Finally out, Ezra walked briskly on the sidewalk. Lost in his thoughts, he felt like he had forgotten something important.

– Ezra!

He turned around and saw his little sister running towards him. She reached him, panting from the effort. 

– I've been waiting for ten minutes, I ended up believing that you had left without me ...

Ezra picked up his sister's large school bag, 

– How could I, he said, mocking.

He watched her from head to toe and sighed. Lily was eleven years old and dressed as she had since she was old enough to dress alone, that is to say with as much color as possible, which sometimes gave a strange mix.

Ezra recognized in the distance a group of girls in his class. With what happened, he preferred to avoid any questions in front of his sister, so he accelerated the pace. Lily, trotting behind him, was surprised, 

– But wait, why are you going so fast? Wait for me !

A thud is heard.

Ezra turned around and opened his eyes wide: Lily was in the middle of the trembling pedestrian crossing. She had crossed red, and a car had come to a stop in front of her.

Ezra dashed off like a rocket, dropped the bags nearby, and ran onto the road towards his sister.

– Lily, what are you doing ?! cried the boy.

In a small trembling voice, she answered him: 

– Th ... There was a cat on the road.

A man got out of the car,

– Sorry, he said she ran suddenly on the road!

He didn't bother to answer.

– Are you okay? He asked his sister.

– Yes, I'm okay, she replied, do you think the cat is okay?

Taking a deep breath to stay calm, Ezra hugged his still-trembling sister. She was head in the air and sometimes dressed strangely, but Lily was everything for him. Especially since their older sister Maya had left, he couldn’t bear the thought of losing anyone else he loved.

– Come on, let's go home, he said simply, don't worry mom with that.

She nodded without response. Ezra didn't insist. Before they reached the sidewalk, a man ran towards them, holding a cat in his arms.  Lily gave them a huge smile.

– Great, she said. The cat has nothing!

– Yes. Well, it almost wasn't your case, my little one! You could say you had a hell of a chance.

Ezra thanked the man,

– She's okay, she's okay, we're used to her.

Come Lily, mom is waiting for us, we have to go.

– Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you? Asked the man, little reassured by all that had happened.

Ezra was already moving, tugging his sister by the hand. 

– No, thanks, we'll be fine. We live nearby. Goodbye!

They arrived at Horton Street a few minutes later and pushed open the gate to their little apartment. It was almost dark, but the street was still bustling. The apartments were lined up, all the same. People spoke loudly, calling from one window to another and in all languages. Everyone knew everyone. This was the charm of this small working-class neighborhood. His mother had often wanted to move, especially after their father's death, but the neighborhood was kind and caring and had supported him a lot since she lived alone. She just couldn't leave these people who were almost a big family.

The two children crossed the small garden, which looked more like a fallow field, the weeds competed for almost all the free space, and the leaves of the previous autumn were not collected. Their apartment  was on the first floor. Despite the signs of wear and tear, the building was relatively well maintained. Although Elena wasn’t too concerned, Mr. Rivier, a neighboring handyman, was always eager to improve things. 

Ezra and Lily yanked open the front door and rushed into the house. They threw their bag at the foot of the coat rack in the small square hall.

Lily ran to the kitchen to taste while Ezra preferred not to hang around, and hastily went upstairs to escape her mother's questions. He still hadn't quite decided how he would tell him the latest events of the day. He would have taken refuge in his bed but he heard his mother’s voice.

– Ezra? 

She clearly understood that something was wrong. Ezra closed his eyes and resigned himself.

– Yes, he said shyly.

She smiles as she sees him.

– Hello, my darling, you could have come to kiss me before going to your room, all the same, right?

Behind her, Lily already had the spoon in the jar of chocolate dough. It didn't take long before Elena lost her smile.

– You are hiding something from me. Am I wrong? she said, looking at her son's torn pants and the scratches on his face.

– What happened to you? She asked, worried.

– Nothing, I fell on the way, he replied.

Lily who wanted to help her brother said

– No mom, it's my fault, I hadn't seen the red light!

Ezra knew his sister was trying to help him, but she only made things worse by revealing another issue, which their mother clearly understood.

Elena sighed and spoke to her daughter,

– Lily, could you give us a moment? Ezra and I need to talk.

Lily turned on her heels and ran away into the kitchen. Elena approached her son and looked him straight in the eyes.

– Ezra, I want you to tell me what happened. I know you, I'm your mom, and I know when you hide something from me.

He tried to run away, but Elena held him back.

– No, you do not move, and you answer my question: what happened?

Ezra sighed,

– I ... I fought, he said in a small voice.

Elena rolled her eyes, exasperated.

– And can I ask why ?

– Barton, replied Ezra simply

– It's a bit short as an explanation, she said sternly.

– They were still harassing Sullivan. I wanted to help him.

Elena sighed. She knew her son: he was unable to hide things from her, but although her son never had time to really know his father James Artoria, she knew that like him, he could not stand injustice and the cowardice of others.

– Do you remember our discussion with the school? She said more gently. You have to grow up,Ezra, you can't keep fighting in the playground and following your rules.

–I know, replied Ezra. But it was stronger than me.

– Yes, I know, too, it's always stronger than you.

But we can't afford to change schools, so let you imagine what will happen if the school no longer wants you. Because even if you have the best results in the world, and even if we like you. We don't want a thug in a school, as sympathetic and endearing as he is, you understand, that?

Ezra bowed his head without answering. He didn't consider himself a thug, he just had a little trouble following the rules and orders.

– What would you have done if you had injured yourself more seriously? Can you understand that I am worried about you? She said, twirling a lock of hair in her fingers.

Ezra knew the meaning of this gesture in her mother: the angrier she was, the more she fiddled with her hair.

– You are like your father, unable to understand that your actions can cause concern for those who really care about you.

At these words, Elena stopped. She would have preferred not to say that, but it was too hard for her to see her son take the same path as his father. The path that tore her husband away from her ten years ago. Although the years had passed, her grief had never subsided.

Despite the words of his mother, who was clearly not a compliment, deep down, he was proud to be like his father. That was all he got from him since he had never really known him, so how could he have given up looking like him?

He felt his mother's hand run through his hair and looked up. She leaned over and smiled at her son.

– And I would add that I am very proud of my son when he defends his friends in a weak position, whatever all the teachers in the world say.

– Dad too, would he have defended his friends? Asked Ezra, eyes bright.

Elena hugged him

– Yes, he would have. I am sure of it. But, if you could stop playing vigilante all year round, that would suit me. I would have less laundry to do, she said, examining Ezra's clothes. And you know I'm not very good at laundry, right?

Elena got up in the direction of the kitchen, before leaving, she looked up and down at her son,

– Take the opportunity to wash and change, because otherwise, I will have the impression of having dinner with the tramp in the neighborhood.

Ezra climbed the stairs and walked past his mother's bedroom door.

As soon as he entered his room, he closed the door, threw his school bag near his little desk, and threw himself on his bed, exhausted from this long day. In a few days it's summer vacation, so tonight, after his shower, he decided to read a book, rather than go after his homework.

Ezra had unusual interests for boys his age. Indeed, he did not like baseball, fashion very much, and he did not run especially after girls. No, Ezra liked to read fantastic books, but also Physics, because according to him it allowed understanding what our senses cannot see. He rummaged on the side of his bed and pulled out a book, which he read for several hours.

His mother's voice interrupted his reading. 

– Dinner's ready! 

The two ran down to the kitchen. Elena and Ezra were surprised to see Lily's head covered in paint. Elena, unable to contain her laughter, approached to get a closer look at her daughter's 'masterpiece'. 

– What did you do, darling? Abstract painting ? she said, amazed at the shapes drawn on her face.

 Lily frowned,

– No, it's makeup, look.

– There are specific products for that, said Ezra chuckling, not paint. Elena, by the sink, motioned for Lily to come and wash her face. Lily, who had clearly understood her error, did not wait long.