Armazém Paraíba and the Circus in Tears Transformed into Joy

 

On the outskirts of the city of Caxias, in the state of Maranhão, a small circus was set up in the town of “Pai Geraldo”, precisely in March 1989. And on a rainy morning, the freight truck was unloading the trunks and all the equipment for the set-up. A young boy of only fourteen years old, named Ricardo, was rushing from one side to the other, adjusting the microphone connected to a battery source, and enthusiastically speaking to passersby.

 

-Attention! Attention! The International Circus of Crateús has arrived. We are here to let you know that we are hiring people to set up the circus, come and look for Ricardo.

 

The boy would start calling out every hour, and several men and women would come up and give him their names so he could start the assembly work. In two days of work, the circus was already set up. Two colorful flags were waving high up on the mast next to the old loudspeaker.

 

The cast was made up of a single family of seven artists, led by the owner, Mr. Dantas, a juggler and Clown Periquito, and his sons: Ricardo, a ground, rope and aerial acrobat; Anderson, aged twelve, with capoeira and bike riding.

 

Dona Tereza, Dantas' wife, danced and jumped, and was the magician's assistant; Ellen, the youngest daughter, aged only six, performed aerial ballet. And Rubens, aged twenty, was the "Flower Magician", brightening up the evenings and afternoons with tricks and entertaining the children and teenagers from the poor neighborhoods.

 

Armando, who was twenty-one years old, was a comedian with his father, as well as a ball-walker and a tightrope walker. This was the circus life with a humorous presentation, guaranteeing everyone joy for generations with applause in a popular art that was born at least five thousand years ago.

 

In the morning, Ricardo makes a quick announcement inviting young men to provide occasional services as security guards and young women to work at the box office, at which point the entrance to the circus is already full of people from that neighborhood, the only job offer at that time, and Ricardo meets those interested.

 

-Please! Keep calm! We only need two security guards and a receptionist.

 

A muscular teenager named Mundico and Jonas with an athletic build were chosen, in addition to the girl Bárbara. Moments later, Mundico asks:

 

-Hey young man! What do you have to do? I've never worked in a circus, and how much are you paying?

 

-We're recruiting two young men to do night sweeps around the circus during the shows, preventing intruders from entering without paying, and our pay is daily after the show.

 

-If that's the case, I'm ready! Mundico said smiling with his hands in his pockets.

 

That afternoon, the family got together to do a commercial on the streets of the neighborhoods. The bicycle was used as a spokesperson for the commercials, carrying a stilt-legged doll, a clown, a ballerina and other artists. The boy's voice impressed and caught everyone's attention on the streets, alleys and avenues of the neighborhoods: Nova Caxias, Mutirão, Refinaria and João Viana.

 

- Attention! The greatest show of the International Circus of Crateús has arrived in Caxias! Come and see us tonight, we have the best artists in Latin America, straight from Crateús - Ceará.

 

With each movement, Ricardo impregnated a new commercial and the children on the street followed him in that lively walk.

 

-Come! Come! Tonight we have spine-chilling flights with the best juggler in Brazil, defying the law of gravity. Don't miss it! The magician of Flowers, the ballerina girl on the tightrope and the clown Periquito, the “King of Children” with his red nose the color of a tomato. Tonight, today, at 7 pm, the best international attraction from Maranhão to the world. Attention! Attention! Today at the International Circus of Crateús, don't miss it! Come to Pai Geraldo and enjoy the joy by bringing your children.

 

A boy who was playing with glass balls with other children calls for his mother.

 

-Mom! Mom! Come see, it's the clown from the magazine, look at the stilt-legged one!

 

The streets were full of boys and fruit vendors who stopped their handcarts, the cart drivers braked their donkeys, the housewives opened their windows and applauded the first street show. The neighbor next door commented to Dona Carmen:

 

-Wow! Dona Carmen. Our neighborhood is very important, it even has an international circus.

 

-That's right, Bernardo, now all that's missing is the Garcia Circus. I hope they make money. I was thinking of selling oranges, cakes, coffee and some cigarettes at retail from Paraguay.

 

The opening night was approaching, boys and girls, young people, men and old people gathered in front, and Cazuza's recently released song was blasting with the melody "it's part of my show", and on the other side Ricardo received several messages in the dressing room from the girls asking for an announcement and to offer the melody to their dates.

 

Armazém Paraíba and the Circus in Tears Transformed into Joy

 

On the outskirts of the city of Caxias, in the state of Maranhão, a small circus was set up in the town of “Pai Geraldo”, precisely in March 1989. And on a rainy morning, the freight truck was unloading the trunks and all the equipment for the set-up. A young boy of only fourteen years old, named Ricardo, was rushing from one side to the other, adjusting the microphone connected to a battery source, and enthusiastically speaking to passersby.

 

-Attention! Attention! The International Circus of Crateús has arrived. We are here to let you know that we are hiring people to set up the circus, come and look for Ricardo.

 

The boy would start calling out every hour, and several men and women would come up and give him their names so he could start the assembly work. In two days of work, the circus was already set up. Two colorful flags were waving high up on the mast next to the old loudspeaker.

 

The cast was made up of a single family of seven artists, led by the owner, Mr. Dantas, a juggler and Clown Periquito, and his sons: Ricardo, a ground, rope and aerial acrobat; Anderson, aged twelve, with capoeira and biker.

 

Dona Tereza, Dantas' wife, danced and jumped, and was the magician's assistant; Ellen, the youngest daughter, aged only six, performed aerial ballet. And Rubens, aged twenty, was the "Flower Magician", decorating the evenings and afternoons with tricks and entertaining the children and teenagers from the poor neighborhoods. Armando, twenty-one years old, was a comedian with his father, in addition to being a ball boy and a tightrope walker. This was the circus life with a humorous presentation, guaranteeing everyone joy for generations with applause in a popular art that was born at least five thousand years ago.

 

In the morning, Ricardo makes a quick announcement inviting young men to provide occasional services as security guards and young women to work at the box office. At that moment, the entrance to the circus was already full of people from that neighborhood, the only job offer at that time, and Ricardo meets those interested.

 

-Please! Keep calm! We only need two security guards and a receptionist.

 

A muscular teenager called Mundico and Jonas with an athletic build were chosen, in addition to the girl Bárbara. Moments later, Mundico asks:

 

-Hey, young man! What do you have to do? I've never worked in a circus, and how much are they paying?

 

- We are recruiting two young men to do nighttime sweeps around the circus during the shows, preventing intruders from entering without paying, and our payment is daily after the show.

 

- If that's the case, I'm ready! Mundico said, smiling with his hands in his pockets.

 

That afternoon, the family got together to do a commercial on the streets of the neighborhoods. The bicycle was used as the spokesperson for the commercials, carrying a stilt-legged puppet, a clown, a ballerina, and other artists. The boy's voice impressed and caught everyone's attention on the streets, alleys, and avenues of the neighborhoods: Nova Caxias, Mutirão, Refinaria, and João Viana.

 

- Attention! The greatest show of the International Circus of Crateús has arrived in Caxias! Come and see us tonight. We have the best artists in Latin America, straight from Crateús - Ceará.

 

With each movement, Ricardo impregnated a new commercial and the kids on the street followed him in that lively walk.

 

- Come! Come! Tonight we have hair-raising flights with the best juggler in Brazil, defying the laws of gravity. Don't miss it! The magician of Flowers, the little ballerina on the tightrope and the clown Periquito, the “King of Children” with his red nose the color of a tomato. Tonight, at 7:00 p.m., the best international attraction from Maranhão to the world. Attention! Attention! Today at the International Circus of Crateús, don't miss it! Come to Pai Geraldo and enjoy the joy by bringing your children.

 

A boy who was playing with glass balls with other children calls out for his mother.

 

-Mom! Mom! Come see, it's the clown from the show, look at the stilt-legged guy!

 

The streets were full of children and fruit vendors who stopped their hand carts, the cart drivers braked their donkeys, the housewives opened their windows and applauded the first street show. The neighbor next door commented to Dona Carmen.

 

-Wow! Dona Carmen. Our neighborhood is very important, it even has an international circus.

 

-That's right, Bernardo, now all that's missing is Circo Garcia. I hope they make money. I was thinking of selling oranges, cakes, coffee and some cigarettes at retail from Paraguay.

 

The opening night is approaching, boys and girls, young people, men and old people gather in front, and Cazuza's recently released song bursts out with the melody "it's part of my show", and on the other side Ricardo receives several messages in the girls' dressing room asking for an announcement and to offer the melody to their dates.

 

The circus already set up seemed to be the brightest star in that village, and municipal public health or improvements with paving never surrounded the edges of that poverty.

 

The circus already set up seemed to be the brightest star in that little town, and municipal public health or paving improvements never reached the edges of that poverty.

 

And much less the IBGE census, where thousands of voters from the neighborhood had their electoral residence address in the neighboring city of Aldeias Altas. It could be said that the largest dormitory for voters, possibly on election days, with trucks carrying people like cattle to the other city, was in the vicinity of several neighborhoods on the edge of government discredit. And the inertia of the powers that be under a constitution still in force in the country.

 

The vendors of oranges, coffees, cigarettes, chocolates, cakes and juices were already there with their trays set up, waiting for those humble people behind the light of the lamps. Logically, others in better conditions emitted light from their lamps, resulting in a boundless blaze of lights in that forgotten neighborhood without electricity.

 

The circus's generator engine was making endless noise, lights coming from the circus pierced the tent that looked like a starry sky with thousands of holes and patches. However, Cazuza's music could be heard from a distance or even in the Refinaria neighborhood. The boys with their bikes lit up with headlights looked like fireflies or even motorcycles lost in that darkness.

 

In a few moments, the beautiful 15-year-old Marilda crossed the street wearing her best clothes, her best perfume, "Tabu", and wearing colorful Japanese sandals, moments in which she saw her friend Rafaela again. She asked:

 

- Hey, faggot! Where are you going? Have you seen my Carlinho?

 

- Hi! I came to take a look at the circus, but now, that Carlinho guy is over there in the Refinaria alley cuddling the black Patrícia.

 

Unsatisfied with the answer, Marilda said.

 

- I'm going to put a pair of ciphers on him right now. What is he thinking about? I'm not an idiot to wait for him.

 

- You know, my friend! I was coming from there and I thought it was a Christmas tree. Well, the tent of this circus is full of holes and everything looks like a bunch of lights. Girl! What a weak circus! What's the point of this tent full of holes? The best thing about it is that green-eyed Galician who advertises the circus. He's a hottie!

 

- That's right!

 

The circus theater begins, the magic of the upcoming show is the entrance of the clown Periquito who draws applause from children and adults, laughter and whistles are part of the show when the red curtains open with Ricardo's voice.

 

- Ladies and Gentlemen! Respectable Audience! With you the greatest clown in the State of Ceará, we announce, the Clown Periquito!

 

The contagious smile raised the audience's applause, Cazuza's music played softly as background music. Ricardo announced the greatest magician and his assistant with wonderful gestures, she smiled and waved to the audience with delight and joy.

The magician Rubens' wand triumphed between the generator's lights, touching the assistant, who opened a bouquet of flowers for them, and again, the voice behind the curtain announced the transformation of a pigeon into a parrot, making the audience under the very hot canvas murmur.

 

Outside, the children ran from one side to the other looking for a better angle between the holes in the canvas. It is known that the security guards could not keep up with the number of mischievous children during the show.

 

The second night of the biggest event in the “Pai Geraldo” neighborhood arrived. The stands were packed, people were excited, everyone wanted to see the greatest magician, an articulate and spontaneous young man. And the perfection of the acrobats in the sequence of movements, variations and jumps in the air sent shivers down the audience’s spine, the jugglers and dancers with strength and talent in the search for pleasure and contentment. This was the International Circus of Crateús, where children and adults realized the world of fantasy.

 

While the celebration of smiles flew between the tents, two young men tried unsuccessfully to jump over the barbed wire fence, at which point the security guards warned them about the invasion.

 

- I don’t want you two jumping again, if you want to watch, pay!

 

One of the young men threatened the security guard, saying:

 

- Hey man! You’re going to pay me, you’re going to see what’s going to happen today, wait for me!

 

The security guard didn't even pay attention to such threatening words, continuing with the show, which was already packed to the brim.

 

At dawn, around two o'clock, Ricardo went to his parents' room.

 

- Dad! What a wonderful show! The house was packed and there was a lot of money at the box office. Just look! There were people from Codó, Coelho Neto, Gonçalves Dias, it was a great party. Even that bus from the Lider company had a lot of customers from Timon. Hey man! Now we'll be able to buy a new tent and then we'll buy a Brasília to advertise on the streets.

 

- It was a great night. God willing! I'll buy the tent and the car. Now go to sleep, son!

 

It was already past three thirty in the morning, darkness was perpetuating in the Pai Geraldo neighborhood, while the artists slept contentedly. A gale was blowing over the place, and the wind whistled, showing its strength, at moments when the front of the circus released tongues of fire into the empanada, the burning flames simultaneously developing heat and light, at which point Ricardo saw the flash, raising the alarm.

 

- Dad! Mom! Rubens! Anderson, the circus is on fire! My God! What a disgrace this is. They set our circus on fire.

 

Unexpectedly, everyone runs out, the flames quickly advance over the tent, but they are unable to put out the flames that devastate everything in their path, burning the stands, embers and smoke dominate, screams, moans and tears spread. Ricardo crosses the fire with buckets of water in the hope of saving the money from the two days of shows, and his parents beg him.

 

- Get out of there Ricardo for the love of God!

 

- Don't come back in!

 

A farmer who was passing by on his way to the fields, watches the struggle of the little acrobat Ricardo, charging against the gigantic flames, in the hope of saving the only livelihood of the family, his energy runs out and he is unable to get out. The farmer, with a merciful gesture, crosses some flames and carries in his arms the young Ricardo, who has fainted with wounds on his arms and legs. The little Ellen danced, sobbing incessantly, hugging her mother, while neighbors helped the injured man. The clown Periquito was in mourning.

 

- I lost my circus! What will become of me, my God! How cruel! Why did they do this to me? My life is the circus, I live off the circus!

 

Tears were streaming down faces, screams and moans were constant, even strangers were crying, others with buckets and cans ran in the hope of easing part of the circus, but the wind blew the rubble of the stands into flames. The Pai Geraldo neighborhood was a burning hell, more than three hundred people were working with the fire, like real firefighters. So, without the circus and without the money from the box office, the lives of the artists were lost in misfortune, with lamentations flying into the clear sky through the flames.

 

-I'm finished! I have nothing left! Why did they do this to me!

 

The clown Periquito sobbed, his hands on his head, pacing from one side to the other. While people from other neighborhoods arrived in trucks and private cars with drums of water and food, in a scene as treacherous and moving as one can imagine that early morning. Dona Maria, a lady who sold vegetables in the central market, commented to a man who was sitting down and looking very sad.

 

-Just look! What these little thugs are capable of doing! This is the end of the world. Where are the police? Where are the city authorities? Where are these monkeys? They only know how to chase "watermelon". All this is because they are poor. If they were rich, the monkeys would be chasing them. Look, man! I came from Alto da Cruz, more than four kilometers away, and I saw this flash. It's a shame to see something like this! This is dirty, this is the work of children who do not obey their parents.

 

-It's true. These young people only think about being the owners of freedom without responsibility. If I could, ma'am! I would work to help them, but I'm unemployed, but I'll help them in any way I can. These people are the ones who make children and adults happy, they live off of this.

 

The next day, Ricardo is still looking in the ashes for what's left of the money, and finds nothing, only sadness that invades his eyes as the wind lifts the ashes that are left.

 

It wasn't long before a plane flew over the city of Caxias, marked by a large plume of smoke in the small town of Pai Geraldo. Observing everything, the businessman asked the co-pilot:

 

-Reinaldo, what the hell was that? Take another low turn and let's go to the airfield.

 

-Dr. Claudino, there are a lot of people carrying cans of water. It looks like there was a large-scale fire in that circus.

 

-Wow! What a shame! Mercy! May God do something. When I get to the store, I'll take a closer look at this situation. It worries me.

 

On that afternoon filled with tears, the businessman from Paraíba João Claudino Fernandes, owner of the home appliance chain in the Northeast and the largest retail chain in Brazil – ARMAZÉM PARAÍBA – “Success Anywhere”. Along with other companies, worried about finding out the extent of what had happened in that area, went to the International Circus of Crateús. And in that emotional silence, João Claudino said to the store employee:

 

-Call Souza Braga to accompany me to the Pai Geraldo neighborhood.

 

Upon arriving at that place full of sadness, Mr. Claudino spoke to the owner of the circus, Mr. Dantas, saying:

 

-Dear friend! Don't carry sadness in your heart, today, I see you like this with small eyes. Do you remember? That you once made all of Brazil smile? Do you remember? That one day in the city of Cajazeiras in Paraíba, you made many children jump for joy by coloring our faces.

And today I don't want to see you cry. You know! I'm going to tell you a little about my story that happened in 1958, when I fled the drought that was ravaging Paraíba and came to Maranhão, with few resources, I set up our first little store with my brother in the city of Bacabal. At that time, we went through serious difficulties, but these difficulties were our commitments to the people and the success of that store, and because we love my hometown, we pay tribute to it by naming it Armazém Paraíba. That's how Armazém Paraíba is, a friend of friends from yesterday, today and tomorrow, always a success wherever it goes.

 

The great and eminent businessman embraced the clown Periquito and his family and left, without making any promises to the artists.

 

Upon arriving at his store in downtown Caxias, the great and fervent Paraibano, lover and promoter of northeastern culture, ordered Souza Braga and the local manager of the Armazém Paraíba store to house all the artists in the best hotel in Caxias – the well-known Excelsior Hotel located in the city center, near Praça Gonçalves Dias. And he ordered the purchase of a new and complete circus for the great circus artists, in addition to a truck for transportation donated by the company.

 

The Crateús International Circus was ready in just fifteen days, an opportunity to present the Pai Geraldo neighborhood with two free weeks of shows, producing full-throttle excitement, touring the entire city, with the colors yellow, black and red as the symbol on the tent, forming the largest retail store in Brazil – ARMAZÉM PARAÍBA – SUCCESS ANYWHERE.

 

Gathered in the dressing room after the show, Ricardo talks to his father.

 

- Dad! There are still good and determined people like the owner of Armazém Paraíba who came from the sky to help us, flying over the city and saw our circus in ashes. Dad, he is the king of the home appliance chain in the Northeast. Wow, the owner of Armazém Paraíba came here. And that other guy is the Roberto Carlos impersonator. Well, his voice is identical to Roberto. Yes. He had a program on Rádio de Caxias, he is the famous Souza Braga.

 

- Son! There is no evil that does not bring some good. If the world wanted to live on gratitude, there would not be so many people hungry for peace. I was surprised by their visits. And the dark-haired boy, Souza Braga, wrote everything down in a notebook, even the size of the circus.

 

And so, the International Circus of Crateús departed, carrying the flag of Armazém Paraíba as a member of an eternal communion of love and peace among men, generating joy and happiness, love on each face like the opening of a rose, with the great circus currently in Las Vegas.

 

Written in September 1989

 

http://www.armazemparaiba.com.br/