New Moon

A Proper Promise ~Elmwood

Elm: Sara do you have to go to work today?

A common question I would ask my sister. Even now on the way home from the cafe.

Sara: Yes Elm, just like every other day.

Elm: Ugh.

Even though today was a bit earlier than usual, Sara was always called into work and I hated it. She seems to be home less and less.

Elm: You work so much, you need a break.

Sara: Look I know I work a lot, but I can't be lazy like you.

Elm: Who says I'm being lazy, besides your not being lazy enough, you haven't taken a break in months, take one today.

Sara: Although I would love to, you know I can't do that, the only time I take a break is for your birthday and if I remembered correctly that was a few months ago.

Elm: You don't even take your own birthday off-

Sara: And every year you have a nice surprise waiting for me. I'm alright working everyday, it gives me something to do and gives you some time to yourself, are you running out of things to do?

Elm: Maybe.... Look, I just want to spend some time with my sister, is that so bad?

Sara: *sigh* No, and I want to spend time with you too. How about this, I'll try to get off work early today.

These were rare words coming from my sister.

Elm: Really?! You promise?

Sara: I promise.

I stick out my right hand with my pointer and pinky fingers sticking out, like the rock and roll gesture but without the thumb and my hand was sideways so my pinky was above my pointer.

Elm: Proper promise.

Sara: Elm I'm driving.

Elm: Saraaa.

Sara: Fiiine, I promise I will try my hardest to get out early.

Sara did the same with her left hand, leaving her pointer on the top, and we latched our fingers together sealing Sara's promise.

We had done promises this way since we were kids. When our parents told us that promises were important and not to be broken, we both decided that the smallest finger on the hand wasn't enough to seal a promise and could be broken too easily so, we added the pointer, making the promise "harder to brake" and to give it more value.

Not long after that we arrived home. Sara went straight to her room to get ready for work. I went into my room, grabbed the book that I was already halfway through, and walked into the backyard. I took my usual seat. My back was to the glass sliding doors and I could see the clouds moving across the sky. I looked at the cover of my book for the hundredth time.
The History of Myths and Legends. What a grand title for a not so grand book. I found my bookmark which was placed at the beginning of a new section "The War of Vilks and Venatores".

Elm: This sounds promising.....