Author's Notes: I'm taking a "Peanuts by Charles Schulz" approach to this series, meaning that the adults in this world exist but do not necessarily show up in the story in a major way (with the possible exception of Julia) as I hope to keep everything child-centric. ;)

Vignette 3: Fried Bologna Sandwiches & Love At First Sight

Once upon a time, the babe Squall and his big sis Ellone lived happily in the village of Winhill with Mom and Dad.

Mom split her time between the pub and the flower shop, and when Squall was born, she quit work to become a full-time homemaker.

Meanwhile, Dad had a dreadful time finding steady employment. Winhill wasn't exactly the kind of place with a booming job market.

But Winhill was Home. It had always been Home.

And so, Dad made the difficult decision to move into the heart of Galbadia where he juggled various stints as an actor for B-movies, a traveling journalist for Timber Maniacs Magazine, and a soldier for the G-Army.

He came home as often as he could, bringing unconventional souvenirs and tasty delicacies for his wife and kids.

Then, the earthquake happened.

Squall unzips his insulated lunch bag and takes out a water bottle and three containers—the airtight, leakproof, and microwaveable kind made with borosilicate glass.

Seifer and Irvine claim the vacant seats next to Squall and invade his personal space with blatant curiosity.

Lunch container one, size large: an unidentified massive cube covered in white frosting.

(The main dish has Laguna written all over it.)

Selphie practically climbs onto the table to get a better look.

Lunch container two, size medium: an edamame and strawberry salad.

(Mom making sure I get my nutrients.)

Quisty and Zell arrive at the table with their school cafeteria trays.

Lunch container three, size small: peanut butter cookies.

(Sis spoiling me as usual.)

Selphie gasps. "Elle's FAMOUS COOKIES!?"

Seifer is envious. "You get TWO DESSERTS!?"

"Elle's in town and you DIDN'T TELL US!?" Irvine accuses Squall.

"It was just for yesterday," says Squall defensively. "There was a holiday in Esthar."

Quisty examines the white cube with interest. "This is far too large to be a dessert."

"It's covered in cream cheese," Zell enlightens them.

Seifer dabs his pinky into the white stuff for a taste, earning a look of mild irritation from Squall. "Huh! Not bad, Chicken—uh, Zelly. It's cream cheese, alright."

"Ooh, ooh! Can I cut it open?" asks Selphie as she brandishes a plastic knife.

Squall nods and slides the container to her side of the table.

(At least it's not another fried bologna sandwich…)

Laguna is enthusiastic about a memory that Squall can't remember. In fact, there are more one-sided memories than shared memories between father and son. Laguna insists that Little Squall had a hankering for fried bologna, which is a bit hard to believe as Mom would have frowned at the idea of feeding processed meats to a young one.

"Look at that!" Quisty is genuinely impressed. "I didn't expect the inside to be a sandwich."

"A really giant sandwich," remarks Selphie. "Or a sandwich for a giant!"

There are multiple layers of sliced bread, cheddar cheese, Thousand Island dressing, lettuce, chopped pickles, ham, salami, and…

"YEAH!" shouts Irvine in triumph. "Dibs on the fried bologna!"

Squall groans in defeat.

(There's no escaping the fried bologna.)

Selphie taps Irvine's hand. "Share some with me, Irvy?"

"It's all yours," amends Irvine with a wink.

Selphie squeals in happiness.

"Hey, what about me?" whines Zell.

"Salami for me," decides Seifer, "and ham for you."

"But I want salami…"

Quisty shakes her head in amusement and continues eating daintily from her cafeteria tray.

Squall must admit that there is comfort in routine, even if it involves his friends squabbling over his lunch.

But his dislike of change is the very reason for his family's current living situation.

He still can't believe he cried when he found out that he would have to leave everything and everyone behind: Matron's house, his school, his friends.

What an embarrassing reaction. He isn't a baby anymore.

(Don't get me wrong. I'm not unhappy or ungrateful.)

No, he's beaming on the inside. Who wouldn't be? Most kids would do anything to be in his and Elle's position.

Both parents miraculously alive!?

A dad who's the president of an entire country and lives in an actual palace!?

A mom with the sweetest smile who packs a beautiful lunch every day!?

But the changes were too big and too sudden.

(I…need more time to adapt. I know it's selfish of me to ask.)

Mom has rented a small home in Deling City—just her and Squall—until he finishes the fifth grade at Vinzer Deling Charter School.

(I'm sorry, Mom. Thanks for staying with me.)

Elle, that adventurous girl, has gone off to Esthar to live with Laguna. She's enrolled in a private school and having the time of her life.

(I'm sorry, Sis. Wait for me there. I'm sorry, Laguna. It feels weird to call you Dad again. Maybe someday…)

For the remainder of the lunch period, Squall ponders the meaning of Home.

Winhill was the epicenter of the earthquake.

At the time of the disaster, Squall and Ellone were playing outside in the schoolyard with the other children when the ground beneath them ruptured into two halves. Brother and sister were mercilessly swallowed up in the sudden void. When they came to their senses, they found themselves trapped upon a dark and lonely crag of earth. Their shouts for help mingled with the chaos of sirens and helicopters far above them.

Ellone fed Squall the gummy bears that she always kept hidden in her dress pocket. She smoothed down his hair and rocked him to sleep and gave him her cardigan as a blanket, flimsy though it was.

When a rescue crew discovered them nearly half a day later, the siblings trembled in fear at the wreck that used to be their hometown.

Ellone and Squall were told that Mom didn't make it.

…But what they did not know was that there had been a terrible mix-up with another woman who resembled their mother! Raine had been airlifted to a hospital one hundred miles away, gravely injured and comatose!

Ellone declared to the adults through angry tears that they still had Dad, that Dad would come and get them. Squall nodded zealously in agreement at everything his sister said.

…But what they did not know was that Laguna himself had been severely injured on the other side of the world while serving in the Army! He had fallen from the great heights of a treacherous cliff that few mortals could have survived!

Ellone and Squall stayed put at the emergency shelter while they grieved the loss of Mom and waited impatiently for Dad.

After weeks and weeks of unsuccessful contact, the adults in charge of their lives finally sentenced the siblings to the foster system.

Ellone and Squall wailed and begged, the girl because she understood the tragedy that had befallen them and the boy because he found a strange comfort in mirroring his sister's emotions.

Please, please no! Don't make us go!

A kindly old social worker heard their cries and whisked them away and dropped them off with her long-time friend, Mrs. Edea Kramer of Deling City. Edea's house was the last traditional orphanage operating on the Galbadian continent, and she had the privilege of being free from government regulation as she was privately funded by an anonymous, wealthy benefactor.

Here, Ellone and Squall were integrated into a new family until the day their parents found them again.

After a lovely stroll through Polly Dolly Park, Squall and Mom find a spot to sit beneath a sugar maple tree that affords them just the right balance of sun and shade.

Mom tells Squall to rest for a few minutes while she gets them Dole Whips from the concession stand.

Suddenly, a puppy gambols up to him and eagerly begins sniffing his hands.

Squall is slightly afraid of dogs, but he surprises himself by petting his little visitor a few times—slowly, cautiously, as he is not at all used to the motions nor how the animal may react to his touch.

The puppy's tender and supportive gaze makes Squall feel oddly at home.

(Home…?)

Squall notices a girl walking toward him.

He rubs his eyes hard and wonders if he is witnessing a vision.

Her beauty is of sky and clouds.

She looks cool, athletic, and carefree.

If she is a song, her harmonics bring tears.

If she is a book, her stories pierce hearts.

The girl comes to a halt, folds her arms behind her back, and toes the grass in a coy gesture.

"Hi," she breaks the ice.

Squall has forgotten how to speak. The girl's splendor overwhelms him.

"Here, let me introduce you," she continues, easily sitting down next to him and rubbing the puppy's ears with affection. "This is my partner, Angelo. She's really smart!"

Angelo gives a confirmatory bark.

(Say something to her, dummy! And stop staring.)

Squall nervously clears his throat.

A canorous voice interrupts: "Rinoa!"

"Oh, my mom just got here!" announces the girl.

(So your name is Rinoa…)

Several yards away stands a glamorous woman with dark hair, glittering sunglasses, and denim bellbottoms.

Rinoa scoops up Angelo. "I have to go," she tells Squall with a mysterious smile. "Maybe I'll see you around again?"

"Yeah," he finally answers. "See you around."

Squall is convinced that he sees angel wings lifting the girl into the air as she takes off with her puppy in a daylight dream of giggles and barks.