The American Lollipop Man

 

That afternoon, January 22, 1993, a man was walking on Bom Jesus dos Passos Street, with a colorful tray full of sweets. The children stood at their doors, waiting for the man to scream, singing their everyday song.

The lollipops on the tray were shaped like a cone and a stick, wrapped in blue, pink, green and white paper with assorted flavors.

-American lollipop, who has teeth sucks cane, who doesn't eat banana, American lollipop. It has cherry lollipop, grape, guava lollipop, tamarind. Come and taste the kids will like it.

Seeing his mother on the porch, Ramon says:

-Mom, the lollipop man is passing by. I want mother. Call him.

And the other boy named Romulo Shallkytton also asks, pleading: It is known, however, that I have never had the luck to publish my works. And that month, I had the money to release my first work written in poetry and short stories. No luck with books, my son was born and as I hadn't published any work, I spent the money on my son, and I put my stage name Shallkytton next to his name as my best work at that time; Romulo Shallkytton.

-Buy mom, lollipop for us. The man is looking at our house, he sells on credit to receive later. Go mom...

There he goes, and the girls at the door waiting for him to scream with his melody. The outfit was the same as every day, a pair of colorless shorts, a pair of differently colored and patched flip-flops, and a faded shirt.

The child knew his schedule, and at night, passing with hurried steps, Romulo saw the man go by, and said.

-Mother, now that the lollipop man is coming back with an empty board.

Silent, the man walked to get to his house quickly. It is known that he often sold it on credit to children free of charge and received it back with thanks.

A certain clientele every day, and when not on the streets. The kids asked the other day.

--Hey lollipop. Why didn't you stop by yesterday.

-My boy, the lollipop man was sick. I'm passing by. American lollipop, who has teeth sucks cane, who doesn't eat bananas, American lollipop. It has cherry lollipop, grape, guava lollipop, tamarind. Come and try it, the kids will like it.

In 1992, we moved to Rua Bom Jesus dos Passos, 351, in the Castelo Branco neighborhood, luckily, Romulo saw the Lollipop man pass on the street, and shouted to his mother to buy on credit.