Jodie's Moment by Mitch wells17@gte.net Jodie Landon had a busy day. She had been doing yearbook stuff, tennis practice, and whatever else. She needed a minute. Jodie actually had a minute to herself that day and, just because it was nearby, went into the gym. There was no real reason. She probably just needed to be alone. She looked around and learned that the place was pretty quiet after class hours. She felt pretty alone and it was rather quiet. For no reason, she did a jumping jack. That was stupid, she thought to herself, but she smiled anyway. In her hectic life, there was never any room for actual...fun. Anyway, it was good to get away from everything for a minute. She had such a busy schedule that night. She had to call off her plans with Mack that night. Strange, he didn't seem that....graceful about not going out lately Just then, Jodie heard something crack. She heard it again and looked up. There was the reason, the air vent was starting to fall. I'd better tell Principle Li, Jodie thought to herself. Of course, Jodie knew that part of the reason -why- the school had been starting to fall apart lately was because of Ms. Li's constant squandering of money in security concerns. Sometimes, Jodie wondered if Ms. Li was just paranoid, since the other schools in the county were always sounding worse off then them. The air vent cracked again and Jodie knew this was serious. She started to leave when the worst happened, the air vent actually fell! Jodie ran but it was no use. The vent fell on her leg and pinned her down. The pain caused her to scream ----- Daria Morgendorffer was walking by way of the gym. She needed a moment alone and figured that almost no one would be in the school at the time. Just then, she heard something crack. Darn air vents, she thought. Then came another. Well, thought Daria, if the school feel on Ms. Li's head, it wouldn't be my concern. Suddenly, she heard a crash and a scream, a familiar scream! Daria actually ran, fearing the worst. When she entered the gym, her fears were verified. "Jodie!" Jodie was pinned by a fallen air vent. She looked like she was holding back tears. Jodie picked her head up. "D...Daria?" "Just...hang on," said Daria. She tried to lift the air vent up, but it was no use. "Look," said Daria, "Just don't move. I'll get help. ----- Lawndale High football team captain Michael "Mack" McKinsie was in the stadium. He just had an -interesting- debate with quarterback Kevin Thompson. He was asking if Mack could bring Jodie along to a "make-out party" with him and Brittany. Mack politely declined, but added a "thanks for thinking about us" before Kevin left. Mack really disliked how Kevin thought his relationship with Jodie was all hormones. Still, Mack smiled to himself, amused by Kevin's "unique" behavior. Daria once told Mack to take Kevin less seriously and it had been working. Mack then remembered that he had a date with Jodie that night. Strange, he was half-expecting her to arrive and call it off. Then, Mack saw someone rushing toward his direction. He thought it was Jodie, but it was...Daria? Mack had never known Daria to run before. She also looked worried. Then, Mack realized what would -make- Daria run! "Mack!" Daria exclaimed, "Thank God! Look, it's Jodie she's hurt." "That makes two of us..." "No, I mean, physically. She's injured." Mack was shocked. He always considered Daria to be honest, but he wished she wasn't at that moment. "Where is she?" "In the gym, come on. ----- Jodie had basically gotten over the shock of her situation and was concentrating on holding back pain. She thought about how this accident ruined -all- her plans for that night, not just the ones with her and Mack. She had a feeling that whatever happened to her leg, she would have to be hospitalized, putting her months behind schedule in all her activities. Also, her parents wouldn't be to happy to hear about this, especially her dad. Jodie felt pressured Suddenly, Daria entered the gym followed by Mack. Mack, without a word, lifted the vent off Jodie's leg. "You stay with her," said Mack to Daria, "I'll get the nurse." "Right. ----- It had been a few days since Jodie had been committed to the Ceders of Lawndale hospital. It felt like an eternity to her. It had been days since she had done anything for the school, with Mack, or...for herself. She was being waited on and the concept was bugging her. She wanted to -do- something...but couldn't. Her parents weren't much help either. Her dad was out of town. Her mom was always busy dealing with the doctors about her upcoming operation. Jodie did, however, get some support from her siblings. Her sister would sneak away from their mom while carrying their baby brother. It was strange seeing them not fight for a change. She would ask Jodie if she was going to be okay and Jodie would tell her she would be fine. Still, even the baby looked worried On the night before the operation, Jodie looked at the TV. The local news was reporting about something called the "Jodie Landon Fair" the school was hosting. Apparently, Ms. Li was capitalizing on Jodie's misfortune. The worst part was, Jodie was too miserable to be upset. She was also tired. She fell asleep thinking that Daria would think of a way to handle this situation ----- Mack couldn't believe this fair. There were plenty of things he wanted to say to Ms. Li about it, but only Jane or Andrea would probably get away with that kind of language. Keeping his anger aside he continued to look for Daria. Soon, they ran into each other. "Mack? What are you doing here?" "Looking for you. Since Jane was roped into making some of the decorations, I figured you might have stopped over for support." "Well, yeah. But why do you want to see me?" "I figured we could go see Jodie if...that doesn't mess with any of your plans." "Sure. ----- Soon, they were in Mack's car on the way to the hospital. "I keep wishing I got there sooner." Mack turned to Daria, slightly surprised by the offhand comment. "Daria," he started, "I'm as upset about this as you are, and I wish I got there sooner, but there was no way either of us could have known about that." "-sigh-I know, Mack. It's just...I think Jodie's suffered enough in her life." "Well, yeah. Say, Daria, that reminds me, can you...tell me about yourself?" "Excuse me?" "I'm sorry if I'm sounding direct, but in all time you've lived here, the two of us have never really talked, have we? I've been really curious about your life." "Well, I don't think you really want to know about my life..." "Oh come on. I'm sure it's interesting..." "It's not boring, Mack. It's just depressing." "Oh. Well," said Mack, "I'll tell you about my life." "Hmmm. Okay. "Well," started Mack, "I was born in late '82. I assume you've heard how I got my middle name..." "I have. Go on." "Well, I was an only child, so my parents got to concentrate on me. My mom was an architect and my dad was substitute teacher. When I was about five, I started playing football with him in the backyard. He noticed that I was good at it and I -did- like it. I was pretty lonely in my childhood, there were no kids my age in my neighborhood. In school, I made friends easy enough, but they didn't understand me, since I also had interests in literature and math as well as football. Anyway, I got good grades and my parents loved me for it, but I still felt kind of alone. In high school, I met Jodie during early days at yearbook. I don't remember if I asked her out or the other way around but I don't think it matters. What matters is that I liked her a lot. I'm just ticked that she hasn't found time for me lately. Anyway, I shortly became team captain for the Lions, but I started to get a little questionable about the game's influence on people, especially after I met Kevin. Anyway, since the two of us eventually started to double date Jodie and Brittany, I -guess- you could call Kevin and Brittany my friends...oh sorry. I just remembered, they're -your- friends, aren't they?" "Well, I guess," answered Daria, "they've never said that to my face..." "Well," continued Mack, "I guess that's it except I've been running into you, Quinn, and Jane every since you showed up. So, -are- we friends?" "Well," answered Daria, "we could be if we talked more often. I admit, I have a rep of not opening myself to strangers, but...you're not exactly a stranger now. Just then, they reached the hospital. "Well, looks like my life story will have top wait," said Daria ----- When Jodie's door opened, she expected her siblings. She was pleasantly surprised to learn it was Daria and Mack. "How are things?" asked Daria. "Lousy," said Jodie, "but thanks for showing up. I guess everyone's too busy at the -carnival-..." "You know how it is," said Daria, "everyone's forced to go there, half the people believe it's for a good cause, and a fraction of -those- people actually enjoy it." "I guess. I should thank you two for saving me. I didn't think Daria even went to the gym at that time of day." "I don't. I'm usually at home or at Jane's at that time. It was just luck." "Wow." Jodie's face went blank. "I'll...I'll leave you two alone for a while," said Daria as she went into the hallway ----- "Jodie...?" "I'm...okay, Mack. It's just that...I feel both lucky and cursed at the same time. I mean, I feel like my own school tried to kill me and at the same time, it could have been a lot worse." "Look, Jodie, it was an accident. It could have happened to anyone." "I know, but, before it happened, I was thinking about how...Mack, am I any fun?" "What do you mean?" "Well, I was taking a break from my extracurricular duties that day, and I realized I don't -take- that many breaks. When was the last time you saw me having fun?" "Well, there was that time we impersonated Kevin and Brittany on stage." "- chuckle-Yeah. ----- Daria stood in the hallway, wishing for a seat and for a way to help Jodie, She hated to see Jodie suffer like that. Also, Mack was right, Daria had never really talked with him. Of course, her policy was to keep things to herself, but she had been giving Jane the basics the past couple of years. Jodie and Mack weren't that close to her, but they were closer than a lot of people. Actually, Daria considered Jodie close to her, mainly because she slightly reminded Daria of a younger her. Also, Mack -was- worth talking with. Besides, he just shared his life story to -her-. All this gave Daria an idea ----- Mack drove Daria home. "I hope she pulls through." "Mack," said Daria, "it's not too serious an operation. Besides, the doctors' said it could have been worse. Look, I'll be there with you when she recovers." "Okay...-woah-! This is your house? I mean, Jodie's told me about this place, but I didn't think it was this big! I mean, are you rich or something? I imagine we would have heard if you were." "We get by, it's just bigger than our old house. Besides, why would I boast of my families untold riches, especially with Quinn to do it for me?" "I'm...sorry. I should have known better. It's just when hanging around people like Brittany and all...sorry. I'll have you know I've never bought any of those rumors about you." "Rumors...?" "You know, all those rumors people have said since you showed up." "Oh, -those- rumors. Never listen to rumors about me. I rely on a more direct source." "Yeah. I admit, I'm always hearing rumors about me and Jodie that are less than truthful." "That happens. I guess it's because some people need something to talk about that doesn't concern them and truth is optional, probably because it seems dull." "I guess." "Look, I'm sorry, Mack, but if my parents see us out here, they're going to get ideas." "Oh. okay. ----- "Say, Daria," asked Quinn, "who was that guy out there?" "Just a friend." "Yeah, right, Daria. You have, what, two friends, and neither of them have a car like that." "Okay, that was Mack McKinsie, he drove me over to the hospital to see Jodie." "Jodie and Mack? Look Daria, how can you know two of the most popular guys at school?" "Well, how often do -you- talk to them?" "Uh..." Daria went to her room and smirked ----- Mack felt very anxious went he went to pick up Daria to check on Jodie. It had been a couple of days and Jodie operation was over with. What worried him now was meeting Daria's family. He never actually learned anything about them except Quinn's existence. Mack didn't know if Daria's parents were still married, -were- married, or whatever else. Maybe she was raised by her aunts or uncles. Maybe she lived with legal guardians. Perhaps she was a mother herself. Mack shook his head. He would just find out and get it over with. Maybe her parents would turn out to be adult versions of her Mack rang the doorbell and a brown haired man in a business suit answered the door. "Quinn!" he shouted, "your date is here!" "Uh, actually I'm..." Quinn Morgendorffer came down the stairs and said, before Mack could explain himself, "Daddy! I don't have a date tonight...omigod! Mack McKinsie?! Captain of the football team! So, you finally left Jodie or something?" Mack didn't know much about Quinn aside from what the three Js always mentioned, but he was ever close to being angry at her, this was it. "-Actually-," Mack tried again, "I'm here to pick up Daria..." "Daria? You're here to see Daria?" Quinn panicky pushed her dad aside stood in front of Mack. "No wait," she said, "I'm cuter! I dress better! My eyes are more sparkly!" "What about the three Js?" asked Mack. "Oh, I've never gone on a -real- date with any of them." "Look," Mack tried again, "I'm not here to -date- Daria, I'm just picking her up so we can visit Jodie." Just then, a red-haired woman in a business suit appeared holding a phone. "Now Eric, I've told you, I've -already- handled that case. Also, the briefs will be sent to you tomorrow. Ask Marieann about it, okay?" The woman hung up the phone and looked at Mack. "Oh my. Who's this?" "I'm Mack McKinsie, I'm here to pick up Daria." "-gasp-You're here to date -Daria-?" She dragged him to the couch and sat him down. "Please, tell me all about yourself!" "Actually, Helen," said Quinn's dad, "He says that he's here just to pick Daria up..." "He's Mack," explained Quinn, "he's a football player and he dates Jodie Landon, one of the most popular girls in school." Mack was wondering when Daria would show up and save him from these people. He was also wondering about all this excitement caused from a boy visiting Daria. Mack never really thought that Daria didn't have a love life and even if she didn't, these people were acting like she devoid of human contact. If that were true, she wouldn't even be seen in public, and Mack knew better than that Daria came down the stairs wearing her backpack. "I see you've met Mack," she said, "I suggest you give him some air, since he's driving." Helen and Quinn's dad backed away from Mack. Quinn hesitated, looking at Daria, then at Mack, as if deciding whether to temp him again in front of her. Quinn finally shrugged and backed away. Mack got up. "Ready?" "Ready. "Sorry for taking so long," said Daria as they were on the open road, "I had to get something for Jodie. I didn't know deep I'd hidden it." "That's okay, I just wish you did it sooner. Strange, I didn't know you were adopted." "I'm not." "...Sorry, I..." "That's okay. Some people make that mistake." "I just don't see how you could lived with those people all those years. Are they always like that?" "No, they're usually worse. Just be glad Dad didn't try to bond with you or flashback to his dad and his military school days. I think his consulting job is just to give advice to a world that once controlled him." "Ouch. So, Helen's your mom..." "Yeah. She's a lawyer and she's always pressuring me to fit in with others and not to lose my independence." "That makes...little sense. What about Quinn? I always figured there was more to her than just dating every guy in school." "There used to be. There was also dating every guy in Highland." "Highland?" "That's where we Morgendorffers hail from." "Highland, Texas?" "Oh, you've heard about it?" "Yeah, there was a report on the drinking water being poisoned with uranium a couple of years ago. Around the same time you showed up...Oh, sorry, Daria." "Oh, it's okay. Never liked the place. It was hell." Mack chuckled at that. "No, seriously," said Daria, "There were guns in school, harrasment, and the town was run by adults that make our teachers look like college material." "Woah. Daria, I...I never thought..." "That I came from such a harsh environment?" "Well, I guess. Daria, do you mind a...personal question?" "Usually, but you've made me curious. Go ahead." "Is that why you seem so...distant?" "Well, no. That comes from my family. Actually, you'd be surprised at my activity back at Highland High. I was just as ignored there as I am at Lawndale, though." "Ignored? You really think people don't notice you?" "What do you mean?" "Daria, if you were really -ignored-, do you think there would be rumors abou you? If you were ignored, I wouldn't hear so much about you from Jodie. Here's an example, Mr. O'Neil was always pretty detached from us, could never remember our names and then -you- came along, and in a few weeks, he actually -learned our names- and has gotten attached to us. Okay, that's not exactly a -good- example, but you see my point." "Hmmm. Maybe your right. I guess, well, I'm too -used- to being ignored. Also, I've never -tried- to be popular. I don't really -want- to be popular, I don't think I could handle it." "Maybe, but my point is that I never go a single day without hearing about Daria Morgendorffer." Daria was silent until Mack heard her mutter a small "Wow. "So what's in the bag, Daria?" asked Mack as they entered the hospital. "It's something I've wanted to show Jodie for a long time...and probably should have." Mack wondered what that meant, but he figured Daria had, of course, the right to keep some secrets. Besides, she would be sharing this secret, whatever it was, with Jodie ----- Jodie was looking at the ceiling in her room. She wondered if Daria was just as board when -she- did that. She also wondered why Daria didn't really stay with her last time. Just then, the door opened and Daria stepped in. It looked like Jodie would get the answers to her questions. "Hi Jodie." "Hey Daria. What's with the bag? Did you bring your homework or something?" "If you mean on myself, yes." "Huh?" "Jodie, did you ever wonder what my life in Highland was like?" "I...guessed it was the same as your life here." "Jodie, you know how you're always telling me to give people a chance, could you please give -me- one?" "I'm...sorry." "Look," explained Daria, "I didn't say that to bring you down. It was just to bring up my point." She took a binder out of her backpack and opened it. "It's my old scrapbook. Take a look. Jodie couldn't believe her eyes. That book contained clippings from both a school paper called the "Highland Herald" and what looked like Highland's local paper. There were headlines like, "High School Shootout, "The Thong Is Back," "Furrier Opens," and "Walk-a-thon Today," and "Mr. Clinton Comes to Highland." Jodie looked at the photo from "High School Shootout." She saw a girl that looked vaguely like Daria. "Is that...?" "That's me. A young and possibly inexperienced me, but still me." "You were at the school during a shootout? Oh, Daria..." "It was unnerving, but more guns were snuck in that school than you would believe. We were almost -used- to it. I had to trick a guy into showing his gun." "Daria, you...you're a hero then..." "Hardly. The next week, everyone forgot about it. "You're right, though. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that anymore." Jodie looked at the picture again. "You're wearing leggings, I never thought you would..." "Wear something over my legs? Or anything besides green." I admit, I spent more years wearing green than you can imagine, but I had -some- variety in my fashion life. Take a look." Daria showed Jodie a picture of herself in a black jacket and a red skirt. "-You-?!" asked Jodie in disbelief, "in a red skirt?" "Yeah, but it didn't really suit me later on. Jodie looked at the "The Thong Is Back" article and read the byline. "You wrote this? I thought you..." "Hated fashion? I do, and did even then. However there wasn't anything fashionable in Highland anyway. It was Helen and Jake's idea. Well, actually, they just wanted me to join the paper. It was the -paper- that made me their fashion reporter." "Why?" "Because I'm a girl." "Oh. What about Quinn?" "Maybe if they forced -Quinn- to join the paper..." "Ohhh. Jodie looked at the two guys on the cover. "Ugh. I think I've seen Upchuck look more assuming! Who are these guys?" "Just two acqauntences of mine that would make you miss Kevin and Brittany. I always hung around them just to tick off Helen and Jake. Actually, sometimes I just ran into them, like when I took that picture. Also, there was a time when I saw them doing their 'American Gladiators' impersonation." Jodie giggled. "I mean, the -female- ones." Jodie's amusement turned to shock. "It wasn't always so bad," explained Daria, "like this time when I was raising money for a walk-a-thon..." "You did -what-?" Daria showed her the sign up for said walk-a-thon. Jodie read it. "'$10 a mile each' from those guys? And you paid them..." "A nickel for both of them. Sometimes, those two could be helpful. However, there was that time...You see that picture of President Clinton with those two? See those feet behind him?" Jodie looked. "It's you...you met the president?" "Yeah, but those two boys upstaged me. I guess it's my own fault for telling the president that they were 'emotionally special'. They were already embarrassing me." "Wait, a minute," mused Jodie, "Clinton at a high school, girl with glasses? Daria, was that televised?" "Yes." "That was you...you were the one who grilled Clinton about how he promised to help students get college money." "Guilty as charged." "I remember watching and thinking 'that girl has guts'. I always thought -you- deserved that Student of the Year award." "I don't think I could have handled the fame very well," explained Daria "Daria," asked Jodie, "it looks like...you did some things for your old school. Why don't you do the same for Lawndale?" "Well," explained Daria, "I mainly did it just to pass time. I didn't have anyone to really talk to then. Besides, I think I'm all 'extracirriculared' out, if that's a word. I know I just spout out sarcasm now, but back then, if I was sarcastic, no one would notice. No one noticed me and no one else worried about the school except -maybe- the faculty. At least here, the jocks want the school going on so they can play football. Jodie smiled to herself and looked at Daria. "You know, Daria, I'm...I'm sorry that I misjudged you. You...you're not that different from me after all." "You know, Jodie, I've always been a -little- envious of you. You have a boyfriend, friends, annoying people that you can annoy back. Okay, I admit, your friends and...jocks...are mine also, but you get to have them when I didn't. So, at least it wasn't lonely for you when you started..." "Yes it was," interrupted Jodie. "before you came around, I had Mack, but all I had besides him were Kevin and Brittany, so I only had two clueless people and one person I could talk to. Until I met you and Jane, my world was rather...small." "Wow, I guess we -do- have a lot in common." "Yeah." Jodie spread her arms open, offering a hug. Daria looked at her, shrugged her shoulders and accepted it. "Just don't make a habit of this," advised Daria, "It's not you. It's just that I'm not into hugs." "Okay," said a smiling Jodie "So," asked Jodie when they let go, "what do you think I should do?" "What do -you- think you should do?" "What?" "Jodie, what worked for me may not work for you. On one hand you have friends and a wonderful boyfriend and one the other you have duties and a knack for them that I think you're better at than me. If you can't spend all you time one or the other, than I think you should what's -really- best for you and concentrate on that and see the other as a way to pass time." Daria left with those words, leaving Jodie in thought ----- It had been a week since Jodie came back. Mack was exiting the boys locker room when he ran into her. "Hey, Jodie. You were great at pep rally today." "Thanks. So, how about we get some pizza afterwards?" Mack felt confused. "Don't you have yearbook today?" "It's not an important meeting. Besides, I got some people to cover for me." This was Jodie? His Jodie? "Okay, what did Daria do to you?" Jodie took Mack's arm and took him to the exit saying, "She showed me where my priorities really lie. END