Ze zijn bekwaam, tegelijkertijd, protestant te zijn maar toch de aankomst van de Paus in Brazilië luidruchtig te feesten; zichzelf als een uitstekende, bekommerde, huisvrouw en moeder te beschouwen en te gedragen en er toch niet terug voor te deinzen een collega van het werk af te trekken (of zelfs af te zuigen, waarbij een tongkus, integendeel, absoluut is verboden), alleen maar om hem een pleziertje te doen; te zweren dat ze hun geliefde beminnen uit de grond van hun hart, maar er geen twee keren over zouden peinzen te bezwijken aan de uitnodiging een nacht door te brengen in het gezelschap van hun favoriete feuilleton, film- of zangidool; zich zachtaardig voor te stellen in het algemeen, maar toch gemakkelijk een uitnodiging zouden aanvaarden een terechtstelling bij te wonen; bidden voor de vrede, maar toch een oorlogje hier, of een ander daar, goed te keuren; zichzelf super eerlijk te vinden, maar toch bekwaam zijn te liegen zoals Pinoquio... xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Zo is mijn mond werkelijk verstomd open gevallen geweest toen ik met mijn eigen ogen vaststelde hoe één van onze Braziliaanse vriendinnen, tezelfdertijd met een bezoekende Belgische vriend (ik zal geen namen noemen) aan het vrijen was, hier in Recife, terwijl ze, over het Internet heen, een man, in het zuiden van het land, had leren kennen, met wie ze bezig was haar huwelijk te regelen en met dat doel zelfs een wettelijke volmacht verstrekt heeft aan één van haar kennissen daar, om het burgerlijk huwelijk, op afstand, mogelijk te maken, terwijl ze hier, ondertussen, er niet aan twijfelde, diezelfde avond nog, na haar splinternieuwe man goede nacht te hebben gewenst, met haar oude vrijer, haar eerste huwelijksnacht door te brengen.

Enkele dagen daarna is dat meisje zich gaan voegen bij haar man in het zuiden, terwijl de ernstige Vlaming terug is vertrokken naar België.

Zelfs mijn vrouw, een overtuigde en pratikerend katholiek mens, heeft daar niets vreemds in vast gesteld en heeft haar voortdurend aangewakkerd zeker niets van dat heerlijk leven te verliezen. Hun vriendschap is daar ook niet van aangetast geweest. Minnaar en minnares zijn gedurende bepaalde tijd nog in contact gebleven, langs het internet om.

Zoals ik het al verschillende keren heb gezegd: Ga met zo’n lawijt in uw oren gaan slapen...

De volgende correspondentie heeft het meisje vervolgens opgezonden naar haar minnaar in België. Of beter, ze heeft een “draft” van die brief voorbereid in het Engels, maar beseffend dat hij waarschijnlijk niet helemaal begrijpbaar zou zijn, heeft ze mij nog gevraagd daar eens een revisie van te maken. 't Is wel al vele jaren geleden gebeurd...

(PS: Mijn engels is ook niet perfect. Daarom, verontschuldiging)

“Meu velho bruxo" (mijn oude “tovenaar”? Bruxa betekent heks),

I'm so sorry if I really made you feel confused and disturbed about the recent news you got from me.

What Rudo told you on the phone is true. I did ask him and Ligia to call you and tell you about the feelings I have and still feel for you.

Well, what happened ?

A couple of months ago, I met that guy who is now my husband. I never felt like really being in love with him but I was alone and in need of tenderness. I needed someone to talk about my problems and he brought me peace and comfort. He spent a couple of days with me in xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Recife and gave me, as a present, a ticket to fly to Florianopolis (a city in the South of Brazil) during my holidays, in order to enable me to meet his family there. We felt fine together and that closeness and the way he behaved and treated me, turned into intimacy.

In my last letter, which by the way you did not interpret correctly, I wrote you that I had become fiancée. When I received your reply, I noticed you hadn’t understood it.

A couple of weeks ago, I tried desperately to call you, but you weren’t home or you didn’t attend the telephone.

Please understand that these last weeks have been very embarrassing for me because I felt, and I may say, I still feel, very confused about the relationship with my husband on one side and everything I felt, and still feel for you, on the other side.

In reality, I have always desired a man close to me; to share my life. I was sure that you were that man when we got together, during those unforgettable days in Gent, but you never pronounced a single word about what kind of relationship you expected from me and never mentioned about how to proceed my studies in the University of Gent.

The very day I married him (I did that by power of attorney, because he still lives in the South), I was very much in doubt about accepting it, or not. I have been childish in my acts, I know, but believe me, I never felt so anxious. My heart was beating furiously when I heard your voice through the telephone, because that was the only voice I wanted to hear. I would have given anything to be able to talk to you before (I wasn’t even able to sleep that night). I called you on Sunday because I couldn’t reach you before, to answer your letter.

That’s why, “meu velho bruxo”, I beg you for pardon. It’s like I wrote you by fax, destine separated us, as did my childish behavior and my loneliness.

I’m capable of doing almost everything, if there is still a chance and if you (really) want me. I’m sorry if I make you confused with these words. Honest, I feel ashamed about desiring you along my side.

Out of the bottom of my heart, I would adore if you would be able to come to Recife, preferably during August. We would be able to talk it all over and walk along the beach side and clear any doubt. Please don’t feel guilty to look after me while I am married, because you are somebody very special to me.

I would love to continue being your close friend for always and if one day we could be more than just friends and spent marvelous moments together, it would be great.

It may be wrong, but I must say you once more: I love you and I miss you.

Many kisses, from your

“Bruxa Velha”

Beneden volgt de originele versie van deze brief, die zelfs de “geïnteresseerde” niet in handen heeft gekregen, destijds:

“Meu velho bruxo,

I'm writing this for sorry, sorry. I know that you is confuse about I said myself. But is true. Everything that we talked last on Sunday is true. I wanted to show my feelings to you. Well, I tell you what happened.

This my story.

A long time ago I knew a gay and we start a date. After time we married. I don't like him, but I was alone, I needed someone. I was confuse, I had many problems with myself. This gay brought me peace, comfort, tranquility, many good things. He knew my family and everybody liked him. I knew his family too. It was good for us. I'm felt happy.

Once time I wrote to you that I was fiancée and you understood me.

Last weekends I'm embarrass, it's complicate to me about my sentimental life. I'm confuse with my marriage. Everything that I feel to you. Oh! My God. Help me, please.

I always like you and I wanted live all my life with you. I had good times when I was in Gent. I didn't want finished. I was happy. Very, very happy. But you didn't say or do nothing. Tell why? Why?

Pay attention. It's serious.

When I married I was alone. I married by proxy. (my husband lives in South-West of Brazil). Really, I wanted you were there by my side. I thought all the time in you. I miss you. Believe me. On Sunday I was anxious when I called for you, my heart tum, tum... I wished to call to you a long time. I tried and I don't get, and the time passed. Oh!!!

Meu velho bruxo, I'm here. Give me your pardon. The destiny separated me and you, but if I have a chance, if really you want me I can do anything for stay with you. I'm repent of all that I did. I wanted you by my side. I'd that you come to Recife in August. Here we can talk and explain any doubt.

Well, I hope be your good friend for all the life. If some day we can stay together it will marvelous. Maybe I'm wrong, but I say always and once time I LOVE YOU. I MISS YOU.

Kiss, kiss,

Your everlasting,

“Bruxa velha”