Photo: JK Monument, Brasilia; Maurilio Quadros on Unsplash
“Why is he up there?” Santiago shaded his eyes against the glare.
“To be close to the angels,” A-avó said.
“Isn’t he already dead?” the boy asked softly. He didn’t want to offend his grandmother, whose age seemed close enough to dying.
“Ah,” A-avó shook her head with sorrow. “He is with Jesus now some years. But he kept many from joining Heaven too early.”
The boy’s eyes lit with curiosity. “Did he do magic, A-avó?”
“In his way,” the old woman nodded. “Magic enough to me. Your O-avô would not have lived if it weren’t for President JK bringing medicine to us who lived in the country. The malaria and the tuberculosis would have taken your O-avô. As they had taken mine.”
Santiago thought of how it would be for him to grow up without the man he loved. “Obrigado,” he bowed to the statue.
“Good boy,” A-avó smiled.
For What Pegman Saw: Brasilia, Brazil
Na'ama Yehuda 
Wonderful.
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Thank you, my friend! I know he was not appreciated by all equally, but he did a lot for Brazil at the time and I’d like to think he did so from the right place.
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No doubt
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🙂
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Such kindnesses must be remembered
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Yes, by those who were impacted it, for sure!
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🙂
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🙂
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Very nice story. I had actually never heard of this city before today. Goes to show how many cultures and lives there are that no one is even aware of!
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I know! I learn new things every day, and I like the “what pegman saw” challenge in part because it has ‘taken me’ to places I’ve been to, and places I haven’t been to, and places I’ve never heard of before. Fascinating little planet of ours, isn’t it? So many places and people and cultures and stories and histories to learn about! 🙂
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Yes! My dream is to travel. Not to go lay on sunny beaches only but to see history and learn about people. Today was the first time I saw this challenge and I absolutely love it!
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Ah! I love traveling (and … I don’t mind walking on sandy sunny beaches … ;)) – I hope you’ll join the Pegman challenge. It’s fun to ‘travel’ this way and see what everyone writes.
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I am so happy I found the Pegman Challenge! I love this type of stuff and like I said I love learning about new places.
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This is great! Like many prompts, the number of participants waxes and wanes but I find that many times it is fun to be part of it. Looking forward to ‘seeing you’ around! 🙂
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I don’t know about this history, but from this snippet I would say this is magic enough for me, as well, and worth elevating the statue high into the heavens. I learn so many interesting bits of history and culture from what everyone else does with this Pegman challenge, how wonderful!
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Thanks, Joy!
Yes, learning from each other this way is delightful! 🙂
Keep well!
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I’m okay so far thank you. It’s not too hard to stay isolated and we have shops who will deliver meat, and fish, and veg. Supermarkets are not quite as good, but we’re getting by and not going short.
I hope all is well with you in the bustling metropolis! xx
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All well with me. The city is currently in the grip of the thick of it, with many many ailing, and all under restrictions, but I’m doing okay overall, and grateful for it. Good to hear you have what you need! 🙂 Take good care!
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What a lovely story. You’ve written it with great simplicity, which is totally appropriate for your characters. And your characters are considerate, thoughtful people, so we like spending time with them. Very heartening, Na’ama!
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Yay, Penny! I’m so glad you liked them! I find that most people are likeable, especially the kind, gentle, considerate ones. 🙂
Take good care, and stay well, Penny! These are very unusual times … NYC is not-feeling-like-itself, even as it is also exactly itself …
Na’ama
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