A Request from Mama Reynaldo

"Regina! Hóla, Regina!"

It was Elena's brother Armando calling her. The girls had left the house itself and were sitting in the dark coolness of the nearby barn, playing with a litter of three week old kittens. The little cats' eyes had recently opened and were a beautiful blue. Their ears were also open and stuck up like little peaks from their furred heads. They were adorable.

"What does he want with you now?" Elena complained. "We watched the niños all morning. Surely we deserve some time to rest."

"And some quiet. Those kids were full of energy and so noisy!" Regina laughed as she set the little black and white kitten back in the straw beside its mother. "I'll go see what Armando wants."

As she excited the dim light of the barn, Regina shielded her eyes from the bright sun. Armando spotted her before she could call out to him and dashed over.

"Is Elena with you?" he asked in hushed tones.

"She's in the barn, why?"

"I need to talk to you. Mama has a plan," Armando said, glancing toward the barn with a mischievous grin. "Go on. Go find Mama in the salon. I'll stall Elena."

Regina looked doubtfully at him and took an involuntary step toward the barn. Armando reached out and took hold of her shoulders.

"No, the salon. Please. Mama sent me and she needs your help. Go on now," Armando's tone was insistent.

"Fine, fine. I'll go," she replied. "But please make sure Elena knows it's your fault I'm gone, OK?"

"Whatever you say, chica," Armando laughed quietly. "Now go on before she comes out. Hurry!"