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 a ton

Plus, I make sure she’s well compensated

wonder she

set it aside on a wet stack. Grabbing a towel,

and began to dry.

and then passing the dishes to me to dry. It

How many times had we shared moments

the location wasn’t all

We used to help out the kids at the orphanage like

being there, it was the

accompanied me. Often times, he went even when

never stopped,” he said.

wished I could say the same, but after Elva, with

year, Elva and I help out at an orphanage closer

Nicholas grunted in acknowledgement.

reminisce, but it was hard

best conversations like this,” I said. “Do

that dish and I caught it? I’ll never

you were going to surprise me. You were ready for me

it.”

didn’t remember that. “What was the

dish to glance at me. His face was entirely