Disclaimer: This Daria and associated characters are
owned by MTV. This is fan fiction
written for entertainment only. No money
or other negotiable currency or goods have been exchanged.
Assumed time line. Daria’s sophomore year of high school ended in
1997, coinciding with the beginning of the series. Hence, she would have been a junior in
1997-1998 and graduated in 1999. Started
Raft in fall 1999, received a BA in 2003 and started graduate school in the
summer or fall of that year.
This is the fourth story in
the Last Summer series
Richard Lobinske
Out of the Frying Pan
Quinn, Sandi, Stacy and
Tiffany sat around the Morgendorffer sofas before a bountiful spread of carrot
sticks, celery stalks, fat-free popcorn and diet soda. Sandi lightly rubbed the painful bump on the
side of her head, “Quinn, do you mean to tell me that your geeky sister finally
learned to dress herself presentably just to talk to another brain?”
“Well, it was the only way
she could get into the banquet. I guess
some people just have twisted motivations.”
“But, weren’t there any boys
there?” Tiffany slowly said, “Shouldn’t
that be reason enough?”
Stacy piped in quickly, “You
said you met some really cute guys there, didn’t your sister even meet any?”
Quinn slowly shook her head,
“Daria had probably a dozen college students following her, and could have
wrapped each one around her finger.
Instead, she wanders off with that Ms. Murphey for the whole rest of the
evening. Quinn followed with the
thought, “Leaving them to wander over and bother me. I can see why she wanted a change of company,
each one of those college boys made Upchuck look like a boy scout.”
Sandi imperiously added,
“Well, you can only accomplish so much at one time, at least you were able to
get her into some decent clothes for a change.
We will just have to teach her how to act around boys later. Oh, Quinn, next time, you really should try
to work on her hair and makeup.
“Like you said, we can only
do so much at one time.” Under her
breath she said, “Yeah, you try to put makeup on her, I like having my arms
still attached to my shoulders.”
“That minimal accessory look
was so right for your sister; you are such a genius Quinn.” Stacy said with a hint of envy.
“Thanks Stacy, but I
really….”
Tiffany slightly tilted her
head, “Wait, wasn’t she seeing that Tom guy, he was cute.”
“Tiffany, Daria broke up with
him just before the end of school.”
Quinn answered.
“So, is he available?”
“He may be available, but I
don’t think he’s your type.” Daria said
as she walked down the stairs. She had
on a dark blue buttoned shirt tucked into her black skirt and carried her
laptop in its case. “He has a
brain. You wouldn’t want to get that
kind of reputation, would you?”
“Ewwww, a brain. Now way, he looks way to good to have a
brain.”
Daria tilted her head back
and gazed upward briefly, then turned to her sister, “Quinn, I’m going over to
Jane’s this afternoon and I won’t be home for dinner. Please let Mom know,
or only order for three when you get the pizza delivered. For your own good, I wouldn’t let Dad near
the kitchen; he’s reading 1001 New Ideas for Kimchee again.” Daria exited the front door quickly without
waiting for a response. “Okay, I am
getting better, I was able to discuss Tom without wanting to throw up.’ she
thought as she started for
Four blocks from her
destination, Daria heard the distinctive rumble of a blue
“Count me in.” Daria said as she entered the car. “Five hundred, so, now I know what will get
you out of bed before noon.”
“Daria, five hundred would
get
“Only if you can first wake
him up enough to comprehend what it is.”
“Oh, yeah, you’ve got a point
there. By the way, heard anything back
yet on your submissions?”
“That’s it, cheer me up. I got my second official rejection
yesterday. Now that I have a real
history of rejection, I can call myself a writer.” Daria said with a hint of frustration.
“Um, sorry to hear that. But at least you made a splash on the society
page yesterday.”
“I will kill you, bring you
back as a zombie, dress you in pink taffeta, and send that picture to the
society page.”
“Come on girl, you looked good.”
Daria quietly grumbled,
“Thanks, now can we change the subject.”
“Alright then, did you get to
meet the woman of the hour?”
“She ended up rescuing me
from the clutches of a herd of college-age hormones. That’s one thing I don’t look forward to this
fall. There appears to be a certain
subspecies of human that inhabit college campuses that make the Ruttheimer gene
look tasteful.”
“Daria, we’re going for
pizza, don’t make me lose my appetite.
So, did the hormone herd descend upon your adoring sister?”
“Like a plague of
locusts. Kind of felt a little sorry
about that, but it passed.” Carol and I
ended up talking for most of the evening.
She liked the speech I wrote for Mom.
Plus, she has a sarcastic streak that makes me look like a
lightweight. It gives one hope for the
future.”
“Whoa, makes you a
lightweight, that is just….I don’t want to think about it.
“Good, wouldn’t want you to
go soft.”
Jane parked the car in the
lightly filled parking lot and the two walked into the restaurant. She said to her friend as the walked through
the door, “Grab a booth while I get the goods.”
“Yeth Masther” Daria rasped
as she feigned a hunchback and scraped one foot on the floor as she headed
toward a booth.
A dejected Michael MacKenzie
lifted his head as he heard the two voices.
“A little intelligent conversation might help a bit.” He thought as he gave a slight wave to catch
Daria’s attention. Daria straightened
and altered her path to his booth. “Hi
Mack. How are you doing?” she said as
she reached him.
“Not too bad I guess. Wouldn’t mind a little company if you and
Jane are interested.”
Sensing his dismal mood,
Daria’s elusive conscious made itself known, “Not at all. Would it be a bad idea to ask where Jodie
is?”
“Picking up one of her Dad’s
business associates at the airport. He
has her working for him full-time this summer to get some “real” business
experience.” The “real” was growled more
than spoken. “We were supposed to have
lunch today, but he dropped the taxi assignment on her at the last minute. I’m starting to get worried; she really
sounded stressed on the phone when I talked to her.”
“That’s too bad; I would have
liked to see her too.” Daria waved to
get Jane’s attention as she brought over two slices of pizza with a pair of
drinks on a small tray. She sat down
next to Daria and said, “Yo, Mack, waiting for Jodie?”
“No, her dad sent her off on
a critical errand.”
Daria looked at Mack, and
then looked at Jane. “Looks like we need
to mount a rescue mission.”
Helen cleared the remains of
takeout from the table. “Quinn, where
did you find a French restaurant with a takeout menu.”
“Mo—om. You’re making me work this summer, I had to
find someplace to get a decent lunch on work days.”
“As if being a sales clerk at
Cashman’s is backbreaking work for you.
They pay you to help other people shop, and you get the employee
discount on top of the frequent buyer discount.” Daria said as she set her laptop case on the
table and pulled out a large envelope and clipboard. “Delivery of one story within the three-day
grace period allowed for writing one speech, sign here please.” Daria handed the clipboard to her mother and
slid the envelope across the table.
“My pleasure Sweetie. I’ve had more people congratulate me on that
speech. Thank you. There’s a letter on the table from Literature
in Action on the coffee table for you.”
“Great, probably another
rejection. At least the speech went
over; maybe I can go into politics as a speechwriter.” Daria noticed that instead of the standard
envelope, it was a large format envelope like she used to mail in manuscripts. Upon opening it, she found a marked up copy
of her submission, a stack of legal documents, and a formal letter:
Dear Ms. Morgendorffer,
Your recent manuscript, Summer of Our Discontent,
has been accepted for publication, pending minor revision. Enclosed, is your manuscript with the
recommended edits, along with our standard publishing agreements and
contracts. Please review the recommended
edits and submit your revised manuscript and/ or rebuttals within 30 days of receipt. Please sign and return the publishing
agreements with your revised manuscript.
Thank you for choosing Literature in Action.
Daria lowered the letter with
a look of surprise and wonder in her eyes, “its official, Melody
Powers lives.”
“Hey Daria, is that a new
movie coming out?” Jake answered from
behind his paper.
Daria walked over to him with
a small smile on her face. “Dad, I think
it’s premature to start talking movie rights, I only sold a short story.”
Helen bolted out of the
kitchen and hugged her daughter, “Congratulations, we have to celebrate selling
your first story!”
“Mom, please let me breath or
the celebration will be bit short.”
Helen released her grip but
stayed close, “How would you like to celebrate?”
“A Dom Perignon ‘93?”
“Daria.” Helen turned her head face downward while
maintaining her gaze.
“The ‘94?”
Helen’s eyes narrowed.
“Dom Perignon? Say, who’s buying?’ Jake set his paper down with an excited look
on his face.
Helen’s gaze shifted to him
with shocking speed, “Jake, we are not allowing Daria to celebrate that way,
she is still under age.”
Daria took the break in
ocular lock-on to start moving toward the stairs. “How about everybody be home for dinner
tomorrow, give me some cash for supplies, and let me have some guests over.”
“Okay, but no alcohol.”
“Don’t worry; they won’t let
me buy the good stuff. Oh, and could you
please look at those publishing contracts, might as well take advantage of the
free legal advice while I can.” With
that, Daria reached the top of the stairs and evaded further questioning.
After a couple seconds, Helen
smiled as she heard a single soft thump from upstairs.
A couple hours later, Daria
sat on her bed staring at a small notepad.
Beside the bed was a small pile of crumpled paper. “Dammit.
We have to come up with something to get her time off. While working around two hyperactive, overly
concerned parents. Glad I only have to
work around one of those.” Daria had a
sudden, sad look in her eyes as a grim realization dawned. “Because if I had two, that could be
me.” With renewed, grim determination,
she continued writing and brainstorming the problem.
Late the next morning, a
weary Daria answered the door as Mack waited outside.
“I hope you came up with
something. When I talked with her last
night, I think she was pricing chainsaws.”
“I chanced on a temporary to
get her away from things tonight, but the long-term is still iffy.”
Daria let Mack in and held
the door as she saw Jane jogging up the sidewalk in her running clothes. She called out, “I see you decided to grace
us with a pleasant bouquet as we plot this morning.”
Mack looked over his shoulder
and caught on, “Hey, I survived the locker room with the entire football team,
no need to worry on my part.”
As Jane reached the door, she
clapped Daria’s shoulder and said, “Hey, I’ve been in the room when the odor
eaters in your boots failed, so no comments.”
Daria led the others to the
living room, where pitchers of ice water and tea were on the coffee table,
along with three glasses.
“First, the good news. I have a way to get Jodie away tonight.”
Jane said, “At least it’s a
start, I take it the bad news is you haven’t come up with a permanent solution
yet.”
“Correct.”
Mack fidgeted a bit, “So
what’s on tonight.”
Daria blushed and quietly
said, “A small party here tonight.”
Jane and Mack looked at each
other, and then glared at Daria. Jane
got up and started looking under the cushions.
“Okay, first the formal gown, now a party. I know there’s a pod around here somewhere.”
“What formal gown?’ Mack gave a confused look at Jane; then
dodged a deflected pillow that had been originally targeted on her.
“I take it you don’t read the
society page. Come on Morgendorffer,
cough one up, I know Mount St. Helen has multiple copies of the big night.”
Daria got up and trudged to
the entertainment center like a convict, grumbling along the way with occasion
clear words; grumble,
grumble, “kill”, grumble, gripe, groan, “sausage patty”, grumble , grex, grumble, “small rabid dog”, grumble, growf, gurgle, “and dance on your grave”.” Upon her return, she unceremoniously dumped
the newspaper in Mack’s lap.
“Okay, lawyers dinner,
alright, your mother giving speech, so where are…..Whoa!”
“Thank you,
now make the vertical cut up the abdomen”
“Sorry Daria,
just surprised. The most I’d ever seen
you dressed up before was your graduation gown.”
Jane giggled, “Daria, you
better get used to it. So, why the party
tonight?”
Daria’s blush has started to
fade, but brightened anew. “The literary
birth of Melody Powers.”
Blank stares from both.
“My first Melody Powers story
has been accepted by a magazine. I
coaxed a small dinner and party from Mom, and we are using it to get Jodie
clear for tonight at least. Hopefully it
will give us time to come up with a long-term plan before she detonates.”
Jodie slumped before the
computer monitor, the spreadsheet columns were becoming a vague smear and the
numbers were as incomprehensible as Aztec.
The ringing telephone roused her from her slumber, “Good afternoon, this
is extension 234, Jodie Landon speaking.”
“I hope you are having a good
afternoon for a change.”
“Oh Mack, it’s
improved now.”
“Actually, I ran into Daria
Morgandorffer and we’ve been invited to a small party tonight to celebrate her
getting a story accepted for publication.”
“Oh Mack, I am so sorry. Dad has be in charge
of catering a business dinner tonight, I simply cannot get away. Will you please extend my apologies to her also. I bet she has
actually smiled a time or two over this.”
“Are you positive you can’t
get someone to cover for you?”
“Positive, Dad is using this
to show me how to handle outside contractors.
He will be over me like a hawk all evening.”
“All right, I’ll let her
know. I’m getting real worried about
you, your father is hardly giving you any time to yourself, even less than when
you were in school.”
“I keep telling myself it’s
only until August.”
“Well, I hope you make
it. Goodbye for now.”
“Goodbye, thanks for
calling. Please tell Daria I said
congratulations.”
Jodie stared back at the
monitor and visualized her father in a cannibal’s stew pot as the main dish of
the catered dinner. “I’m beginning to
see where Daria used to get some of her visuals.”
Mack put down the
telephone. “Bad news, she won’t be able
to make it tonight.”
Daria looked frustrated. “Damn, now I’m going to have to call in some
outside help.” Daria hit a speed-dial
button and waited briefly before saying, “Hi Marianne, it’s
Daria Morgandorffer. May I please speak
to my mother? Thanks, I can hold.” Daria thought as she waited, “Oh, is this going to cost me.”
Jodie had finally cleared her
vision and started work again about half an hour after Mack’s call. Her father, Andrew Landon, poked his head
through the door.
“Jodie, I just got a call
from Helen Morgandorffer. You’ve been
invited to a celebration for Daria getting published. I hear she has also become a good speech
writer. Never too early to maintain good
networks like this if you want to go into politics. I’ll have Marsha handle the dinner tonight
and we can complete your training on outsources
later.”
Jodie used her practiced calm
face, “Yes sir. What time should I be
there?”
“Six. Don’t forget to make the most of your
time. Knowing a good speechwriter is
always handy.” As quickly as it had
entered, her father’s head retreated from the doorway.
Jodie smiled and thought, “I
detect the nefarious machinations of one Daria Machiavelli in that little exchange. Thank you, friend.”
Helen ushered Jodie into the
house with a cheerful, “Please come in.
Everybody is in the dining room.
How are your parents doing?”
Putting on her cover smile,
Jodie answered, “About as busy as ever, but otherwise doing well.”
On the far wall was a poster
with the James Bond style view through a rifle barrel. In his place was Melody Powers, looking
suspiciously like Daria in a tuxedo.
Jake was setting out several pizzas with a frightening array of toppings
were on the table, along with plates and drinks. Jodie was slightly surprised to see Quinn in attendance, Jane was there, as was Mack. As she entered, he gave her a quick hug and
kiss. “Glad you would make it.”
Jane pressed a champagne
flute into her hand, “So it’s grape juice, we just have to pretend. Good to see you here too.”
Helen picked up a flute and
raised it, “A toast to the world’s newest published author. Congratulations and best wishes for a long,
successful career.”
Various positive assents were
made as Daria faced the crowd. “Yes, a
long career pandering to the prurient interests of the American public.” Helen brought her hand to her forehead and
Jake raised his glass again; while Quinn and Daria’s friends laughed. Daria set her glass down and nervously
clasped her hands together. “Um, thank
you for being here. I may be a little
slow at times with things like this, but I do appreciate the support I have had
from all of you.” Breaking her nervous
mood, she opened the closest box and said, “Okay, now that the formalities are
over, we have pizza to slaughter.”
The small party continued in
a quiet, jovial tone. Quinn stayed
around long enough to be polite before leaving for a date. Mack was distracting Jake with tales of Kevin
Thompson’s exploits on and off the football field, while Jane was quietly
negotiating for a photo of Daria in her formal dress from Helen.
Daria leaned toward Jodie and
quietly said, “Getting you out of the house was also part of the reason for
tonight’s festivities. Mack told Jane
and I how stressed you’ve been lately, and we’re worried too. Once things run down here, you are invited to
a summit meeting upstairs to find a way to get you some time off before you do
go ballistic.”
“I really could use a
break. I was wondering if something like
this was up after your mother conveniently called my Dad less than half an hour
after I told Mack I couldn’t make it. I
detected a hint of your maneuverings in that.”
“I will neither confirm nor
deny that.”
“Thanks anyway. Some of the things I’m starting to imagine
make your old horror stories for Mr. O’Neill seem a little tame.”
“Trust me, that’s
a good sign. It’s a great way to let out
frustration. So, are you in?”
“If there is the slightest
chance of getting a break, I’m with you.
Besides, it will technically fulfill my father’s orders to keep
networking with you.”
“My pleasure to give him
reason to regret that”. Daria smirked.
With the pizza decimated and
the Morgandorffer parents off to their own pursuits, all four quietly climbed
the stairs to Daria’s room. Two hours
later, they sat around the carpet in Daria’s room, the skeleton replica still
in it’s honored place front and center. Pillows, empty drinks, and paper detritus
littered the floor around them.
Daria pinched the bridge of
her nose and said, “There is one more option, I was hoping it wouldn’t come
down to this. Daria felt the same sick
feeling she had as a sophomore when she prepared to dress as her sister to end
the younger siblings foray into bad poetry.
“We could set up an honor society for graduating class leaders. Mr. Landon would love to have Jodie as an
inaugural member of that kind of organization and wouldn’t have a problem with
letting her attend regular meetings. He
doesn’t need to know that no real business will be done at them.”
Jodie shook her head. “Okay, say we can get a group started. Dad will be sure to check on it. Any bogus group would be spotted in a minute
and he would slam the gate down.”
“That’s why it will have to
be legit. I do have a lawyer contact to
help with that.”
Jane said, “Fine, so we set
up a legit group. Getting Jodie in is a
no-brainer, but what about the rest of the membership? A society of one would be just as suspicious,
and Mr. Landon is familiar enough with the class that we can’t populate it with
fake students.”
Daria sighed deeply, “That’s
why I was holding this as a final choice.
We would be the rest of the inaugural members.” Daria waved her hand from herself to Jane and
Mack, who stared at her as if she had sprouted a tree limb from her
forehead. “Along with Jodie, we are the
leading students from
Jane looked over at Daria,
“Explain that to me, you had the higher percent, but Jodie was Valedictorian.”
Jodie spoke up, “The school
guidelines favored me, it specifically stated the
position to go to the student with the highest GPA, in the event of a tie, the
one with the most school activities would be chosen.”
“We both had 4.0, thus, I was
spared having to make a valedictory speech, thanks for being so active
Jodie.” Daria gave a small smile with
that. “Back to the plan, this will give
us a cover organization to hold regular meetings around to get Jodie away.”
“Like I need another activity
to help get out of my current ones. This
is starting to sound like almost as much work as I would be avoiding” Jodie sounded
dispirited.
Jane looked in disbelief,
“Daria, you graduated, you’ve been accepted to Raft, you
don’t need extracurriculars anymore. I
certainly don’t want them. This could
make me look like a joiner, wouldn’t want that on my conscience.”
“Okay Mack, what’s your
objection.” Daria said with a hint of
frustration.
“You want me to be the sole
male member of an exclusive organization with three intelligent, beautiful
women. What’s there to object to?” His duck resulted in him evading the pillow
from Daria, but put him straight in the path of the one from Jane. The hammer strike pillow from Jodie completed
the assault.
Daria continued, “If it were
for almost anybody else, even I wouldn’t consider it. Remember, we will be in control. We can set the agenda, or lack thereof. If you find it too embarrassing, you can
leave it off your resume. We won’t have
to do any real work if we don’t want to.
This looks like our best option.
Are we agreed then?”
Three weak “Agreed” responses
came to the prompt.
Daria pulled out a
notepad. “Now for the next step, setting
this organization up and leaving no suspicious leads back to us.
Ms. Carol Murphey,
Attorney, viewed the papers through her bifocals. After a few moments, she looked up at the
young woman seated across the desk from her.
“This is very unusual, but I understand your objective. Will these faculty members give the
recommendations you are expecting?”
“I think I understand them
well enough to have high confidence in predicting their recommendations.”
“This seems to be a lot of
work to go through for your friend, are you sure about this?”
“Yes, we are sure about
it. Please don’t ask for details, but I
learned a year ago just how important your friends are. Jodie was a friend to me even when I wasn’t
interested, we need to do this.”
“As long as you understand
that if I am going to do this, this will be an organization that continues
after you and your friends move on. It
will give your friend the break she needs, but it will require the agreed
commitment from you. I ask again, are
you sure?”
Daria’s voice was hesitant,
but firm, “I’m sure.”
Over the next week, several
letters arrived at the office of Ms. Murphey, sponsor
of the Lawndale High School Student Leaders Honor Society.
….It is with great honor that I recommend Ms. Jodie
Landon as the inaugural representative for outstanding Student Leadership.
Angela Li
Principal,
….Mr. Michael MacKenzie
has been a stellar representative of the well-rounded athlete, and is my
recommendation for the sports leadership position.
Coach Gibson
…The pleasure is all mine to
heartily suggest
Claire DeFoe
…The driven academic excellence demonstrated by Ms.
Daria Morgandorffer is one of the reasons I remain a teacher. Only a fool would ignore her as the
representative for Scholastic Achievement.
Anthony Demartino
Within a day of receiving
these, four more letters were sent out from the office of Ms. Murphey.
Michelle Landon scrutinized
the letter, suppressing the urge to steam it open since she couldn’t read
anything through the opaque envelope.
She hurriedly set the letter aside as a loud crash from the kitchen
heralded the arrival of Evan into that room.
Jodie had barely stepped
inside when her mother approached. “Do
you have any idea of why you would be getting a letter from such a prestigious
lawyer?”
Noticing the name, Jodie
forced a straight face, “No idea Mother.”
She opened the envelope and read:
Dear Ms. Landon,
Upon the recommendation of the faculty
of
You are invited to the formal
introduction luncheon and organizational meeting next Wednesday, 12:00 Noon,
Sincerely,
Carol Murphey
Sponsor
Jodie thought to herself,
“With all my practice, I would probably do great in theater, if I ever have the
time.” She held the letter out to her
mother and said with a less than enthusiastic voice, “Look Mother, another
honor to tack on the wall. I suppose you
want me to join this one too.”
Late that afternoon, Jane and
Daria were relaxing on Jane’s bed, watching The Worst of Sick, Sad World
on videotape.
Jane grabbed the letter and
opened it. As she read, she told her
brother, “It’s part of the plan to help Jodie. The lawyer is an accomplice of Daria’s. Nothing to worry ---“ Jane’s voice doubled in volume with
“What the Hell! Formal introduction!”
Daria developed a decidedly
evil, small grin. “We have to make it
look good, besides, now we get to take you shopping.”
Carol Murphey
stood at the podium of the
Daria nervously took the
podium. “Thank you Ms. Murphey. Thanks also
to the faculty of Lawndale High for our nominations, the Lawndale Chamber of Commerce
for donation of the room and providing the luncheon, and mostly, our parents
for providing the support and guidance that made all this possible. Now please, enjoy your meals. After, the society will meet with Ms. Murphey to begin our organizational duties. With everyone’s support, we hope to make this
society everything it was intended to be.”
After the lunch had been
cleared and the parents departed, the gang of four and Carol relaxed around a
small table. Daria was speaking, “So, my
taking the presidency was part of the price to Carol for setting this whole
mess up, besides the agony of shopping for a dress with Jane.”
Jane looked at Jodie and
Mack, “It was no where near as bad as shopping with Daria for her dress.”
“Officially, we will be
working together every Wednesday afternoon at a place of our choosing to
develop the charter and bylaws for the society, and to network with each other
for our future good. The reality is that
the four of us can use this time as we see fit,
especially to give our friend Jodie the time off she needs. However, Carol wants this to be more than
what we have in mind, so there will be a future organization to recognize
graduating seniors. It will require a
real charter and development. That is
the final part of my agreement, I will be working with
her to develop them. Each of you will
have any input you choose, and the final approval will be by vote, though if
you choose not to participate, that will also be fine. Jodie, we have finally traded places, I will
be the joiner working for others and you can slack off and have time to
enjoy.
Jodie wiped away a tear,
“Thank you everyone. I can’t believe how
much trouble you have gone to for me.
Especially you Daria, no offense, but why?”
“Jodie, it’s kind of hard to
fully explain, let’s just say that I felt a new
kindred to you and wanted to share some of what I have been able to enjoy, even
if it meant having to do some of the same things that almost drove you crazy.”
Jane reached into her
oversized black purse and removed a stack of videos. “Speaking of sharing what we enjoy, I have
four hours of Sick, Sad World, there is a TV and VCR over there, and we
have an afternoon to kill.”
Daria slapped her hand on the
table and said, “This closes the organizational meeting of the Lawndale High
Student Leaders Honor Society. Now let
us retire to partake of what this society was intended to be.”
Carol watched the four young
adults gather chairs around the television.
“I like how these young people look after each other,
it gives me hope in our future.”
Thanks to Lawndale Stalker,
Ranger Thorne, Decelaraptor, Angelinhel,
MrMagnum, Kristen Bealer, Isa Yo-Jo, mman
and Roger E. Moore for support, comments, constructive criticism and
suggestions.