Christmas reunion Zev stepped off the wagon and looked around. There! She smiled and waved as she spotted her parents. Leaving her luggage for the moment, she ran for them, giving each a big hug. “I kept expecting a meteor to hit Sonora grounds and then we’d all be trapped there awaiting radiation treatment,” she said, talking too fast, “I almost can’t believe I’m finally home for Christmas!”
Mom laughed and hugged her back. “I’m glad the meteors held off long enough for you to get out.”
“Me, too, sweetheart,” Dad said, giving her a warm hug in his turn. “Don’t you have a suitcase? Or did the meteors get that on your way out?”
Zev pulled away and could not stop the reflexive rolling of her eyes. “My suitcase is perfectly safe, Dad. I just wanted to say hi first before fetching it. Let me go get it.”
When she returned with her suitcase, she asked, “So do we have any special plans this Christmas?”
“Just dinner with your grandparents,” Mom said. “It’s the first time you’ve been home in a while, so we wanted to leave room in case there was something you really wanted to do.”
Zevalyn shrugged. “Not really. Just be home, play some games, visit with Amber. Oh, and I need to go Christmas shopping!”