by Starr Rathburn

Created on: July 08, 2008

"A Promise to Keep" - A friendship that lasts even after death -

"I've got to get some fresh air, or I'm gonna croak," said Judy with a grimace at Stevie.

Her co-worker smiled and replied, "Always the dramatic one, aren't you?"

Judy stood and stretched, reaching toward the ceiling. Then she grabbed the pink sweater she had draped over the back of her chair and put it on. She patted her honey-blonde hair back into place. "I'm going outside for my lunch break today," she declared with a decisive nod. "You wanna come with me?"

Her friend sent an agreeable smile in Judy's direction. "Sure, what the hey. I'll be ready in a minute." Stevie finished typing the last three lines of the letter she'd been working on, added a quick sign-off, then hit the carriage return with a flourish. She grabbed the paper with a fist, intending to yank it out with one smooth motion.

R-r-rip! The startled expression on Stevie's face followed by her quick anger, brought Judy to laughter, then tears. "Oh-!" she exclaimed when she could breathe again. "The look on your face is precious! Wish you could've seen it!"

Stevie was not so amused. She sat back in her chair, anger slowly fading from her countenance. "Oh, no, this is horrible! Don't you know what this means?" she wailed. "Now I have to do this all over-I can't go out to lunch with you!" Even her light brown curls seemed to droop.

Judy sobered at once, unhappy at the thought of having to eat lunch without her friend. It was such a nice day outside, too. It seemed a shame that they'd have to order in just so that Stevie could retype the boss's letter. Mr. Finneman was very strict about deadlines. Judy didn't want to stay inside the law office today. An idea occurred to her which she eagerly shared with Stevie.

"Tell ya what. I won't eat without you. What I'll do is just run to the bank to make this deposit real quick for Mr. Finneman, then I'll grab us a couple of subs and some tater salad at Hank's Deli, and bring them back here. By then, your letter will be done, and we can sit out back on the picnic table and still eat together."

"C'mon, Stephanie," she wheedled, when she saw that her friend didn't want to be cajoled. It got the immediate reaction that she'd hoped for.

"Don't call me by that hideous name! Makes me feel like my mother is calling me."

Judy smiled, knowing her friend was already on her way to a better mood. "Now listen, I won't be gone more than thirty minutes. That'll give you plenty of time to retype that, right?"

"Yes, no problem!"

"O.K.,

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