The Janitor: contos, #1

By jessica diogo

Synopsis:

In the heart of a frosty February, caretaker Brody Garcia navigates the snow-laden grounds of the orphanage, his solitary tasks disrupted by the playful antics of the children he adores. Despite his grumblings, Brody's affection for the youngsters is palpable, a sentiment honed over years of nurturing and care.

But beneath Brody's gruff exterior lies a past riddled with untamed youth and lost dreams, haunted by a motorcycle accident that shattered both bones and spirit. It's within the sterile confines of a hospital room that he finds solace in the presence of a compassionate nurse named Leona, whose unwavering support offers a glimmer of hope amidst his darkest hours.

As Brody grapples with his past and an uncertain future, fate intervenes in the form of a frozen, abandoned child discovered at the orphanage gates. Joined by the determined nurse and a cadre of curious children, Brody embarks on a mission to rescue the forsaken boy, unraveling mysteries and forging unexpected connections along the way.

Meanwhile, in a world of bustling ambition and high-stakes politics, web designer Jessica Parker is thrust into the whirlwind of a city council election campaign. Tasked with sculpting the image of aspiring deputy Henry Lee, Jessica navigates the murky waters of power and influence, her journey illuminated by the stark contrast between opulence and aspiration.

As Brody's world intersects with Jessica's, they find themselves entwined in a tapestry of resilience and redemption, where the bonds of compassion and the pursuit of justice transcend the barriers of circumstance. Set against the backdrop of wintry landscapes and political intrigue, "Frostbound Hearts" is a poignant tale of unlikely heroes, unfaltering hope, and the transformative power of human connection.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: jessica diogo
• Release date: Apr 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224918225

jessica diogo

Ricardo Almeida is a writer and journalist, graduated in the Brazilian city of João Pessoa in 2007. He specializes in investigative journalism. In addition to his journalistic work, he is a speaker and writer. It shares its knowledge at conferences, workshops and publications, with the aim of disseminating information about society. Your commitment is to help others achieve a balanced and meaningful life.

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Table of Contents

The Janitor (contos, #1)

On a frosty February day, the caretaker Brody stepped out into the yard to clear the snow.

He was muttering something to himself, either humming a tune or talking to himself.

The children ran around, playing, jumping in the snow drifts, undoing the work the man

was diligently doing.

Come on, go play on the playground, or I'll catch you and give you a scolding, Brody

threatened.

You run around here, don't let me clean up properly.

And sooner or later, the manager will come.

Who will get in trouble for not clearing the snow?

Of course, Mr. Garcia.

Brody Garcia grumbled like an old man, but the children paid him no mind.

They weren't afraid of him at all and therefore didn't listen.

Mr. Garcia loved children, although he never had his own.

Over the years of working in the orphanage, he became deeply attached to each new child,

and when they graduated from the institution, tears welled up in the man's eyes.

He remembered each of them as children he had helped zip up jackets, put on boots, tie

scarves when they were going out for a walk.

Often, the children's caregivers asked him to keep an eye on them.

Where are your shovels?

Brody commanded.

Take them and come with me to clear the snow.

Look what you've done.

The children, racing each other, hurried to the storage closet on the veranda where the

tools were kept.

Taking shovels, they began to throw snow with Mr. Garcia from the paths into the snow drifts.

Together, they tidied up almost the entire area.

You're doing great, Brody, praised the child care worker.

You're doing well with the kids, you made them work, and there are no complaints.

As a pity you don't have your own, you would have raised good children and grandchildren.

Was there really no one to have children within your youth?

Brody's youth was wild.

He had been with so many girls, he wouldn't have enough fingers to count them all.

But he never thought about serious relationships.

He was a prominent guy, and girls chased after him in droves.

And he, so to speak, used them and left without regret.

In his younger years, Brody was into motorcycles, often participated in races, competed with

other guys on challenging tracks.

He crashed during one of those races.

He spent a whole year in the hospital.

Doctors literally pieced his bones together, and a special apparatus was installed on his

right leg.

Later, it turned out that the bones had healed incorrectly, they were broken again and reassembled.

Complex surgeries exhausted him, and the realization that he would have to give up

motorcycle racing caused severe depression.

He was rescued from apathy towards everything around him by a young nurse.

So what if you have problems with your leg, she comforted the young, handsome guy?

The main thing is you're alive, be glad that we have a surgeon sent from God, others would

have long put a cross on you.

The girl in the white coat with blue eyes and long blonde hair became his solace.

He waited every time for her shift to start, and she would enter the room to bring medicine

to the patient.

Sometimes Leona treated him to homemade pastries.

Here, help yourself, my grandma made them, and there's too much for us to eat together,

she offered Brody the rosy pies.

I bet you missed home cooked food.

And he happily ate the pies.

Your grandma is a culinary goddess, Leona, praised the guy.

It's delicious.

When Brody was allowed to go outside with crutches, Leona sometimes went for a walk

with him in the hospital garden.

They sat on a bench and talked.

Leona was preparing to enter medical school and wanted to become a pediatrician.

So you love children, Brody asked.

Yes, how can you not love them?

Leona replied.

The guy didn't understand Leona's enthusiasm for children.

Children didn't interest him at all, to Brody, they were akin to aliens, beings that were

very difficult to understand.

He found tinkering with machinery much more interesting.

That was his calling, he believed.

During the year spent in the hospital, Leona became very close to him, almost like family.

Sometimes it seemed to him that he was drowning in her blue eyes.

At such moments, Brody wanted to grab the girl, hold her in his strong arms, kiss her

lips as he did with other girls.

But Leona was different, it wasn't possible with her, and the guy felt it.

So, he just looked at her and admired her beauty.

Here, came to say, goodbye, Leona said once, entering Brody's room.

Leaving, going to take the entrance