The Grounded Geek
After a late return home one night, both of the Morgendorffer sisters find themselves grounded. But what does Quinn have planned?
Fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/6963544/7/Quinn-s-Code
Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/31894825
Quinn, Cindy, Kristen and Keith had left the diner behind. They saw the Tank on the side of the road. “Isn't that Daria?” Kristen asked.
“With Trent Lane?” Keith asked, curiosity showing in his voice.
“Well, she is friends with his younger sister,” Cindy pointed out.
“Don't worry, she can look after herself,” Quinn said.
“Jane and Jennifer may have gone for help,” Cindy said.
“I guess so,” Quinn said.
“I'll keep going then,” Keith decided after a few moments.
Daria listened to Trent play a G chord over and over. She glanced at his tattoo. “Um, nice tattoo. Tribal?”
“Maori. I copied it out of Tattoo World's international issue,” Trent said.
“Very graphic, and meaningful.”
“Yeah, it makes a statement. You know what it is?”
'I got a tattoo out of a magazine?' Daria thought.
“I got a tattoo out of a magazine,” Trent said, unknowingly echoing what she had thought. They both laughed.
“I guess it's better than trying to copy one off the TV.”
“Daria, do you ever feel like maybe you're wasting your life?”
“Only when I'm awake.”
“Like, no money, no job, you live with your parents, and you still can't play an open D tuning,” Trent said.
“Well, I haven't had those exact thoughts...”
“Maybe I will end up a townie doing Doors covers. I mean, who's to say, right?” Trent asked. He didn't know whether the Spiral would make it big, or not. Who could say?
Daria considered. “Umm, you know, Trent, it takes a lot of guts to go after a dream, especially when you know that failure can mean spending the rest of your life playing L.A. Woman... in public,” she said, her distaste for that song showing.
Trent thought for a moment. “Hmm, I guess.”
“And even if it doesn't work out, at least for now you're doing exactly what you want to.”
“Yeah, that's true.”
“A lot of people never even get that far.”
“I guess I'm not doing too bad. You know, Daria, sometimes it's hard to believe you're in high school.”
“I find the situation unbelievable myself.”
“You're pretty cool.”
“Thanks,” Daria said with a slight smile. She then noticed that Jane, Jennifer and Jesse were approaching.
“So?” Trent asked.
“There was nothing behind that wall but a cornfield, and the corn wasn't very helpful.”
“Helpful Corn! That's a cool name for the band,” Jesse suggested.
“I don't thnk so,” Jennifer murmured.
“Even better than Mystik Spiral, huh, Daria?”
'Maybe not,' Daria thought.
Keith, Kristen, Cindy and Quinn arrived at Alternapalooza. They could see that the concert had already started, and that the parking had spilled into a nearby field.
“We've missed the start!” Cindy said.
“I wasn't responsible for the traffic after Oakwood,” Keith explained.
“I guess there wasn't any other way,” Quinn said.
“I guess not,” Cindy said.
6th June
John 14:27
Nehemiah 1
Nehemiah 2:1 - 10
As the book of Nehemiah opens, Jerusalem is in trouble. Judah's enemies, the Samaritans, have prevented the Jews from repairing Jerusalem's broken-down defenses. All seems to be lost. But God has a plan.
Nehemiah prays every day.
vs 6
Nehemiah confesses his sins as well as those of his forefathers.
Nehemiah 1:8
Deuteronomy 30:1
Scattering as a result of disobedience.
Nehemiah 1:9
Deuteronomy 30:3
Gathering.
A God who scatters in judgement.
A God who gathers - for repentance.
The month of Nissan - Nehemiah prayed for four months.
2:3, 4
Nehemiah had the King's favour.
Short desparate prayers are fine, if they are preceded by consistent earnest prayer.
In those times when all seems to be lost God has a plan.
Nehemiah could have enjoyed a quiet and happy life in the palace, but he chose to step up. In times of frustration, trouble or loss, God might call on you to step up and take up action.
Nehemiah prays for months until it is time to bring the matter to the King. We must be diligent in prayer and be sensitive to God's leading.
A reversal of the Superpower's policies and be brought about by God to accomplish His plan.
Communion
Colossians
Half an hour later, they parked at a place named Mom's Diner.
All of them sat a booth and waited for a waitress to take their order. “Okay, that's a meatloaf, two open turkeys with fries, box of Frosted Flakes... “ She looked at Jesse “those are pretty small, hon. Just one?”
“You're right. Make it five,” Jesse said, knowing his appetite.
The waitress turned to Daria. “Dry toast and coffee, please.”
“I thought you looked depressed. You want a booster seat?” She laughed. Then yelled “Five boxes of flakes and two nausea delights!” She then asked. “You kids going to that rock 'n roll shindig out near Swedesville?”
'They must have had a lot of people going that way,' Jennifer thought.
“No. We made a wrong turn on our way to Paris.”
Jane, Trent, Jennifer and Jesse all laughed. “You've got a mouth on ya, don't ya?” the waitress observed.
“Why?” Daria asked.
“Ever thought of becoming a waitress?”
“Maybe.”
Jane and Trent laughed again.
Daria slid further down in her seat in embarrasment.
The Fashion Club had also left Lawndale behind. They began to notice a rather pungent odor. “What's that smell?” Tori asked.
“Uck! A skunk!” Stacy exclaimed.
“Yuck!” Tori said. Sandi pressed the button to make the top come up on the convertible.
Daria and Jennifer were in the bathroom of the Diner. “Could Jane rig that gun of hers to shoot bullets? I'm ready to end my suffering.”
“You're not your usual self,” Jennifer noticed.
Daria scowled. “I've got a bump on my head, a bug bite on my arm, a sandwich on my ass...” she started saying.
Jennifer interuppted. “And that in front of a certain musician.”
“Now turn the knife counterclockwise. I can't go back out there,” Daria said, sounding depressed. “You go on to Alternapalooza; tomorrow, I'll emerge and begin my new life as a waitress.” She paused and thought. 'I'm not even sure if I'm joking.'
“I think he's rather oblivious. At least that's what Jane would say.”
'She better be right.' Daria sighed. “Okay.”
“At least the stain is alternative,” Jennifer said trying to cheer Daria up.
“True,” Daria said with a smirk. Jennifer had succeeded. A little.
“Let's go.”
Soon they had left the Diner and were cought in traffic...
Soon afterwards the Fashion Club arrived at the Diner.
“Ugh, stretch pants. Everywhere, stretch pants,” Tiffany said.
Stacy noticed something about her clothes... “Hey, these are stretch pants! I'm wearing stretch pants!”
Sandi moved to calm her down. “They're leggings! They're leggings!”
Stacy calmed down and let out a high pitched sigh of releif.
“It's all right,” Sandi reassured.
The waitress approached. “Three cheeseburger deluxe, four house salads.” she paused. “With oil and vinegar on the side!”
'That's perceptive,' Tori thought.
A while later, an alphabet game was being played to pass the time.
“Your turn, Trent. We're up to E,” Jane said.
“I'm going to the picnic, and I'm bringing asbestos insulation, brine shrimp, the cryogenically frozen head of Walt Disney, Dominos and... an Elephant.”
Jane considered. “I'm going to the picnic, and I'm bringing...” before Trent hit a bump... and Daria's glasses went flying.
“My glasses!”
“Sorry! Hey, Janie, I saw that one coming.”
Jesse held up the glasses, broken clean in two through the bridge. “Don't worry. I can fix them,” he said.
“Need the glue gun?” Jane asked.
“Keep that thing away from me! You'll miss and glue my eyelids shut.”
“There's some tape in the back there,” Jesse said.
Jennifer found the tape. 'Duct tape?' she thought.
“Duct tape. Great,” Daria said once she had put the glasses back on.
“It's fine. It looks alternative,” Jane said.
'I guess so,' Daria thought.
Then all of a sudden, the Tank's engine started to splutter... “Uh oh!” Trent said.
“That's not good!” Jennifer said.
“Of course,” Daria stated.
As the Tank rolled to a stop on the side of the road, the engine died. Trent tried to start it again, but without success.
At the same time, Quinn, Cindy, Kristen and Keith arrived at the Diner.
The waitress served them. “What would you like, hon?” she asked.
“Um, a salad with an egg on the side,” Quinn said, after some thought.
“A hamburger,” Cindy ordered.
“Fish and fries,” Kristen said.
“Two pies,” Keith added.
“Salad, egg, burger, fish, fries and two pies!” the waitress yelled.
“A burger, Cindy?” Quinn asked, light hartedly.
“I have a hankering for it,” Cindy replied with a smile.
“Sure,” Kristen said with a smirk.
Jesse opened the hood, and looked at the engine. “Some hoses have come loose,” he said.
“Great!” Daria intoned.
“What do we do now?” Jesse asked.
“There's a noise wall up ahead. There must be houses behind it. Daria, you and Trent stay here; Jesse, Jennifer and I will find a phone and call for help,” Jane suggested. She leant towards Daria. “Great plan, huh?”
Daria opened her eyes wide and then glared at Jane, who then walked off with Jennifer and Jesse. Jennifer shot her a consolatory look.
Shortly after driving past the broken down Tank, the Fashion Club were distracted. Tori noticed something. “Outlet Shopping!” Tori said.
“Change of Plan!” Sandi decided, she turned into the lane for the off ramp.
Stacy leant out and drew a clothes hanger symbol with her hand...
“What is that? A Pyramid?” Michael 'Mack' McKenzie asked in the car behind.
“A mountian?” Jodie Landon asked.
“A square?” Kevin asked, confused.
Brittany saw the sign next to the off ramp that Sandi had directed her car onto. “A clothes hanger! Outlet shopping!” She grabbed the wheel and turned the car to follow.
Kevin was annoyed. “He-eeay!”
16th
Pentecost
Acts 2:1 - 40
Zechariah 7
Are you serving God? Or are you serving yourselves?
What is your heart like?
vs 4 - 7
Fasting - meant to be with a heart of repentance.
Think about how you worship. It should be more than an outward sign. Are you actually listening to God?
vs 7 - 10
Administering true Justice (What takes place isn't necessarily 'Just')
Lamentations 3:22
The alien - The term may to refugees in the current time.
Deuteronomy 10:18
We should follow this example!
9th
Overview of Zechariah
Zechariah 4
Discouraged
Defeated
There are circumstances in which we can be discouraged.
The Jews were discouraged because the new Temple wouldn't be as grand as the Temple of Solomon.
Discouragement for us as a result of the societial changes surrouding COVID.
vs 6
But God is our sustainer. Our renewal comes through Him.
vs 7
Obstacles will be removed by God.
Too many live with a sense of fear rather than hope.
But we have the power of the Spirit to move mountains.
In times of discouragement we need to pray.
vs 10
God's work must not be despised because of it's small beginnings.
Don't be discourged with small beginnings.
Prayer - that those who are discouraged would look to God.
Communion
Isaiah 53
Daria - Lurhmans's Crush
23 April 1999
Lawndale, MD
It was late when Daria Morgendorffer, and her second cousin, Lurhman Barksdale, arrived at the Zen (or Zon, as Daria called it).
"So, this is where Lawndale's nightlife is centered?" Lurhman asked.
"Such as it is. For teens anyway," Daria said. "The pubs don't allow those under 21 in this late.
"Are you sure that your friend and that guy won't be there?"
Daria frowned. Since her friend, Jane Lane, had started dating Tom Sloane, they had been spending less and less time together outside of school. "I'm certain," she answered.
"Let's go in."
Daria had to admit, Lurhman was good company. Approximately half an hour after she arrived she noticed that he was a little distracted... "Something on your mind?" she asked.
"Huh?"
"You seem a little distracted, even for you."
"I guess so." He pointed somewhere in the crowd. "Do you know that Goth chick?" he asked.
Daria looked, and saw a person she knew went to Lawndale High, but not much more. "Andrea? Not much more than her name,"
"Oh," Lurhman said, sounding more monotone than usual.
"You could go and ask her," Daria said.
"Sure."
