PROMISES

“I was wondering where you have gone to, Erica. Are you waiting for Sir Eron and Miss Diwa to return soon?”

The robotic-like whir of Lando’s automated wheelchair sounded in the darkening twilight on the Oro Vista Alpha’s porch where the chubby top-heavy teenager was leaning on the old but still-sturdy wooden barrier of the house’s breakfast nook.

“Hello there, Orlie. Aren’t you going to have dinner? I’ve already made meatloaf and potatoes with gravy on the side. And I’ve made enough for us, including our guests from the city…”

“I’ll eat later when you have dinner yourself so you can have company when you have your eating later, Rica,” the gentlemanly invalid stated decidedly. “We might even be able to wait for Boss Eros and your Mama to come back home by the time we have already decided to have dinner.”

“No rush for that to happen, my dearest friend… Can I tell you a secret, Orlando?”

“Yes, you can, Erica…” was the young lumberyard worker’s eager answer. “What is it?”

“I had al