Saturday Cleanup at the Square

Acordei cedo no sábado porque ia ter mutirão na praça do bairro.

I woke up early on Saturday because there was going to be a community cleanup at the neighborhood square.

Levei luvas, uma garrafinha de água e um bolo simples, e desci as escadas do prédio, animada.

I took gloves, a small water bottle, and a simple cake, and went down the stairs of my building, excited.

Quando cheguei, o pessoal já separava o lixo, e Dona Lúcia, da associação de moradores, distribuía pincéis para pintar o muro.

When I arrived, people were already sorting the trash, and Dona Lúcia, from the neighborhood association, was handing out brushes to paint the wall.

Começamos pela parte mais suja, e eu segui ao lado do Seu Anselmo, que contava histórias da praça quando era criança.

We started with the dirtiest part, and I walked alongside Seu Anselmo, who told stories about the square from when he was a child.

O sol esquentava, mas a sombra das árvores ajudava, e, a cada saco cheio, a praça parecia respirar melhor.

The sun was getting hot, but the shade of the trees helped, and with each full bag, the square seemed to breathe better.

Depois, pintamos um mural simples, com flores e o nome do bairro, enquanto as crianças esperavam a tinta secar para jogar bola.

Then we painted a simple mural, with flowers and the neighborhood’s name, while the kids waited for the paint to dry so they could play ball.

Teve um momento em que faltou água para lavar os pincéis, então corri até o bar da esquina e o dono emprestou um balde, dizendo que era para o bem de todos.

There was a moment when we ran out of water to wash the brushes, so I ran to the corner bar and the owner lent us a bucket, saying it was for the good of everyone.

De volta, reparti o bolo sobre uma toalha, e a conversa correu solta, com risadas e planos para a próxima ação.

Back at the square, I shared the cake on a cloth, and the conversation flowed, with laughter and plans for the next action.

Plantamos mudas de manjericão e tomate perto dos bancos, e combinamos que cada um cuidaria delas um dia da semana.

We planted basil and tomato seedlings near the benches, and we agreed that each person would take care of them one day a week.

No fim da manhã, cansada e suja de tinta, olhei a praça limpa e colorida e senti um orgulho quieto, daquele que fica no peito sem precisar de foto.

At the end of the morning, tired and covered in paint, I looked at the clean, colorful square and felt a quiet pride, the kind that stays in your chest without needing a photo.

Saí de lá com novos amigos e a certeza de que, quando a gente puxa junto, o bairro fica mais leve.

I left with new friends and the certainty that, when we pull together, the neighborhood feels lighter.