Quinn’s Code - The Esteemsters Code - Part 7

Wednesday September 22, 2005

Daria and Jane walked past Quinn on the way between classes.

A boy said “So... like, what do you like to do after school?”

“Usually, I do some coding, play some games. Oh, my homework of course. But if you are asking about social activities; I like to go to the movies, or, like, a theme park or a really fancy meal now and then. A concert sounds good, if I know that somebody's got good seats and is renting a limo and stuff,” Quinn responded.

“You hear that? He hasn't got a prayer,” Jane said. 'I haven't seen her around. She must be new, but she is familiar somehow,' she thought.

“Tell me about it. That's Quinn,” Daria said.

“Oh,” Jane said. 'No wonder she's so familiar. The Morgendorffer family resemblance.'

“So, you've got any brothers or sisters?”

“An older sister, but she's a misanthrope,” Quinn said.

Daria grumbled.

“Bummer!” Jane said.

Quinn met Jennifer at the entrance to the main computer lab. “How many people are there in the computer club?” she asked.

“Besides ourselves and Jodie, there are six others,” Jennifer said.

“That's not many,” Quinn said.

“It's more than the Programming Club,” Jennifer said.

That's still not very many' Quinn thought as three more computer club members arrived. “Hi!” she said, to them as they went in.

“Hi, Quinn, they said in return. She smiled as she followed them into the classroom.

'What have I unleashed,' Jennifer thought.

Later that afternoon, Quinn rang the Hecuba's doorbell. She was slightly tired from walking two blocks from where Kristen's sister Kelly had dropped her off, whilst carrying her class notes, her laptop and the C++ book. 'Maybe I should take up the offers from Joey, Jeffy and the other one,' she mused.

Andrea opened the door. “Come in,” she said.

“I am as ready as I can be!” Quinn said.

“Good,” Andrea said as Quinn entered her house.

Jennifer dropped Daria off in front of her house.

“I'll see you at Jane's in the morning,” she said.

“See ya,” Daria said. She turned to go up the front path as Jennifer drove off. She glanced at her mother's SUV just prior to opening the door. 'This definitely not going to be an enjoyable experience,' she thought.

“What does your self-esteem teacher say?” Helen asked as she parked the SUV in the Cranberry Commons parking lot.

“He says I should think back to circumstances that brought me happiness as a child and replicate them... but I suppose Quinn's here to stay,” Daria said.

Helen sighed. “Don't let Quinn hear you say that,” she said. 'They can't be more opposite if they tried,' she thought.

“Here's a thought. Why don't we go to Pizza Forest for Dinner like when we were younger?”

“Daria, are you sure that Lawndale has a Pizza Forest?”

“Yes, we passed it on the way between Andrea's and the Lawndale Mall yesterday,” Daria said.

“I will think about it,” Helen said.

Andrea's clock radio hit 5:30, setting off the alarm. Quinn jumped.

“Was that meant to go off?” she asked, scared.

“Time is up!” Andrea said.

“You could have said 'you have until 5:30' rather than setting the alarm!” Quinn said.

“I didn't expect you to take this long,” Andrea said.

“Ok,” Quinn said. She turned the laptop so that Andrea could see the code.

// Practice Program C++

Andrea finished reviewing the code. “You get a C- for C++, but I can tell you tried,” she said.

“Thanks,” Quinn said.

“VBScript tomorrow,” Andrea said.

“Cool. I will certainly do better with that,” she said.

“Good,” Andrea said. 'I will see how she does. She seems like she will be a very good member of the Programming Club,' she thought.

Quinn heard arguing as she opened the door. It seemed that her mom wanted to go out, but that her father wanted to cook. She quietly slipped up the stairs.

After dropping her books, notes and laptop in her room, Quinn knocked on Daria's bedroom door. She could still hear their parents arguing. Daria immediately opened the door. “What do you want?” she asked.

“What are Mom and Dad arguing about, Daria?” she asked. 'Better to ask her than to try to ask them,' she thought.

“I suggested to Mom that we go to Pizza Forest for Dinner like we used to,” Daria said matter of factly.

Quinn had also seen the Lawndale franchise of Pizza Forest near the Mall the previous day. “The place with the singers! No wonder they are arguing, Daria. Most of the people hired to be the singers can hardly hold a note!”

Daria was in thought. “I do see where it would be musically blasphemous, but I do miss those songs.” Daria said.

'Of course you would,' Quinn thought. She could hear someone come up the stairs.

“Daria, Quinn, I have talked it over with your father, and we will be going to Pizza Forest for dinner,” Helen said.

“But, Helen!” came Jake's voice.

“Jake, I told you. It may not be as bad as the Highland franchise,” Helen said.

“Gah, I hope not!” he said.

Helen went back down the stairs.

“Great!” Daria said. She smirked and closed the door.

Quinn sighed and walked back to her room.

The Morgendorffers were eating at a booth at Pizza Forest. Daria was clearly enjoying her family's discomfort at the 'singers' attempting to get them to sing along.

Quinn was sitting with her fingers in her ears, only taking them out to take a bite out of the cheeseless pizza, and chewing very slowly. 'No wonder we stopped going,' she thought. It was just as bad as she remembered.

'It is better than the Highland franchise, but only in that the service is better,' Helen thought. She was happy to see Daria enjoying herself. 'If only that enjoyment did not come with the expense of our discomfort.'

Jake was trying to hold his rage in check. 'At least its a lot better than the cafeteria at Buxton Ridge Military Academy!' he thought. Anything was better than that horrible place...

“Row, row, row, your boat!” Daria said, smirking. 'That is more like it!' she thought.