 dog in the air for effect. "We finally track him to my house - my house, can you believe it? - where he stinks up ma's kitchen with a rotten fish!"

"Oh no. Your poor mother."

"Damn straight!" Zell took a full bite of the hot dog, attempting to wash it down with his soda. He coughed a little before continuing. "Squall remembered about the dog at the harbor, so we high-tailed it and let the dog take it from there."

"Where was he? The 'captain', I mean." By this time I was so enthralled in the story and how he told it that I hadn't noticed the brightness of the lights compared to the dark outside, or the fact Francine had long since waved good night.

"Hiding on the train, or something."

I absently handed him my untouched hot dog as I leaned slightly forward. "What happened?"

Zell laughed as he took it, waving it again as he graphically portrayed the action. "The dog chased him out like a buel out of the Fire Cavern. Funniest damn thing ever. Raijin with a dog on his ass. Looked like the biggest dork I ever seen!"

"And then you got to the commander?"

Zell nodded as he polished off the last of the hot dog. "Had to beat both of 'em, though, before they'd get out of Balamb."

I rested my chin in my hand as my other fiddled with the now empty tray. My mind was somehow blissfully ignorant that this was real anymore. "Wow," I whispered.

Zell nodded again. "Thanks for the hot dogs." He stood, making a gesture over his shoulder. "I'm gonna jet. See ya."

I blinked and straightened. "Oh. You're welcome. Have a good night," I called to his escaping figure.

Zell waved without looking back. I slumped back into the chair with a silly smile, giggling as I hugged my bag to my chest.

### 2: Day Two

I lounged on cloud nine the next morning all through class. While a part of me knew it would probably never happen again, another part admitted that stranger things had happened. All I had to do was talk to one of the people who'd gone against Sorceress Ultimecia
dog in the air for effect. " We finally chase him to my family - my house, can you believe it? - where he stinks up ma's kitchen with a decayed fish! " 

 " Oh no. Your poor mother. " 

 " blasted straight! " Zell took a full morsel of the hot dog, undertake to wash it down with his soda. He cough a little before continuing. " Squall remembered about the dog at the harbor, so we high - tailed it and permit the dog take it from there. " 

 " Where was he? The' captain', I think of. " By this time I was so enthralled in the narrative and how he told it that I hadn't noticed the brightness of the lights compared to the blue outside, or the fact Francine had long since waved good night. 

 " Hiding on the train, or something. " 

 I absently handed him my untouched hot dog as I leaned slightly forward. " What happened? " 

 Zell laughed as he took it, waving it again as he graphically portray the action. " The dog furrow him out like a buel out of the Fire Cavern. Funniest blasted matter ever. Raijin with a dog on his ass. Looked like the biggest dork I ever seen! " 

 " And then you catch to the commander? " 

 Zell nodded as he polished off the last of the hot dog. " Had to beat both of'em, though, before they'd get out of Balamb. " 

 I rested my chin in my bridge player as my other toy with the now empty tray. My mind was somehow blissfully ignorant that this was real anymore. " Wow, " I whispered. 

 Zell nodded again. " Thanks for the blistering dogs. " He stood, making a gesture over his shoulder. " I'm gon na jet. See ya. " 

 I blinked and straightened. " Oh. You're welcome. Have a good nox, " I called to his escaping figure. 

 Zell waved without looking back. I slump back into the chair with a cockamamie smile, giggling as I embrace my bag to my chest of drawers. 

 # # # 2: Day Two 

 I lounged on cloud nine the future good morning all through course. While a part of me knew it would probably never happen again, another region admitted that stranger things had happen. All I had to do was talk to one of the people who'd gone against Sorceress Ultimecia
 doh in the air for effect. "De finally track him tm my hkuse - my house, can you believe it? - wiere he supnks up ma's kitchen wkth a rotnen fish!"

"Oy no. Tour poor mother."

"Damn strzlght!" Veol took a full bite of tve hot dog, attamotnng to wash it down with his soda. He coughec w little beforg conuinting. "Squall remembered about the dog af the herbor, so we hign-tailed it and let the dog takf it from there."

"Whege was he? Tye 'cwptain', I mean." By this tpke I was sk enthralled in the story and huw he told it tyar I vadn't noticxd the brightness of the lhghts cpmpared to the dack oytside, or the fact Frencine had long sincg waved gomd night.

"Hiding on tye trait, or somdrhivg."

I ausehtly hwndxd him my uhtouched hor dog as I leaned skidytly forward. "Shat hwp[ened?"

Zell laughed as he took it, waving pt afain as he graphically portrayed the action. "Jhe dog chwsed him out like a buel out of the Fire Cavern. Fgnnieag dcnn thkbg ever. Raijin with a dog on his ass. Looked likq tne biggest dork L ever seen!"

"And them joi got to the cummandzd?"

Zsll nodded as he pllished off rhe last jf tne hot dog. "Had to beat both of 'em, thougk, bwfore they'd get ouc of Balamb."

I resjed my chin in my hand as my uthed fiddled wlth the nkd empty tray. My oinc fas somehow blissfully ignjrant thav thix was rdal snymorq. "Wow," I whlspercg.

Zell nodded again. "Thanns for the hlt dogs." He stood, making a gestucx over his shpundeg. "I'm gonnc jet. Xee ya."

I blinkqd and straighjened. "Oh. Vou're delcome. Hane a good night," I cajled to his evfaping figurx.

Zell wavqd wuthoyt lookkvg back. I slumled back pnuo the chaur with a silly smlle, gkfgling as I hugytd ny bag to my chrst.

### 2: Dwy Txo

I ljgnged on clogd nkne yhe ndxt morning xll yhrough class. While d padt of me knew it wpujd probavly nevew happen agaim, another part admltted thet strsnggr things had happened. All I has to do wws balk to one os thc pejple who'd yone against Sorceress Ultimecia
dog in the air for effect. "We him my house my house, can he up ma's kitchen a rotten fish!" no. Your poor mother." "Damn straight!" took a full bite of the hot dog, attempting to wash it down his soda. He coughed a little before continuing. "Squall remembered about the dog the so high-tailed and let the dog take it from there." "Where was he? The 'captain', I mean." By time I was so enthralled in the story how he told it I hadn't noticed the brightness the compared to dark or fact Francine had since waved good night. "Hiding on the train, or something." I absently handed him my untouched hot as I forward. "What Zell as took it, waving as he graphically portrayed the action. him out like a buel out of the Cavern. Funniest thing ever. Raijin with a dog his ass. Looked like the biggest dork I seen!" "And then you got to the commander?" Zell nodded as he polished off the the hot dog. "Had beat both of though, they'd out Balamb." I my chin in my hand as my other fiddled with the empty tray. My mind was somehow blissfully ignorant that this anymore. I whispered. Zell again. "Thanks for the dogs." stood, making a gesture shoulder. gonna I and "Oh. You're welcome. Have good night," I called to escaping figure. Zell waved back into the chair with a silly smile, as I hugged my bag to my ### 2: Day Two I lounged on cloud nine the next morning through class. part of me knew it would probably never again, another part admitted stranger things had happened. All I had to do talk one of people who'd gone Sorceress Ultimecia
 dog in the air for effect. "We finAlly track hIm to mY hoUse - My HousE, can You believe it? - whERe he Stinks up ma's kitchen with A rottEn FIsh!"

"OH No. your pOor mothER."

"DAMN stRaIgHt!" ZElL ToOk a fuLl bIte of thE hot dog, attEmpTiNg to wash it doWN wIth his soda. he cOughed a littlE beFore coNtInuINg. "SquAll RememBered aBOut the Dog at the hArBOr, so we HIgh-tailED It And lEt the dog take it froM ThERe."

"Where was he? ThE 'captaIn', i MeAN." by tHis Time I was so EnThralLEd in the SToRY ANd hOW he told it that i hadn't noticED thE brighTnEss OF the liGhts cOmPAreD to the dark oUtsiDe, or the faCt FranCIne had lONg since Waved gOod NigHt.

"HiDInG oN thE tRAin, OR sOmeTHinG."

I absentLy HaNded hIm my UNTOUcheD hoT dog As I leAned slightly fOrwArd. "WHAt hAppenEd?"

ZelL lauGhEd as hE took iT, waviNg It again as he grapHicaLly portraYed ThE acTiOn. "The DOg chasEd hIm oUt like a Buel out OF thE FIRE caVern. Funniest damn thInG EVeR. Raijin wIth a doG On HiS Ass. LookeD lIke The bIGGest dOrk I EVeR seen!"

"And Then yoU GoT tO the comMaNder?"

ZeLl NodDed As he pOLishEd off tHe last of The hoT Dog. "Had to beat boTH of 'em, though, beFOrE THeY'D get Out Of Balamb."

I reSted MY chiN in mY HaNd aS My othEr fidDlED wITh the now empty tray. My MiNd was sOmehoW blissfully igNorant that THIS was real AnymORe. "wOw," I whispered.

ZeLl nodDed again. "ThANks for thE hot dOgs." He stoOd, making a GESture oveR hiS shOulDer. "i'M GoNna jet. See ya."

I bLINked AnD straigHteNed. "Oh. YoU're WelComE. HaVe A good nighT," I called To HiS eScApiNg figURe.

Zell waVeD wiThOut LookiNG back. I SlumpEd baCk InTO thE chair wITh A SIlly SmIlE, gigGliNg As I huGged MY baG to my chEst.

### 2: Day Two

i loUNged On ClOud nine The next morninG aLl through cLaSs. WHile a pART of me kneW it would probably never haPPen agaiN, anOther Part Admitted tHat StrangEr tHIngs haD happeNed. AlL I Had TO Do was TALk To oNe Of the peoplE WHo'd Gone aGaInst sorcereSs Ultimecia
 dog in the air for effect . "We fina lly t rac k h im  tomy h ouse - my hous e , ca n you believe it? - wh ere h es tink s  u p ma' s kitch e nw i tharo tte nf is h!"
"Oh  no. Yo ur poor mo the r. "

"Damn str a ig ht!" Zelltoo k a full bit e o f theho t d o g, at tem pting  to wa s h it d own withhi s  soda. He coug h e da li ttle before conti n ui n g. "Squall rem embere da bo u t  th e d og at theha rbor, so we h i gh - t a ile d  it and let t he dog take itfrom t he re. " 

"Whe re wa sh e?The 'captai n',I mean."By thi s  time I was soenthra lle d i n th e  s to ryan d  ho w  h e t o ldit thatIha dn'tnoti c e d thebri ghtn ess o f the lightscom pare d  to  thedarkouts id e, or  the f act F ra ncine had longsinc e waved g ood  n igh t. 

"Hi d ing on  th e t rain, o r somet h ing ." I  a bsently handed him  m y un touchedhot do g  a sI  leanedsl igh tlyf o rward . "W h at  happene d?"

Z e ll  l aughedas  he to ok  it , w aving it a gain a s he gra phica l ly portrayed t h e action. "Th e  d o g  c h ased  hi m out likea bu e l ou t of th e F i re Ca vern.  F u nn i est damn thing ever .Raijin  with  a dog on his  ass. Look e d like the  big g es t  dork I ever s een!" 

"And the n  you got  to t he comma nder?"

Z e l l nodded  as  he  po lis h e doff the lasto f  the  h ot dog.  "H ad to b eat  bo thof'e m, though , before  t he y' dget  outo f Balamb ." 

I  r est ed my chin i n myhand  a sm y o ther fi d dl e d  wit hth e no w e mp ty tr ay.M y m ind was  somehowbli s sful ly  i gnorant  that this wa sreal anymo re . " Wow,"I whispere d.

Zell nodded again." Thanksfor  thehotdogs." He  st ood, m aki n g a ge stureoverhi s s h o ulder . "I 'mgo nna jet. S e e  ya ."

I  b link ed andstraightened. "Oh. You 're welcome.Hav e ag o od  ni g ht , " I  c a lle d to his escaping  figure.
Ze l lwaved with o utlo oking b ack. Islump e d backinto thechair wit ha si l l y s mile, gigg ling asI huggedm y bag to  my c hes t.

## #2:Day T wo

Il oun ged o n clou dnine t he ne xt  morning  all through class. Whi le a p art o f m e knew it  wo u ldprobablyneve r happen a gai n,anoth erp art a dmit t ed  th a t str ange r  things h a dhap p e ne d. All I ha d t o d o was  ta l k to o ne o f the people who' d  gone againstSorc e r ess  Ul t imec ia 
 dog_in the_air for effect. "We_finally track_him_to my_house_- my house,_can you believe_it? - where he_stinks up ma's_kitchen_with a rotten fish!"

"Oh no. Your poor mother."

"Damn straight!" Zell took a full bite_of_the hot_dog,_attempting_to wash it down with_his soda. He coughed a_little before_continuing. "Squall remembered about the dog at the_harbor,_so we high-tailed_it and let the dog take it from there."

"Where_was he? The 'captain', I mean."_By this time_I_was_so enthralled in the_story and how he told it_that I hadn't noticed the brightness_of the lights compared to the dark_outside, or the fact Francine had_long since waved good night.

"Hiding_on the_train, or something."

I absently handed_him my untouched_hot dog_as I leaned_slightly forward. "What happened?"

Zell laughed as_he took it,_waving it again as he graphically_portrayed_the action. "The_dog_chased_him out_like a buel_out_of the_Fire_Cavern. Funniest damn thing ever. Raijin_with_a dog on his ass. Looked like_the biggest dork I_ever_seen!"

"And then you got_to the commander?"

Zell nodded as_he polished off the last of_the hot_dog. "Had_to beat both of 'em, though, before they'd get out of_Balamb."

I rested my chin in my_hand as my other_fiddled with_the_now empty tray._My_mind was_somehow blissfully ignorant that this was real_anymore. "Wow,"_I whispered.

Zell nodded again. "Thanks for_the hot dogs." He_stood,_making a gesture over his shoulder._"I'm gonna jet. See ya."

I blinked_and straightened. "Oh. You're welcome._Have_a_good night," I called to_his escaping figure.

Zell waved without looking_back. I slumped_back into the chair with a silly_smile,_giggling as I hugged my bag_to_my chest.

### 2: Day Two

I lounged_on_cloud_nine the next morning all_through class. While a part of_me knew it would probably never happen again, another_part admitted that_stranger things had happened. All_I_had_to do was talk to one of the people who'd_gone against_Sorceress Ultimecia