Part 2

	Zack got up and staggered into the kitchen of his house warily. 
He had heard the news about Ivy's engagement last night and was too 
shocked and surprised to have a good night's sleep. As a result, he 
was tired, groggy, and not in the mood to hear anything more about it. 

	When he came in the doorway his mother, Nadine, was busy 
scrambling eggs. She tured and saw him there. "Hi, honey. Come sit, 
I've just got breakfast ready." She smiled. "Ivy told us what happened 
last night." 

	"I think she's too young." Zack answered his mother warily. 
"She's only twenty!" 

	"She might be," Nadine replied. 

	"So talk to her, Mom!" Zack said. "She's your daughter! Tell her 
she's making a mistake!!" 

	"You know I can't do that, sweetie," Nadine said. "She's an adult, 
she has to make her own decisions." 

	Zack sighed and began to eat his eggs as his father, Tony, 
came down.
 
	"Hey, Zack," he said, hugging him. "Cool news about Ivy, huh?" 

	"I think she's too young," he said. 

	"That's up to Ivy to decide," Tony replied as he sat down. "Hey, 
remind me to pick up some more milk from the store," he said to his wife. 

	"Did we pay this eletric bill yet?" Nadine asked. 

	"BILLS!! MILK! HOW CAN THEY TALK ABOUT SUCH SMALL THINGS WHEN 
I'M GONNA LOSE MY OWN SISTER?!" Zack thought to himself warily. He wished 
his parents weren't so understanding about everything! They had both met 
at college and were both very active in a lot of things, anti-pesticide, 
anti-racist, anti-sexist. 'ANTI-EVERYTHING EXCEPT IVY GETTING MARRIED,' Zack 
thought. The two of them had raised thier kids to be strong, independent 
people. They had never set down harsh rules for them nor forbodden them to 
do anything, they just offered counsel and guidence, and the kids had done 
well with that kind of trust. They were both prodigies who got out of school 
early, they didn't smoke, drink, or do drugs. 'NONE OF THAT, WE JUST GOT TOO 
CLOSE THAT'S ALL,' Zack thought. He was closer to his older sister than he 
was to anyone else. Sure, they fought, but no one ever cared for him the way 
Ivy did, no one looked out for him like she did. They had fun together, and 
now it was all gonna end. Once Zack finished his breakfast, he went to his 
room.  A few minutes later there was a knock and Ivy came in, all bubbly and 
happy. "What do YOU want?" Zack said angrily. Luckily Ivy was so happy 
she never even noticed Zack's mood. 

	"Oh, Zack, isn't it wonderful?" Ivy said, hugging him. 

	"I think you're too young," he said flat out. 

	"But I love him, bro.," Ivy said," I've never felt anything like 
this before!" 

	"You've said that before," Zack reminded her, "Remember Marco?" 

	"This is different!" She insisted. "What I feel with Josha..well..it's
everything!"

	She just stared out of the window for a while. 

	"So," Zack said, "When's the wedding?" 

	"In the summer." 

	"IN THE SUMMER!! Don't you think that's a little too soon?" 

	"It might be, but.." 

	"But?" 

	"It's Josha's mother," Ivy explained, "She's very ill..they don't think 
she has long to live, and she said it would mean the world to her to see Josha 
married before she dies. I couldn't say no to that!" 

	"No you couldn't," Zack agreed. "So, this is gonna be a big wedding?" 

	"Huge!" 

	"You shouldn't have a big wedding if that's not what you want." 

	"I guess it IS what I want," Ivy said. "I've had this big, beautiful 
wedding in mind ever since i was a little girl, you know? It's gonna be hard to 
do this in a few months, but Josha says we can do it! He's so sweet." A few 
minutes later she grabbed Zack's hand. "Josha wants you to be his best man. 
You'll do that,won't you little bro?" 

	'NO NO, DON'T ASK ME TO!" Zack thought. "BUT SHE'S MY SISTER AND I 
LOVE HER. I CAN'T SAY NO TO HER!!" He looked at her. "Of course I will," he 
finally said. 

	"Oh, thank you!" Ivy said, hugging him. She danced around the room. 
"I'm so happy! I feel like a princess in some fairy tale about to marry my 
prince! I must be the luckiest girl in the world!!" At that moment, Zack had 
to agree. 

	To be continued...