The rest of the year was pretty good, Cree signed up to be an aide for my home room class every final period, where she was introduced to the other special ed children there. At the beginning of March, Mrs. Carson introduced a new music teacher, Ms. Cruz, who would sing for us and let us play with musical instruments: tambourines, maracas, drums, etc. Whenever anyone in the class had a birthday, she'd play her guitar and we'd sing them a birthday song, then right after that, some of the kids often sing "and many more on channel four" and so on, which made me giggle. My birthday was April 5th, my 8th birthday, and I honestly felt special receiving a little extra acknowledgement. Ms. Cruz was incredibly sweet, too!

June 9, 1996

At the beginning of summer vacation, Cree came over to my house once more and told me that she wished to speak privately with me. I shrugged to myself and ushered her to come upstairs to my bed room. Once we sat down beside the bed, she cleared her throat and began to speak.

"So I was thinking for a while about the first time I ever saw you cry; when I stuck up for you against those other kids making fun of you. I realize that I'm not ALWAYS gonna be there to protect you. But.. give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he'll eat for a lifetime."

"Whaddoya mean?" Delilah tilts her head.

"I mean I want you to be in the Kids Next Door with me!" my eyes lit up in interest. "Really?" Cree nodded. I thought for a second or two. ".. what exactly IS the K-K-Kids Next Door?"

"It's basically an organization where kids around the world join together to fight adult tyranny, and protect all of what stands for youth, childhood and freedom." a large grin came onto my face as she explained, "I'd be h-honored!"

"Great! I'll have to speak with a few other kids about it to get you into training, BUT! You cannot tell ANYONE about this, not even your parents. This conversation stays between us, promise?" I nodded to this. After that, we pulled out the SNES and played a little bit of "Kirby Super Star" until lunch.

June 14, 1996

Almost a week later, I was greeted at the back door of my house by Cree, Maurice and Chad. "Today's the big day," Cree whispered to me, "Bring your winter clothes and come with us to the playground." I was quite confused - it was almost summer, why would I need winter clothes?.. I simply shrugged it off and went to grab my coat, scarf, polar bear gloves and boots.

Once we got to the playground, I followed my three friends to a hidden manhole a couple of yards from the place, which Cree opened and entered after making sure there was no one around, gesturing us to jump in. Inside the manhole was a long slide, leading to some sort of secret underground train station, where we donned our winter wear and signed a couple papers, stating our names, birth-dates, and occupations, mine being "cadet". Then we boarded the next ride to what Cree said was the "Arctic Base". It took the underground train AND a submarine to arrive at our destination. The further the submarine traveled south in the deep blue, the colder and colder it began to feel, like the icy chill of the arctic was seeping through my thick winterwear as I began to shiver. Thankfully, Cree brought a thermos of hot chocolate with her and let me have a sip. It was still nice and warm and had a few half-melted marshmallows in it! It really helped.

Once we arrived, we were greeted by the drill sergeant who led us into some sort of training room. I looked around me.. the walls and floor were composed of thick layers of ice - i could see various tree limbs and machines partially encased in the ice, surrounded by the icicles protruding from the ceiling. The sergeant kid then lined up me, Maurice and Chad before explaining what was in store for us through our training, and at one point he said it could take atleast around a year to pass as an operative. It took a little effort to remember everything he said, but nonetheless, all I wanted was to come out a champion.

The next thing I knew, I was busting my butt like there was no tomorrow. Many of these exercises were actually pretty fun - battle simulations, multiple drills, work-outs, and even learning all of the Sectors around the world! However, while the training was fun, I have made quite a few mistakes in the beginning. That, and I learned something about myself: I get super dizzy and/or exhausted if subjected to physical activity for a long enough time, sometimes to the point where I'd wind up lying on the ground, breathing heavily as it felt like my head was spinning. Good thing Chad and Maurice were training with me, cuz they always helped me get back on my feet. During breaks we had plates of orange slices and water to help us rehydrate. The exercise I've had the hardest time accomplishing was the 1.5 mile jog.. no matter how hard I try to push myself, I always wound up passing out onto the pavement of the indoor track. Cree and I explained to the drill sergeant that I have brain damage and that I'm doing my best. He nodded before saying that he understands, but I was still required to finish one lap around the track in order. Then he turned to me and said, "Don't strain yourself, you're doing great. Things like this will take plenty of time." I replied with a "yes, sir" before smiling a bit. After training, we had a nice little "cookie break" - fresh baked chocolate chip cookies with a nice tall glass of milk. As I was munching on a cookie, the drill sergeant knelt before me and said, "Just a friendly reminder.. "disabled" doesn't mean "unable". You belong here just like any other kid. I think you'll make a great operative." I giggled softly, "I'll do my best, sir."

During the weekend, it was my turn to go to Cree's house, where she introduced me to her parents and her 3-year-old sister, Abigail. She was so cute and super sweet! We played with her for a while and had lunch while my parents conversed with Cree's in the living room. Little Abby really seemed to like my helmet as she lightly drummed her small hands on its smooth surface. It made my heart feel warm inside seeing her smiling, innocent face..

We read books with her until it was time for me to go back home. I promised I'd visit any weekend I can before walking with my parents back to the house, telling them all about Abby and how smart she was. I had dinner and went to bed, as I remembered that I went back to training on Monday.

Months passed, and training grew more and more tough as I got used to the routines. Heck, it took several attempts, but I eventually even managed to finish an entire lap around the running track without getting dizzy, thanks to my meds. And it took me until October to memorize all of the Sectors in the world and their locations, as well as all the existing occupations. Though hand-to-hand combat/martial arts and handling weapons were my personal best classes. Cree, Maurice and Chad soon noticed how hard I was working and came up to congratulate me.

"You're doing great, Dilly-bean!" Cree beamed at me, "Here, ya hungry?" She held out a chocolate-chip cookie. I happily took the cookie and scarfed it down. "See, what'd I tell ya? You're just as capable as any other kid!" the drill sergeant patted my back. "Thanks, y'all," I smiled.

Around early May of 1997 was when Chad, Maurice and I were finally subjected to our very first mission, which we needed to pass to get into the KND, along with a few other cadets. Someone called the "Crazy Cat Lady" and her army of black and white cats were rampaging in the neighborhood. When we made it to the scene, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. What I saw towering over us was not what I expected - millions of black and white cats, clustered together to form a gigantic rampaging feline monstrosity.. after a few moments of me staring it down, I only had a few seconds to react before the thing tried to stomp me down with its furry paw. I barely managed to escape and pull out my s.c.a.m.p.p, using it as a laser pointer to distract the monster as a way of making its back side and hind legs an easy target for the other cadets. This didn't last too long until the feline's furry tail swatted me, knocking me onto my rump. It then charged down the street as we chased it down until it got to my part of the neighborhood.. with effort we managed to surround it on all sides, but this only enraged the giant monster as it began swinging its giant white paws around, knocking quite a few cadets off their feet. I continued running and jumping with each swipe the creature made, shooting lasers at it until that spinning, dizzy feeling came back and my sight went blurry.. I fell to the ground as I suddenly made out the figure of 4-year-old Abigail looking up in terror at the giant cat before it grabbed onto her. I then turned to Cree yelling Abby's name as tears welled up in her eyes, unable to get up as the cat monster had pinned her and a few others to the pavement.

A sudden burst of anger and adrenaline flooded through me as I got back on my feet, and charged as fast as I could at the whiskered behemoth, scaling its massive figure before delivering a swift roundhouse kick to its head, causing it to drop Abby and release Cree. I kept on punching the creature's arm before it swung me into a tree. I landed hard, only for the tree to tip over and smash into my ankle as I cried out in pain, much to the concern of my team mates. It was then that they pulled out muskets and pepper pistols to shoot fresh mustard and hot sauce into the monster's face and eyes. It let out a symphony of pained screeches and yowls, and before we knew it, the monster disassembled and collapsed into millions of scattering cats. Cat Lady knew she'd been beat, and grumbled in frustration before storming off.

Cree was carrying Abby in her arms, "It's okay. You're okay, Abby. I got you." She was murmuring, trying to be soothing despite the clear worry in her voice.

Chad helped me up with my arm over his shoulder. Maurice did the same on the other side of me.

"Contact Numbuh 100 and tell him we need immediate transport to Med Lab!" Maurice called out.

I couldn't recall much else during that time. The next thing I knew for sure was Abby and I laying peacefully in the recovery bay with our beds next to each other. We were good company to each other while we rested up. I never knew until then just how resilient Abigail Lincoln could be. After a while, a nurse walked in and told us that we had a few visitors - Cree, Maurice and Chad walked in with proud smiles on their faces. Chad and Maurice each wore a medal with the letters "KND" on them as Cree stepped to the side of my bed and said, "You have made me very proud out there, Lily. And for all your efforts, you are granted the title of honorary Kids Next Door operative and member of Sector V, "Numbah Glitch"." She took out a gold medal and placed it around my neck as I looked down at it, then back up at her. A huge smile plastered itself on my face as everybody in the room clapped. I giggled and clapped along, knowing I had proven my worth in the Kids Next Door.. and I thanked myself everyday for that.