 his mother._ Zell Dincht's Ma. I swallowed my heart and gave a slight nod followed by a timid smile. "That sounds like fun," I said softly. _Boy, does it ever._

"Great. You work tomorrow?"

I shook my head. "I asked for the day off because of the exam qualifier today. Thought I'd need the time to myself." _Go to Balamb_?

Zell laughed. "You thought you'd fail, didn't you?"

I shook my head again. "No. I didn't know what to think. That's why I wanted the day off." _Meet his mother?_

Zell popped the last of his cookie in his mouth and finished his soda. He pointed at my plate. "You gonna play with it, or eat it?"

A giggle escaped the shock. I set down the celery. "I'm not really hungry. Too excited. I can hardly believe I passed."

He stuck out a hand. "Give me your cookie and then we'll head over to the Training Center."

I blinked. The smile vanished from my face, replaced a moment later with a grin as warm fuzzies and goose pimples attacked. "OK." I passed him my cookie.

We stood and left the cafeteria for the Training Center, Zell immediately telling me that while I'd been in the Fire Cavern he'd figured something out to help my delivery. I put my hands behind my back to give myself a pinch. It hurt, and I barely withheld a giggle.

### 6: Day Six - Ma Dincht

I set the brush down and pulled my hair back into a ponytail--I couldn't get my fingers to stop shaking long enough to braid my hair. Then I stared at the figure in the mirror dressed in a white Balamb sweatshirt and a pair of worn jeans. _I'm going to meet Zell's mother._ I looked over at my freshly made bed. _No. You're not sleeping._ The urge to check had already made me turn the covers down twice. The figure in the mirror drew my attention again.

Then there was a knock. I blinked. _It's really happening._

"Yo, Meg. You ready?"

I smiled, and my eyes crinkled at the corners. "I'm coming, Zell! Hold on a sec
his mother. _ Zell Dincht's Ma. I swallowed my heart and gave a slight nod follow by a diffident smile. " That sounds like fun, " I said piano. _ Boy, does it ever. _ 

 " bang-up. You work tomorrow? " 

 I shook my point. " I asked for the day off because of the examination qualifier today. Thought I'd need the time to myself. " _ Go to Balamb _? 

 Zell laugh. " You thought you'd fail, didn't you? " 

 I shook my capitulum again. " No. I didn't know what to think. That's why I desire the day off. " _ Meet his mother? _ 

 Zell popped the final of his cookie in his mouth and finished his soda. He indicate at my plate. " You gon na play with it, or eat it? " 

 A giggle escaped the shock. I dress down the celery. " I'm not really hungry. Too excited. I can hardly believe I passed. " 

 He stuck out a hand. " Give me your cookie and then we'll head over to the Training Center. " 

 I blinked. The smile vanished from my face, replaced a moment later with a smile as affectionate fuzzies and goose pimple attack. " OK. " I happen him my cookie. 

 We stood and left the cafeteria for the Training Center, Zell immediately tell me that while I'd been in the Fire Cavern he'd figured something out to help my delivery. I put my hand behind my back to give myself a pinch. It hurt, and I barely withheld a giggle. 

 # # # 6: Day Six - Ma Dincht 

 I fructify the brush down and pulled my hair back into a ponytail -- I couldn't get my fingers to hold on shaking long enough to braid my hair's-breadth. Then I stared at the figure in the mirror dressed in a white Balamb sweatshirt and a pair of careworn jeans. _ I'm going to meet Zell's mother. _ I looked over at my freshly made bed. _ No. You're not sleeping. _ The urge to check had already take me turn the cover down doubly. The figure in the mirror drew my attention again. 

 Then there was a knock. I blink. _ It's really happen. _ 

 " Yo, Meg. You ready? " 

 I smiled, and my center crinkled at the corner. " I'm coming, Zell! Hold on a sec
 hid mother._ Zell Dincht's Ma. I swallowed my heart end gavs a sligft nod followed by a timid slioe. "Thqt sounds like fun," I sxid softlj. _Boy, doew it wver._

"Great. Bku work tomordlw?"

I viook my head. "I ssked for dhe day off bewajsz of the exam qualifier today. Thoughe I'd nerd the time to miself." _Do tk Balamb_?

Zell laughed. "You thought yku'd fain, didn't you?"

I xhook my head again. "No. I dldn't know what to thinn. That's why I wwbted the day off." _Meet his mother?_

Zeml popped the last of his cookid in kis mouth abd fijhshed his sida. Hv pointed at my plate. "You gomna play with lt, or ear it?"

A giggle escaped vhe shock. I set down the celesy. "I'm not really hubgey. Tom exwitea. I zan herdmy bellevx I passed."

Hs stuck out a hand. "Give me yout siokie and theh we'll hqad over to the Training Center."

I blinkeg. Tge smile vanished from ny face, replaced a molent latew with a grin as warm fuzzies and goose pimples adtackxd. "OK." I oqsded him my cookie.

We stood and left the cafetewja fpr the Traininn Center, Zell immeciwtrjy telling me that cgime I'd been in the Vire Cadern ye'd figurtd sokething out to help my delicery. I put mj habds behind my back to give myrelf a pimch. It hurt, and I barelv withgeld a giggpe.

### 6: Day Sjb - Ma Dincht

I seg tme trush down and pulled my hwir back mnto c ponytakl--I vouldn'e get my flngers to stop shaking llng euough to braid ly hair. Then I stared at the fijnre in the mitros dgessed in a whlte Balamb sweaeshirt and a pcir of wjrn jdans. _I'm gopng to mext Zell's motrer._ I looked mger at my frxshly madq bee. _No. You're vut sleeping._ Thr urge to check had already made me tmrn tfs covers down tcnct. Rhe figure in yhe miwrlr dwaw my attenthon xgakm.

Then there was c ynocl. I blinked. _It's realny hzppening._

"Yo, Meg. You rcady?"

I smioed, and iy eyes crinkked at the corners. "I'm cmmiig, Zelk! Hjld on a sec
his mother._ Zell Dincht's Ma. I swallowed and a slight followed by a fun," said softly. _Boy, it ever._ "Great. work tomorrow?" I shook my head. asked for the day off because of the exam qualifier today. Thought I'd the time to myself." _Go to Balamb_? Zell laughed. "You thought you'd fail, you?" shook head "No. I didn't know what to think. That's why I wanted the day off." _Meet his Zell popped the last of his cookie in mouth and finished his He pointed at my plate. gonna with it, eat A escaped the shock. set down the celery. "I'm not really hungry. Too excited. I can hardly believe I passed." He out a me your and we'll over to the I blinked. The smile vanished from a moment later with a grin as warm and goose attacked. "OK." I passed him my We stood and left the cafeteria for the Center, Zell immediately telling me that while I'd been in the Fire Cavern he'd figured to help my delivery. put my hands my to myself pinch. It and I barely withheld a giggle. ### 6: Day Six - Dincht I set the brush down and pulled my hair a couldn't get my to stop shaking long to my hair. Then I the in in white sweatshirt and a pair worn jeans. _I'm going to Zell's mother._ I looked bed. _No. You're not sleeping._ The urge to had already made me turn the covers twice. The figure in the mirror drew my attention again. Then there a knock. _It's really happening._ "Yo, Meg. You ready?" I and my eyes crinkled the corners. "I'm coming, Zell! Hold on a sec
 his mother._ Zell Dincht's Ma. I swAllowed my hEart aNd gAve A sLighT nod Followed by a timID smiLe. "That sounds like fun," I saId sofTlY. _boy, dOEs It eveR._

"Great. YOU wORK toMoRrOw?"

I ShOOk My heaD. "I aSked for The day off bEcaUsE of the exam quALiFier today. THouGht I'd need the TimE to mysElF." _Go TO BalaMb_?

ZEll laUghed. "YOU thougHt you'd faiL, dIDn't you?"

i Shook my HEAd AgaiN. "No. I didn't know what TO tHInk. That's why I waNted thE dAY oFF." _meeT hiS mother?_

ZelL pOpped THe last oF HiS COOkiE In his mouth and Finished his SOda. he poinTeD at MY plate. "you goNnA PlaY with it, or eaT it?"

A Giggle escAped thE Shock. I sET down thE celerY. "I'm Not RealLY hUnGry. toO ExcITeD. I cAN haRdly beliEvE I PasseD."

He sTUCK Out a HanD. "GivE me yoUr cookie and thEn wE'll hEAd oVer to The TrAiniNg centeR."

I blinKed. ThE sMile vanished froM my fAce, replacEd a MoMenT lAter wITh a griN as WarM fuzzieS and gooSE piMpLES AtTacked. "OK." I passed him My COOkIe.

We stooD and leFT tHe CAfeteria FoR thE TraINIng CeNter, zElL immediaTely teLLiNg Me that wHiLe I'd beEn In tHe FIre CaVErn hE'd figuRed sometHing oUT to help my delivERy. I put my hands BEhIND mY Back To gIve myself a pInch. iT hurT, and i BaRelY WithhEld a gIgGLe.

### 6: dAy Six - Ma Dincht

I set thE bRush doWn and Pulled my hair bAck into a poNYTAil--I coulDn't gET mY Fingers to stop sHakinG long enougH To braid mY hair. then I staRed at the fIGUre in the MirRor DreSseD IN a White Balamb swEATshiRt And a paiR of Worn jeaNs. _I'M goIng To mEeT Zell's motHer._ I lookEd OvEr At My fReshlY Made bed. _NO. YOu'rE nOt sLeepiNG._ The urGe to cHeck HaD aLReaDy made mE TuRN The cOvErS dowN twIcE. The fIgurE In tHe mirroR drew my atTenTIon aGaIn.

then theRe was a knock. I bLiNked. _It's reaLlY haPpeninG._

"yO, Meg. You rEady?"

I smiled, and my eyes criNKled at tHe cOrnerS. "I'm cOming, Zell! holD on a seC
 his mother._ Zell Dincht' s Ma. I sw allow edmyhe artandgave a slightn od f ollowed by a timid smi le. " Th a t so u nd s lik e fun," Is a idso ft ly.  _ B oy , doe s i t ever. _

"Great.  Yo uwork tomorro w ?" 

I shookmyhead. "I ask edfor th eday off b eca use o f thee xam qu alifier t od a y. Tho u ght I'd n ee d th e time to myself. "  _ G o to Balamb_?
Zellla u gh e d . " You  thought y ou 'd fa i l, didn ' ty o u ?"I shook my he ad again. " N o.I didn 't  kn o w what  to t hi n k.That's whyI wa nted theday of f ." _Mee t  his mo ther?_ 

Z ell  pop p ed  t hela s t o f  h isc ook ie in hi smo uth a nd f i n i s hedhis  sod a. He  pointed at m y p late .  "Y ou go nna p laywi th it , or e at it ?" 

A giggle esca pedthe shock . I  s etdo wn th e  celer y."I' m not r eally h u ngr y. T o oexcited. I can har dl y be lieve Ipassed . "
H e  stuck o ut  ahand . "Give  mey ou r cookie  and t h en  w e'll he ad  overto  th e T raini n g Ce nter." 

I blin ked.T he smile vanis h ed from my fa c e, r ep l aced  amoment late r wi t h agrin as  wa r m fuz ziesan d  g o ose pimples attacke d.  "OK."  I pa ssed him my c ookie.

We s t ood andleft th e  cafeteria for  theTraining C e nter, Ze ll im mediatel y telling m e that w hil e I 'dbee n in  the Fire Cav e r n he 'd  figure d s omethin g o uttohel pmy delive ry. I pu tmy  h an dsbehin d  my back  t o g iv e m yself a pinc h. It  hur t,  a n d I  barely wi t h held  a  g iggl e.
# ## 6:  Day Six  - Ma D incht

Iset thebr us h downand pulled my  h air back i nt o a  ponyt a i l--I cou ldn't get my fingers to stop sh aki ng lo ng e nough tobra id myhai r . Then  I sta red a tthe f igure i nthe  m irror dres s e d i n a w hi te B alamb s weatshirt and a pa i r o f worn jeans.  _I 'm g o i ng  to me e t Z el l 'sm o ther._ I looked  over at m yf re shly madeb ed.  _ No. You 're not  slee p ing._ T he urge t o check h ad  alr e a dymade me tu rn the c overs dow n  twic e .The f igu re inth e m irror  drewm y a ttent ion ag ai n.

Th en th er e was aknock. I blinked. _It's  reall y hap pen ing._

"Y o,M eg.  You read y?"
I smiled,  an d m y eye s c r inkle d at th e c o rners . "I ' m coming, Ze ll! H ol d on a sec
 his_mother._ Zell_Dincht's Ma. I swallowed_my heart_and_gave a_slight_nod followed by_a timid smile._"That sounds like fun,"_I said softly.__Boy,_does it ever._

"Great. You work tomorrow?"

I shook my head. "I asked for the day_off_because of_the_exam_qualifier today. Thought I'd need_the time to myself." _Go_to Balamb_?

Zell_laughed. "You thought you'd fail, didn't you?"

I shook_my_head again. "No._I didn't know what to think. That's why I_wanted the day off." _Meet his_mother?_

Zell popped the_last_of_his cookie in his_mouth and finished his soda. He_pointed at my plate. "You gonna_play with it, or eat it?"

A giggle_escaped the shock. I set down_the celery. "I'm not really_hungry. Too_excited. I can hardly believe_I passed."

He stuck_out a_hand. "Give me_your cookie and then we'll head_over to the_Training Center."

I blinked. The smile vanished_from_my face, replaced_a_moment_later with_a grin as_warm_fuzzies and_goose_pimples attacked. "OK." I passed him_my_cookie.

We stood and left the cafeteria for_the Training Center, Zell_immediately_telling me that while_I'd been in the Fire_Cavern he'd figured something out to_help my_delivery. I_put my hands behind my back to give myself a pinch._It hurt, and I barely withheld_a giggle.

### 6: Day_Six -_Ma_Dincht

I set the_brush_down and_pulled my hair back into a ponytail--I_couldn't get_my fingers to stop shaking long_enough to braid my_hair._Then I stared at the figure_in the mirror dressed in a_white Balamb sweatshirt and a_pair_of_worn jeans. _I'm going to_meet Zell's mother._ I looked over_at my freshly_made bed. _No. You're not sleeping._ The_urge_to check had already made me_turn_the covers down twice. The figure_in_the_mirror drew my attention again.

Then_there was a knock. I blinked.__It's really happening._

"Yo, Meg. You ready?"

I smiled, and my_eyes crinkled at_the corners. "I'm coming, Zell!_Hold_on_a sec