50. farewells.

The end of the school year, along with Claudia's sudden departure a few days before the school cycle ended, knowing that she had passed the year, was enough for her mother to start a new life in Austria, to reconnect with her roots that have been lost since 1956, when her mother arrived in American soil with her father, escaping from Yugoslavia during one of the most critical periods in its history. Not only had the Russian climate invaded the country, but the numerous divisions among different races and religions were unpleasant. Luckily, Claudia's grandfather was able to escape with his daughter on a friend's smuggler boat, in a wicked adventure full of countless coincidences that allowed their escape.

Amidst the struggle, they managed to reach the beaches of Alaska and continue their journey further west, ending up in California. Her father, with a construction job opportunity, worked tirelessly day and night to give his little daughter everything she wanted, from her first camera that cost him long hours of overtime, to paying for her university education and some courses. The beginnings were tough, but for the girl, adapting to the language and hiding her roots, avoiding any trace of accent in her words, didn't help much after the death of her father due to respiratory problems. He never quit smoking, even during his illness. When little Claudia was born, he cried with happiness, only to pass away a year later.

So, she wants to go to that land that her father loved so much. She knows well that she has a large family there, all working-class folks, but it's something she desires with all her heart.

She has made many mistakes and hopes not to repeat them and pass those mistakes on to her daughter, who has insisted that her life has been wonderful in California. With time, she hopes her daughter will understand the risks she faces as well, returning to a land that is still very dangerous and fraught with social problems.

-Everything will be fine, my dear. Little Billy will see us in Italy in a few weeks. - Livy said.

-It hurts that you're so sweet and yet we're so far apart. Why do we have to go to a strange place? -Claudia said.

-Come on, we're going to a place that you'll surely like. We'll have to live in a smaller place, but we'll be fine. You'll be placed in a new class, and as time goes by, you'll see that everything can turn out well,- Livy said.

-That's what Billy left behind, but it's just foolishness. You're determined to search for Grandpa's family, but he didn't even give you his last name. He warned you about how dangerous that place is, - Claudia said.

-He did, over and over again! He died longing for his home, as much as he hated it, - Livy said, losing her composure.

-I don't have the energy to think about what will happen. I don't even know the language! And now you're taking me on an imaginary treasure hunt, - the girl said.

Her mother's eyebrows furrowed. She took a deep breath and fell silent. Slowly, but with a stern voice, she responded, - You'll learn as time goes by. You're not the only one who has to make this new adaptation. Others also struggle with these changes. Perhaps you can make some friends who are going through a similar situation, - Livy said.

-It doesn't help at all. You only agree with me when it suits you. You always mess everything up, -Claudia said.

-Well, as long as you're my responsibility, you'll do as I say, - Livy said.

-Screw you! You hypocritical liar. You only take responsibility when it's convenient for you, - Claudia said, slamming the door as she left.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Tears escaped the unyielding Mrs. Branovich. How could she make her understand that she felt hurt in this country? She wasn't American, never was. She gained her citizenship by sleeping with a drunkard and running away from him when she got pregnant. She never looked for him, and he never looked for her. She just wanted a place to call home because everything was so difficult.

The plane took off on a nostalgic night. The Branovich women didn't speak to each other; that was certain. In her records, she was listed as both American and Yugoslavian. Europe was open, but not all of it.

On the other side, Billy was sad. He just wanted to keep drawing because of his companion's departure. Farewells touched his heart. He would have a two-day break because the following days would be busy with his trip to Italy, consuming his most precious treasure now: time.

But he wouldn't rest from drawing. Day after day, now with even more determination, he would tirelessly complete everything he could.

With the acquisition of Pixar and the new restructuring, on one hand, he sought to have the Toy Story movie released a year earlier, and on the other hand, he wanted Pixar's work to be delivered in numerous installments in the 90s. Now the problem to address is who will distribute Pixar's films.

Only time will tell.

-Miss Anne, we're here to inform you that the animation for Johnny Bravo has begun. Thanks to Billy's influence, it's possible that this series will be released alongside The Phantom Report. Our animators are grateful for how easy it is to draw the series with Billy's storyboard, - Paula said.

-Oh, that's great. I'll share the good news with Billy, - Anne said.

-On another note, you can always come to our company if you want to bring your ideas to television. We've seen Billy's work, and we're amazed by his talent. If he has any ideas that can be realized, we'll be delighted to continue negotiating, - Paula said.

-He will love that! Although we hope the series will air, we're not in a rush to bring more series to the screen for now, but Billy is working on a new project, - Anne said.

-That sounds perfect. I'll keep you informed about the course of events in the coming months, - Paula Sullen said.

In their office, the presence of their mentor Betty Cohen was joined by the brothers Benedict and Joseph Barbara.

-Well, that was refreshing, - said Betty Cohen.

-It's nothing. They bought Pixar Studios just over a week ago. The news didn't cause a stir, but I'm friends with one of the bosses at Pixar, Ed Camult. He told me about this business deal and Pixar's revitalization. The guy wants to create his animation studio, - Joseph Barbara said.

-But you already understand that they want to make movies, not television series," Betty said.

-Just give it some time before he starts broadcasting his series. In the next contract, you can't allow the buyback clause, - Joseph said.

-It's not that simple, and you know it. The contract is good, and his ideas are good. In ten years, we'll earn enough money to double that amount, triple it, and even exponentially increase the income by ten times. You were one of the ones who advocated for hiring the kid. You see the talent, everyone sees his work, and now you want to hinder the relationship, - Betty Cohen said, unstoppable when she felt she was right.

-Fine, handle it your way. But soon the kid will create his 2D animation studio, with the machinery and software that's available at Pixar. He just needs time, - Joseph said.

-Well, then we must do everything possible to get him to join Warner. Creating a television channel is not easy; it requires millions of dollars invested. It's not something you can do overnight, - Betty said.

-That doesn't worry me! It's Fox who has been ruling in recent years, and with Billy on their side, it's just a step to crush us, - Joseph said.

"You're wrong, Joseph. Billy is like us. He enjoys chasing ideas and cares about his interests. But if we are friendly, our relationship can be long-lasting, - Tony Benedict said.

-What makes you say that? - Joseph asked.

-Well, I often talk to him. I know his goals, and they're not much different from ours back in our university days. He wants to create animation non-stop, just like us. He even has an interest in voice acting. Just give the kid more opportunities and treat him the way you treat the animators, - Tony said.

-Freedom... - Joseph mused.

-Yes, the business will thrive as long as there is respect for his drawings and creative freedom, - Tony said.

Another evening at Hanna-Barbera, Joseph Barbara transitioned from a dreamer to a seasoned businessman.

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