"What bugs you, Daria?"
"I was looking up the history of our esteemed institute of learning a few weeks ago, and read how the high school -- and in fact, most of the town -- was established under something called the Best and Brightest Act, which was signed into law by JFK in 1961."
"Mmhmm."
"So I go to the Internet and I search for the Act, since I've never heard of it before. The only relevant hits I got was about a book detailing the Kennedy administration's involvement in the Vietnam War."
"I see."
"I went to the library, and the Act wasn't in any of their reference books. I spent three damn hours looking through microfilm of old copies of the Lawndale Sun-Herald, and there's no mention of it in there either."
"Uh-huh."
"Jane, I'm pregnant and Trent's the father."
"Interesting."
"If it's a boy, we're naming him Kevin, and if it's a girl, we're naming her Brittany."
"Go on."
"Damnit, Jane, you're not paying attention!"
"Am I invited to the wedding?"
"...Huh?"
"Well, I'm assuming you and Trent will get married, if you're going to have his children."
"...I really, really hate you, Jane."
"Why were you looking up Lawndale's history, anyway?"
"Well, I wasn't, really. I was just reading a book for another assignment in history class, and came across the reference to the Act. It sounded pretty important, and I would have thought it garnered more historical significance than, say, what George Washington had for breakfast the day he was inaugurated president."
"What did George have for breakfast that day?"
"I don't know, Jane, and that's not the point! The Best and Brightest Act wasn't even in any of the Congressional records I looked up from that year, nor was it among any of the executive orders JFK issued. When I looked up more information on the creation of Lawndale and its high school, I just got vague references to 'government funding'. Something is seriously off-key here."
"Hmm. I see what you mean. If there's some sort of big government conspiracy, how is it you found mention of it in the first place?"
"It was a book from the school library, which meant it was several decades out of date. It discussed Kennedy's challenge to land on the moon as having just been issued last year."
"Well, there's your solution. Look through old books. Maybe ask Artie out on a date."
"Oh ha ha. I think I will look through some older books, though...I remember Mr. O'Neill said that he salvaged a lot of the damaged books from when the library's roof collapsed. I figure at least some of them will be just as obsolete as the book I read, so I might find a few clues."
"Attagirl, amiga! Once you find the secret spaceship buried under the high school, we can break the news to Sick, Sad World and get rich!"
"Right, because the government wouldn't just 'disappear' someone who walked in on their decades-old conspiracy. Well, I should be going now, Jane -- mom wants me to attend the latest farce of a family-time only dinner."
"See you at school!"
Jane watched out the window as Daria walked down the sidewalk and around the corner. She picked up her telephone and dialed a number.
"It's Jane. Daria found out about the act -- yes, I know. Okay. I'll keep you informed. Bye, dad."