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.”

you. There’s

I make sure she’s

No wonder she liked

a plate then set it aside on a wet stack.

and began to dry.

the dishes to me to dry. It reminded me of

times had we shared moments just like

wasn’t all that

help out the kids at the orphanage like this all the

felt that with all my good fortune from being there, it was the

always accompanied me. Often times, he went even when I

never stopped,” he said.

but after Elva, with

I help out at an orphanage closer to

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

didn’t want to reminisce, but it was

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

dish and I caught it? I’ll never

you knew you were going to surprise

it.”

I didn’t remember

scrubbing at a dish to glance at me. His