Chaos and Courthouses

''I thought I was going to have to find a new best friend,'' Zack told me.

We were sat under our usual tree, I ate a ham sandwich while Zack had leftover mac and cheese.

''So quickly?'' I asked

''Well I didn't know where you were and Jacob told me that I would need a new friend. Of course, I didn't believe him, he's no good you shouldn't talk to him, then you disappeared forever. I figured if you weren't home Saturday then I'd have to mourn you for ten years then find a new friend,'' he recounted.

''Ten years? That's a long time,'' I told him.

''Yeah but I'd be sad for ten years if we weren't friends,''

I held out my pinky to which he immediately clasped his own around, ''I promise to always be your friend,''

''And I promise to always be yours or I'd have to give up mac and cheese and pudding cups forever,'' he promised in return.

''Even pudding cups?'' I asked incredulously.

''That's how you know I'm serious,''