Day's child series: Sunday
by Lady Aliena

Selphie? Enjoy!

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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.

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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.

"What is it?"

"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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12 years later...

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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."

I love Trabia Garden and everything it has to offer. Some people hate how cold

it is here, but I wouldn't give it up for anything. I grew up in a little

orphanage down near Centra after my Dad...I can't even say the word! Anyway, I

was happy there too. It was right on the beach and I had a wonderful matron. She

was so kind and so beautiful. And the kids! I remember some of them, though I've

forgotten most of their names by now. Except Irvy, my special playmate. We'd run

around, chasing butterflies and trying to hide from this one boy who was a

bully. What was his name? Anyway, I watched as one by one they left the

orphanage. Irvy's uncle came for him. I was heartbroken that day. I watched as

this blond girl was adopted by a tall, proper looking woman. She was very

austere looking. I don't think we would have gotten along. The little blond boy

that the bully always picked on went away with a plump, kind-looking woman. She

looked like she'd be a good mom. I analyzed every adult that came to the

orphanage, hoping they'd be the ones for me.

And they came one day. Henry and Moira Talbott. When Matron first introduced

them as Mr. and Mrs. Talbott, I thought she had said 'Tilmitt' and I grew

excited, thinking that maybe, like Irvy, they were my true family, come to

rescue me. But Matron knew what I was thinking and emphasized that their name

was 'Talbott', not 'Tilmitt'. They were kind, anyway, even if they weren't my

true family and I grew to love them. I guess you could say that I've always been

a pretty high-spirited child and they were...well, very calm, laid back people.

So their friends would always laugh and tease them that they had adopted someone

so hyper. They were always so good to me.

And so then, I ended up at Trabia Garden and I couldn't imagine ever living

somewhere where there wasn't any snow!

"Selphie!" Benton snapped me out of my thoughts. "My aunt said we can stay with

her this weekend, so we're all set!"

"Whoo-hoo!" I jumped up and down.

"Plus," Brady said, slyly, "I have a surprise for both of you..."

"What is it? What is it?" I asked.

"You'll have to wait for this weekend..." he said mysteriously.

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Well, the weekend finally came and we left for Dollet. I loved Dollet. Come to

think of it, has there ever really been a place that I haven't loved? I can't

think of any. As we were walking down the street, I saw an older man drop a

bunch of papers. Thinking back to how I appreciated Benton and Brady helping me

out my first day at Trabia, I ran to the old man and began to help him retrieve

his things. He looked up at me and gasped.

"Terese?"

"Excuse me?" I asked. I wasn't sure if I had heard him right.

"Terese Tilmitt?" he repeated.

Suddenly I grew very excited. "No, I'm Selphie Tilmitt!"

"Little Selphie? You look just like your mother. Same eyes, same hair...well,

different hairdo..." he said studying my long brown hair, pulled up in my

trademark ponytail.

"You knew my mother?" I asked.

"And your father. And you, little one. I worked next door to your father until

the accident. I was the one who carried you away. My name's Owen. Owen Marsh."

Suddenly memories enveloped me. I saw everything in slow motion. Two odd men

pulling out a dagger and stabbing my daddy. I felt tears spring to my eyes.

"Oh, honey, don't cry..." Owen said, digging in his pockets for a handkerchief.

He handed me the cloth and smiled, "I've got something I wish I gave you years

ago before I took you to that orphanage. Come with me."

"Ok," I said, "Let me tell my friends where I'll be."

"Sure," he pointed to a little house down the block. "It's that little house

there. I'll meet you there."

I ran to Benton & Brady and told them where I'd be. Benton tugged on my ponytail

and said, "Be careful, Selph. You shouldn't go off with strangers like that."

"He's not exactly a stranger," I countered. When they looked at me strangely, I

said, "I'm not ready to tell you the story yet. I'll be fine," I tried to assure

them and then I ran towards the little house.

When I stepped inside the open door, Owen was digging in the closet. He pulled

out a box and blowing the dust off the top of it, he set it down on the floor.

He opened it and asked if I remembered my mother or father at all. I replied,

"Not my mother. She died when I was too young to remember, but I do remember my

daddy a little. Not much, though. I do remember him telling me that when bad

things happen, good things are just around the corner."

"I remember you saying that," Owen smiled. "And was he right? Were good things

around the corner?"

He was really asking me if he'd done the right thing taking me to the orphanage.

"Yes. I was very happy at the orphanage with all the children and when the

Talbott's took me in, I can't remember a moment when I wasn't content."

Owen sighed happily and pulled a photograph out of the box. "This is what I

wanted to give you. THIS is why I thought you were your mother."

I stared at the picture of my parents. They looked so happy, so in love. My

father was a handsome man with dark hair and piercing, black eyes. My mom, on

the other hand, looked just like me! She had the same green eyes and the same

color hair, except, mine was long and hers was short and flipped at the ends. I

looked up at Owen trembling and I ran and hugged him, almost knocking him down.

He just laughed and said, "I've thought of you often, Selphie. We all have. You

don't know what it means to know that you're ok."

"And YOU don't know what this gift means!" I cried.

"You better get back to your friends. They'll start to worry about you. Please

know that you're always welcome here, Selphie. Always!"

I hugged him again and left the house, staring at the picture. I had forgotten

what my parents looked like. Walking past a shop, I glanced at my reflection in

the mirror and then down at the picture. Looking at myself again, I had a great

idea! I knew exactly what I had to do next!

An hour later, I was walking down the street again and I spotted a frantic

looking Benton and Brady. They ran over to me.

"Selphie, thank Hyne you're all right! We were worried sick. We went to that

man, Owen's house and he said you had already gone. We've been searching--"

Brady was interrupted by his brother.

"SELPHIE! What's you do to your hair?"

"You like it?" I coyly touched the ends of my newly shortened hair. They were

flipping out.

"You're long, pretty hair, Selphie..." Brady complained. "Why'd you do it?"

I showed them the picture.

"When'd you have time to take a picture and who's that guy?" Brady asked.

"That 'guy' is my dad and this is my mom. Maybe I'll tell you guys the story

someday. Not today, though."

"Wow, Selph, you look just like her!" Brady excalimed.

Benton had been staring this whole time and finally voiced his approval, "I

think it's perfect for you, Selph. Truly perfect."

I grinned at him. Still dumbfounded, Brady struggled for words until he

remembered his big surprise, "Oh yeah, you guys...I couldn't show you this at

Trabia, but the surprise is I have a GF."

"A GF???" Benton chastised his brother, "You know we're not supposed to have

GFs! We don't know enough about them!"

"What do we need to know?" Brady countered, "They make us stronger. Plus, it's

the weirdest feeling when you junction them. Selph, I actually have two now.

Take one."

"I don't know, Brady...Benton's right. We don't know what they'll do to us..."

"Absolutely nothing," he promised, "Just try it..."

Feeling absolutely euphoric, I decided to. Closing my eyes and relishing

everything I had received today in the form of one little photograph, I held out

my hand to accept the GF...

But my mind was elsewhere.

Mom. Dad. I'll never forget your faces again!

Suddenly, the phrase, "Sunlight in the face of tragedy" came to my mind, though

I'm not sure where from...

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Author's note: Squaresoft owns the characters, Mother Goose owns the rhyme. I

hope you enjoyed this series. Now I don't know what I'll write about. Hopefully,

inspiration will strike again soon!

Maintained by:

d Galloway (Insert Image Here)