The day of the interview came. The family headed to the city administration office. Everyone was dressed in formal clothes, as if they were going to some kind of celebration. It was indeed an important event for both the adoptee and the adoptive parents. Literally 10-15 minutes later, the Silvers arrived at their destination.

George left the car in the service parking lot near the administration office. The Silvers were facing a massive five-story building, which could be entered from the north and south. There were metal detectors at the entrances and there were CCTV cameras throughout the building, constantly monitored by a security guard who sat in his small booth at the entrance. Appointments were made through the administration's website in advance, with the provision of an electronic ticket. The employees worked dynamically: according to strictly allotted time and without delays. Therefore, there was no need to stand in line. There was no elevator in the institution. We had to go up the central two-step staircase with stone handrails on the sides.

– We need room 203," George said to the others as they went up to the second floor. The family searched for the office and quickly found it. Mariana knocked on the door, opened it and looked inside. The room was a small room with a desk in the right corner with a female receptionist sitting behind it. On her desk was a laptop computer and office supplies. To the left was a black leather two-seater couch and in front of the desk was a chair for visitors.

Mariana: "Good afternoon, may I come in?"

Staff member: "Silvers? On the subject of adoption? Come in."

The whole family entered the room. Since there was not enough seating, George took a seat in front of the desk, Mariana sat in a chair, and the children sat on the couch. The employee pulled a piece of paper from her desk drawer and held it out along with a pen to Mariana.

Staff member: "Both parents need to fill out an adoption application together and the boy needs to consent to the adoption."

George: "The child is given the right to vote? I haven't heard of such a thing. Are there any cases of rejection?"

Staff member: "In a voluntary adoption, consent is required from the adoptee in which they affirm on their own behalf that they are being treated well and are willing to be part of this family."

George and Mariana began to study the application and took turns filling it out. Then they made room for Theodore. He sat down on Mariana's chair and filled out his consent.

Staff member: "Good, now we will have an interview. First with the parents and then with the boy. When interviewing the boy, everyone else will have to leave this office."

The interview with the parents lasted about 20 minutes. Various questions were asked, related to how and under what circumstances the boy came into the family, how he is kept, who and where they work, what the family eats, how the house is kept clean, who the neighbors are, and so on and so forth. Finally, it was Theodore's turn. The Silvers left the office and left the adoptee alone with the municipal worker. He held himself calmly and confidently.

Staff member: "So, Theodore. Your new family. How do you like them in general?"

Ted: "Good, loving and caring. I like living with them very much."

Staff member: "No one is pressuring you? Did you write your consent voluntarily?"

Ted: "Voluntarily."

Staff member: "If there's something bothering you or something you want to talk about that you couldn't voice in front of Silver, now is the time to share it with me."

Ted: "I don't have anything to tell. I have no secrets from my new family. Especially since I'll soon be a part of it too."

Staff member: "You stopped going to school three months ago. That was due to certain circumstances, of course… but still. Basic education, as you know, is compulsory for everyone, because if you don't complete it, you won't get a profession, you won't get a job anywhere and you can't do anything. Have you thought about going back to school again?"

Theodore: "I know, I want to and I have thought about it. As Mariana said, together we've already looked at a boxing school in this town. As soon as I'm officially adopted, I'll enroll there right away."

Staff member: "You can start going to that school now. Why simply waste precious time? Tell me, how is your relationship with your future big brother?"

Ted: "Good, we don't fight, we live as friends."

Staff member: "Now for the unpleasant part. Your real parents have passed away, sadly. But their possessions remain in the form of a modest apartment. Also, your daddy had a car, but the present whereabouts of the car are unknown. I am also aware that you have grandparents on both your mom's and dad's side. They have priority custody because they are blood relatives to you. Why don't you want to live with them?"

Ted: "My grandparents and I have been in a fight for years. They have shown me no attention and have never visited me since I was three years old. They didn't help me and my father in any way and left us to our own devices after my mom died. The Silver's took me in as their own child. I never got the kind of care I got from them, not even from my own parents. I think my grandfathers forgot all about me. Do you want me to go back to people who don't care about me at all?"

Staff member: "I'm just stating the facts. We'll figure it out. Now we will sign papers with you confirming the fact that you have accepted the inheritance, and from the moment you sign them, you will become the sole full owner of the apartment and the car."

The municipal clerk pulled two copies of the document out of a desk drawer and handed them to Theodore.

Staff member: "Read it carefully and put your initials and signature on the last pages."

Theodore quickly opened the last pages and signed without reading anything.

Staff member: "Are you sure you won't read it? Or do you have an instant-read scanner built into your head?"

Ted: "I trust you. You won't cheat… I'm much more concerned with finalizing the adoption as soon as possible."

Staff member: "Don't worry about that. If your grandparents don't want custody of you, and if your new family meets all the criteria, the adoption won't take long. That's it, you can go."

Theodore walked out of the office. In the hallway, the Silvers were waiting impatiently for him. Mariana immediately rushed to him asking him how everything went and what questions the municipal worker was asking.

George: "All right, let's go. You can tell me on the way. I'm sure it wasn't anything difficult."

The family left the building and their car and returned home. All in all, everyone was filled with positive emotions and happy that the process of being officially welcomed into the family was now underway. Mariana went to her work, George began to deal with business matters, constantly calling someone, and Michael and Ted went up to their room to rest.

Time continued to pass. After 1.5 weeks, an inspector showed up on the doorstep performing a welfare check on the family, which the Silvers passed without difficulty. After 2.5 weeks, everyone was summoned to the same office where the initial interview had taken place to officially enter into the database that Theodore was a member of the Silver family. The deed was done. The addition to the family had taken place.

754. Michael stood on the runway of one of the neighbouring towns. Next to him was a small two-seat dark blue helicopter, designed for one passenger and a pilot. But since it was a training model, the passenger seat had been converted for an instructor pilot. It was equipped with a second steering wheel and an instrument panel exactly like the main pilot's. Michael had come here to take a proficiency exam in flying several models of aircraft and one helicopter, which he was just in front of.