One Little Thing Chapter 4

'Ms. Morgendorffer, were you not AWARE that this report was DUE today?'

Daria was chagrined, she had forgotten it, she shouldn't have left it til the last minute anyhow but to forget it entirely was a new low for her. She kept her head down to hide the tears in her eyes and said 'I'm sorry, I forgot.' In a tiny voice. Mister DeMartino took pity on her and said in a calmer tone 'See me after class.'

The rest of the lesson was a nightmare. She hadn't studied or prepared for this having spent the evening in a world of music and had felt like a whole new person and now she dreaded the inevitable moment when DeMartino turned his laser focus on her. It didn't happen. As the classroom cleared out Jane hung back but she waved her on. 'Hold me a place in the cafeteria, I'll see you in a few.'

DeMartino closed the classroom door and went back to sit on the edge of his desk, facing Daria. He considered her for a few moments then began 'I saw the transcripts from Highland and was expecting an outstanding student, instead you're gonna consider yourself lucky to pass this class. I would ask what happened but when I heard what Timothy O'Neill said about you in the staff room I asked to see your full record.' He paused for a few seconds, tapping his fingers on the desk. 'I myself am a veteran of the first Gulf War and as such I am no stranger to trauma related stress and the effect it can have on a person's psyche. I was dealing with grown men, trained soldiers, so I can only imagine what the accident involving the loss of your sister has done to you.' His usual ranting persona had been put away and his voice was soothing and kind.

'However, I cannot idly stand by and let an intellect such as yours go to waste. Now if there's something going on, if Ms. Lane is a bad influence...'

'NO!' Daria shouted, then said 'Sorry, but no, she's my friend, the best friend I could have... it's not her fault. Not at all. I just... I just … it's very hard... I mean, I find it very hard to write now... I used to love to write but now it's torture... I put it off and put it off...' She broke down into sobs. Anthony wasn't sure what to do when through her tears he heard her say '...I... I... killed... my... killed my sister...'

'Ms... Daria... listen to me, I've read the report, your sister was killed in an accident involving a jack knifed truck on a highway in torrential rain, how could that be your fault?... Daria... talk to me.'

'I... I killed her inna stoorry...' And she wept more bitter tears.

Janet Barch happened past at that moment. Looking through the half glass of the door she saw a man standing over a weeping girl and leapt to exactly the wrong conclusion. She snatched open the door and stormed in and was about to launch into a tirade when Anthony turned on her a look that would etch glass. It stopped her dead in her tracks. He said in a deceptively calm voice 'Ah Ms. Barch, perhaps you can assist me. This STUDENT has suffered a crisis of conscience, she WILL recover when she realIZES it's not her fault. It is a FACT that many of us get mad at loved ones, someTIMES we even wish them dead. HOWEVER, for most of us, that person we wish DEAD is often one of the PEOPLE we would miss the most in our lives. That is beCAUSE people we love can get under your SKIN the way a stranger can not. PLEASE accompany her to the ladies room where she can wash her FACE before lunch... MS. Morgendorffer, I expect that REPORT on my desk in the MORNING, is that understood?' Daria nodded and turned a grateful look back to Anthony as she left the room. Janet Barch was, for once, at a loss for words, there was plenty she could have said but she never wanted to receive THAT look from the ex-marine again. For a man he actually seemed to have done something right, Daria had calmed down and was looking thoughtful.

(Scene)

During lunch Daria decided to open up to Jane and explain some of what had been going on with her. They sat beside each other with their heads close together talking in quiet tones as Jane listened sympathetically to Daria's story and only occasionally made some comment, supporting her friend and reinforcing what DeMartino had said. She then recounted some of her own woeful tales of sibling rivalry, even with Trent who she unashamedly said she loved dearly but...

'Hey, get a room, dykes! We don't wanna see that around here.' The speaker was a tall, brown haired girl in a cheerleader's outfit. There was some laughter from nearby tables and one guy said 'I do, I'd love ta watch!.' A ginger haired creep said 'Grrrr, feisty! I could sell tickets ladies, for a small consideration of course, shall we say ten percent?'

Daria, who had been getting back to her usual self, broke down in tears again at this unwanted attention. Jane, feeling bad for her one true friend, lost her temper in an instant, snatched up her empty tray and whacked the offensive girl across the face with it, yelling 'Shut your ****in cake hole you ****in BITCH! We are not DYKES!' The other cheerleaders came over to help their comrade looking like they were about to beat up on Jane. She stood her ground defiantly, waiting for one of them to make a move. The red-haired boy, Charles, realized that he'd actually said something as a joke that caused someone real emotional pain and stood in the midst of it all saying 'I'm sorry... I didn't mean...'

'THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT!' Roared Janet Barch, striding in between Jane and the cheerleaders. 'YOU LOT' She shouted at the cheerleaders 'SIT BACK DOWN.'

'But Ms. Barch she...'

'SIT!' She roared. 'You' she said to the cheerleader sitting on the floor in tears holding her face 'Get up, let me see that.' The girl stood and reluctantly moved her hands away. She had only been hit by the flat side of the tray so although it looked sore and red, the skin was not broken. 'Right, you, you and you.' She pointed at the girl, Jane and Daria. 'Ms. Li's office, now.'

Shortly thereafter the three were sitting in front of Ms. Li's desk, Jane in the center. Ms. Li came in from her conference with Janet and a quick review of the surveillance tape from the cafeteria. She sat at her desk and assumed her most inscrutable pose. 'Ms. Muenster' she began. 'You seem to be the instigator of this incident and you're a senior, perhaps you can explain to me in your own words what occurred just now?'

Angie Muenster looked everywhere but at Ms. Li, after a few moments while she tried to think up a plausible excuse, she cleared her throat and said 'Well you see Ms. Li I saw these two kissing and that's against God's law so I told them to stop but she hit me.' She looked hopefully at Ms. Li to see how this was going down.

Li's expression did not change. She gazed at Angie for a full minute before saying 'Well let us first clear up three facts. Firstly I have just reviewed the security tapes and although Ms. Lane and Ms. Morgendorffer were engaged in a close and obviously private conversation there was no public display of affection, up to and including, kissing. Secondly, even if they or any other students are involved in a same sex relationship, and there is nothing to indicate that this is the case, they are entitled to protection from abuse, prejudice or bullying in any form under the school contract of tolerance and behavior, to which you and every other student are signatories. Thirdly, I was not aware that the Reformed Jewish Temple you and your family belong to had changed their position on same sex couples. Perhaps you'd care to clarify your previous statement?'

Caught on all counts Angie tried but simply could not think of anything to say. 'I... I'm sorry?' She tried. Ms. Li had already turned her attention to Jane, leaving her to stew.

'Ms. Lane, perhaps you are not aware of school policy with regard to violence against other students?'

Jane looked her in the eye. 'I am aware Ms. Li, but I could not stand to have my friend be abused.'

'Have we not got complaint procedures, were there not teachers present?'

Jane looked as if she was about to argue, then hung her head and said 'I just lost it, I guess.'

'You realize this is a very serious issue, I could bring charges against you, you could be expelled, think about that for a moment, if you will.'

'Now Ms. Morgendorffer, I know you are an innocent party in this incident, do you wish to file a formal complaint against Ms. Muenster?' Daria, a picture of misery, shook her head.

Ms. Muenster, do you wish to file a formal complaint against Ms. Lane?' Angie was about to answer in the affirmative when she caught the look in Daria's eye. Her eyes widened and she shook her head also, no. 'Well that simplifies matters at least.' Ms. Li continued. 'It means it's up to me to decide what to do next. First I'm going to have to inform your parents. I'll begin with yours Ms. Morgendorffer, your Mother may wish to take you home for the day.'

'Ms. Li, I beg you, please don't call my Mom, she won't like it if you disturb her.' Daria looked stricken.

'Nonsense, it's my duty to inform parents if any of their offspring are guilty of or the victims of any sort of bullying at school. I have her number here.'

Daria shrank down in her seat and looked more forlorn and lost than Jane had yet seen her. She heard Ms. Li asking to be put through to Helen Morgendorffer and insisting that she speak to her in person and no, her secretary would not do. After a few moments a voice came on the line, obviously irritated and so loud everyone could hear her clearly. 'Who is this and what is so important I had to step out of a meeting with the partners to deal with?'

'Ms. Mogendorffer, this is Angela Li, Principal of Laaawndale Hiigh, we met some weeks ago when you enrolled your daughter. I'm afraid I must inform you of an incident of bullying involving your daughter and I...'

'Dammit! What did she do this time? More Shakespearean insults I suppose, did she hurt someone? Are they pressing charges? I told her next time it would be on her own head. Are the police involved yet?'

'Why no there's...'

'Are the victims pressing criminal charges, or a civil lawsuit?'

'No it's not...'

'Then why are you WASTING MY TIME!' The line went dead. Jane and Angie stared at Daria, curled up in a ball on the chair shaking with unheard sobs. She had her arms over her head as if to protect herself from a beating.

Angela Li was puzzled. She knew from the records that there wasn't a single disciplinary bad mark against Daria Morgendorffer, nothing to give a clue as to what led to THAT outburst. She resolved to call her old school and find out if there was something that hadn't been put in the file but she should know about, maybe the Middle school too. 'Ms. Morgendorffer... Daria.. I know things must be difficult at home since your sister's death. Perhaps I can speak to your Mother at a better time for her, have her call me at her convenience.' Putting that aside for the moment she addressed Jane Lane. 'Ms. Lane am I likely to get one of your parents if I call your house?'

Jane looked up from trying to console Daria and shrugged. 'Your guess is as good as mine... but my brother Trent has legal custody over me since he turned twenty one, you can call him, though you might have trouble waking him at this hour.'

Ms. Li looked startled for a moment, then remembered being informed of this at the start of the year. She looked up the number and called, letting it ring for a long time with no answer. She hung up and turned to Jane. 'I'm going to suspend you for two weeks. Have one of your parents or your brother call me first thing in the morning.'

Daria raised her head. 'You'd better suspend me too then... I don't think I could cope here on my own.'

'Ms. Morgendorffer! I can't do that, you've done nothing wrong! What would your parents say?'

Daria looked at her as if she'd gone mad. 'If you don't punish me, she will.' She said.

'Ms. Morgendorffer... I..'

Surprisingly it was Angie who spoke up 'Don't you get it Ms. Li, her Mom thinks she's the troublemaker. She's gonna get it in the neck just coz you called her. I thought my family was screwed up but this kid has me beat by a mile... Look Ms. Li... this is my fault... I didn't realize how bad... I don't blame Jane for losing it, if it was my friend... just cut the kid some slack, huh? I know better so just...' She shrugged and thought 'Jeeze, what did I step in? Dead sister! Nice one Angie, classy, very classy. Bitch much?'

Angela Li was stuck, there was no way she could hand out punishments without harming a girl who had already suffered so much. She looked at Angie Muenster, the girl seemed sincere. Jane Lane was obviously upset for her friend. There were not going to be any winners here today. 'Jane Lane and Angie Muenster, consider yourselves on probation. Leave my office now and go back to class but be warned, one more incident and it's straight out the door and I don't mean suspension, you will be expelled and that will go on your permanent record. Understood?' All three girls looked up at her in shock, then at each other, then by unspoken agreement they stood and said variations on 'Yes Ms. Li, thank you Ms. Li' and left the office.

Angela thought long and hard about the bottle of Glenfiddich in her bottom drawer, but she didn't touch it until she'd made four phone calls, first to Highland High, then Highland Middle School, then a ballet school in Highland she'd been adverted to by the Middle School Principal. Lastly she called a cell number for Daria's father, Jake Morgendorffer, and that did it for her self control, the man was roaring drunk at three o' clock in the afternoon and, when asked, made some insulting remarks about Daria and hung up.