Tales from the Former Universe

11. The Wait & The Break

For the morning, Hwillfyrd signed to take a longer leave, to wash his mind off with Asnerald, for a game of golf.

It was Hwillfyrd's turn next, he swung his golf stick, and the ball almost reached the hole.

"Almost eagle there, ya chump," Asnerald said. "Take that birdie as leverage then."

Asnerald prepared to swing.

"You are not gonna ask about business, Uncle Asnerald?"

"Why should I? It's your thing, not mine," Asnerald said, swinging, and the ball ended on the rough. "You owe me."

As Hwillfyrd drove Uncle Asnerald to the ball.

"I am talking both..." Asnerald said.

"Yes, I know. My holiday, you shall respect, please,"

"Hehe, what sort of holiday is this?" Asnerald said. "What is it with you, young man?"

"Just... enjoying my leave. Is it wrong for a man to have his break?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Asnerald said.

Hwillfyrd easily scored a birdie from that close.

It was Asnerald's turn, and he put the ball back on the par.

"Say, Hwillfyrd," he wondered. "How's your stepmother doing?" he bravely asked. "She doing your business any good?"

He only said, "Trying, she only is."

"Of course... trying... the only thing she can do for any of us," he laughed, preparing to swing. "Her charm, I could only appreciate over anything else. She really knows how to pluck a man compassionately, haha!" Asnerald swung the ball, and it didn't hit the hole. The ball ended with a double boogie.

"Argh, damn it. That ball was rigged!" Asnerald angered.

"You done talking?!" Hwillfyrd wondered.

"Get me home instantly, boy!" Asnerald said. "And don't talk about begging for money on the way."

"I simply would not," Hwillfyrd said.

In her room, she remained ensconced in her own world for the weekend, her gaze fixed upon the unchanging expanse of that white, cracked ceiling. Within its fissures, she perceived an infinite contemporary, a boundless space defusing before her, each fracture a portal to myriad worlds. Contemplating the lives that intertwined, she found herself immersed in the countless stories she held within her mind, awaiting yet another announcement.

After an amazing pause, where she found an amazing end to head towards, she headed towards the instant fridge for a drink. She noticed Walbode wasn't in his bedroom, nor anywhere else in their room.

She checked outside and did not find Walbode anywhere.

"Mrs. Millian," Royyega said. "Walbode, have you not seen him anywhere?"

"No, dear, five minutes ago, I just walked out of my room," Millian said.

In her attempt to look for her while she wore her shoes, she saw another vicinity that immediately got her attention.

"You need any help looking for him?" Millian offered. "Call, I could."

"No, it's fine... he will be fine," Royyega said. "I'll... be right back."

In a bench park, she saw a couple of gleeful children from the inn and the nearby neighborhood who were having fun with the hoops. Out of the seven children that were playing hoops, only one was able to maintain his hoop the longest, for seven seconds, until his determined eagerness caused him to fall.