the US senators. There are twenty-six states, which means there are seventy-eight senadors. Although Brasilia isn’t a state but a federal territory, like Washington, it has three representatives. Together they make eighty-one senadors.”

  “And how many deputados does the house of representatives have?”

  “I think there are five hundred and thirteen representatives.”

  “A lot,” Gadi commented.

  “How many do you have?”

  “The Israeli parliament has only a hundred and twenty representatives,” Gadi said. “Well, we’re a tiny country,” he justified, and his eyes shone when he spoke of home.

  “Here, every country chooses representatives according to the state’s size. The least being eight representatives; and a country as big as Sao Paolo has seventy deputados, understand?”

  “I understand. I also understand this means we have a lot of work to do,” Gadi concluded. “Going through so many deputados and senadors, how will we do it?”

  “It’s a much easier job than you think. We just need to get our hands on a list of all senadors and deputados and see if they have a Francisco Oliveira in them, it’s really no big deal.”

  “And how will we get those lists?” Gadi asked.

  “Tomorrow morning we’ll go to the congress and ask for the lists,” Bernardo said confidently.

  “Maybe we can find the lists online,” Gadi suggested.

  “Yes, I haven’t thought of that,” Bernardo nodded his head with satisfaction.

  “So, let’s go back to Leo’s.”

  “Don’t worry, it won’t take long. Now we’re here, so we better continue our tour.”

  They walked down the avenue until they reached a great cathedral, located on the main road. Spontaneously, they decided to go in.

  “Are you aware that I’m Jewish?”

  “And I’m Catholic,” Bernardo replied, “how strange, two brothers of different religions.”

  “Like Yaakov and Esau, are you familiar with this biblical story?”

  “No.”

  “It’s a story about two brothers who were very different from one another. I’ll tell you the rest later tonight.”

  When they entered the cathedral, they saw images with stories from the New Testament, then Bernardo asked, “Are you familiar with stories about Jesus and Maria?”

  “No.” Gadi replied.

  “Never mind, I’ll tell you later. We’ll have plenty more nights to talk.”

  They both laughed.

  There was tourist mass in the main hall. “Usually Brasilia isn’t a city for tourists. When people do visit it’s to see the architecture and uniqueness of a designed city,” then Bernardo continued mockingly, “they say it’s too structured to be a city.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “It means that it doesn’t have a city center like other cities around the world. It’s made of different quarters. You know what? We can keep walking around tomorrow and see if that’s true. In the meantime, let’s explore this cathedral. It’s so special. Did you notice we had to walk downwards to enter it? Can you see the round wall curving from here to there?” Bernardo said to Gadi, “place your ear, here, on the wall and you will hear me whispering from the other side.”

  And indeed, Gadi immediately heard what Bernardo said.

  “I love you, my brother, and thank gods of every religion for finding you.”

  They both laughed, until the participants of the mass gave them a scolding look.

  When they got back to Leo and Orit’s house, they immediately realized something happened in their absence.

  “You won’t believe what’s going on, they’re waiting for you,” Orit warned them, however, her voice was secretive. Leo sat in the living room, his face down. Next to him stood someone unfamiliar who looked at them suspiciously. Orit, who tried breaking the tension, offered the guests some cold beverages.

  “What happened?” Bernardo and Gadi asked simultaneously.

  The man who stood by Leo approached them, his index stretched out, “I’m the embassy’s security officer. What you have done is inexcusable!!!”

  “What did we do?” Gadi asked.

  “First, you should have gotten a security clearance to live at the military attaché’s house.”

  “The attaché had invited us, why don’t you ask him?!” Gadi was annoyed.

  However, the security officer kept coming at them. “Second, you failed to report where you were, everyone has been looking for you. And third, that boy next to you hasn’t gone through a security check. Un
til he does, he’s considered a threat. Is that clear?” he accusingly pointed at Bernardo, who shrank.

  “Don’t speak to my brother in a language he can’t understand and don’t you threaten him,” Gadi heard himself fearlessly reply. “If you want to talk, speak quietly, don’t make threats. If you think we’re suspicious, we will leave.”

  “Of course not,” Leo jumped up, smiled and approached the boys to embrace them. “That wasn’t our intention, the security officer exaggerated a bit.”

  “Exaggerated?” Gadi repeated what Leo had said, “this looks like an exaggeration to you? To me it seems more like an insulting and wild accusation.”

  “You need to realize,” Leo tried to calm things down, “because Israel has so many security issues our embassy is monitored by the Israel Security Agency, they demand that any person who enters the premises of an ambassador or other official representative, will go through a security check, though no one currently poses a threat. That’s the procedure. Besides, you should have told us where you were going.”

  “But we told Rosa,” Gadi replied.

  “Right, you told Rosa you were going out for a little while but disappeared for four hours. She waited and was worried for you, which is why she called me and I started looking for you. Next time just tell us where you’re going, that’s all.”

  Leo spoke in Portuguese and was very gentle. Bernardo stood straight and felt safer, Gadi smiled at him. The security officer would not let it go, he tried saying something, but Leo stopped him, “It’s Ok, I know the family, I can vouch for them.” Orit invited everyone for a rich lunch so that the atmosphere lightens up.

  “What did you do today?” Leo started a conversation.

  “We called about forty Francisco de Oliveira, none were the Francisco we’re looking for. Then, we drove to the Square of Three Powers and walked to the cathedral,” Bernardo replied, then continued, “If it’s too much trouble, we can go to a hotel.”

  “Right,” Gadi confirmed, “we don’t mind.”

  “Why are you bringing it up again? Enough, it’s done. You’re our guests and we’re happy to have you,” Orit said decisively.

  “I still need to question them,” the security officer said to Leo.

  “Question away, but gently, they’re my guests.”

  “I can’t,” the security officer said, who had manned his security position only a couple of days before, “I still don’t speak Portuguese that well, can you help me?”

  “OK,” Leo agreed.

  And indeed, during their meal, Leo translated the security officer’s questions, until the latter was convinced there was no threat. When his mission was complete, he left.

  “I think tomorrow we’ll go to the congress…” Gadi explained the new strategy Bernardo had suggested.

  “Great idea,” Leo noted, and Orit agreed.

  They called 10 more Francisco de Oliveiras that day, none of which was their father. In a desperate attempt Bernardo googled the word ‘deputado’, and as he had expected, he found an alphabetical list of names. After a quick scan he yelled excitedly, “I found him!”

  “Show me,” Gadi asked.

  “Here, it states clearly, ‘Francisco Bernardo de Oliveira of the Rio Grande do Norte state.”

  “Does it say anything else about him?” Gadi asked.

  “Let’s place the cursor on his name and see what we get,” Bernardo said.

  “Wow, look! It even has his picture!” Bernardo exclaimed.

  They both looked at the picture intently, as if wanting to memorize his features, every now and then looking at the other to compare.

  “It’s a shame he’s not smiling in this picture, maybe our smile looks alike,” Gadi laughed.

  “It’s a shame he isn’t speaking in the picture, maybe his lips move the same, too,” Bernardo chuckled.

  “What does it say about him the information section? Is it an official senate page? Please read it to me,” Gadi asked.

  “Francisco Bernardo de Oliveira was born October nineteen forty, in the city of Natal, state of Rio Grande do Norte, to a wealthy family, owners of gem mines. He had completed his BA in political science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro in nineteen sixty-four and pursued an MA in business management at Harvard University in Boston, USA. In nineteen sixty-five Francisco de Oliveira married Zelia Rafaela Franco. By the end of that year, Francisco de Oliveira and his wife had moved to Curitiba, where his political career began. After three years of fruitful work, Francisco had abruptly left his political life in nineteen eighty-two and moved to the state of Pernambuco, where the large Franco family resides. Francisco soon replaced Zelia’s father, Eduardo Franco, who had passed away, and functioned as sugarcane factory manager. In nineteen eighty-four the family had transferred again and settled in Natal, Francisco’s city of birth. As they moved, so did some of his businesses move to the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Furthermore, his business had expanded into other fields and now also includes the blue rare tourmaline gem mines, which are produced only in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Moreover, the family has many assets, such as a hotel chain and a line of tourist services. In nineteen eighty-nine, when the first democratic elections took place in Brazil, Francisco had decided to rejoin the world of politics and nominated himself. He was chosen that year as deputado of the democratic party, and in nineteen ninety-five he was chosen as the representative senador of the Rio Grande do Norte state in the senate.”

  “What do you say?” Bernardo sat back.

  “What can I say? I’m shocked. I haven’t dreamed that such an important Brazilian figure is my father. It actually boosts my ego.”

  “What nonsense,” Bernardo got angry, “what good does it do that he’s an important man if he doesn’t even recognize us or know we exist? He’s a stranger to me. I don’t care whether he’s important and rich or just a simple citizen, in any case I can hardly pay rent.”

  “Maybe now when he sees us, he’ll recognize us,” Gadi tried defending his opinion.

  “I don’t think so. He must have other children.”

  “If he would, it would have been mentioned here,” Gadi said logically.

  “Why? Does it say anything about us? I meant that he might have more children like us. Once a cheater always a cheater.”

  “I’m dying to meet him,” Gadi whispered.

  “I’m actually nervous, and that’s even before we even saw him. What would happen when we stand in front of him?” Bernardo shared his anxieties with Gadi, “how would we address him?”

  “We’ll tell him, ‘hi sir, we are your sons, nice to meet you.”

  “No. Maybe we can say something like ‘hello sir, both of our names are Bernardo de Oliveira, does that ring a bell?”

  “Forget it, I don’t trust him, he’ll throw us out,” Bernardo said.

  “What are you worried about? What will be will be. Worst case scenario he throws us out,” Gadi tried relieving his brother’s concerns. “Besides,” he continued, “he won’t do it, he’s in a position where he’s too scared to hurt himself.”

  “I don’t think he’s afraid of anything. I’m not so sure I want a dad through extortion. You shouldn’t worry, you already have a family.”

  The day soon turned into night and they to stay up.

  They were first for breakfast when Rosa was still setting the table, when Leo and Orit joined them, they told them of what they had found the other night.

  “Maybe you should stay in today?” Orit suggested, “you’re tired, you were up all night.”

  “You should, have some fun,” Leo tried convincing them.

  However, they insisted, and were determined they would go that day to meet Francisco.

  Leo picked them up in his car and before he left for the embassy, he dropped them off at the Square of Three Powers.

  They headed to the congr
ess building, where the senate and house of representatives was. They walked through the revolving door and down the long hall crowded with men wearing suits and ties and holding briefcases. They passed by them, nodded their head saying ‘bom dia’, smiling every now and then. No one stopped them and asked where they were heading, everyone was on their way and couldn’t linger.

  The long hall was lined with green carpets absorbing footsteps. There were staircases on both its sides.

  “What way should we go?” Gadi asked Bernardo.

  “One staircase leads to the senate and the other to the house of representatives,” Bernardo replied and Gadi followed him.

  “Are you sure this is the right way?” Gadi asked again.

  “I think so. Look, the carpets are red here, in the senado – the senate, they’re blue.”

  Through the extravagant hall, behind the rooms, Gadi noticed greenhouses with trees and other plants. He thought it strange.

  A garden in the middle of a hall? He asked himself. This must mean something, he thought, but wouldn’t bother Bernardo again. Gadi didn’t want to slow down his brother’s quest to find his father. It really is different for us. He doesn’t have a father, I do.

  However, the greenhouses were so odd that he couldn’t contain himself and said, “look, Bernardo, what are these?”

  “No time for guided tours,” Bernardo replied with a stern look, “it’s Wednesday, he’d be gone by tomorrow, heading back to Natal for the weekend. We would have to wait until Monday or Tuesday for his return. That’s the way it is, they disappear during weekends, which is why I’m in a hurry, get it?”

  “Did you learn that at your hotel?”

  “Yes, when you work at a hotel you meet a lot of people, you learn something from everyone.”

  “Bernardo, there’s an information desk, you have to ask someone. We’ve been walking around for an hour and haven’t gotten anywhere.”

  “Don’t exaggerate, we’ve barely been here for half an hour.”