It was the 1980s, 7-year-old Lester Haydar lived his childhood like any other child, spending hours playing with his robotic toys or going to the park every Sunday to face one of his greatest mechanical enemies: a swing he called “Tin”. In addition, he liked to watch his favorite television shows, including a popular anime series of the time, with the complicity of Diana, James's goddaughter and his babysitter, whose level of violence in said content was questionable. For him, the protection from the dangers of society was his home, under the care of his parents.

Mira, her mother and a lawyer by profession, always severely imposed the rules of the home. She wasn't a caring person and she didn't say “I love you” to her son on a regular basis, but her actions were much more gratifying than her words. She wanted Lester to live without worries that weren't his, like when she had them at the age of her son.

James, for his part, worked as an economist. He was someone who, unlike his wife, was characterized by being playful, talkative and even liked to dance; although his awkward steps were funny in the eyes of his coworkers or friends. For Mira, he was the spark she needed to smile and love him from the depths of her hard heart.

Sometimes when James couldn't sleep, he would read the newspaper or listen to the news on his little radio to find out much more about the world and he taught himself several languages ​​including Spanish, Italian and some French.

The family lived in an apartment complex that was nothing but chaos. The neighbors were loud, annoying and somewhat violent. Mira was desperate, but she knew she couldn't afford to live anywhere else. Her salary along with her husband's was not enough to pay for something wort

***

One Sunday at 6 in the morning, something deafening scared the Haydar family. A huge truck parked in front of the entrance to the building where they lived and inside, a bald man yelled at the people who were with him.

“I want everybody out!”

“I'm sick of sitting for 3 hours in this damn truck,” said his wife, a woman with excessive makeup and dressed like Madonna at the time.

“Come on guys, help your aunt!” the man ordered two boys who quickly got out of the vehicle.

Mira was in a very bad mood and with an overwhelming desire to tell them to shut up, she realized that the children were possibly Lester's age. They were twins, both with green eyes, curly hair, and one with more freckles than the other. Just seeing them moved the woman, so she decided not to make a fuss.

The belongings of the new neighbors were ostentatious, with modern furniture, suitcases and accessories of the socialite. As well as what seemed to be expensive works of art that the lady demanded to be treated with the greatest possible care since they were original pieces alluding to chaotic worlds.

“These paintings are worth more than what you get paid for a whole year as a manager!” she told her husband.

“I know, I know. You have always told me,” the man replied, taking all these priceless objects up to the second floor, to an apartment next to the Haydar family's.

“I told you to hire a moving company that could help us, idiot,” his wife muttered.

Meanwhile, in the nearby buildings, the neighbors behind the curtains witnessed such a collection of paintings that they themselves considered out of this world because they were “ugly” for their taste.

“I think I've seen that woman somewhere before. Maybe on TV,” Mira told James that she was looking out the bedroom window.

“Let me see,” said the husband and after putting on his glasses, he reacted very confused. “It can't be… That man is my boss! I didn't know that he was thinking of moving, much less, in a neighborhood like ours. He is a millionaire!… Although now that I think about it, he is a tightwad.”

Lester got up from his bed when he heard the commotion from the street and went to his parents' bedroom.

“Mommy?” he asked.

“Is that man your boss?!” Mira exclaimed.

“Yes. Well, it's actually the new manager, August. And she is his wife, a plastic artist, Stella… something… I met her last week. She had visited her husband while we had a business meeting.”

“And here I was wondering why her face was so familiar to me. But yeah,... they're so… ”

“Actually, that's how my boss usually talks, dear,” James explained with a fake smile.

“Mommy?” Lester asked again.

Mira reacted and took her son to bed, asking him to go back to sleep, despite the screams of the neighbors.

***

Several days later, Stella knocked on the Haydar family's door. Mira was preparing breakfast, and at the insistence of her neighbor, she had no choice but to feign sympathy to find out what she wanted. She was surprised at how bright her red dress was, as if she was ready to attend a glamorous party. She was accompanied by her two nephews who, upon sensing the smell of the food Mira was preparing, and if they were able to, would have loved to devour whatever was in sight. Not far away, there was another boy waiting for them, being a bit older than Stella's nephews.

“Good morning ma'am. I'm Stella Divas, your new neighbor.”

“Yes, I know who you are. My name is Mira Haydar. You made a lot of noise by moving here.”

“Hmm… Well,… ” she pushed her nephews in front of her to introduce them. “They are Benxamin and Victor, their mother died and legally my husband and I are their guardians. We enrolled our nephews in a school that is nearby, and I saw that you have a son. I don't know if he also studies there.”

The school uniform consisted of a blue jacket, with gray pants and a red tie.

“Well, it is a pleasure and my deepest condolences. I'm so sorry about what's happening to your nephews. I can't imagine how hard it's going to be for them,” Mira said, and then she stopped showing any empathy. “I suppose you know that your husband is the boss of mine. And, yes, my son studies at that school. I think we have a lot in common.”

“Since there are other children in the neighborhood, it would be nice if my nephews made new friends. They are going through a very difficult time. I guess you understand,” said Stella, somewhat annoyed by her neighbor's attitude, but she tried to keep her composure. “And we just met this guy… W-What's your name?”

“Marcel,” replied the boy behind her.

Meanwhile, Victor looked directly into Mira's kitchen. Benxamin's eyes, for her part, were fixed on the movements of Stella's hands, whose attitude showed her impatience without concealing it.

“Marcel?!... Beautiful name and your son is… ” she asked Mira trying to break the tension.

“His name is Lester but we're busy so don't wait for us. If you'll excuse me… ”

“No problem, ma'am. But changing the subject… from what I see, your department is a bit dead. Would you like a painting made by me? You know, I make a living from art. I'm a generous person and I don't charge my friends much.”

This was the perfect excuse Mira needed. But before saying goodbye to Stella, she took some cookies from the kitchen cupboard and handed them to the twins.