55. Rome.

Bets are born as a solemn proposal between two individuals who attribute chance to a probability of victory. "Will it rain tomorrow? Will the best fighter win the match?" All bets move the hearts of men, even entangling them in sinful addictions. The first betting records date back to 3000 BC with Mesopotamian society, indicating the use of bone-made dice.

Throughout this history, betting has evolved, but its essence remains the same. The primary forms of betting have changed, and the monopoly of betting has been altered and adapted to different civilizations.

Billy just woke up after being exhausted the previous day.

-Father, bet on the match between Colombia and Germany for a 1-1 draw, - said Billy.

With a feeling in his gut about the day's winnings.

-Very well, my boy. Yesterday you missed the qualifying bet between Yugoslavia and Argentina,- Thomas said seriously, all for the sake of seeing Billy go to university.

-It was an unfortunate encounter, Father, - replied Billy. - You can bet on England, Italy, and Cameroon; I have confidence in those teams. If the betting house allows it, on the following days, the knockout stages start, and that's when we'll make money. -

-I'll give it a try, son, but the betting houses impose a limit on bets, a maximum of three wagers,- Thomas mentioned. - I'll bet on those that pay out more money. -

-Great, you can tell Livy to place the bets on the winner of the final, - said Billy.

-What do you mean? - asked Thomas.

-Yes, open 3000 euros bet for the World Cup championship. The winner will be Germany; I'm sure of it. The betting houses will have an exponential value. The result will be 1-0 against Argentina. I understand that the harder the bet, the more money we'll make, - said Billy.

-I'll do it, as long as you remember your promises. Besides, the imposed limit is 5000 euros, - said Thomas.

-Even better. We'll use the $30,000 on the card for the bets, - said Billy.

-I'll talk to Livy, although... she's... - Thomas said, a bit uneasy about the woman's behavior.

-Don't worry, if you don't want to do it, just bet on Colombia and the World Cup final, - said Billy.

-I'm still a bit undecided, - mentioned Thomas, flipping through the betting brochure. - For the upcoming matches, the draw pays out 5.5 times the price. As for the final, I'll have to think about it, but it should be a considerable amount."

-Father, make the bet. We've already had this discussion. If, after the trip, I have less than $15,000, I'm willing to go to Stamford University and study business administration, - said Billy.

-Hahaha, I'm glad. I'll talk to Livy. I hope you have fun. I'll rest at the hotel with your little sister Claudia. The massage parlor sounds good for your old man, - said Thomas. - Luck can be treacherous; I know many people who gamble in casinos and lose a lot of money. -

-We'll go to the patio with Claudia. Let's leave before they finish breakfast, - said Billy, hugging his father goodbye. He heard a word of caution; all bets would be documented in his father's notebook, along with the winnings and losses.

-Be very careful. Here's the hotel number in case you have any issues during your comings and goings. Take only what's necessary, - said Thomas.

-That's what I'll do, Father, - said Billy.

The Branovich women were sitting on the rooftop of the restaurant, both wearing long white dresses that reached just above their knees. Mrs. Branovich displayed her figure with a neckline more pronounced than what was usually worn during these times.

-Finally, the men decide to come out. They wasted my time, - Livy said. - Now, the kids will go to the cemetery, and you'll take me to the coveted massage parlor you showed so much interest in yesterday."

With her legs crossed and a playful smile, Livy Branovich exuded an air of self-assurance.

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-Of course, I booked the appointment yesterday! - Thomas replied, taking a seat and perusing the menu.

-Billy, you don't have to look at the menu; I already ordered your breakfast. Grape juice, some Neapolitan sandwiches, and a bit of fruit, - Claudia said, her cheeks blushing from the Carson family's gazes.

-Thank you. That's very kind of you, - Billy replied, also glancing at the menu.

-I didn't do it for you; I'm just worried we'll arrive late at the cemetery, and it'll be closed, show-off, - Claudia said with a pout that she often displayed in moments of nervousness.

Thomas Carson smiled and ordered coffee with toast; the time change had interrupted his sleep.

-Will you tell me the schedule? - Billy asked.

-No... It's a surprise. Don't say anything and eat; we're running a bit late, - Claudia said.

The beautiful summer weather was perfect for going out and enjoying the city. People gathered in bars, huddling near televisions to watch the World Cup matches. Tourists crowded near large screens close to the Stadio Olimpico and another one in the main square.

Mr. Thomas conversed with Claudia's mother about some things in hushed tones, and there seemed to be an air of intrigue from their positions.

Billy approached the little blonde girl, adjusting her drawing and photo notebooks. - Hey, do you have any new photos? - he asked.

-Well, I have a few, but nothing special... just some shots I took when I arrived in Vienna. But I've been too tired to go out and take photos. Today, I'll focus on capturing landscapes like never before, - Claudia said.

-I hope I'll be part of some of those landscapes, - Billy said, smiling with a slight blush on his cheeks.

-If you behave, I might consider taking some of those photos you like so much, - Claudia said. - My photography is unique, and very few can appreciate it properly. Clean up the blush on your cheeks a bit. -

It was true; since she was four years old, little Claudia had been a photographer. Numerous attempts to imitate her mother's work had led to significant progress, thanks to the experimental teachings from her mother and her mother's circle, who adored the little girl's passion for taking photos of everything she liked.

-Come on, we need to buy the Italian national team shirts. It's good to prepare for the matches,- Billy said.

-The Italian national team shirt? Why do we need it if we're not Italians? - Claudia asked.

-Don't worry; it's just another souvenir, - Billy replied, as he planned to attend some of the matches.

-No more souvenirs. Yesterday, I checked the books, and I had seen them in the stores. Hanna has some, and I've read them, but I didn't expect you to bring almost all of them. That's enough of a souvenir for me,- Claudia said.

-It's to blend in, you know. Nobody will bother two young people holding hands, hiding behind an Italian shirt, - Billy said. - Although, your skin is so fair; I still don't understand how the California sun doesn't affect you! -

-I don't know. Let's go to the cemetery, - Claudia said.

The Pantheon of Agrippa is an ancient Roman temple dating back to the first century AD. What remains today is only an opulent facade of what was once a grand temple. These sites were typically created to worship the Roman gods, who bear a striking resemblance to the Greek gods, representing the planets of the solar system. The most well-known ones are Mars, Venus, and Jupiter.

The temple is a sight to behold, with its fabulous dome surrounding it, showcasing marvelous architecture.

-There's a very delicious pizzeria nearby, - Claudia said. - Come, let's take some photos from that corner over there. -

Claudia looked beautiful with her loose hair, and the blue Italian shirt looked lovely on her. She couldn't stop smiling with her eyes, and her cute freckles stood out with the shadow from her illuminated eyes.

You're very beautiful," Billy said. Suddenly, Claudia's cheeks blushed, and shivers ran through her body. Her entire face seemed to radiate with emotions coming from her stomach.

-You're an idiot. Come on, let's go take some photos. We have a whole day; we can visit a bookstore nearby, - Claudia said.

-Have you checked the comics I brought you? - Billy asked.

-A little, but I've been thinking about other things, - Claudia replied.

Taking some photos, Billy tried to get closer and hold Claudia's hand. Her slender fingers fit perfectly in his hand, delicate and soft, slightly sweaty. He noticed the gentle, white, and pretty neck.

He wanted to kiss her.

-Stop looking at me weirdly; you're creepy. You need to learn how to hide your feelings, - Claudia said.

-I don't want to. You look radiant, - Billy said, taking a step forward and giving Claudia a quick kiss.

-Ahh, I think it's better to go for pizza. You're starting to hallucinate, - the girl said, rushing out of the Pantheon. Love is an uncharted territory for the girl who has played with cameras most of her life.

Billy saw Claudia coming down the stairs with her camera in hand, looking down while her fingers quickly played in circular patterns like gears.

-The pizzeria is about eight blocks away; we can walk and get there in half an hour if we hurry, - Claudia said, with some stammering between lines.

-Sure! I'm eager to try the pizza, - Billy said, taking his companion's hand and squeezing it in support.

Claudia's mood changed, and she regained her confident and lively appearance.

-You'll enjoy the wonders of pizza, - the girl said.

-Ahhhh, pizza is a delicacy. She likes greasy pizza with lots of sauce and cheese. I hope to find some surprising places, - Billy thought.

Pizza is one of the world's universal foods, alongside burgers. The global dominance of these foods is irreverent. One could say they are among the most iconic dishes worldwide, with many places creating pizzas that offer traditional flavors. Exaggerating a bit, there's no place where pizza isn't present on the menu.

Suddenly, a notification caught Billy's attention and pulled him out of the trance he was in.

[The host has lost the copyright for the show Rugrats. The animation company in Los Angeles, Klasky Csupo Inc., has recorded a $100,000 pilot and presented it to the Nickelodeon board. Host regains 25 points.]

-I guess they've been outplayed by the Rugrats, - Billy thought.

...

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