Quique Campos, Vicente Miranda and Gustavo Vivas
In Naguanagua, my two brothers and I were known as "The Chavecitos." That's because in the party Carnival of 1992 my older brother, Stanley, who was then twenty-five, he came disguised Chavez. That was the year of the coup and the red beret on his head was no exception. But perhaps Stanley was the only adult and the way she wore the uniform, the character that he displayed to repeat the notorious "for now" and some physical resemblance to the commander made his election as the best costume parade in Naguanagua. When asked how his character was called, he replied: "Chavecito, for now and forever." That was enough for thereafter he would stay with that nickname and his younger brothers Jefferson and I, as we were growing up, somehow I heredásemos: Chavecito Chavecito II and III. Together we were "The Chavecitos", the saga of "The Chavecitos" and if the President Caldera had not taken the commander of the prison, Chávez would not have gotten a political and perhaps nothing would have happened. But once on the street the commander began his campaign, and we, because we wanted Chavez to become president. Initially seemed a crazy thing, and in Naguanagua, everyone laughed at us. The candidate then looked more chance was compared Irene Sáez and all its beauty, had been Miss Universe " with the ugliness of Chavez. In such situations, if the odious comparison is produced in the presence of Stanley, Jefferson or mine, we offended because it was increasingly obvious that "The Chavecitos" were almost a copy of Hugo Chávez Frías. And three were adults and had body of a man. We wore green clothes bought in stores or Graffiti gives us the friends who had gone through the army, we used military boots, walked with a step that we thought martial and even spoke with a serious voice resembled that of the parades at the bottom of the TV - "A discreciónnnnn", "Mmmmmedia back ',' Firrrrrrmes "- but that only meant resemble that of Hugo Chávez. Clear that when talking about who did it was Stanley, not only by the voice and determination that made him, but because at night he read the authors and books always quoted the commander: Marx, Achilles Nazoa, Engels, Old Testament. Jefferson and I, however, we simply walk, sit and repeat "for now and forever", but Stanley went further: he spoke with passion of socialism, cooperatives, new and old schemes, the required change, and so forth. With these attributes, it is going to campaign and we with it. Our campaign was twofold: firstly to ensure that our candidate win the election and on the other seem increasingly to him. So if we saw a military jacket of our height, we bought, we did exercises to strengthen biceps and pectorals, we climbed to the platabanda at noon for the sun roasted us and we rizábamos hair with coconut oil or adding to shampoo Cayenne crushed leaves. So, gradually, increasingly seem to get Chavez. Stanley the most, first, the better. And if Stanley did we with him, because he was the elder brother, because I wanted a lot and mainly because he always had a special gift that we were forced to do what he wanted without even having need to talk. Enough that I looked into his eyes and marches, and I was mesmerized.
After Chavez won the elections, promised to rallies across the country before becoming president. In Naguanagua too. We went to the Plaza Bolivar of primeritos Naguanagua. We were in the front row. As the commander took too long to arrive, the meeting was originally scheduled to begin at five in the afternoon and were already eight o'clock everyone started to get discouraged. People started to leave. Every time the animator took the microphone and said the next president Venezuelans was stuck in a queue at the central regional highway, everyone booed him. All but Stanley remained unmoved by looking at the microphone. That is until Euclid, Euclid Perales, who had led the campaign Naguanagua, noticed him, walked to the edge of the stage and from there in her eyes held the eyes of Stanley without saying a word, both broke, in a flash, the idea of \u200b\u200bpolls and saving our lives, especially that of Stanley. Euclid
disappeared from the stage and then I could see down the stairs with a red jacket in his hands. Stanley approached, he heard and immediately spoke to-remember clearly that at that time Stanley turned his head toward us, Jefferson and myself, and we winked at the group departed. After two minutes, the host announced the arrival of Chavez and the three, Stanley was there at the microphone speaking to the people of Naguanagua as only Chavez could do it. Partners
-patriots ... Finally we come ... Overcoming ... Thanks to the joint efforts ... As Achilles Nazoa said, that old poet, the wise singer of freedom ... From the beginning ... The sweetness ... Of hope ...
The speech was a hit, total and unequivocal: all were delighted. In the end, even went to get autographs and give Stanley slips, always believing that he was the commander. The only problem was that Hugo did not come true. Stanley and we were commanded to call me and we were Jefferson and four - "The Chavecitos" and Euclid scared, full of fear, not knowing what else had happened, and harder still, what else could happen.
At ten o'clock at night the commander's bodyguards Perales called and told that nothing had happened, that as the queue was not moving just been arrested in San Joaquin and the commander had taken to eating some panels, but already ingested the delicious food he wanted to talk to to send their apologies to the people of Naguanagua. When I went to the commander, Perales turned purple, pride and satisfaction, and began telling what he and Stanley, and somehow, Jefferson and I-had done. Initially the words gushed from his mouth, but as they passed the second was pale, slowing his speech, stiff as if she were entering the fear.
"Do not worry, sir. Now go home and hope to party there.
closed the cell phone, "was a stout, the first that came with cap-and, walking toward us, began to curse:
"The bloody high, now it is true that the cagamos ...
"But, what happened, Euclid? What did the commander? "Interrupted Stanley. "It's
horny, pussy. Said that it seemed incredible that we have dared a. ..
"But you told him we did not to disappoint the crowd waiting at the square?
"Sure, but just as pissed-Euclid is more to talk about screaming, as if fear had given way to despair. Now it is true that Chavez ran out for us.
"Do not worry, Perales-started telling Stanley behind him, but seeing that Euclid was ignoring her, in a move that surprised everyone, grabbed him firmly by the shoulders, stood before him and looking into his eyes, said in a determined voice: "I talk to him.
Chavez arrived at the house of the movement almost midnight. First came two gray Toyota pickup trucks with the ex-militants of Rupture: got out, all dressed in leather jackets despite the heat, and surrounded the house. Then a command car with the national campaign and two trucks with soldiers. In the sixth vehicle, which stopped right in front of the door, it was assumed that it was Chavez. We were three other trucks, but we could not fix them, because a hand appeared through the window of which had been stationed outside the door. It was the left hand of the commander and Euclid ran out of the house and put his head in the truck through the window. After two minutes, came home and told Stanley he was talking to the commander. This conversation was much longer. It lasted about twenty minutes. We were worried. Jefferson believed that the commander would kill Stanley and asked for the cell to call Perales old. She had always been adeco, I ordered that set me on the phone and, soon, began to scold:
- How it occurred? Why not stop it? You who are the most sensible ...
would have stayed that way, endlessly, if not for Stanley came back and I had to close the cell. With a smile from ear to ear, jumping on one leg, very happy.
"We're going to Caracas, pussy. We work.
Within two days we went. Toyota came to look for a home, say goodbye to the old, we took the regional center in the curve of Girardot. Euclid was a driver and, thereafter, we became the official double Hugo Chávez. Stanley, being the best, the owner of the idea and the best speech, it would be number one. I am the second and Jefferson the third. Depended directly from the Secretariat of the Presidency and they called us something like improvisation and Contingencies Unit. A Perales was named coordinator of the unit, but in reality was the utility, the buenoparatodo. He was the one who made the purchase, we brought the suits, which leaves cayenne getting to the shampoo, which we tried not we moved to the apartment on the main avenue of Sebucán we allocated as housing and office I would say that as a shell.
The apartment had four rooms, each with its own bathroom. Prick was air conditioning, blue carpets, computers, a television the VHS in each room, a weight machine in the lounge, microwave, refrigerator and tostiarepas. Had a good library and even original boxes with names that appeared in art from the book: Soto, Cruz-Diez, Poleo, Tellez and Kandinsky. The fridge, by Euclid, was always full and the replacement of the films was permanent. The only bad thing was that, for security reasons, you could not leave, not even to take some sun in the garden. To tan brought us an ultraviolet ray machine.
"It's dangerous. You and your brothers have to be subjected to the same security measures as the President. In addition, we may find, he explained Euclides a day trying to convince to go to the auction of horses in the corner. If you want to drink, I bring the beer. And if you want to bet, I say the names of the horses and I go to the corner and make the bet.
So when we had to work, go to an opening or a parade if it was me or Jefferson, the television program or press conferences in the case of Stanley, we did so well. We were happy to go out into the street, if only temporarily leave the apartment. We drew Sebucán bubble and we threw into the ring. Then every man for himself, Stanley Jefferson and I smiled, hugging old ladies, drinking coffee, walked with people, we bought things in markets, including terminals in lottery sales. Stanley's case this time also was special. From ten o'clock, at that time ended the joint program that began at seven: exercise, breakfast and a hairdresser with cayenne-each could do what he wanted. Jefferson and I we used to watch TV, sleep or play with the NES. But Stanley: Daily picked up a new book from the library and began to read. In the first year read the complete works of Marx, Ortega y Gasset and a gigantic edition of Euclid gave the speeches of Fidel. When call us old-was the only outside person with whom we spoke-and he said he was reading, she scolded.
-Care, mijito. You were not born to study. Here in Naguanagua, nobody has ever read so much.
Obviously, Stanley paid no attention and continued reading and speech. Sometimes, in an interview or television show that Chavez got tired of going to six months and is almost exclusively commissioned Stanley was in contradiction with the commander, but then he called Sebucán and within minutes he and Stanley arranged it all:
"If not you do it tomorrow in the graduation of doctors, I do at night, I have an interview with CNN.
Obviously, the resemblance to the commander was growing. Among the diet, shampoo, cayenne, Stanley readings and the exercise of the morning, every time we looked over to Hugo Chavez. Once he even invited us to dinner at the presidential palace. The commander hugged us one by one, but then asked about Stanley and it literally melted. The four dressed alike: red beret, military jacket and jeans. The commander was still married to Marisabel Rodriguez and summoned. When she arrived at the presidential dining room nearly fainted when he saw us all four. We, the commander also remained impassive and expressionless face. Diosdado was the minister, who approached him and suggested Marisabel to tell what the real Chavez. Marisabel approached each of us and we immediately rejected Jefferson and me. After nearly a minute was hesitating between Stanley and Hugo. Finally opted for the former.
- Is that you, right? Stanley asked as he pulled his left ear.
"Nothing to do, my love," snapped the captain and together they were laughing at the yard where Euclid said he had a pool. Immediately
us, we had lunch, we left. That day, I remember, everyone left the presidential palace with a different destination: Stanley Venezolana de Televisión, Jefferson Petare Barquisimeto and I at the opening of a popular market. It was a difficult and demanding, but we did it willingly, because the revolution was a project that we thought too.
All remained so well until March 2002. The second Saturday Euclid led back to the presidential palace. There we got Hugo Chavez who, unlike last time, looked worried. He invited us to sit in his office and, bluntly, was to the point.
"Boys, now yes will start the revolution. We will be owners, to finally get hold of our oil and lots of people will be pissed. You have to be careful because anything can happen.
From that day decreased public events and, therefore, our work. But when we played out, the issue was more complicated: more bodyguards accompanied us, we had to walk faster and basically having a more serious attitude, not at all relaxed.
April 11, the day of the march that became the coup, we were in Sebucán. When television said that Chavez had resigned, Euclid began to mourn:
"I killed them, pussy. He was killed. Sure he was killed.
Stanley, Jefferson and I rose up off the couch and tried to comfort him. Again, it was Stanley who did it:
"Do not worry, Euclid. Diosdado call now and try to solve everything.
What happened since then seems to know everyone, but I have my own version and I know it's good. Some say that it was a coup, others that led to Chávez to La Orchila and there the faithful soldiers rescued him once they found that he had not resigned. I know that none of those things happened. I know because I saw Stanley when dialed telephone Diosdado, because I listened as he proposed his plan, because I left him with a hug:
"I've arranged for you and Jefferson are going to Miami. There will also be old. Nothing will be missing.
In the corner a group of masked men burned some rubber, but Stanley did not come out dressed in the clothes of the commanding officer, but theirs, of Stanley before. Euclid accompanied him with a backpack. Beyond the light, I saw everything from the balcony, climbed into a gray truck that started at full speed.
Jefferson and I could not sleep even for a minute. We stayed the whole time crying and laughing simultaneously sitting on the edge of the bed of Stanley, watching television. We knew everything already, that Hugo Chavez had been killed, that our job as Commander-double was over and that the man who, hours later, appear on television saying that he, Hugo Chavez assumed the presidency again and appointed Minister of Perales Euclid Secretariat and Vice-President Diosdado Cabello, was none other than Stanley Rivera, our soul brother, a fellow revolutionary, the prince of "The Chavecitos." President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For now and forever.
