A November of Change - Part 1

 Daria – A November of Change Part 1

Daria Morgendorffer returned to her dorm room after her American Literature class.  ‘Not everthing that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced,’ she thought. While she had read some of James Baldwin’s writings back in high school (after moving to Lawndale), the class had re-awakened her appreciation for his work. She had found his moral writings were still rather pertinent, as she could see that there were still divisions in American society along racial lines. She sighed.

 

“Hey, Daria,” her roommate, Natalia Daniels said. “Have you voted yet?” she asked as she stood up.

 

“Yes,” Daria said, guardedly. ‘At least Massachusetts is a Blue State,’ she thought. Even so, she didn’t want to tell Natalia that she voted for Kerry. They had already had arguments earlier in the semester about the impact of Bush Junior’s policies.

 

Natalia brushed her hands through her close-cropped hair. She could see that Daria was agitated. “Sorry.”

 

“That’s ok,” Daria said as she sat at her desk. She wanted to reflect more on Baldwin’s works, but it was obvious Natalia wasn’t giving her the chance.

 

“Some friends and I are going out to Assabet to view the Leonids tonight,” Natalia said. “Do you want to come?”

 

“Um, sure?” Daria said. Viewing a meteor shower seemed like a better idea than re-reading a Baldwin novel she had already read while listening to the Election Night coverage.

 

“Great!” Natalia said. “We’ll leave at seven.”

 

 

Daria returned from dinner to find that Natalia had changed into one of her more colourful and loose outfits. “Wouldn’t it be a bit cold for that?” she asked. She hugged herself, rubbing her velvet covered jumper for emphasis.

 

“No,” Natalia said, shaking her head.

 

 

When Daria and Natalia arrived, Daria could see that Natalia’s friends were drinking beer, whilst listening to the election count coverage on the radio. ‘Aren’t they underage?’ she wondered. She was too, until later in the month. She knew Natalia was a year under her. “Drinking?” she asked.

 

“Yes. Don’t be a square, Daria!” Natalia said. “I’m sure you drink.”

 

Daria sighed. She did, in fact, drink. Occasionally. “One drink,” she said.

 

“Sure.”

 

 

However, Daria quickly regretted that decision. That one drink was enough for her to get tipsy. “That’s enough for now,” she said, firmly. “Do you have a soda?”

 

“Of course,” Kelly, one of Natalia’s friends said. “Here!”

Daria nodded, she considered that she had just sounded like Quinn! ‘It had to happen sometime,’ she thought. No doubt there were times when Quinn sounded like her. She took the soda. “Thanks,” she said in a way that she was sure didn’t sound like her sister.

 

 

Daria looked at the sky. She could identify some of the constellations, but not all of them. She focused on Leo. It took a while for the first meteor to appear. It wasn’t that spectacular, but it was enough to increase the anticipation for more.

 

“That was great, wasn’t it, Daria?” Natalia asked.

 

“I’m sure it will get better,” she responded dourly.

 

 

It was a while before there was another meteor. “Tofu?” another one of Natalia’s friends asked.

 

“I’m not vegetarian,” Daria explained.

 

“You don’t have to be,” the fellow student (was her name Erica? Or Helena?) argued.

 

Daria saw another faint meteor. She decided to take a chance. “Sure, Lena,” she said, hoping that she had guessed correctly.

 

Lena smiled as she handed a small amount Tofu over. “Thanks, Daria,” she said. “I made it myself.”

 

‘Really?’ Daria thought. She took a bite. The taste was better than she expected. She said so.

 

“You really think so?” Lena asked.

 

“I wouldn’t have lied about it.”

 

“Sorry, Daria. It’s just you’re the first to like it,” Lena said.

 

’Really?’ Daria wondered. But then she did have some esoteric tastes.

 

“Oh, leave her alone, Lena!” Natalia interjected.

 

“She likes it,” Lena shot back.

 

‘Uh oh!’ Daria thought. She turned her attention back to the sky just in time to see another meteor.

 

“She’s just saying that.”

 

“No, she isn’t!”

 

Daria sighed. “I wasn’t just saying it,” she said after taking a sip from her soda.

 

“See?” Lena said.

 

 

 

Daria spent the next half hour in silence. Only a few more meteors streaked across the sky. “You’re not much for conversation, are you?” Lena asked.

 

“Not really, especially so called ‘small talk.’ A lot of that is gossip.”

 

“You’re a cynic then?”

 

“Yes,” Daria answered. “But why are you asking?”

 

“Natalia has said that you push others away.”

 

“Yes. Those I know I wouldn’t get along with.”

 

Lena was then in thought.

 

 

Another meteor streaked across the sky. It was brighter than the others. ‘That is impressive,’ Daria thought. She looked to her right, where she saw that Lena was bringing something over.

 

“Another soda?”

 

“Sure,” Daria said as another meteor streaked across the sky.

 

“You don’t seem like one to join in to a party,” Lena commented.

 

“No. I prefer to spend time talking with those who are like minded.”

 

“Those who are cynical as you?”

 

“You’re very perceptive,” Daria responded.

 

Lena shrugged. “I have been called that.”

 

“But then I did say that I was earlier,” Daria reflected. She watched another meteor trail through the sky. “But then it was my environment that influenced my development. I was an intelligent and shy young girl who preferred books to interacting with my peers.”

 

“That sounds familiar,” Lena said.

 

“I know I’m far from unique in that respect.”

 

“I was similar.”

 

“And my younger sister is the complete opposite in that regard,” Daria explained.

 

“That’s also familiar, except that it was the older sister.”

 

Daria nodded.

 

 

 

“Hey!” Natalia called.

 

“Yes?” Daria asked.

 

“I’m wondering if you would join my study group, with myself and a couple other friends?

 

“Um…” Daria started.

 

“You don’t have to decide right away.”

 

“Sure.”

 

Another meteor streaked through the sky.

 

 

Daria thought about what Natalia had said. ‘It would be probably a good idea to meet up with similar people.’ If she didn’t like it, she would quickly find out.

 

 

Overall, it was a good night. “It was nice meeting you,” she said to Lena.

 

“Likewise,” Lena said.

 

 

Soon, they were headed back towards the dorm.