The following update contains strong language and the use of one racial epithet which I think is appropriate as used by the character in context, no offense is intended.

Freewheelin' P2

'Pretty bad, as it happens if this old bag does that one more time...'

'So Dara, can you tell me what you see in this picture?'

'That does it!' Aloud Daria said 'Tell me Mrs. Manson, do you have difficulty enunciating words with more than two syllables? Or are you addressing your invisible friend who happens to be named "Dara"? Perhaps I'm being unkind, do you have a reading disorder such as dyslexia? For the third and, believe me, last time! My. Name. IS. DAH REEE AAAHHH! Got it?'

'Really! There's no excuse for being so rude! Just because you're in a wheelchair doesn't mean you shouldn't respect your elders and particularly your teachers. How dare you behave this way in my office!'

'How dare you deliberately mispronounce my name THREE TIMES! Respect is a two way street, you had my respect when I rolled in here but you lost it when you tried to insult my intelligence and don't try to tell me that administering a Patte Noir test to a fifteen year old is not an indication that you think I'm mentally deficient.' Daria paused for a breath then made an effort to get her temper under control.

'Damn I'm gonna have to find a way to lengthen my fuse, Mom is gonna go ballistic when this s**t hits the proverbial.' She leaned back and turned a cold glare on the gray-haired woman.

After a moment she said 'Are we through? I've spent enough time with REAL psychiatric evaluators in the past six months to know that you aren't one of them.' She gestured at the walls. 'Where's your degree? A diploma? A be-a-school-counselor-in-your-spare-time correspondence course graduation certificate? Just give me my hall pass and I'll be on my way. No doubt you and Principal Li will have more to say about this... actually... I suppose I should apologize, not for what I said, because it's true, but for losing my temper and shouting at you... for that I apologize. Do whatever you have to do and then have Ms. Li call my Mom... the lawyer. Good day to you doct... I mean Mrs. Manson.'

Daria then "turned off" and stared at the wall until the woman grudgingly handed over a hall pass so she could leave.

*************************************************************

Once back in the hallway Daria noticed a pretty African-American girl about her own age rising from a bench and approaching her. She was carrying a clipboard and what Daria liked to think of as a politician's smile. It totally rubbed her the wrong way and the girl hadn't spoken yet. 'Yes?' She demanded.

'Ehhh hi... Daria Morgendorffer?'

'How did you guess? It was the chair that gave me away, right?'

'No I.. yeah... look I'm supposed to...'

'Whatever you're selling I'm not interested, OK? I just want to get to class like everybody else... just like everybody else, nothing special.'

'Look what is your problem? I'm only doing what I was asked to do OK? This is taking time out of my day and believe me, time is not something I have to spare so just...'

'WHAT?' Daria's expression would have made a wolf back off but it broke something in the girl. She lost it big time and bent down so she was face to face with Daria and shouted 'WHO THE F**K DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE IN A GODDAM CHAIR DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN TREAT PEOPLE LIKE S**T!'

'Look you wouldn't understand what it's like to be...'

'Look at me, bitch. This is a ninety-five percent white town. Teach me about discrimination... pehlease.'

Daria's face was three inches from the other girl's now. In a low, menacing voice she spat out 'Cripple!'

In exactly the same tone of voice the dark skinned girl said 'N****r!'

'Oh yeah?'

'Yeah!'

'Right then.'

'Right.'

Daria thrust out her hand. 'Daria Morgendorffer, sophomore, I'm new here.'

With a crooked smile the other girl took it and gave it a firm shake. 'Jodie Landon, Vice-President of the Student Council, welcome to the tenth circle.'

'Thanks... Jodie.'

'So... I'm supposed to give ALL new students a tour of the school, it's a pain but I got lumbered with it coz the President is a lazy bitch senior who doesn't lift a finger.'

'If you want we can skip it and I'll tell everyone what a great tour guide you are.'

'Nah, can't.' Jodie gestured at the cameras on the wall and continued. 'Smile, you're on candid camera.'

Daria responded by yawning rather theatrically which involved stretching her hands over her head. The fact that she was flipping the bird at the cameras behind her was purely accidental, of course. She said 'Ok then, lay on Macduff.'

Jodie went to take the handles on the back of the wheechair but she was stopped by a tone of voice that made her hair stand on end when it said 'Are you tired of living? Don't touch the CHAIR! Ever!'

'Let's go to the elevator and head back to the student part of the school.'

'Let's.' Daria replied with a tight smile.