MC Child Series

Yay! I was born on a Friday! Anyway, who is more "loving" than Irvine. Don't you ever realize why he is such a womanizer? Maybe it had something to do with certain influences in his life. I know I took lots of liberties with this one, so don't get mad. This goes out to Oruntia, my fellow Irvine-lover. It's inspired by "Tuesdays With Morrie," a very good, very sad book. I kind of did this one a little differently, not concentrating on the birth so much...

Monday's child is fair of face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,

Wednesday's child is full of woe,

Thursday's child has far to go,

Friday's child is loving and giving,

Saturday's child works hard for a living,

And the child that is born on the Sabbath day

Is bonny and blithe and good and gay.

FRIDAY'S CHILD - IRVINE KINNEAS

"Danny, it's a boy!" Jaeger Kinneas burst through the doors of the Timber Hospital, tearing off his sterile face mask.

His brother-in-law, Daniel, quickly rose from the chair, "How's my sister?"

"Regina's fine. She's tired, but the doctor said everything went smoothly. I can't believe I HAVE A SON!!!" he gleefully shouted to anyone who was listening.

Daniel smiled. He had never seen his brother-in-law act like this. Normally, he was reserved and quiet. Regina was the charismatic one. It ran in the family. "So, what'd you guys decide on as a name?"

"Irvine? Where'd you get that?"

"Gina. She's the one who came up with it. Well, enough talk! They were putting her in a room as I came out to tell you the good news, so let's go! She's asking for her brother. Come back and see your nephew!"

The two men turned and merrily walked down the hall on this Friday evening that Irvine Kinneas entered the world.

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Daniel loved to spoil his nephew. Every time he'd visit, he'd bring treats to the child - candy, cookies, teddy bears...There was no one more important to him than little Irvine. No one could bring a smile to his face like Irvy could. Daniel had often thought of settling down and starting a family of his own, but he didn't think the lifestyle was for him. Afterall, he loved women too much. Maybe if he ever found a gem of a girl like Jaeger Kinneas did, he'd change his ways, but he knew that his sister was one in a million, so he contented himself to life as a bachelor.

"Unca Dan! Unca Dan!" Irvine toddled to the man.

"Lesson #1, Irvine...Things are not always as they seem," he said. Daniel held out his two hands palm up. A single coin rested on one of his palms. He closed them and waved them around a little, opening them back up to reveal that both palms were now empty. Irvine shrieked in delight!

"Daniel," Regina reproved him, "I was just getting him settled down for a nap and you're riling him up again!"

"Sorry, Gina." He gave Irvine a conspiratorial wink. "Alright, kiddo. You heard your Mom. Time for a nap."

Irvine's face fell, "NO NAP!"

Daniel laid him down and said, "Alright, Irvy. Lesson #2. Mommies are always right, though uncles are always more fun!" Irvine giggled and Regina couldn't help but smile as well. After Irvine settled down and shut his eyes, Regina walked up to Daniel and put her hand on his shoulder.

"You really should consider settling down, Danny. You're so good with him."

"Well, he's a good kid. You know I can't be like that, though. It's not for me."

She rolled her eyes, "I know, I know...the bachelor lifestyle is bliss! You only have one person to look out for...yada yada yada. But, SOMEDAY, things will change. You'll feel differently."

"Yes, but that SOMEDAY'S not today," he countered.

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Jaeger dropped the key into Daniel's hand. "Just check up on everything, say once every two days. You know how Regina is about her plants! We should be back in a week and a half."

"Have fun!" Daniel grinned and leaned down to hug Irvine.

"I never been mooning before!" he said excitedly. Daniel laughed.

"Lesson #4. Never moon anyone, you got that?"

Irvine nodded seriously.

Jaeger laughed, "He's talking about the lunar gate. We're going to take a day and go tour it. I told him that's how people can go see the moon."

Regina ambled out of the house with a couple of bags, "I think that's everything." She leaned over to kiss her brother on the cheek. "Thanks for agreeing to water my plants, Danny. You know what they mean to me!"

"No problem. You guys just have fun," he responded. "Man, I'd love to visit Esthar someday. You guys are going to have such a good time. And taking a cruise to get there...can I come too?" he joked.

"Cruisin'" piped up Irvine.

"Uh oh," Regina laughed, "He's starting to talk like his uncle. We'd better get going now. See ya, Danny!"

"Bye," he waved as they got into the cab that was going to take them to the train station. From Timber, they were going to take a cruise ship, sailing around the Southernmost continent and up around to Esthar, where'd they stay for a few days, enjoying all the huge city had to offer, visiting the Lunar Gate (or mooning, as Irvine put it) and a few other sites before returning home. As he watched the happy family leave, he thought, 'Maybe I've been wrong all along...maybe the bachelor lifestyle isn't the best one afterall...'

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Walking down the street in Timber up towards the office where he worked, Daniel froze as his eyes focused on one of the news stands.

SHIP WRECK NEAR CENTRA, the headline screamed. Daniel felt his feet begin to walk faster and then settle into a run. He yanked the newspaper out of the newstand and began to read, his mind filling with dread.

"Hey, you gotta pay for that, you know," the man at the newstand said angrily.

Annoyed, Daniel threw him some gil and continued to read.

"A Siren's Star Cruise Liner sank yesterday in the late afternoon..." The ship had apparently hit a rocky protrusion near the southern continent. Not much was known about the rocky landscape down there and even less was known about the waters around it. The ship had to slightly alter it's course to avoid a small storm that had popped up. Unfortunately, it ended up hitting some rock in a shallow part of the sea. The ship tried to make it to shore, but ended up sinking 4 miles offshore. Daniel frantically scanned the article until his eyes fell on the words, "No survivors were found."

No survivors? That couldn't be!

He rushed up to his office and told his boss he'd need a few days leave. Seeing the newspaper in his hand, and remembering what Daniel had said about his sister and her family going on a cruise, the man agreed.

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Daniel slumped down in his chair and turned on the news station. They were doing a feature story about the Siren's Star shipwreck that had happened this day, 3 years ago. He felt tears welling up in his eyes once more, remembering how he had flown down to Centra, unable to believe that his sister, brother-in-law, and little 3 year old nephew, had died. But along with other grieving family members and friends, he saw for himself that there were indeed no survivors. For the past 3 years, his life seemed even more empty until he heard, "Since the wreck, this continent has been bathed in attention. Many resorts have been founded and even an orphanage that had been established prior to all the publicity, but not far from the site where the ship sank, has received attention. When asked why she chose to locate the orphanage so out of the way, Matron Edea Kramer replied, 'I see this place as a refuge...'" Without listening to another word, Daniel had jumped out of his chair and hastily threw clothes into a bag. He knew in his heart that little Irvine was there. He HAD to be!

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Today's the day. I'm enrolling in Galbadia Garden. I wanted to go to Balamb, but Galbadia's a little closer to home. I just wish Uncle Dan could see me. He'd be so proud.

It was amazing the way it all happened. The earliest, clearest memories I had were at the orphanage. I was so happy there with all my little friends. I never stopped to think about how I ended up there. I missed my Mom and Dad. I could vaguely see them in my head, but I lost them when I was young - I was almost 3 years old when I came to the orphanage. But there was another man whom I held in my memories as well. My uncle. I was playing with Sephie outside by the water when he came for me.

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Matron opened the door to the insistent knocking, "Can I help you?" she asked politely.

"Do you have a little boy here, he'd be about six years old now, Irvine Kinneas?"

Her eyes widened and she said, "Come on in..."

In agony, the man exlaimed, "Please! I've believed he was dead for three years now. Just tell me! I'm his uncle - my sister was his mother."

"Tell me more," she said cautiously.

"They were going on a cruise around this continent, headed for Esthar and the ship sank and they said there were no survivors, but I know he's alive. He's got to be! I saw the orphanage on the news station and I figured that if he had survived, he would have washed up near here and would be living here now." By this time, tears were falling from his eyes, "Please, that kid means the world to me..."

Her face softened and she stood up and walked to the back door, "Irvine, can you come here?" she called.

Daniel gasped as he saw a little boy with the face of his father and eyes of his mother run inside. I hadn't forgotten Uncle Dan, either.

"Uncle Dan?" I asked, not really believing what I was seeing.

At once, I ran and hugged him as hard as I could.

That afternoon, he and Matron discussed him taking me away. I was sad to leave my friends, but excited to have my family back.

"I am usually a little hesitant to release the children to families where there isn't a father AND a mother, but in this case, I think it would be best for him. Plus, you are family. That much is evident. He has your eyes," she paused, making Daniel blush crimson. "I just want to give him one more day to pack up everything, say goodbye to the children, and have a special 'good-bye' meal."

"You don't know how happy you've made me, Mrs. Kramer!" Daniel exclaimed.

"I'm just happy that Irvine's got his family back," Matron smiled.

"Lesson #5, Irvine..." he looked at me and smiled, "Your family will always come for you."

So, that's how I came to live with Uncle Dan.

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At night, I used to cry for the friends I had left. How I missed them. I loved Uncle Dan, but he wasn't a kid! He seemed to sense my loneliness and arranged with his boss to work at home, so we could get to know each other better. I mean, I'd changed a lot in the three years that I lived at the orphanage. So we'd sit down and he'd tell me about my mother and my father.

"They loved you very much," he told me.

"Then why are they gone?" I asked.

He looked sad and said, "I don't think they ever wanted to leave you. I can picture this in my mind..." he began to describe the shipwreck (I may have been young, but he recognized that I needed to know the truth about what happened), "I can see the water pouring in and everyone forced into the sea and your Mom and Dad struggling to keep your face above the water. They probably did everything in their power to make sure you were safe. I can't tell you what happened to them, other than that they died out there that day. I CAN tell you, though, that I KNOW my sister and I KNOW her husband and they were the most caring people in the world. I know they did everything they could for you and will always be with you, right in there..." he tapped on my chest. Satisfied, I reached up and hugged him.

"I'll do my best, Irvy, to see that you're not lonely ever again!" he promised

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I think one of the things I remember most about Uncle Dan was the lessons he taught me. As I grew up, he taught me everything from the value of eating vegetables...

"Lesson #29. You eat these, even though they're nasty, and you're going to look better than everyone. You'll be healthy and have muscles. All the girls will like you because you look GOOD and why will you look good?"

I grinned, "Because I ate these even though they're nasty!"

"You got it, kiddo!"

...to how to ride a bike...

"Lesson #44. When riding a bike, you have to really concentrate about balancing. Keep your eyes forward and..." and he pushed me. I fell off and kicked the bike.

"OK, Irvine. Lesson #45. When you fall, don't just give up or get frustrated. Just try again. Now, when you've fallen 50 times...THEN you can get frustrated!"

Well, after a few more tries, I got the hang of it.

And then, I remember one of the most important lessons he taught me...

"Lesson #66. How to look like you know what's always going on...Trust me, Irvy. This one's important! Sometimes you're sitting there and everyone makes a joke that you don't get...what do you do?"

I thought for a second, "Ask them to explain?"

"NO! NO!" Uncle Dan laughed, "You've got to play it cool! Smile, just a little, but not too much, and chuckle. You don't want to burst out laughing because then they might suspect. Try it."

"No, smaller!" he urged.

So, I smiled smaller and chuckled a little...

"Perfect!" he exclaimed. "Also, sometimes you'll be out on a date and the woman will just be plain confusing, you know...how women are! What do you do?"

"Ummm..." I paused, "Smile just a little, and chuckle?"

"NO! NO!" he said, "This one's tricky. Most of the time, you can just smile and nod, but if she's asking you questions such as 'Do I look fat?' or 'Is my hair ok?', then you always tell her what she wants to hear!"

"But isn't that dishonest? Isn't that lying?"

Uncle Dan smiled, "Trust me, Irvine, it's easier that way..."

I just shrugged my shoulders. I guess he'd know. He'd dated more women than anyone I knew!

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When I was 10, Uncle Dan bought me my first gun and said, "Lesson #73...big guns are better than little guns and every woman likes a man who wields a gun!"

I didn't understand, "But, why?"

"It's all in the image, Irvine," he assured me. I just shrugged.

"Now," he continued, "Lesson #74...when aiming the gun..." he began to show me how to hold it and how to focus on my target. He taught me about getting familiar with every aspect of my gun. He'd take me out hunting and to the shooting range and soon, I became very skilled. I loved shooting, too. I didn't care about my image; I just liked shooting! But, if it helped me be as successful with women as Uncle Dan, than it was all the better!

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When I was 13, Uncle Dan sat me on the porch and said, "I notice how you've been looking at Jeannie Garrow from next door. I think it's time we had a little talk. You may want to write all this down," he winked.

"Lesson #102. How to get a woman. Let me see your 'cool' walk."

"My 'cool' walk?" I asked. He nodded, so I got up and started walking.

"OK, that's a fine 'I'm all alone' walk. Now, do this. Swing your arms very casually...a little less...ok, now bob up and down like this...not so much, now! OK, and when you see Jeannie, nod at her like this...YES! You've got it perfect!"

I was proud of myself. I learned the 'cool' walk!

"Now, you've got to have the right words...what would you say if Jeannie Garrow walked right up here?"

"Yeah, ok," Uncle Dan stared at me, analytically, "Now, if you're wanting to let her know you want to be more than friends?"

"Uh, hi Jeannie?" I said.

He threw back his head and laughed. "You've got to have a line. how about 'Hey baby, I think we're destined to be together' or my personal favorite, 'am I looking at the sun, or is that just your smile?'"

I laughed, "That sounds ridiculous!"

"It works, though, Irvine. Trust me. Now, you've got the walk and you've got the words. Now you just need the look and an attitude...Hmmm..." he walked all around me, again, analyzing me. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers, "I've got it!"

"Well, you've become such a good sharpshooter, I know what look would be perfect for you!" he led me back into the house, where he started digging through the closet. He plucked an old cowboy hat and a trenchcoat out of the mess and instructed me to put it on. Feeling a little silly, I complied. When I looked in the mirror, though, I liked what I saw.

"Now, you know, we'll just get you some gloves, maybe let your hair grow out...Irvine, you'll be a bigger ladies man than me!"

Now, I began to get excited, "And I can have that lone-gunman attitude like in the comics I've read."

Wiping a fake tear from his eye, Uncle Dan laughed and said, "I am SO proud of you!"

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Uncle Dan had been diagnosed with cancer a few months before that, though he tried to keep it a secret from me. He didn't want me to worry, but I noticed him becoming more and more tired. It was fast spreading type that had started in his lungs. Finally, I confronted him about it, asking if something was wrong, and demanding the truth. He sighed and admitted he should have been upfront with me from the beginning. So, as I watched him become worse and worse, he made light of everything. He still taught me lessons and arranged to have me enroll in Galbadia Garden to continue my training with the gun and also so I could get a good education.

We sat up at night, filling out the forms and talking about what it'd be like. Two months before I was supposed to go, Uncle Dan was pretty much bedridden. We had a nurse to make him comfortable and I'd keep him company. I told him I wasn't going to go to Galbadia after all.

"You MUST go!" he urged.

"NOt with you being..." I couldn't bring myself to say the word, sick.

"Sit down, Irvine," he said. "This will be your last lesson. You're of the age where I can't teach you anymore - you need to teach yourself now. You've become a wonderful young man, the kind of son I think your Mom and Dad would be proud of. I know I've taught you about women and stuff, but lying here, I've had time to think. None of what I've taught you is important. The important thing is to find people who care about you and never let them go! Lesson #158. Find one woman and hold onto her. Find friends and never betray them. It's easiest to look out for yourself, but look out for others. Only then, will you find true happiness. As much as I hate to admit it, all those women I've seen have never filled the void in my life like you have, or like your mother and father did. I was empty until I found you again!" he squeezed me hand weakly, "You'll go to Galbadia. This is your dream. Besides, when the time comes for you to leave, I really don't think I'll be a factor in everything."

"Don't say that!" I protested.

He just smiled, "I lied. I have another one...Lesson #159. Don't be sad for me. I'm happier than I ever have been and I know that when I finally die, I'll be happier still, for I'll see a girl who meant the world to me."

"Mom?" I whispered. He nodded. I didn't know what else to do, so I just hugged him.

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He died 3 weeks ago, so I decided to go ahead and do what I know he'd want me to. I'm on my way to Galbadia taking his lessons of life, love, and vegetables to heart. I don't know if I'll be able to apply what he taught me right before he died - that'll be tough, but I'll certainly try.

I turned the key in the door, picked up my bags, and now I'm walking to the train station to start anew...

Goodbye, Uncle Dan. Say "hi" to Mom and Dad for me...

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Author's Note: Squaresoft owns the characters, though I made up Irvine's parents and Uncle Dan. Mother Goose owns the rhyme. Again, I realize I totally took some liberties with Irvine's story, but hey! This is fanfiction, so I can, right? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this...only two days left: Saturday & Sunday. I think you can guess who they'll be!

SUNDAY's CHILD - SELPHIE TILMITT

"So what is it you wanted to tell me?" Benjamin Tilmitt had been wondering all day what news his wife, Terese had for him. And now, sitting across from her in this fine restaurant here in Dollet, he gazed into her sparkling emerald eyes. The love that Benjamin and Terese had for each other was unriveled. They had been best friends growing up, sharing laughter and tears and over time, that friendship had blossomed into much more.

Terese leaned forward and said, "Let's just say, it's something we've been waiting for a long time..."

"You mean..." He stared at his wife, loving everything about her, from her beautiful green eyes to her short brown hair flipped up spunkily at the ends.

"We're going to have a baby, Benji!" They had been hoping for a child for the past 3 years, to no avail...until this moment.

Suddenly, Benjamin couldn't sit still. "Oh Hyne! Let's get out of here! This place is too stuffy for me." He tried to loosen his collar. "How about we go grab some hotdogs and just talk?"

Terese grinned. "You read my mind!" When he jumped up, Benjamin knocked his water glass over. Laughing at his clumsiness, Terese grabbed his arm and they ran out of the restaurant ignoring the stares of everyone.

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Walking hand in hand, Benjamin exclaimed, "A baby! Can this be real? We've wanted this for so long now!"

"Our little angel-baby. She'll be so special," Terese said.

Benjamin stopped, "Tess, how do you know it'll be a girl?"

"I just do. Mother's intuition." Terese said with an air of finality.

Just then, an old woman walked past them, stopped, and turned around examining them thoughtfully. She spoke to the young couple, "You've been blessed with good fortune."

Benjamin frowned, "Excuse me?"

The woman smiled, her face looking years younger as she continued, "A child, a little girl. Something you've been wanting for many years. She will be everything you dream of. Think of all the qualities you'd like to see in her...intelligence...grace...name her for one of those qualities and she'll exhibit them all. Mark my words, for I speak truth."

Benjamin stared at her incredulously. How could she have known all that? Terese simply laughed in delight. "Thank you, Ma'am!" she impulsively grabbed the old woman's hand. The woman smiled and patted Terese's arm.

"It's brought me joy to relay this message. Take heed what I've said," she said wisely and walked away. Benjamin ran after her and stopped her.

"Excuse me, Ma'am," he handed a few pieces of gil to her, "You've made my wife happy tonight. Please accept this."

The woman shook her head, "Oh no, honey. I'm simply a messenger. Your daughter will make you so proud. She'll be sunlight in the face of tragedy."

Benjamin frowned again, "What do you mean? What tragedy?"

The woman looked away, "Like I said before, I'm simply a messenger. Go to your wife, now."

Still not comprehending the woman's words, Benjamin complied. As he approached Terese, she asked excitedly, "What'd she say? What'd she say?"

Benjamin didn't want to tell her the woman's comments about tragedy, so he simply put his arm around her and said, "Just that she'd make us proud..."

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Lying in bed that night, Terese asked softly, "Benji, do you believe what she said about naming her after one of the qualities we'd like to see in her?"

He shrugged, "I think I do. I mean, who was that woman? How could she have known all that about us?"

"Yeah, I thought that too. Anyway, what qualities would you want her to have?"

"Hmm..." he thought, "Intelligence, cheerfulness, loyalty..."

"Grace?" Terese asked.

"Nah - she's got to take after me in SOME way. Let her be clumsy, Tess."

Terese laughed and playfully slapped his arm. "I want her to be a good friend, dedicated, selfless, kind..."

"Yeah, but what kind of a name is 'Dedicated Tilmitt'?" Benjamin laughed.

"Cheerful Tilmitt," Terese added.

"I don't know how we're supposed to name her after a good quality...Loyalty Tilmitt?" Benjamin kept joking.

"I've got it!" Terese sat up.

"We want her to be selfless. The woman said to name her after one quality and she'd possess them all..."

"Yeah, but Selfless Tilmitt sounds funny."

"No, not SELFLESS, but what about Selphie?"

"Selphie? I think it'll suit her perfectly," Benjamin said, grabbing his wife and pulling her close to him.

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Sure enough, Selphie was everything they had hoped for. She was born on a beautiful, sunny, Sunday morning. Benjamin remembered what the woman had said, 'She'll be sunlight in the face of tragedy...' but then he pushed that thought out of his mind. It was a hard labor and Terese was weak, but he had faith that everything would turn out ok. Meanwhile, his tiny, precious angel-baby, his little Selphie was perfect! Ten little fingers and ten little toes and her mother's nose. It was evident right from the beginning that she had a cheerful disposition. And during the first year of her life, from her first step to her first words, she was the pride of her mother and father.

However, it wasn't long before the old woman's words rang true yet again. Tragedy struck. Terese had always been somewhat frail and the birth of Selphie had left her weak. Though she struggled to recover, she never seemed to. During the first year of Selphie's life, Terese Tilmitt grew weaker and weaker until during the winter of that year, she caught pneumonia. In her weakened state, she was unable to fight the infection and soon passed away.

Standing at her gravesite after the funeral on that dismal, cloudy day, clutching a tiny, white flower in his hand, Benjamin, holding Selphie in his arms, stared down at the casket. He pictured his wife, her small stature, her clear, emerald-colored eyes, her short brown hair with that cute little flip...and then he looked at his daughter and realized he was staring at the same picture. Small stature (he knew she'd always be petite), emerald eyes, and short brown hair. Selphie suddenly grinned at him and said, "Love Daddy."

Sunlight in the face of tragedy.

He looked at the sky amazed, as beams of golden sunlight broke through the clouds flooding the gravesite in light. He pried the flower out of Selphie's hand and together with his own, dropped them on top of the casket, and walked away.

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As time passed by and Benjamin grew used to the idea of being a single father, he grew even closer to his daughter. He was a merchant, so he took her to his little shop day after day so he could keep an eye on her. Though she was spirited, she was well-behaved and a favorite of the customers. She learned new words - potion, 'lixer, and tent and became his favorite little helper. Everyone commented on how much she looked like her mother and how wonderful a child she was. At night, they'd walk home together and he'd spend the evening teaching her new things.

One day, she asked, "Daddy, why you not always smile?"

Benjamin lifted the corners of his mouth, "You're right, Selphie. I have no reason to frown!" Selphie nodded emphatically. "I guess," he continued, "that sometimes I forget that the best way to go through life is to take whatever tries to get you down and chase it away with your joy. You know, Selphie, there'll come a day when you'll feel sad too..."

"Like you did when Mommy died?" Selphie asked.

"Exactly...and when that day comes, always remember that when something bad happens, it means something good's just around the corner. Got that?"

Selphie grinned and said, "Yep!"

"Alright, angel-baby, let's get you into bed..." he picked her up and threw her in the air, making her giggle. Selphie, he thought, what would I do without you?

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He never thought to ask himself what she'd ever do without him, however.

They were in his little item's shop when that fateful day came. Selphie was about 3 1/2 years old. Two oddly dressed men entered the shop, pushing little Selphie out of the way. They approached the counter.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen. How may I help you?"

"We're not here to buy anything..." one of them said. Benjamin noticed the crazy look in their eyes and shifted nervously.

"Umm, Selphie...go next door for a bit, ok? I'll come get you later. I know old Owen's been asking to see you..." Selphie skipped out the door, happily. However, instead of going next door, she paused at the door and peaked through the tiny window, curiously.

"Gentlemen, I don't have much..." Benjamin said.

"We'll take what you have," the other man said, drawing out a weapon. Without a second thought, he plunged the dagger into Benjamin's chest. All that could be heard at that moment was a little girl screaming, "DDDDDDDDAAAAAAAADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Panicked, the two men quickly grabbed a few items and ran out the back door. Owen ran from next door and picking up the sobbing child, ran inside Benjamin's shop. He gasped when he saw the slain man on the floor. Cradeling Selphie's head to his shoulder, he cried with her. What horror that such a good man as Benjamin Tilmitt was to leave this world in such a cruel fashion. He was surprised to hear her whisper, "When something bad happens, something good's around the corner..."

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"So where're we headed this weekend?" I asked my two best friends, Benton and Brady. They were twins and most people couldn't tell them apart, but I could. When I arrived at Trabia Garden 3 years ago, I tripped, of course (I am so clumsy, it's unbelievable!) and when I realized I had dropped everything I was carrying, there they were like two, hulking giants, picking everything up. Since then, we had become inseperable!

"I don't know," said Brady. "Where do you want to go, Selph?"

I thought for a minute and then decided, "Dollet." One of the neat things about Trabia Garden is that once you reached the age of 15, you were given the freedom to leave the Garden for weekend breaks. Benton & Brady had relatives in just about every town on the planet, so we had the freedom to go where we chose, for we knew we'd always have a place to stay.

"Dollet, it is, then," said Benton. "Our aunt lives there, so I'll run and give her a call right now."