The Luna Choosing Game

With a statement like there, I had no polite way of backing out. Not that I would. These kids needed me,

and Elva was already having fun with them, playing on the slides.

Nicholas and I would just have to put aside our differences long enough to help the kids. After that, we

could go back to not getting along as usual.

After confirming I would be staying, the caretaker offered to lead me and Mark inside.

“I’ll stay out here,” Mark said. “Keep an eye on the kids.”

I was grateful. If he watched Elva, I knew I wouldn’t have to worry.

Inside, I joined Nicholas in the kitchen. He was washing dishes, preparing for the day’s main event:

lunch. And what an extravagant lunch it would be, if the piles of containers were any indication.

“Did you bring all this from the palace?” I peeked under the aluminum foil on one of the containers. Inside was at least ten servings of garlic potatoes.

“One of the cooks is particularly fond of me,” Nicholas said. “She makes special servings when I ask.”

like you. There’s a

goes to a good cause. Plus, I make sure she’s well compensated for

No wonder she liked

on a wet stack. Grabbing a towel, I went

and began to dry.

dishes to me to dry. It reminded

How many times had

the location wasn’t all that

remember at the Academy? We used to help out the kids at the orphanage

that with all my good fortune from being there, it was the least I could do

me. Often times,

never stopped,” he said.

could say the same, but after Elva, with her sickness, we couldn’t always go like I had used

a year, Elva and I help out at an orphanage closer to home. For the

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

didn’t want to reminisce, but it

like this,” I said. “Do you remember that

never forget. I

and you knew you were going

it.”

I didn’t remember that. “What was

at me. His face was entirely