19
Making the News
Amidst
the Storms
It was a
busy evening at the Historia. Quinn Morgendorffer was busy as she delivered
drinks and meals to various customers. ‘It is the way of it,’ she thought as
she returned to the counter.
“Did you
notice Jamie?” Stacy Rowe asked.
“I saw
that he’s here,” Quinn answered as she looked over to where she had seen Jamie
White. “But so are many others from school, as is usual.”
“I think
he’s writing something,” Stacy said.
“I doubt
he would be trying to do homework here. It’s too loud.”
“Maybe
it’s something else.”
“Of
course it’s something else,” Quinn said before turning to someone who had just
come up to the counter.
Jamie
was writing something. But he was also re-reading the day’s paper.
Lawndale
Sun-Herald
Wednesday,
February 28, 2001
Situation
at Hospital Resolved with SpiderGirl’s Help
He had
had an idea, earlier in the day. That he would interview SpiderGirl for the
school paper. ‘Even if Ted only said that he would think about taking me on. I
mean, both Quinn and Daria are in the paper.’
He then
reflected that there hadn’t yet been an interview with SpiderGirl. ‘Not even
Mrs. Jericho has had an interview with her,’ he thought as he looked at the
byline on the main article. He continued writing his proposal.
Quinn
took a break and went over to Jamie. “Hi, Jamie.”
“Hi,
Quinn.”
“What
are you writing?”
“Oh, you
know, something for the Lowdown.”
“Hasn’t
Ted been turning you down?” Quinn asked, in a skeptical tone.
“Yes,
but this would be something that would get me in.”
Quinn
took the notebook. “Interview with SpiderGirl?” she asked incredulously. ‘I
don’t need to give an interview,’ she thought, for she was that superheroine.
“Imagine
what a scoop that would be.”
“Somehow,
I don’t think she wants an interview.”
“I’ll
give it a try,” Jamie said.
“You’d
be better off trying the Shadow.”
“No,
she’s a lot more elusive. I might as well try the fourth vigilante.”
“Or you
could try Dafoanairi,” Quinn suggested.
“But she
could snark her way out of it.”
‘I’ll
see if it is Daria that way, maybe.’
Stacy
watched Quinn and Jamie talking. ‘Clearly, he’s writing something Quinn is
interested in hearing about.’ It was better than dwelling on the recent events
in Lawndale. ‘Groundhog Day was just the start!’ She shook her head. She didn’t
want to think about that.
At the
same time. Quinn’s sister, Daria, was typing something and listening to the
television. “Up next. Lawndale’s Extreme Evening Host, Lynn Anders!”
“Sick
Sad World was interesting,” Sandi Griffin commented from where she was
sprawled on Daria’s bed.
“I
mostly view it as a view into the stupidity of the present day,” Daria
responded.
“That’s
one way of looking at it,” Sandi said with a thoughtful look on her face.
“It
certainly is.”
“Good
evening, Lawndale! This is Lynn Anders. Tonight, I’m wrestling a bear!”
“A
bear?” Daria asked incredulously.
“She has
pulled off many other stunts,” Sandi commented.
Daria
turned around. “I guess I have to see it to believe it.”
“And
there is another thing. It is over three months since SpiderGirl appeared, and
yet she hasn’t given a single interview. Some time soon, I am going to get it.”
“Good
luck with that,” Daria snarked. “We’re all elusive.”
“Like, I
know I won’t,” Sandi commented. “The fourth vigilante is remaining enigmatic.”
“So’s
Dafoanairi.”
“Why
SpiderGirl? I say ‘why not?’
“She’s
trying to drum up ratings. That’s all it is,” Daria said.
“I
agree,” Sandi said as she looked at the ceiling.”
“She’ll
try to reach out to SpiderGirl and continually fail.”
“And so
might be inspired to go looking for her,” Sandi said.
“I guess
we’ll need to keep an eye on her if that is the case.”
“I
agree.”
Quinn
was still thinking about Jamie’s proposal when she finished her shift. ‘It’s
not surprising that Jamie wants to interview me,’ she thought as she changed to
SpiderGirl on the roof. ‘It has been a few months and people in Lawndale are
curious about their first superhero.’ But she still didn’t want to give such an
interview. It would just make things more complicated. ‘I’m sure Talon would
think the same thing,’ she added as she looked southwards towards Crewe Neck.
But she then heard sirens somewhere to the northwest. “Responsibility calls,”
she said as she swung off in that direction.
“This is
clearly staged,” Daria commented as she and Sandi watched Lynn Anders wrestle
the bear.
“Obviously,”
Sandi responded. “But, I guess that is what she thinks the viewers want.”
“That’s
exactly it.”
“And
it’s the same level of farce as that Sick Sad World episode.”
“I knew
you would get it,” Daria said.
“But in
a different way to Jane, I’m sure.”
“Of
course.”
“That
was exhilarating!” Lynn Anders said in a measured tone. “Question for
the viewers. Do you think things in Lawndale are getting weirder?”
“Of
course they are,” Daria commented.
“Well,
duh!” Sandi said.
“And
it’s not just the heroes and villains,” Daria added.
“Like,
with everything that is happening people are on edge and are letting their
eccentricities show.”
“It’s
not just that.”
“Like, I
wouldn’t have believed that brownouts would occur one week and kidnappings
related to a play the next,” Sandi said.
“Exactly,
even if we played a role in resolving those situations.”
“And I’m
certain that more will come up.”
SpiderGirl
arrived back at the Morgendorffers about an hour after leaving the Historia.
She arrived on the roof and heard Sandi commentating on Lynn Anders in Daria’s
room.
‘Of
course, Sandi’s there,’ she thought. ‘I don’t mind, really. I see that they are
seeing Lynn Anders’ show for the trainwreck it is.’
She then
swung down behind the house and entered the basement, where she changed to her
usual self before entering her hidden sanctuary.
There
still wasn’t much to the hidden room in the basement, other than various
designs Quinn had been working on to improve her SpiderGirl gear, various maps
of Lawndale and the surrounding countryside and extra storage space. She took
out a notebook and wrote down her thoughts on Jamie’s proposal.
It
was inevitable, but I thought it would be longer before the media would be
seeking an interview.
She
tapped the pen against the page and her gaze wandered to one of the maps of the
town, on which she had marked crime hotspots. She looked at the concentration
of markers in Lawndale Flats. ‘With everything that’s going on, I have hardly
been there.’ She decided that she would be there when she did her usual early
morning patrol later.
“It was
an interesting evening,” Sandi said as she got ready to leave. “Hardly any
homework.”
“I got
mine done earlier. But I can tutor you if you want, just unofficially,” Daria
said.
“I’m
doing well enough,” Sandi said. “Besides I’m sure your plate is full enough
already, what with tutoring Brittany, the Historia, investigating what’s going
on in Lawndale and being Dafoanairi.”
“While
that’s true, the offer stands,” Daria said with a slight smile.
“I’ll
consider it,” Sandi said with a thoughtful look.
Sandi
climbed out of the house by the hall window as she usually did. When she got to
the ground she thought again about Daria’s offer. ‘It is a good idea.’ She then
heard Quinn’s voice in the kitchen. ‘Better be off!’ she thought as she dashed
off towards the street.
As soon
as she was out of sight of the Morgendorffers she hid behind some trees and
changed to the Enigma. ‘Now, there is sure to be something happening,
somewhere,’ she thought as she headed down Glen Oaks Lane.
After
midnight, Daria snuck out as Dafoanairi as usual, rappelling out of one of her
bedroom windows and heading to the laneway.
‘If
Anders wants to interview SpiderGirl, it is only a matter of time before she
wants to interview the other four of us too, including Sandi and I. That’s
something I don’t want. The full publicity of the media isn’t what we want, nor
would it be good for Lawndale.’
She
headed downtown, to an area that she had neglected due to the situation with
the missing critics the previous week. ‘Dega Street. The paper has reported
that crime has increased there again.’
Samara
Collins emerged from the Zon/Zone and looked around. One could never tell when
someone could come out of the shadows and mug someone else. She quickly walked
down the street and someone came out of an alleyway. “Hand over your cash!” he
said.
“Not on
my watch!” someone said nearby.
“Doesn’t
sound like SpiderGirl,” the would-be thug said, but Samara had used the moment
to run back the other way.
Dafoanairi
came out twirling the staff and knocked him over. “I may not be SpiderGirl, but
I can still defend those who can’t defend themselves.”
“Dafoanairi!”
“Yes,
that’s me, and I will keep fighting if I have to. I have been gaining
experience.”
The man
ran off.
‘They
may not all give up that easily though.’
Samara
turned back and saw Dafoanairi coming towards her. “Thanks for the save,
Dafoanairi.”
“All
part of the responsibility I have taken on to protect people in Lawndale.”
“The
second time…” Samara mused.
“Second?
When was the first?”
“With
the Shadow, just after the Historia opened.”
“OK,”
Dafoanairi responded. “Quite a lot has happened since then.”
“Groundhog
day,” Samara said quietly. “To think something like that could happen here.”
“That’s
when I realized I needed to find out what was going on.”
“I see.”
“I could
walk you home if you like,” Dafoanairi offered.
“I was
actually going to catch a taxi, as I live on the other side of the creek.”
“Oh.
I’ll wait until you find the taxi.”
“That
would be OK,” Samara said as they approached one of the taxi ranks along Dega
Street.
Dafoanairi
listened to their surroundings as Samara waited for a taxi to arrive. Lawndale
was quiet, save for some traffic, some dogs barking and the sounds of various
nocturnal animals, including the chittering of squirrels. ‘It may seem quiet
more now, but danger always comes when it’s least expected.’
She
didn’t have to wait long before she heard sirens somewhere near the Creek.
‘There!’ she thought.
SpiderGirl
emerged onto the roof at the usual early time, and started listening to
Lawndale as she usually did. But this time she was distracted by remembering
what Jamie had said. Even so, she did hear something to the north east. ‘Ruminations
can wait, responsibility calls,’ she thought as she swung away.
Lawndale
Sun-Herald
Thursday
March 1, 2001
People
Ask Again, What Motivates SpiderGirl?
“It
should be obvious,” SpiderGirl said as she looked at the paper at a newsstand.
‘Even more scrutiny!’ she thought. ‘As if Jamie and Lynn Anders weren’t
enough.’ She looked at the byline. ‘Melinda Parris, of course! It wouldn’t be
Mrs. Jericho.’ She put the paper back and swung away.
Sandi
arrived at the school and met up with Harry Osborn. “Morning, Harry,” she said.
“Morning,
Sandi.”
“Is
your father up and about?”
“Not
yet, he’s still resting,” Harry answered.
“I
see.”
“Is
something up. Did he say something during that dinner?”
“No,”
Sandi said. It wasn’t really a lie, but it was the same night, that she found
that he knew her secret identity.
“Oh.
Whatever it is, you can tell me, right?”
“Maybe,”
Sandi said. ‘I’m not going to tell him that I’m the Enigma, the fourth
vigilante. It was hard enough trusting Daria.’
At
the same time, Quinn arrived at the school with Stacy and their friend Tori
Jericho. “I read the paper earlier,” she said to Tori.
“Mom
says that many people have been asking the paper whether they are going to
interview SpiderGirl,” Tori said.
“I
haven’t read the letters to the editor lately,” Quinn admitted.
“That
doesn’t matter that much,” Tori responded. “There are many that don’t get
published.”
“I
suppose I could ask Daria later,” Quinn said.
“Is
she making progress?” Stacy asked.
“You
know she’s doing other things,” Quinn said.
“Oh,
of course,” Stacy said. “I’ll be at Tempest again tomorrow night.”
“And
we’re both in the Lowdown,” Quinn added.
“I
heard some of what you and Jamie were talking about last night,” Stacy said.
“It’s
unlikely he would be able to get an interview with SpiderGirl,” Quinn said.
“She’s
probably too wary for that,” Tori said.
‘You’re
right there,’ Quinn thought as they entered the school building. She then saw
that Tiffany Blum-Deckler was waiting for them there.
“Good
Morning,” Tiffany said, holding up the latest Lowdown.
“Is
there something in that you want us to see?” Tori asked.
“Quinn,”
Tiffany said as she handed it to her. “Something on the second page.”
Quinn
took the paper and looked on the second page. She saw that Jamie had managed to
convince Ted that he had something worth publishing. ‘Wait, is he saying that I
thought Kevin was cute?” she asked.
“That’s
exactly what it is,” Tiffany said.
“And
it probably went over Ted’s naive head!” Quinn groused.
“So,
what are you going to do about it?” Stacy asked.
“I’ll
talk to both of them,” Quinn decided, “But it will have to wait until lunch.”
Brittany
Taylor read the article as she settled into homeroom. ‘I doubt Quinn actually
said that!’ she thought.
“Penny
for your thoughts?” her friend, Angie Zammit, asked.
“Jamie’s
wrong,” Brittany answered.
“How
so?”
“Quinn
doesn’t like Kevin.”
“Why
does it matter? Given that you have broken up with him,” Angie said.
“Um,”
Brittany wasn’t sure how to answer without giving away that she and Quinn were
closer as friends than it appeared, that they were partners as Lawndale’s first
two superheroes. “Like, the old Quinn would have, but the new Quinn wouldn’t.”
“Like,
she’s tutoring me, but I don’t really know her beyond that.”
Rumors
spread through the school as the students headed to their first period classes.
Quinn tried to find Ted, but their paths didn’t cross.
Quinn
entered the Lowdown office as the Lunch period started and found Daria
and Ted discussing something.
“Hey,
Quinn,” Daria said. “I have left it to you to discuss that article regarding
Kevin.”
“Thanks,
Daria.”
“I’ll
leave you to it.”
Quinn
watched her sister go and turned to Ted. “Why did you publish that article?”
“I
only skimmed over it,” Ted admitted. “I thought it was fine.”
Quinn
sighed. “It isn’t. I merely said that Kevin could be interesting to some
people. Not that I like him. Now most of the school probably thinks I’m taking
advantage of Brittany breaking up with him.”
Ted
thought for a moment. “I see your point.”
“I’d
like you to print a retraction.”
“Today?”
Ted asked. “I’m not sure Ms. Li would go for that.”
Quinn
sighed. “Let me handle Ms. Li.”
“Then
I’ll write it up by the time school lets out, and it will be out tomorrow.”
“Good.
But also, Jamie was writing a proposal to interview SpiderGirl last night,
while he was at the Historia.”
Ted
thought on that. “That seems a bit much for a school paper, to interview a
superhero, even if it appears that her secret identity is a student at that
particular school. But I did see Anders’ announcement at the Arcade last night
and the Sun-Herald this morning.”
“I
agree there, and I think Anders is getting in over her head.”
“Most
likely, and as far as her motivation goes, she wants to use her powers for
good, to help people. Isn’t that enough?”
“I
agree,” Quinn said.
“I’ll
talk to Jamie about that, as well as the article,” Ted said.
“Thanks,
Ted. I’ll go to Ms. Li now.”
