Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The next day, the situation escalated, as some people actually reported seeing lights in the sky. One Joá resident claimed that she spotted several distinct flashes of light from her five-million-dollar mansion for sale in front of the ocean. Not only that, but it would be possible to witness more UFOs in a spacious 250 square meter house with four parking spaces in the garage. As it turned out, many people were trying to gain a little more notoriety. Aliens were a topic on television, social media, and in pub conversations. Perhaps they wanted something more, like a first contact. Or even worse, to get revenge for Dakota Fanning's screams in War of the Worlds. But the real question everyone was asking themselves was basically:

- What the fuck happened that night? - Enzo questioned.

- That is a tremendous amount of garbage," Vini remarked. - Vini commented. - The world has really gone mad believing that story.

- Maybe, but I have more serious problems to deal with.

- How so?

- I'm meeting my mother-in-law today.

- Ouch. Good luck.

Enzo followed the address Ana had given him. A small gate separated the street from the small six floor building facing the famous alligator bridge in the neighborhood of Recreio dos Bandeirantes. Yes, the name is genuine, as the waterway is known for housing dozens of alligators in the outdoors in the middle of the gutter and the woods. Well, anyway, Enzo typed in the apartment number and was soon allowed to move in. He looked for the number on the doors until he found 605. He knocked twice.

- Oh, hello there. You must be Enzo. - said a woman with curly red hair and tattoos on her arms and legs.

- Yes, that's me.

- Pleasure, Rebecca. Ana's mom.

- Nice to meet you.

Enzo didn't usually have a good relationship with his in-laws, but until that moment everything was going strangely well. Very suspicious.

- I hope you like vegan food. - she said.

Vegan food?

- Of course! - Enzo smiled.... of concern and genuine terror.

- My daughter says that you are a very social and globally connected person.

- Obviously.

Tell him to look for his Greenpeace portfolio.

- If people stopped eating meat, we could reduce the effects of global warming and the environment.

- Obviously. - Enzo shook his head. - Just out of curiosity: What is your car?

- A Toyota Prius.

What a surprise.

- So, you like F1(*)?

Finally something in common?

- Yes, of course!

- Yes, it is more and more famous among young people. Unfortunately there is still a stereotyped view of consumers.

- It is true.

But something was not right.

- How often do you spend it?

- Always. - Enzo said, all excited. - Mostly on weekends.

- So, you want some now?

Oops, the mother-in-law is a fan of motor racing and is calling to watch it on TV? Enzo hit the jackpot.

But instead of going to the living room, Rebecca took Enzo to the terrace, with a blue jar in hand. As she opened it, she took out some green pieces and rolled them up in a piece of paper. Enzo was confused.

- How do you want yours? - she wondered.

- How do I want my what? - Enzo returned the question.

- Your stiffy. You said you liked it.

- Wait a minute, aren't we talking about Formula One?

- Of course not! The kind of snobbish people!

As if pot smokers were Nobel Prize winners.

- I just figured...

- That's fine. - Rebecca quickly forgot about it.

In the end, Enzo managed to survive the vegan lunch, the marijuana, and everything else. When he returned to Lake, he was surprised to see Ana waiting for him outside the entrance gate.

- So, how did it go with my mother? - she asked, very interested.

- Oh, she's a hoot. But I'll save you the details. Isn't there anything else you want to tell me?

- Oh, besides all the rest?

Something was strange.

- You knew!

- Of course I knew. I just wondered if you were going to weaken.

- How did I do?

- According to my mother, you made some faces that only being there was enough to see. And you even confused marijuana with Formula One. I can imagine it was pretty hilarious.

- Promise me you will never take me to lunch there again.

- Deal.

- Now if you'll excuse me, I need a barbecue. Some sausage, filet mignon, chicken heart, chicken à passarinho, and some cheese. - Enzo started typing on his cell phone. He called a very famous and expensive restaurant in the neighborhood. - Yes, I want a full barbecue. With a soda. Send it to Vinicius Valverde.

- Do you have to do this every time?

- Of course. Now I have to go upstairs to receive my delivery.

In his house, downstairs, Vini was quietly enjoying a Car and Driver magazine, when he heard the interphone ring in the kitchen. The porter wanted to talk about a food delivery, which made him wonder.

- What? I didn't order anything! - Vini answered, but then had a moment of conscience. - Crap! All right, send him up.

As nothing is too much trouble, Vini heard three raps on the door. He was not at all surprised by the reason for the knocking on the outside.

- Enzo! What a surprise. Your lunch appeared. Consequently you would have dropped by too. I should have known better.

- Of course you should.

- Hi, Ana.

- Hi, Vini.

- Oh, I almost forgot. How's the boy?

- He is fine. A little confused. And scared.

- Do you think we should be worried?

- About the sanity of the country? Certainly. About the boy? He'll overcome.

- Vini, it's not possible that you don't believe.

- Believe what? This crazy story? Of course you don't! Spaceships? Extraterrestrials? Child abduction? You want me to believe in the easter bunny, the headless mule, Santa Claus...

- Hey! I believe in Santa Claus!

- It's because you're a dumbass! So whatever! This story doesn't fit at all.

- If it doesn't, Mr. Know-it-all, tell me what did the boy see? And what happened to his brother?

- Yeah, that part I really can't describe.

- Don't you think it's weird?

- Yes, I do. But I won't relate this event to aliens, for pity's sake.

- Why don't we ask the boy?

- I think he already told us exactly what he saw. Lights in the sky. It's not much, but it's what we have. And that's the problem.

- It is not possible that there is no one looking for him. If it was my son, I'd be out of my mind. Two missing sons.

- Technically, honey, only one is missing.

- We'll have to talk to the boy. - Vini suggested. - Although I think it's a stupid idea.

- Vini, do you have a better plan? - Ana asked.

(*) Just as F1 is the surname of Formula 1, in Brazil F1 is also the abbreviation for pot smokers.