Mysteries of Lawndale - Esteem of the Investigator - Part 4

 

Mysteries of Lawndale 01 Esteem of the Investigator Part 4

18 September 1997

There was a large crowd at Lawndale High’s tennis court.

The new girl, Quinn Morgendorffer, was playing against a player from Oakwood, Lawndale’s biggest rival. What was impressive was that Quinn was winning. So far it was 6-3, 5-2 at 40-30. The Lawndale home crowd was holding their breath as Quinn prepared to serve.

 

She served... Her opponent hit the ball back, Quinn quickly intercepted the ball and hit it again. Her opponent slammed it back over the net. Quinn again intercepted it. The ball went back and forth three times before the opponent hit it into the net.

 

Quinn had won in straight sets! The home crowd cheered.

 

 

After a small celebration, Quinn walked off the Tennis court. To her surprise Principal Li was waiting. “Wow, Ms, Morgendorffer, you have given Lawndale High, honor and glory today. Keep it up!” she said, saying the school’s name with a sense of awe and reverence.

 

“I suppose you could say that. Now if you excuse me, I really could use a shower!”

 

“Of course, don’t let me hold you up!”

 

As Quinn walked back to the school buildings, she decided to tell Daria about the Principal’s reaction to her win.

 

 

Elsewhere in Lawndale High, Daria and Jane were ready to tell Mr. O’Neill that they were ready to quit the Self Esteem Class.

 

“...And so, for tomorrow, I want you to make a list of ten ways the world would be a sadder place if you weren't in it.”

 

“Is that if we'd never been born, or if we died suddenly and unexpectedly?” A boy with a shirt depicting a character from MTV’s The Head, asked.

 

“Never been born,” O’Neill said. “See you all tomorrow!”

 

As all the other students left, Daria and Jane stayed behind. “Hi! Did you need clarification on something we covered today?”

 

“We feel really good about ourselves,” Daria said.

 

“We want to take the graduation test.”

 

“Well! I'm glad your self-image meter is on the uptick! But there's still three more weeks of class left.”

 

“So can we take the test?” Daria asked.

 

O’Neill allowed them to attempt the test, and they passed the it. Of course, they had to go to assembly the next day...

 

 

Daria and Jane met Quinn as they left the school. “Quinn?” Daria asked.

 

“Daria, there is something I noticed after my Tennis match this afternoon.” She noticed Jane. “Who are you?”

 

“Jane Lane, your sister’s new friend.”

 

“Right,” Quinn said.

 

“What did you notice, Quinn?” Daria asked.

 

“When Ms. Li congratulated me, she said the school’s name in a really weird way... Like with reverence. I thought you should know.”

 

“Thanks, Quinn. That is certainly unusual.”

 

“So you’ll investigate, right?”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

Later that evening, Jane came down to her front door, to find Daria. “Hi.”

 

Daria showed what she had brought over.

 

“A Tandem?”

 

“It’s no ordinary tandem. I have modified it to my specifications. Tonight we’ll ride along Howard Drive,

 

Jane was uncertain. “Are we spying on my neighbors?”

 

“If they’re out in their front yards, whatever they say would be public. That applies to whatever is in those yards.”

 

“I guess,” Jane said.

 

 

So, for the next forty minutes, the new friends rode along Howard Drive, discussing how they would begin investigating the school during the next week.