Daria in the Background - Part 4

 Part 4

 

After distracting Kevin from the chips, Brittany again looked for Daria. She soon found her in a corner. ‘Of course!’ She went over to her. “Daria?”

 

Daria started. “Eap!”

 

‘Oops!’ Brittany thought. She didn’t think Daria would easily be frightened. “Sorry!”

 

“Oh, Brittany,” Daria said with her hand over her heart. I thought it might have been that Chuck!”

 

“You mean, Upchuck?”

 

“How apt! Yes!”

 

“Sorry that you had to encounter him here!” Brittany said.

 

“It wasn’t your fault.”

 

“Actually…” Brittany said awkwardly.

 

“What?” Daria interrupted.

 

“He did me a favor too,” Brittany admitted.

 

“So, you invited him,” Daria concluded. She could see why Brittany was apologetic.

 

Brittany nodded.

 

“I think I have had enough,” Daria said. She leaned against the wall and slid down to a sitting position.

 

“You want to leave?”

 

“Yes,” Daria said. “Could you make sure Quinn doesn’t cause trouble?”

 

“Maybe,” Brittany answered. “But how are you going to get home?”

 

“I’m not sure.”

 

“Some of the others have older brothers or sisters. They could help.”

 

“That would be good,” Daria said. “But be quick.”

 

“Of course.”

 

 

Brittany found Mack and Jodie again. “You found Daria?” Jodie asked.

 

“Yes,” Brittany answered. “But she’s had enough and wants to go home.”

 

“I see,” Mack said, “So you want me to call my sister?”

 

“Yes,” Brittany answered.

 

 

Daria only had to wait a for a short time before Brittany and Mack came over. “My sister should be here shortly. She can take you home,” Mack said.

 

“Thanks Mack,” Daria said quietly. “Thanks for the invitation, Brittany,” she reluctantly added. She could see that the cheerleader was trying to be nice. ‘Quinn will be fine.’

 

 

It didn’t take too long for Mack’s sister to arrive. “Robbie Mackenzie,” she said by way of introduction. “You must be Daria.”

 

“Yes,” Daria said as she looked at Robbie. She had a similar style as Jodie except that her hair was only half as long. She was also slightly taller than her brother.

 

“You want to go straight home?” Robbie asked.

 

“I could stop by Cluster Burger, I suppose.”

 

“Sure.”

 

 

Robbie looked at Daria as she drove along Glen Oaks Lane. She had hadn’t really been talkative, and had barely engaged her in conversation since they left the party. She could see why she wanted out of that party. “Are you OK now?” she asked.

 

“I’m fine. I’ve calmed down,” Daria answered. “It’s that red one.”

 

“1111?”

 

“Yes.”

 

She pulled up in front of the large two-story house. “Here we are. I’ll see if Quinn wants to come with when I pick up Mike.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

 

All things considered it was a good night, Quinn considered as she arrived at the gatehouse with Mack and Jodie. She took off her soggy suede shoes. Mack’s sister soon arrived. It wasn’t surprising to her that Daria had gone home early. “Hi, Robbie,” she said, Mack having told her her name earlier.

 

“Going straight home?” Robbie asked.

 

“Yes,” Quinn said.

 

“Cool.”

 

‘I have a great future in Lawndale,’ Quinn thought as they drove away.

 

30th November 2021 Writings

 30^th

 

Excerpt from: Daria – Trouble in Lawndale

“Fine, class. Ignore me... just like he did!”

 

“Just as well he wasn’t Jones,” Daria commented.

 

“I heard that!” Barch said. “But we’re not talking about cults. You can ask DeMartino about that! But you have stumbled upon an interesting answer. A charismatic man re-enforcing herd-like behaviour in his followers, leading to tragic results!”

 

“Excellent example Daria,” Jodie said.

 

Daria shrugged.

 

 

Between classes, Sandi Griffin was talking with Joey Green, Jamie White and Jeffy Brown, ‘So I said, "Sure, it's a nice car. Do you have enough gas to get to Loserville?’”

 

“That’s funny, Sandi,” Joey said.

 

“You really know how to tell a story,” Jeffy said.

 

“Thanks,” Sandi said.

 

“Tell us the part with Stacy again,” Jamie said.

 

“Stacy wasn’t in that story. It was just Tiffany and I,” Sandi said.

 

Words: 132

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria and Phineas – Big Ideas in Lawndale

“Any others?”

 

“Of course,” Jane answered. She turned a page and showed Isabella a sketch of the S’Winter mountain.”

 

“Cool!”

 

 

Lawndale

Dega Street, 9:41 AM

Sandi Griffin wouldn’t usually be seen on Dega Street. She disliked being on the street. After her experience the previous day she wanted to know whether there were others in the Tri-State Area who would pose a similar threat. ‘Almost certainly,’ she thought, not for the first time. Suddenly, something happened.

 

“Chaos!”

 

“What?” she asked. Someone had said that. Then she saw them. Small robots moving about. Something looked familiar about them… “What is happening here?” she asked herself. She then realised who was responsible for them. “Doofenshmirtz!”

 

Words: 133

 

 

Excerpt from: Inauspicious Deeds

Could you tell me?

 

The people again talked over each other.

 

Wait! One at a time! He said.

 

Words: 18

 

 

Excerpt from: Hobbitdale

“Even accounting for species differences,” Daria aid.

 

“My face is too expressive,” Jane said.

 

Daria thought for a moment. “You’re right.”

 

 

Quinn was trying to determine what to wear to Brittany’s party. ‘Something appropriate to wear to a party hosted by a Hobbit…’ she considered. There were differences between Humans/Half-elves and Hobbits. She took out some clothes and then went back to her mirrors. “Sheer, semi-sheer, or opaque?” She paused. “Textured!”

 

Words: 71

 

 

Excerpt from: Beach Party Invitation

Quinn was already there. She had met the three boys who had crushes on her. “So, I said, that just because people are cliquey and snotty is no reason not to like them.”

 

“I agree,” Jeffy Brown-Mercer said.

 

Words: 38

 

 

Excerpts from: Back to the Future – Lorraine’s Paradox

Calvin had disappeared. Was that what he was warning her about earlier?

 

‘What now?’ she asked herself.

…

 

‘The letter!’ she thought and rushed from the hall.

…

 

Lorraine stared at the stage. Was it smoke and mirrors, or was he really gone?

 

Words: 41

 

 

Excerpt from: Changes in Time and Space

Down on floor 139 the Doctor and his friends farewelled Cathica and left, as the Doctor had just told Cathica, he hated tidying up. Then there was Adam. He had betrayed his trust!

 

 

The TARDIS soon arrived somewhere else. The Doctor pushed Adam out of the ship. “It's my house. I'm home!” he said as the Doctor, Rose and Felicia followed him out.

 

“Is there something else you want to tell me?” the Doctor asked.

 

“No, what do you mean?” Adam asked.

 

The Doctor walked over and picked up the answering machine. “The archive of Satellite Five,” he explained. “One second of that message could have changed the world.” He brought the sonic to bear on it and it exploded. “That's it then.”

 

Words: 123

 

 

Total: 556

A Variant Lawndale - Beach Party Invitation - Part 1

 Beach Party Invitation

Daria Morgendorffer approached the counter with trepidation. She didn’t know what the cafeteria staff were serving up today. “Uh! I hate it when the trays are wet,” Brittany Taylor said beside her.

 

“‘That which does not kill us makes us stronger,’" she said quoting Nietzsche.

 

“Is that from a song?” Brittany asked. “Hey, thanks for helping me out in Art.”

 

“No problem.”

 

“Maybe I could help you out in something.”

 

“Well, you could show me how to twirl hair around my little finger and look vacant,” Daria snarked.

 

Brittany did just that. “I don’t think that’s something you can teach. I know! You can come to my backyard beach party Saturday afternoon.”

 

“Backyard beach party?” Daria asked.

 

“Yes,” Brittany responded. “We had a pool with a wave machine put in. There is also a lot of sand around it, so it’s kind of like a beach!”

 

‘I see,” Daria said. ‘Of course, the Taylors would want of show off how wealthy they are!’

 

“But just this once of course.”

 

“Gee, Brittany. I'm overcome with emotion.”

 

“You need a napkin? Anyway, I promised the other cheerleaders that I wouldn't invite any more really attractive girls.”

 

“Now I'm especially flattered.”

 

 

Daria was still thinking about the invitation as she arrived at her friend Jane Lane’s house that afternoon. When she entered Jane’s room, she saw her friend looking through a sketchbook.

 

Life drawings? She didn’t know Jane did life drawings! She said so.

 

“I did them last summer. Want a look?”

 

“Sure.”

 

 

“You’re really bursting out of the picture plane here.”

 

“Yeah. That particular model was quite bursty. I think she had her bursts done.”

 

“Speaking of which,” Daria began, although she wasn’t sure of what Brittany’s deal was in that department.  “Brittany invited me to her party.”

 

“No kidding, are you going?”

 

“A backyard beach party? For teenagers? I’d rather swallow glass. Why? Do you want to go?”

 

“Oh, no, I'd much rather stay home and listen to my brother practice the opening to Come as You Are. I bet I could get some great sketches there...” Jane said.

 

“Well, I'm sure there'll be plenty of people posing. If you want to go, just make believe you're me. When you're popular, all unpopular people look alike anyway.”

 

Jane then pretended to be Daria, by wearing her glasses and speaking in a montone, but concluded that it wouldn’t work, as her face was too expressive.

 

 

Quinn Morgendorffer was looking through her clothes for something to wear to the party. Sure, it was three days away, but one didn’t leave such things to the last minute. She had already determined that she would need new swimming costumes. She held up a few skirts. “Sheer, semi-sheer, or opaque,” she mused. “Textured!” she decided.

 

“Isn’t one of you enough?” Daria asked from the door.

 

“Go away, I’m concentrating. I’m invited to a party Saturday afternoon and I have to choose the perfect outfits!”

 

“Countdown: only 66 more hours to go. Might this party be Brittany’s Backyard Beach Party?”

 

“Yes, and might you go away now?” Quinn stopped. Something didn’t add up. “Hey! How do you know about it?”

 

“I'm invited, too... but I haven't decided if I'll go,” Daria answered.

 

“You can’t go! You’ll ruin everything!”

 

“You know, I really should broaden my social horizons,” Daria said.

 

Quinn ran out of the room. “Mom! Dad! Daria is ruining my life again!”

 

 

Helen Morgendorffer was annoyed at her daughters rivalry. She wondered if history was repeating, that Daria and Quinn would end up like her and her sisters. ‘Not if I have anything to say about it!’ she thought, not for the first time.

 

“Tell Daria she can't go to Brittany's party. My popularity is at stake,” Quinn said.

 

“Now, don't begrudge your sister a chance to expand her circle of friends,” Helen said.

 

“Maybe now she’ll have two,” Quinn commented.

 

“Touche, Quinn,” Daria responded.

 

“And don’t think that you’re confusing me with that French. You should ground her because… her room is a mess!”

 

‘That’s a stretch,’ Helen thought. Daria was the more organised of the two.

 

“If I go down for that one, I’m taking you with me,” Daria added.

 

“Wait!” Quinn interjected again. “Here’s something worse…” She started before she was interrupted again.

 

“Lawn gnomes going missing across Lawndale!” Jake said as he read from the paper.

 

Helen glared at him.

 

“Who would steal lawn gnomes?” Jake continued.

 

“Um, no idea,” Quinn said quickly and then gave a nervous laugh.

 

“Jake!” Helen said as Quinn laughed. She turned back to her daughters. “I think it’s great that you’re going to be spending time together. Dad and I would be happy to drive you to the party and pick you up.

 

“No!” they both said simultaneously.

 

“Thanks, but I’ll find some other way to get there,” Quinn said before leaving the kitchen.

 

“Daria, I’d like it if you would keep an eye on Quinn at this party.”

 

“I don’t know what I did, but it couldn’t have been that bad.”

 

“It's my way of saying if you won't do it, I'm sending you both with a babysitter.”

 

“I'll take that as a ringing declaration of parental approval.”

 

“Just the way it was intended, sweetheart.”

 

Daria sighed as she left the kitchen.

 

 

Saturday came too quickly as far as Daria was concerned. Then there was the fact that she realised that she had a crush on Jane’s brother, Trent. ‘He’s too old!’ she thought as they pulled up outside Crewe Neck.

 

“I’ll let you off here. I have a problem dealing with authority,” Trent said.

 

“Sure, you don’t want to crash?” Jane asked.

 

“A high school party? Please. Don’t you think I’m a little mature for that?” Trent responded. “Besides, I don’t have a surfboard.”

 

Daria and Jane got out of the car.

 

‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Trent said before driving away.

 

“Bye,” Daria said.

 

“Nice conversational skills.”

 

“I hate you.”

29th November 2021 Writings

 29^th

 

Excerpt from: Star Trek: Voyager: Q Junior’s Lessons

“It would be shameful to return without having started, outsmarted by an outworlder!’

 

“There are still alternatives.”

 

“No!” Elseran said. “I saw on your ship, a microcosm of your Federation, people from many worlds working together, even a Telaxian.”

 

‘Huh?’ Janeway wondered continued before Elseran continued.

 

“It made me question what I'm doing. It made me wonder if there wasn't somewhere else I could go. Unfortunately…” She pulled a small weapon from somewhere in her clothes, “There isn’t!”

 

Janeway was ready, and tried to knock the weapon out of her hands. They fought hand to hand, long enough for Junior to return and tackle Elseran from behind.

 

 

“Now, what do we do, Captain?” Junior asked after he and the Captain had dragged Elsran to the rear compartment and confined her behind a forcefield.

 

“We’ll let her think about what she tried to do. In the meantime, we can continue towards the Kaso-Dra homeworld.”

 

 

Voyager was still being pursued by the armada. “He’s hailing again,” Harry reported.

 

Words: 166

 

 

Excerpt from: Star Trek: Dyson Sphere - Multiplicity

A few minutes later, they were no wiser about the device’s functions. “There has to be a way to scan the quantum signature!” The third Sara groused.

 

“It’s sure to have that function,” the second Sara pointed out, but it seems that we have to find it.

 

“Maybe we could activate it and scan through it,” T’Elanna Prime suggested. “Maybe find the quantum signature that way?”

 

Words: 66

 

 

Excerpt from: Kim Possible – The Heroic Seniors

Kim Possible was annoyed with her friend and partner. He was acting insufferably due to his new haircut. “Ron, focus,” she said. “We need to be on task.”

 

“Kim? Since when are we on task?” Ron Stoppable pointed out.

 

“We do talk about school a lot on missions, sometimes,” Kim allowed.

 

“More than sometimes…”

 

Words: 54

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria in the Background

“Ms. Morgendorffer?” the assistant asked.

 

“I’m joining an extra-curricular activity,” Daria said quietly.

 

“Ms. Li will be glad to hear that!”

 

“I’m not surprised,” Daria said as she handed over the list with the activity in question marked.

 

“The Creative Writing Club?”

 

“Yes. More’ low key’ than the Lowdown and I don’t know how many tournaments the Chess Club would hold.”

 

Words: 61

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria – Party at 111 Howard

“So, grab something!” Brittany directed, as she grabbed a bowl of chips. 'I hope Quinn won't arrive to distract them!'

 

“Of course,” Joey said as she grabbed a couple of soda bottles.

 

 

In fact, Quinn wasn't far away. “Oh!” she said when she realised when she saw the house up the street.

 

“What?” Sandi asked in response.

 

Quinn shook her head. She would deal with it. “Nevermind.”

 

Sandi gave a dubious expression. Quinn knew she was thinking how to turn the situation to her advantage.

 

Stacy noticed the strange lawn ornament as she walked up to the front door, along with the rather long grass. 'Why haven't they mowed?' she wondered as she knocked on the door.

 

The door was opened by Mack. “Quinn?”

 

“Hi Mack!” Quinn said.

 

“Your sister is here.”

 

“Cousin.”

 

“I'm rather sure she's your sister.”

 

“Daria isn't, but like, of course she's here! It's Jane's place.”

 

 

Words: 150

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria – 2^nd February

But she didn't know where he was. She decided to risk it. She crept along the hallway to the main stairs, then listened. It sounded like Kevin and Ashley-Amber were in the kitchen.

 

“I know she's here, Ashley-Amber. Does she have another guy up there?” Kevin asked.

 

'Uh oh!'

 

“No, Kevin, she doesn't!” Ashely-Amber shot back.

 

'I can make it back through the basement,' Daria thought. She decided to go for it and quickly bounced down the stairs...

 

 

Having escaped the mansion, she left Crewe Neck and headed towards Casa Lane. She needed to talk to Jane and Brittany before going to the festival.

 

 

Brittany answered the door in response to her knock.

 

Words: 113

 

 

Total: 610

28th November 2021 Writings

 28^th

 

Excerpt from: Daria in the Background

Programming Club

Talk about programming languages and practice coding.

 

‘Not what I’m into,’ she thought. Her interests were more ‘soft’.

 

Chess Club

Play and discuss strategies for Chess.

 

‘Maybe if I can’t find anything else.’

 

“Have you found anything?” her mother asked.

 

“Some may be interesting,” Daria said, guardedly. She didn’t like her mother’s challenging tone.

 

“I’ll give you some time.”

 

‘Just not much time.’

 

Creative Writing Club

Discuss the art of creative writing and share and critique short stories.

 

That was more up her ally! But she was sure Mr. O’Neill was involved somehow. ‘If nothing else, though.’

Anime Club

 

‘No.’

 

 

Daria went through the entire list. The number of actually interesting activities, including the Creative Writing Club, were very few.

 

There was the Lawndale Lowdown, if she was able to chose a column which suited her. There was also the History Club, but she wasn’t sure what sort of history they talked about. Or there was the French Club. Her admittedly poor French could use some practice.

 

‘One of those,’ she decided.

 

 

Lawndale High October 20^th, 8:34 AM

Daria entered the office.

 

Words: 184

 

 

Excerpt from: Mystery in the Atlantic

“Of course,” Claudia said.

 

“But the information may prove useful.”

 

 

Flying into Ny Berk, Pete saw that the island was rather mountainous, with most of the coastline consisting of cliffs. “There hardly seems to be any place for a ship to land,” he commented.

 

“There is a small harbour on the north shore,” Myka said. “Apparently it takes very skilled navigators.”

 

“I don’t doubt that.”

 

 

“Welcome to Ny Berk.”

 

Words: 69

 

 

Excerpt from: Mystery Incorporated in Lawndale

“Let’s listen to those recordings,” Velma said.

 

 

Daphne followed the others into the Lanes basement. It looked much like many other basements she and her friends had investigated over the years. However, it was rare that a band had their practice space in a basement. Most often they practiced in a garage or a spare room. There had even been a couple who practiced in an attic. “Mystik Spiral?” she asked.

 

“But we might change our name,” Jane’s brother, Trent said in respond.

 

“It sounded interesting,” Daphne said.

 

“Well, it was something Daria said,” Trent said.

 

“Really?” Velma asked.

 

Words: 99

 

 

Excerpt from: Star Trek: Voyager – An Alternate Journey

She and Tuvok again fired on the starship's sheilds.

 

 

“Aft sheilds down to 75%.”

 

“Prepare to fire torpedoes.”

“Aye.”

 

 

“They are preparing to fire torpedoes,” Tuvok reported. “Prepare to fire simultanously.”

 

“Has this ever worked?” Katelyn asked.

 

“Not very often,” Tuvok responded. “But we have to attempt it.”

 

“Ready?” Daniel asked.

 

“I'm not, but I'm going to try.”

 

“Locking on,” Katelyn said.

 

 

Kathiannah fired torpedoes. Katelyn and Tuvok then fired phasers fast enough to hit the torpedoes just outside the sheild envelope.

 

As Tuvok had intended, the explosions knocked down the shields.

 

“Has to be a very unlikely shot.”

 

“1 in a thousand,” Tuvok commented.

 

 

The two shuttles then landed in Kathiannah's shuttlebay. It was a tight squeeze, with the other shuttles already there.

 

Words: 124

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria – Video Assignment Chaos

She could see two black curtains to the right of the front door.

 

“Let's go inside and get it over with,” Cindy said with a worried tone.

 

“Sure,” Kristen said.

 

 

Andrea was in the kitchen when she heard the doorbell. She then found Kristen and the others there.

 

“You're here for the project?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” Quinn answered.

 

Words: 58

 

 

Total: 534

27th November 2021 Writings

 27^th

Excerpt from: The Engineer and the Time Lady

Was that why the TARDIS had come forward? ‘First I’ll start downloading the internet as it exists in this time. Then I’ll investigate the readings further.’ But before she started the download of the internet, she confirmed that the connection to the probe was stable. ‘I have no idea how long I will it will take to investigate those temporal energy readings,’ Nina thought as she directed the Scanner to start downloading the internet.

 

Download will take 5 hours.

 

Five hours. ‘there’s a lot more data on Aialah’s world.’

 

With the download started Nina then instructed the TARDIS to scan into the past to determine when the temporal energy appeared.

 

“A week ago?” Nina asked herself. She looked at the data again.

 

Words: 122

 

 

Excerpt from: DariaBrittany

"Every person has their own way they not only put words together but how they vary the sound of those words," Daria answered.

 

Brittany twirled a pigtail. “I see. As far as Quinn goes. She has noticed that I’ve changed.”

 

“Of course, she would. But so would Helen.”

 

“I’ve hardly talked to her.”

 

“I think you’ll find that she has noticed something different,” Daria said.

 

Another twirl. “Probably.”

 

 

Then the door opened. Both of them turned and saw that it was Quinn.

 

“Brittany?” she asked in surprise.

 

“That’s me,” Daria said.

 

Words: 91

 

 

Excerpt from: Legacy of the Doctor

Jenny: Clara?

 

Clara: We need to talk.

 

Jenny: Don’t you have class next period.

 

Clara: I’m prepared. But we need to talk.

 

Adrian: I can go if you like.

 

Clara: You don’t have to.

 

Adrian: I will go.

 

Words: 38

 

 

Excerpt from: Phineas and Ferb – Candace OWCA Agent

“Good Morning Agent M. we just received word that Doofenshmirtz has been buying up construction toys at an alarming rate. We need you to find out what he's up to and put a stop to it.”

 

“Is that all?” Candace asked sarcastically.

 

“Yes. That’s all the information we have.”

 

“I see. I don’t suppose another agent could go against Doofenshmirtz today?”

 

“No, they are all already on missions. Get going and put a stop to his plan. whatever it is.”

 

“On it!” Candace groused.

 

 

At OWCA headquarters, Monogram turned to his intern, Carl. “Carl? Is there some teen thing on today? Agent M doesn’t usually ask for a break!”

 

“Let’s see,” Carl said as he looked on the computer. He looked at a site which listed events in Danville.

 

Words: 129

 

 

Excerpt from: Blank (Daria without Daria)

But we are here to begin realizing your actuality...” Mr. Timothy O’Neill to the self esteem class.

 

Quinn raised her hand. She wanted to know what he meant by ‘realising your actuality’. It sounded like gibberish to her.

 

“...and when we do, each and every one of you will be able to stand proudly and proclaim, "I am." Now, before we...”

 

“Mr. O’Neill? I don’t understand something,”

 

“Sorry, question and answer time is later,” O’Neill said.

 

“What does ‘Realising your actuality’ mean?”

 

Words: 82

 

Total: 462

True Grit (1969) review

 55.      True Grit (1969)

The previous adaption of the novel by Charles Portis. This version of Mattie Ross isn’t quite as consumed by revenge as the other. She is livelier, but that doesn’t reduce her determination and stubbornness any. The story of her quest and the consequences thereof were still depicted very well. However, the cinematography isn’t as well developed. Even so the prairie was still showed off very effectively. 8.92/10.

Mega Mall Mega Problems - Part 3

 

Part 3

Ronnie wasn’t that surprised when the teacher called her to her desk. “Yes, Miss Lane?”

 

“Do you know why Sam Griffin isn’t here today?”

 

“No.”

 

“I know you two have become fast friends since you started.”

 

“She didn’t say anything the last time I saw her.” Technically true, but also an omission.

 

“I’ll just mark her as absent then.”

 

 

Xander had quickly gotten bored. Mostly due to the ‘Three Js’ (as most in his grade called them) talking endlessly, but also due to the Interstate being an almost perfect driving surface. They were about halfway when he heard Quinn say something to him. “What was that?” he asked.

 

“I said, what are you going to buy at the Mall of the Millennium?” she asked.

 

“Um, I haven’t really thought about it,” he lied.

 

“Really?” Sam asked.

 

“I haven’t!” he said defensively. He didn’t want her, and Quinn, to know what he was going to buy. ‘I hope there is going to be enough space in the trunk.’

 

 

Xander’s perception of the Interstate’s smoothness was biased by the far superior suspension in his father’s car. Daria’s motion sickness only got worse the further they got from Lawndale. ‘I’ll have to find another way back,’ she decided. Maybe if she found Quinn and her friends, they would take her with them. ‘But there wouldn’t be enough room in the car.’

 

 

Quinn saw the Mall of the Millennium first, as they passed a small hill. It towered over the nearby warehouses, and the suburbia that could be seen in the distance. “There it is!” she said.

 

“It’s bigger than I expected,” Sam said.

 

“At least four times bigger than either of Lawndale’s Malls,” Xander said. “Maybe I can get some things too.”

 

“Of course, you can,” Quinn said.

 

“But first, we need to find a space,” Xander pointed out.

 

Quinn could see that there was a sea of cars in front of the Megamall. ‘Can’t be helped now,’ she thought.

 

 

The sophomore Economics class wasn’t far behind. Daria was still queasy. ‘I can’t be the only one!’ she thought, not for the first time.

 

“There it is!” Brittany cried out. Daria winced; the motion sickness had made her oversensitive to Brittany’s squeak.

 

She looked out at it. It looked like the monstrosity of capitalism it was.

 

 

The bus soon pulled up at the edge of the parking lot, where there was a light rail station. “There aren’t any Bus stops next to the entrances,” Mrs. Bennett said.

 

“I wonder why,” Daria groaned.

 

The ride on the light rail was better than the Bus, that that still wasn’t good. Daria finally threw up as the tram started on its way.

 

“Welcome to the Mall of the Millennium,” Jennifer murmured as she patted Daria’s back.

 

 

Once inside the class quickly became confused. The inside of the complex was, well, complex. Mrs. Bennett was trying to figure out where they were. “We're in area B, section Pink, and we need to get to area C, section Orange. So, if we just bear right at area L, section Blue... oh, wait, sorry. Wrong level.”

 

Jennifer looked around. “It’s very easy to get lost here,” she said to Daria.

 

“That’s true,” Daria responded. She was looking around at the various stores. ‘Books by the Ton must be somewhere else,’ she thought.

 

“Everyone, we'll walk down R Moss, and turn right at Q Canary,” Mrs. Bennett. “Please keep the flow, people, please keep the flow.”

 

“Who would ever guess there'd be so many colors? The person who thought them all up must be a genius,” Brittany said.

 

“Certainly,” Jodie said.

 

“Left at N Cranberry,” Mrs. Bennett said with some confusion. “Or is it Magenta?”

 

Daria looked at the map. “It may be Cranapple, but I’m not sure.”

 

“If we can’t find our way, we’re going to be late to our meeting with the Mall executives!” Mrs. Bennett groused. “I had to work very hard to arrange this. These are very important, very busy...” She was then distracted as she noticed… “The Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee-Bit Shop!” and ran over to the storefront in question and went on about how she and her husband were avid collectors of Fuzzy Wuzzy Wee-Bits.

 

Daria sighed.

 

 

Xander and the others entered the Mega Mall through one of the main entrances. “Where are we going first?” he asked.

 

“I’m not sure,” Quinn said. She spotted an information booth. “Over there,” she said. They found pamphlets with maps of the complex in them, but were soon as confused as the Economics class was.

 

“We have to navigate by ear, I guess,” Quinn said.

 

“Just remember where we were before?” Josie asked.

 

“Yes,” Quinn answered.

 

“How hard could it be?” Xander groused.

 

“Did you have to say that?” Sam asked.

 

“It’ll be fine, don’t worry!” Quinn said. She took a closer look at the map. “There’s a large food court in the centre. We could start there.”

 

“But is there a straight corridor?” Jessie asked.

 

“I think so,” Quinn said as she scrutinised the map.

 

 

“Maybe not,” she admitted a minute later. “We have to go around, or through a department store.”

 

“So, we’re going through there?” Xander asked.

 

Quinn looked to Josie, Jessie and Jamie.

 

Jamie shrugged.

 

“I’m not sure,” Jessie said.

 

“Why not?” Josie asked.

 

“We’ll go through it,” Quinn decided.

 

25th November 2021 Writings

 25^th

 

Excerpt from: The Engineer and the Time Lady

“Maybe she went into the past?” Aialah guessed.

 

“The TARDIS does scan as whatever it appear to be when it isn’t arriving or leaving,” Alpha said. “Open a channel.”

 

“Channel open.”

 

“Baffin to crewman Nina, please respond.”

 

No response.

 

“Put that on repeat,” Alpha ordered. “We’ll wait for a while.”

 

“How long?” Aialah asked.

 

“I’m not sure yet.”

 

 

Almost immediately, Nina found that the TARDIS wasn’t heading where she had directed it to. “What are you doing, TARDIS?” She looked at the destination setting. It had changed, from the area around the Mason-Dixon line to Tokyo. Tokyo? There wasn’t anything in Tokyo. Baffin hadn’t detected any major difference in settlement patterns in Japan. The time setting also changed forwards to some time in July 2006. Was something going to happen then? She tried to change the setting back.

 

Words: 138

 

 

Excerpt from: Chronicles of Time – The Last Residential School Period

“Are we doing something?” Jamie asked. “Or just waiting?”

 

“Not sure why Daniel doesn’t have some kind of disguise mechanism,” Zia mused.

 

“Maybe we can suggest it to him, after we get back.”

 

“We’ll wait for an opportunity. For an opening if you will.”

 

“Hopefully it won’t be too long.”

 

 

They didn’t have to wait long. Many of the officers soon left. “Now’s our chance,” Jaime said. She ran towards the time vehicle’s door.

 

“Jaime! Wait!” Zia called.

 

Jaime saw that the remaining officers had noticed her. ‘Crap!’ she thought as she reached the door. She unlocked the door and dashed in. “OK. Emergency departure, into the past!” she said as she pressed the requisite button.

 

 

Zia watched as the time vehicle departed. “Oh, Jamie!

 

Kamilaroi Country – 17 September 1705

Jamie arrived at the future location of the University a hundred years earlier. She breathed deeply.

 

Words: 146

 

 

Excerpt from: Death in the Field

Officer Daniel Langford didn’t know what to expect when he and his partner were called out to the Marsh. That there had been a murder, certainly. They arrived there and saw the person who had called it in. “Ms. Lawson?” he asked.

 

“That’s me,” the young short haired brunette lady said.

 

“You called in a murder?” his partner, Officer Albert Fletcher, asked.

 

Ms. Lawson nodded. “It is as I said to the dispatcher,” she said. “But more people will be here soon, to do the survey…”

 

“We’ll set up the tape now, Ma’am,” Langford said.

 

“And we will need to ask you more questions, and establish an alibi,” Fletcher added.

 

 

Peta waited as the officers began setting up the crime scene. She wasn’t sure what would happen next. There was one thing she was certain of. She wasn’t going to be framed. She shook her head to clear her mind of what she had seen, again.

 

Words: 156

 

 

Excerpt from: Hobbitdale

“Yes.”

 

“So, are you going?”

 

Daria wasn’t sure. “Sure. And after that, I think I'll swallow glass. Why? Do you want to go?”

 

“Oh, no, I'd much rather stay home and listen to my brother practice the opening to Come as You Are. I bet I could get some great sketches there...”

 

“Well, I'm sure there'll be plenty of people posing. If you want to go, just make believe you're me. When you're popular, all unpopular people look alike anyway.”

 

“I’m not sure that would work,” Jane said.

 

Words: 88

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria – Choice of the Cheerleader

Was it that blotchiness she saw in the club, causing her to want to go home?

 

The next day, she caught up with Jane between classes. “Jane?”

 

“Brittany? I see your hair is still dark.”

 

“Never mind that now! Have you seen…” she paused and dropped her voice to a whisper, “Daria?”

 

“Why would you want… Daria?”

 

Jane had jumped to a conclusion. “What makes you think I want her? I don't want her.”

 

Words: 74

 

 

Excerpt from: The Kelsington Conspiracy

“Oops?”

 

“So, you've only helped us, in a way,” the Agent said in a smug tone.

 

“Only temporarily.”

 

“And there may be a way we can help you.”

 

“I'm not going to give in to any temptation you may lay in front of me,” Elias shot back.

 

“Oh really?”

 

“There is a principle involved.”

 

“We can offer you a lot,” the Agent said in an enticing tone.

 

“I'm not taking whatever it is KI is offering, whether it be a scholarship or a position after graduation. I'm looking out for the future students of this university.”

 

Words: 96

 

 

Total: 698

24th November 2021 Writings

 24^th

 

Excerpt from: The Engineer and the Time Lady

“The topography reads mostly the same,” Nina reported.

 

“But it’s the settlement patterns?” Alpha asked.

 

“Exactly. The layout between Baltimore and Philadelphia is completely different. There are only minor differences elsewhere,” Nina said.

 

Alpha thought for a moment. “It is worth investigating.”

 

“An away mission in that area?” Nina asked.

 

“Yes.”

 

 

“Are you sure taking the TARDIS is a good idea?” Alpha asked as she followed Nina into the shuttlebay.

 

“I don’t know how to fly a shuttle, so the TARDIS it is.”

 

“The ENH can be transferring to a shuttle.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Nina said.

 

“If you end up in the wrong place or time…”

 

“Then I’ll try to get to the right place and time.”

 

“Good,” Alpha said.

 

“And I’ll contact the ship once I’m down there.”

 

“Good.”

 

Alpha transferred herself back to the Bridge as the TARDIS dematerialised.

 

 

“Um…” Aialah said.

 

“What?”

 

“No temporal distortion anywhere between those two cities.”

 

“Not again.”

 

 

 

Words: 157

 

 

Excerpt from: Strange Days in Lawndale

“Right… I’ll call San-di. Bye.”

 

 

The phone rang again as Quinn left the room. “Sorry Sandi. I need to get to Stacy’s,” she said.

 

 

Fortunately, it wasn’t far to the Rowe’s place. Quinn ran inside and nearly collapsed. “Quinn?” It was Stacy’s mother.

 

“I’m fine,” Quinn said as she stood up. “I’m sure Stacy’s still overreacting.”

 

Mrs. Rowe sighed. “She always overreacts!”

 

Words: 62

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria – Mega Mall Mega Problems

“You mean personal questions?” Brittany asked with a twirl of one of her pigtails, “or questions in general?”

 

“The former I guess,” Daria responded.

 

“Right.”

 

 

Quinn and the others got back to the entrance of the department store. She asked one of the assistants for help.

 

“Sure, I’ll get a map for you,” she said. She grabbed a map from a counter nearby. “Here you go.”

 

“Thanks,” Quinn said. She then looked at it.

 

Words: 74

 

 

Excerpt from: Daria in the Backgrounds

1111 Glen Oaks Lane 8:13 PM

Daria sat in the kitchen looking over the list while her mother was looking over her shoulder. “There has to be something interesting there,” Helen said.

 

There was a large number of activities Lawndale High students engaged in.

 

Fashion Club

Talk about the latest trends…

 

‘Indeed, that seems to be all that Quinn and her new friends seem to do together,’ Daria thought. She looked further down the list.

 

Words: 75

 

 

Excerpt from: Doctor Who - Fifteenth Doctor Adventures

“They know I’m here. That means it is going to be more dangerous.”

 

“I knew it would be.”

 

“I can do it without the sonic,” the Doctor declared. “I’ll just be thinking more on my feet.”

 

“Good thing the TARDIS doors are soundproof.”

 

Words: 43

 

 

Excerpt from: World Voyages of the Endeavour – The Longevity Experiment

“This is one of the greatest acheivements of mankind. Greater than the ability to harness the power of steam, and the Difference Engine. Tonight, you will watch and wonder. Tomorrow, you will wake to a world which will be changed forever.” He then entered the chamber.

 

The chamber then activated, with other devices giving off sound rotating around it. But then something went wrong. Alarms began to blare. “Something's wrong,” Daniel commented.

 

Kathy looked around at the technicians trying to deal with the malfunctions. “Should we do something?”

 

“Something...” Daniel said. He was looking at something on the machines behind the chamber.

 

“If you are thinking of intervening...” Kathy said in a resigned tone. Dubbonians were going to get a reputation of being interventionists at this rate.

 

“I am, just how,.” Daniel interuppted. He looked back at the machinery.

 

Words: 139

 

Total: 544