43 ESTA

Sam opened the door and got home, the air inside was stuffy as the windows had stayed closed for so long, he lived on the second floor so he refused to leave the windows open, it had happened to his neighbors to be robbed while they were away and the robber got in through the windows, some people used their climbing talents for unorthodox ways of making money.

He started wiping all the dust that had accumulated everywhere, cleaning the apartment completely took him around three hours. He took a well deserved shower and sat in front of TV, before he needed 30 minutes to make it to Em's school through public transports but now with a car he would arrive in less than 10 minutes, he could take his time.

He switched to the national channel, it was time for the news. He didn't care much about what happened in the world at the moment, even if he cared his impact as an individual would be too minimal, he just watched without giving it much attention, he was thinking about his trip to the US.

It was the month of May at the moment and Em's summer holidays were at the end of June. He had heard that the deliverance of US visas was very slow so he wanted to do it soon, he grabbed his laptop in his room and sat back down in the living room.

After some research he realized that staying in Paris for a few days more wouldn't have been a bad idea... the embassy was in Paris, doing it from there would have been way more convenient. After more research he actually realized he didn't need a visa, as both him and Em were french there was an easier way. Since 2015 the US had created the « electronic system for travel authorization » and France was one of the first countries that were part of the program. He started filling the form but realized he didn't have time to get it done before Em was freed from school.

He put on a white shirt, a pair of jeans, a pair of shoes and headed toward the car.

Ten minutes later he was parked in front of the elementary school, the parents that had came to pick up their kids couldn't help but look at the loud and beautiful Porsche that had appeared. Most of them had came to pick up their kids here for years, this school wasn't some private school or whatever so rich kids here were very rare, it was a wonder why Rika came here in the first place. Today was the first time the parents saw this car, they were all curious, who was it ? A new kid's parent ? Amongst the onlookers was one of Sam's acquaintances : Tony.

Sam opened the door and got down, most people recognized him, this kid had brought his sister everyday for the past two years, they remembered him like a poor boy that couldn't buy clothes for himself and always wore tattered and old clothes. Most of them had also seen him on TV during the talent show, they weren't sure if it was the same boy they knew but seeing him dressed handsomely and driving a sports car they were sure he was the one.

« Isn't that the kid that brought his sister everyday for the past two years ? »

« The poor boy right ? How did he suddenly became rich ? »

« You didn't watch « la France a un incroyable talent » this year ? »

« I've just had my 3rd daughter recently so I didn't have much time for me recently, whenever I sat in front of the TV she would start crying so I couldn't, what happened ? »

« This kid he is this year's winner, he won 100 000€. »

« No wonder he suddenly changed... from poor to rich, how lucky. »

Of course housewives would start gossiping, as they didn't have much to do it was their favorite time killer, having a new subject to talk about made them all excited. They were impatient to tell everybody they knew that the winner of the show came to pick up his sister in the same school as their kids.

Tony was looking at the car too but when he saw Sam getting down he turned around, he was happy not seeing him for the last month at university and the day when his mom couldn't pick up his little brother and has asked him to do it was the day when Sam came back, how unlucky.

Sam also saw him but didn't care, he was certain that he wouldn't try anything again and even if he tried he had thousands of ways to protect himself and Em, he sat on the car's hood and waited patiently.

Before the kids were released a black Nissan parked right next to Sam's Porsche, Jin opened the door and smiled at Sam.

« Hey Sam ! »

« Jin, you came to pick up Rika ? »

« Yeah mom asked me to, when did you leave ? »

« After lunch, I had to clean up the apartment before Em went there, she's allergic to dust. »

« You could have just stayed home, it became very lively with both of you there. »

« I wouldn't want to force my self into you guys, you already took care of Em for so long. »

« It's fine, come back whenever you want. Also bring Em to spend her week ends at home, Rika would die of boredom without her hahah ! »

« I'll take your offer then, thanks haha. »

Minutes later all the kids were released, Em and Rika were holding hands and looking around for aunt Li. Jin didn't care about bothering the rest of the parents, he opened the door of his car and pressed the honk.

Everyone around them jumped of fright and looked angrily at Jin, Rika that was further didn't get startled but still looked that way she recognized her brother and Sam, she pulled Em with her and arrived in front of the two cars.

« Big brother, big bro Sam hello. »

Rika was very well educated kid, Em looked at her and mimicked her

« Big brother, big brother Jin hello. »

She even bowed slightly like Rika, Sam couldn't help but laugh at her, she was too cute trying to look so much like her friend.

« Hey both of you ! »

Sam looked at Jin and told him :

« Wanna eat outside tonight ? Let's go together it's my treat. »

« Oh sure, food is always better when free hahah. »

As both their cars had only two seats, each one took his sister and they headed downtown, the loud noise of the two cars attracted a lot of attention in the crowded small roads. In the car Sam asked Em

« What do you want to eat ? »

« Hmmm... a pizza ! »

« Fine hahah we're almost there. »

Not too long after they parked the two cars in front of a pizzeria, on the front window was an Italian flag, as he didn't know a good pizzeria in Toulouse he just checked on his phone the one with the best reviews and headed there.

« Oh you know this place ? I used to come here a lot when I was in high school, it is rumored to be the best pizzeria in all Toulouse. »

Jin got close to Sam and said, at least know he knew that it was a good place. They went in and ordered, they brought 2 pizzas for the four of them. Sam could eat one alone and Jin probably could too but kids couldn't so they preferred sharing to not waste any.

Seeing both Em and Rika happy was enough to make this trip rewarding, he didn't want to see his sister sad at all, if she could always be happy he would do whatever was needed.

After eating he bid farewell to Jin and got in the car with Em heading home, the forms were still waiting for him at home.

The sooner it was done the better.