Luna checked the clock again. It was almost four. The center was closing in an hour, and they would have their brainstorming session. Luna felt a burst of energy. She knew in her gut this had to do with a young boy. She wasn’t sure his age, but she believed she was on the right track. But right track to where? It all remained to be seen.

Luna began to clean up the café, washing the porcelain cups and plates and emptying the coffee grinds into a bin.

She took what was left of the pastries and crumbled them up for the birds. Alex was bringing Wiley inside, Ziggy and Marley strutting behind.

Luna watched Chi-Chi glide across the landscaped interior of the atrium. She looked like a beautiful lotus flower floating on a pond. Luna wished she could move with such grace. But no. Even though she could recover a stumble with ease, Luna could be a bit of a klutz at times. Maybe it was from when she was a kid. Hanging around with her slightly older brother carved an easy path to become a tomboy. She still had a bit of that in her.

When they were young, Luna and Cullen would spend endless afternoons scouring the woods for the perfect tree to climb. She and Cullen would sit for hours playing I-Spy games. It wasn’t unusual for Luna to have several conversations with the wildlife, too. Those were wonderful, peaceful, beautiful days. Not that her life wasn’t wonderful, peaceful, and beautiful, but there was an innocence back then. Innocence. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. Luna sighed. She was very happy that she and Cullen remained close.

Luna continued to watch her graceful friend move closer. Luna couldn’t imagine Chi-Chi tripping or stumbling over anything. Instead, she envisioned Chi-Chi gliding over any obstacles in her path. It wasn’t surprising that Cullen was rather taken with her, even if he wouldn’t dare admit it out loud.

“E ka san.” Chi-Chi addressed Luna with the usual Yoruba Nigerian afternoon greeting. Luna replied in kind. She enjoyed exchanging salutations in other languages, and often used “Ciao,” the Italian greeting, when ending a phone call.

As Alex and Wiley approached, Luna squatted to greet her pooch. “Hey, pal!” She gave Wiley a big hug. He nuzzled her in return. “Thanks, Alex. You are a gem!”

“Any time. He’s such a good dog,” Alex replied. “See you tomorrow.”

Chi-Chi squatted and spoke to Wiley in Yoruba. “Ti o dara aja.” Luna swore he understood what she was saying as he nuzzled Chi-Chi in return.