It's so Crazy!
Morning
Tom woke up and looked at his wife of five years sleeping peacefully next to him. It was one of the few times he saw her asleep facing him. She usually slept either on her back or facing the other way. He took a moment just to appreciate the pattern of her shoulder length auburn hair falling across the upper part of her oval face. No doubt in his mind that she was a very pretty woman. Her smooth but slightly pale skin didn't really need makeup. He liked the fact that almost all of the time she didn't bother with it. What, if anything, she lacked in beauty she more than made up in intellect. Daria was the smartest person he knew. He was certainly intelligent and educated, but Daria was smarter and more educated. He was just glad that she loved him.
Daria opened one eye and said in a very quiet voice, "Are we having a staring contest? If so, then I will blink and go back to sleep. You may resume sleeping as well."
"Very funny sweet love of mine," Tom said. "I was just admiring your beauty." He sat up in the bed, threw the covers off and declared, "It is Monday and the first day for each of us at our new jobs. It is six o'clock. Time to rise and shine!"
"You know I could take this lamp and beat you with it, right?" Daria said with a tinge of annoyance in her voice. "You are far too cheery this morning."
"Tell you what," Tom said. "I'll shave and run through the shower and then you can get up. I will tempt you out of bed with a fresh, homemade espresso drink. How about that?"
"Mmm. Coffee. You know the way to a girl's heart." Daria said. "Do you think you might get the espresso made faster if, say, I helped you somehow?"
"Just maybe," Tom said as he slipped out of bed and headed for the bathroom. "But, you'll have to be there when I am ready. You only have until I am done shaving to get yourself out of bed!"
"You go shave. I'll manage," Daria said in her best monotone.
….
Tom made them espresso drinks with milk. He also made omelets for them. The couple sat at their small round table. They were each checking the news on their phones. It seemed almost like any of the over 1000 workdays during their marriage. It was not unusual for them to sit in silence at breakfast each contemplating the day ahead. Daria didn't mind this at all. One of the things she liked about Tom was that he didn't feel the need to constantly be prattling on about something. He could accept that silence was not a failure of the two of them to communicate. Yet, today was different. It would be the first day of new jobs for both of them – Daria at Lawndale State University and Tom and Paige, Sloane, and Grace.
Tom got up from the table and said, "Well, I am going to go put on my coat and tie. I think it is a good day for sapphire."
Daria stood up. She was wearing jeans and an orange t-shirt. "I have a few boxes and things to move today. I certainly won't get dressed up for that!"
"Daria, it is your first day on the job. You really shouldn't be wearing jeans and a t-shirt," Tom said to his wife.
"Oh really, mister fashion consultant! And just what should I be wearing?" Daria said with a clear tone of annoyance in her voice.
Tom recognized the tone. One thing he had learned about the love of his life is that sometimes to help her he needed to fight with her. "You should at least wear nice slacks and a nice blouse. You will be making first impressions with the people you meet and most likely having your picture taken for your ID. That picture will be with you for years."
Daria shot back, "It is just a stupid ID and I am going to be carrying things from the car to my office. Besides, this is academia. No one cares what I wear."
"That is what they say and many faculty buy in to that. But, if you don't make a good impression right away, then you won't get the respect you deserve. Besides, you are young and pretty. You don't want everyone to think you are a student, do you?" Tom added that last little bit to try and deflect what was obviously the rising irritation level of his wife. Tome went on, "How often have you pointed out to me the hypocrisy in academia and how even there you may get judged on your looks?"
"So, what you are telling me is that you will take my clothes to the dry cleaner and pick them up. I can't guarantee that they will be clean when I am done with everything today," Daria said still with distinct anger in her voice.
"Please do it just to humor me if for no other reason. I will gladly take your clothes to the cleaner and pick them up if you will do this for your first few days at Lawndale State," Tom said knowing that he clearly needed to concede something at this point in order to get Daria to take his advice.
"Fine," Daria said. "I'll do this just for you. I'll go up and change with you. We need to get going. It will create a great first impression if you are late for your first day of work!"
The two of them headed up the stairs to finish getting ready. Daria changed into a pair of black slacks and an emerald green cotton blouse. Then she got the car keys and the things she was taking in on her first day.
"Can I help you take those out to the car?" Tom asked.
"Leave me alone," Daria said.
Tom knew he was still in trouble for insisting that Daria wear nice clothes today. Oh well, he knew how this would play out. She would cool off and they would make up tonight. At least he felt that this fight was worth having.
Daria loaded the items into the trunk of the car. At least they weren't heavy and they were clean. While she wanted a few things for her first day it would be later that she took the bulk of her stuff into the office, especially her professional books. The plan was that she would drop Tom at work and then drive on to the university. He would call her when he needed to be picked up. She hoped to be home by mid-afternoon. That would give her time to do a few things at home and should Tom's Dad or Mom decide they needed to have a celebration dinner at the club, then Daria would have the chance to shower again.
Daria had the keys and got into the driver's seat. Tom climbed in and off they went. Tom said, "It's nice we both don't have to be in by eight this morning. We can wait for tomorrow for that. Human Resources didn't want to see me before nine thirty."
"Well, I have you beat. I don't really have any schedule until classes begin or I have the usual meetings the week before classes start. So, I can totally set my hours during the six weeks until then. So there, mister corporate executive!" Daria said with a slight edge in her voice.
Tom thought he would try a little humor, "Oh Dr. Sloane you so wound me! We poor working stiffs just have to show up to make 'the man' happy. You know how they oppress us!"
"You are clearly the poster boy for oppression. Do you think 'the man' is going to demand our presence at the club tonight?" Daria asked in total deadpan.
"No idea. We will see," Tom said. Well, at least she didn't bite his head off.
Daria drove into the circular drive of the headquarters of Paige, Sloan, and Grace. It was an impressive three story, architecturally pleasing glass building. The facade was entirely mirrored glass. There was a large covered drop off area in the front. Executive and customer parking were right near the entrance. Tom kissed Daria good bye and got out of the car. As she drove past the reserved parking she noticed an empty spot. The sign at the front of the slot read: Reserved – Mr. T. Sloane.
A few minutes later Daria drove into Lawndale State University's campus. She pulled into the parking lot near her building. Since it was summer there was little parking enforcement, which had a reputation of being draconian during the school year. She got out and walked up to the English department offices.
"Oh, hi Daria," Brittany said with her usual bubbly phrasing. "How are you this morning!"
"Well, I didn't wake up dead and neither did Tom. So, I think that is a good start to the day. Now I just need to put up with the indignities of the first day on the job," Daria responded in total deadpan.
"Dr. Culbertson just came in. He wanted to see you and I have some things for you."
Daria walked the eight steps to her department chair's office and poked her nose in the open door, "Good morning Dr. Culbertson. Did you want to see me?"
"Please, Daria. Come on in. Also, just call me Jerry. Among colleagues and staff we are on a first name basis," Dr. Culbertson said motioning Daria to a chair at the small conference table in his office.
Daria sat down and waited to hear what her new boss had to say.
"I always like to emphasize for new faculty just how important it is to attend both the orientation for new faculty and the training sessions for the learning management system and other software and procedures here at Lawndale State. Brittany will give you a schedule of times. You have a number of choices over the next month. I will get a list of my faculty attending these meetings," he said. "It is also a good place to meet people from other departments and other parts of the university. I suggest that you call the various offices and reserve your spots today. Also, your computer accounts should all be active. Let me know if they aren't!"
"I'll do that Jerry. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Over the rest of the week I mainly plan to move into my office and get things set up," Daria said trying to put a little inflection into her voice.
"Perfect. I look forward to talking to you again soon. Stop by if there is anything you need. Oh, and be sure to get right over to the campus police station to get your ID. You will need it for a number of things."
Daria got up and walked out of the office and over to Brittany's desk and said in total deadpan, "Well it looks like I'm off to a good start. Now I just need to go turn myself over to the police and get a mug shot!"
"You're so funny Daria. But, you're not going to do the whole 'misery chick' thing here are you?" Brittany asked in an almost pleading way.
"Brittany," Daria replied sternly. "You know very well I am not miserable. I am different. My personality is not some kind of an act. That hasn't changed. Also, as a faculty member I am hardly a 'chick.' I'm a grown woman as are you. I simply choose to look at things in the cold harsh light of reality. If they teach us nothing else in graduate school it is how to determine and examine reality. In literature we present and analyze reality through the eyes of both real and fictional people in books."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean any disrespect, Daria. It's just that you suddenly come back into my life and I don't know what to do," Brittany said suddenly looking down at her desk.
To Daria it almost looked and sounded as if Brittany was going to cry. Daria responded in her best educator's voice, "Look, you remember me from high school. You and I have different roles now. In front of students you will refer to me as Dr. Sloane or Prof. Sloane, and I will refer to you as Ms. Johnson. Between us and with other faculty and staff first names are OK, as long as the students are not around."
"OK. That is the way it usually is with faculty and staff around here." Brittany responded as she twirled her shoulder length hair around her little finger and looked at Daria.
"Now what do you have for me?" Daria asked.
"Here is an envelope. Inside is your parking tag, parking lot assignment, map of campus with a directory, a campus phone book, your office assignment, and your office key. Your computer username and initial password are in there, too. Oh, and I have mostly completed the form for your ID. Also, you have a two o'clock appointment today in Human Resources. Next you need to go complete the form and go to Campus Police and have them take your picture and give you your photo ID. You can use your ID to get into the building when it is locked at night or on the weekend or holidays. Your ID is also your library card. What is really nice is that you can check out DVDs at the library! Now I just need you to sign for these things."
"So the library is both the center for academic information and a video store?" Daria said to Brittany.
"Yeah. It is really nice. I never have to buy any DVDs for my daughter. I can just go there and borrow them! It sure saves money," Brittany said with her usual bubbliness. It seemed that her moment of near crying had passed.
"What will they think of next?" Daria said in total deadpan.
Daria signed for the envelope full of things. She thanked Brittany and left the office. Her first task was to go and place the parking tag in her car and move it to her assigned parking lot, which was a little over a block away from her building. She completed her ID application and walked over to Campus Police to get her ID. Campus Police was housed in a squat decrepit building on the outskirts of the campus sandwiched between maintenance and some railroad tracks.
Daria walked into the Campus Police station and approached a closed window with a rather large man sitting behind it. Clearly he wasn't a police officer. If so, then any foot chase would more likely have resulted in his dying of a coronary rather than apprehension of an underage drinker or some other vile criminal.
"Who are you and what do you want little girl?" said the man as he opened the sliding window and gave Daria what could best be described as a sneer.
'Good morning to you, too, sunshine' Daria thought. Then she said, "I'm Prof. Sloane. I am new on the faculty and I am here to get my picture ID."
"Got your form?" The man said gruffly.
"Right here," Daria said handing the form through the window.
"Wait over there sugar," the man said pointing at a bench near a closed door. "Someone will get you when they are ready."
"How long does that usually take?" Daria asked.
"As long as it takes," the man said as he shut the window.
'Well,' Daria thought, 'This certainly makes a good first impression of Lawndale State – filth and condescension. What comes next, being chained to my desk or just a good flogging?' Daria pulled out her phone and started playing a game while she waited.
A half hour later the door opened and a woman said, "Sloane!"
"That's me," Daria said thinking that it was really an idiotic statement since she was the only one there and had been the only one there since she first arrived. She walked in the door past the woman. The smell of smoke on the woman was almost overpowering. Her breath was worse. She held Daria's form in her tobacco stained fingers.
"Stand over there in front of that cloth," she said in a voice that sounded like she had gargled with shards of glass this morning.
Daria walked over to a dirty blue cloth that had been tacked to the wall. 'Gee this is lovely,' she thought. She stood in front of it.
"Now smile or don't. I don't care," the woman said.
Daria just looked at the camera with her usual neutral expression. The flash momentarily blinded her. Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing in this place. Here deep in the bowels of a building that looked like it might get swept once per week, whether it needed it or not!
"Now go back outside and wait for Erwin to call you," the woman said.
"Who is Erwin?" Daria asked.
"Don't you faculty types ever look at name tags? Erwin is the big fat man at the window that has to endure people like you," the woman said.
"I'd call you by name, but you don't have a nametag or a badge with your name visible," Daria said.
"Don't get smart with me," the woman said. "Now go out there and wait."
Daria walked back out to the waiting room and sat for another half hour playing games on her phone. She debated whether or not to text Tom, but decided he probably had too many things to do at the moment. She would wait until later. She also made a mental note to discuss the behavior of people at Campus Police with Human Resources.
Finally, after another thirty minutes, Erwin opened his window and yelled, "Sloane! Come here and get your ID."
Daria walked over, took her ID from the man. Checked that her name was correct and then simply turned and left. She heard Erwin shout after her, "Nice to meet you too, sweetie."
Daria walked back across campus to her car. Pulled a few things out of the trunk and then walked to her new office, which was on the third floor of the building. She let herself in with the key she had gotten from Brittany.
The office was plain and functional. It was the standard ten by twelve foot cell given to faculty. The walls were painted the standard putty color used by the university for most offices. The carpet appeared clean, but was definitely showing signs of wear. From the color it was probably twenty years old, which meant that the carpet was installed several years before the Morgendorffer family moved from Highland, Texas to Lawndale. The desk, worktable, and bookcases all matched, but looked like they were probably older than Daria. At least they were in good shape. Someone had cleaned everything before Daria arrived. She made a mental note to ask Brittany about the cleaning schedule and how often they emptied the trash cans in the offices.
Daria walked over to the large window in the office. The good news was that her window looked out over green spaces that made up the center of campus. She wasn't quite sure how she had gotten an office with such a good view. Possibly it happened because either the other faculty already had offices which were satisfactory to them or else they thought it wasn't worth moving all of their stuff to a new office.
Daria put away the things she had brought from the car and then made another trip to get the rest of the stuff. There was no question but what she would get her exercise by walking! She made a mental note to find out how to get a cart for moving all her boxes when she brought them from home. There was no way she was going to carry boxes and boxes of books all the way from the parking lot to her office!
Picking up her office phone Daria placed a call to Brittany. "English Department this is Brittany," she answered.
"Can I take you to lunch Brittany? We can celebrate my first day." Daria did feel a little bad about having to speak so sharply to Brittany earlier in the morning. Of course, Daria thought, this would also be like living through an hour of fingernails on the blackboard. It would sort of be like penance.
"Sure. That would be nice. We can catch up," Brittany said. "We could go to the Salad King across from campus? It isn't very expensive."
"Sure. Let's go in about twenty minutes, OK?" Daria asked.
"OK. See you then," Brittany replied and then hung up the phone.
Brittany and Daria went through the salad bar at Salad King. Daria paid for their lunches and the two of them sat down in a booth. It seemed from the décor that Salad King and Pizza King were probably owned by the same people. Both were cheap and both pushed the line of acceptable sanitation as defined by the health department. At least the salad was tasty.
"So Brittany, I haven't really kept up on the people we knew in high school," Daria said somewhat dreading the answers, "What has been going on here in Lawndale and who has stayed?"
"Well let's see," Brittany said in her high pitched irritating voice. "Kevin didn't go to college. He got injured the fall after we graduated and couldn't play football anymore. You remember he had to go back and finish his requirements. I broke up with him because he was such an idiot."
Daria thought, 'Now there is the pot calling the kettle black! If Brittany thinks you are dumb, then you must at least occasionally forget to breathe!'
"So Kevin's Dad helped him set up a used car lot – Kevin's Kar Korral. I'd probably be better off today if I had stayed with him rather than getting pregnant and marrying Rick Johnson. Rick was a Lawndale State running back. He was dreamy, but I later found out he was already running around behind my back when I gained weight during my pregnancy! He went off to play professional football after his junior year. He just abandoned me and Gracie. At least I got a good settlement from him. Too bad for Gracie, though. He insisted that part of the settlement be that he gave me full parental rights with no strings attached. The jerk has shown no interest in his daughter whatsoever."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Daria said.
Brittany went on, "If only I had stayed with Kevin I would have been able to have my part of the KKK!"
"You don't say." Daria had to work hard to keep her composure and not laugh out loud. Leave it to Kevin and his father to come up with a business name that could be abbreviated KKK! "Speaking of cars, I bought mine from Upchuck. He and Andrea got married and have five kids!"
"Wow. They're so lucky. I wish I had more kids, but next time I should probably get married first. Besides, all the guys I meet and go out with seem to be jerks or drunks. Maybe I should try online dating instead of bars to meet guys. One of them even slapped me around on our second date and another seemed to be more interested in Gracie than in me. I ditched him fast. My Dad keeps wanting to set me up with guys he knows from his work. I've resisted so far, but maybe I should just give in. What do you think Daria? You've always been so smart."
"Well, at least the guys your Dad knows have steady jobs, hopefully aren't heavy drinkers, and will be nice to you and Gracie," Daria said adding a hint of empathy to her voice. It was becoming increasingly clear that she should not take Tom for granted, even if he was kind of annoying on occasion!
The two women continued to talk as they finished their salads. Brittany brought Daria up to date on a couple of additional people they had known in high school. It seemed clear to Daria that those people who had not either gone away to college or left Lawndale after college were not terribly successful. She wondered if that was due to lack of motivation or lack of intelligence. Truth be told, Upchuck and Andrea were the exceptions. Of course, neither of them were idiots.
After lunch Daria returned to her office. She put away the last of the items she brought and then sat down at the computer. She made certain that her username and password worked. Once on the system she checked her email and responded to some she had forwarded from her Columbia University account.
Daria's cell phone sounded with a car horn ringtone. Daria grabbed her phone and answered, "Hi Aunt Amy."
"How's my favorite niece on her first day on the job?"
"I'm OK. I hate the banalities you have to deal with. It was fairly humiliating going to Campus Police to get my picture ID. I took the department secretary to lunch. She is one of my brain dead acquaintances from high school. Next I have to go to Human Resources and among other things prove to them I have the right to work in this country," Daria said in total deadpan. "I'd bet ten dollars that there will be some type of video I will have to watch as well. Probably be hard to stay awake."
Amy replied, "Just know that I am proud of you and so is everyone on the Barksdale side of the family. You've attained the highest level of education anyone in this family has ever attained. Erin is a little jealous of you not only because of your education, but you are married to such a great guy! She and Brian just don't have the relationship you and Tom do. Now as a professor you have one of the best jobs around. Have you heard from Tom today?"
"Nothing so far. I'm waiting to hear if his parents want to go to the club tonight. I'm guessing they will. Tom's Dad is really excited to have him at the firm."
"What sort of fight with him did you have this morning?" Amy said.
"OK Aunt Amy, you haven't been to my place yet you seem to know what is happening. Where did you hide the camera? Care to tell me what the fight was about?" Daria said with some annoyance.
"My wager is that it was about what you were going to wear on your first day," Amy said. "I know you do not like to judge or be judged on outward appearances. I also know that fashion and academia are nearly an oxymoron. He probably gave you a speech about first impressions. Then you bit his head off."
"You called Tom before calling me didn't you?" Daria said. It was more of a statement than a question.
"No I didn't," Amy replied. "I don't have Tom's phone number. I just know you, because in part you and I have so much in common. That's why I am your favorite aunt!"
"Is that why? I thought it was because you would order cheese fries and eat them with me. Anyway, Tom's head is still on his shoulders, but he is kind of bruised," Daria said.
"And he was right, wasn't he?" Amy asked.
"Hmmm, yeah," Daria mumbled to herself.
"What was that Daria? Say that so I can hear it," Amy responded.
"Yes, he was right," Daria said plainly in her deadpan voice.
"I wish that I had a husband as devoted to me as Tom is to you. You are very fortunate to have Tom and he is blessed to have you. You know I expect you to make up with him tonight!" Amy said forcefully.
"I will and I promise not to make him sleep on the couch. This was not a fight which was so bad that I would force him onto the couch," Daria said.
Amy replied, "I better not hear about you ever forcing that man onto the couch! Just remember that he is a sweetheart and he puts up with all of your quirks!"
"Message received Aunt Amy. Our little talks always seem to force me to get my mind right. Unfortunately, I have to let you go. I need to go. I have to go prove myself to HR. Talk to you later." Daria ended the call and headed out the door.
Walking into HR was the complete opposite of the campus police station. A friendly receptionist told her that they were expecting her and walked her to the office of one of the HR staff members. The woman was ready for her and they worked through a stack of papers ranging from sexual harassment policy to retirement fund choices. Daria was given a short list of webinars she needed to view, along with login information, and then she was done and out in 45 minutes. She even had the chance to mention her experience with the campus police!
It was almost three when Daria arrived back at her office. She wanted to unpack one box and then head home. As she was unpacking, her phone sounded with Tom's ringtone. He had sent her a text message saying, 'Club at six. Wear what you did this morning. Pick me up at five. Love.' She sent him a text back saying, 'K.'
Driving home Daria was thinking back on her talk with Amy. It was probably best to just let this incident go and let Tom be right – this time. It was not a big enough deal to fight about, though she resented being told what to wear. Oh well, marital bliss required adaptation. At least that is what she told Jane.
Daria pulled into their complex and then into their garage. When Tom got his car they were going to need to decide which side of the garage belonged to her and which to Tom. She preferred the left and didn't see any problem telling him to take the right. Afterall if she was going to endure the club on a regular basis the least he could do was let her select which side of the garage she wanted! It seemed like an even trade.
Daria went inside and spent the next hour doing chores. The truth was she wanted to hear about Tom's first day at work before dinner. She figured that Tom's family would want to hear all about her first day at the university. As she worked, she had to think up how to package those experiences into good stories. Maybe if she did that right she could later adapt them to a Melody Powers story. Having been lost in thought she looked up and saw that it was time to go and get Tom.
Tom was waiting for her when she pulled into the circular drive. He jumped into the car, gave Daria a quick kiss, and then she drove off. Tom said, "It's nice to be back with you sweet love of mine. I hope your day went well. I'm sorry I angered you this morning."
"That's OK Tom. I know you only want to help me. And the fact is you were right." Oh that hurt admitting he was right, but it was the truth. "I had a busy day. I will talk about it more over dinner, since I know someone in your family will ask. So, tell me about your day. Also, do you know if your sister will be there this evening?"
"I told my Dad that it was probably best if Elsie didn't come tonight. After her last two outbursts I think it would be nice to just have a quiet dinner with conversation and not yelling. He agreed with me," Tom said with a note of finality in his voice.
"Good," Daria said. "So, how did your day go?"
Tom replied, "It went fine. I started out in HR signing a stack of papers. Then I had to watch two hours' worth of mindless videos on company vision and goals, safety at work, how to treat your colleagues, and finally how to fill out travel and other expense reports. I also had my picture taken and was issued an ID badge. When that was done, I was shown to my office and the VP of Finance came over and we chatted about my first projects. He wants me to settle in and get going on the projects next week. He also sent me a link to the ton of reading material I need to get through before Monday. I went to lunch with two of the senior accountants and then spent the afternoon reading. My Dad called around three thirty and invited us to the club for dinner. That was a nice break in the reading. After his call I read some more, contacted you, read some more, and here we are!"
"Wow," said Daria. "You got all the boredom of my day and none of the idiocy."
Daria pulled into the garage and the two of them went inside. There was just enough time to freshen up before going to the club. Then it was back into the car and off they went with Tom driving. The club was just fifteen minutes away from their home. Tom pulled into a parking spot; they got out, and went inside. They were about ten minutes early, so they went into the bar and sat down. Daria ordered a glass of chardonnay and Tom ordered a beer.
"After a day of just reading I hope that I will be able to get some sleep tonight. Maybe we should go for a walk after dinner," Tom said.
"Unfortunately, I am walked out after today. I have been across campus three times and up and down stairs carrying things to and from the car. I just hope I can stay awake during dinner. If my head falls into my plate, then please pull it out. I don't want to smother in my dinner," Daria said without inflection.
"I promise to pull your head out. All I ask is that you not drool," Tom said with a teasing note in his voice. "Drooling is so inappropriate in the clubhouse." The two of them laughed.
Angier and Kay Sloane walked up and to Daria and Tom's surprise Jake and Helen Morgendorffer were following them. Angier said, "They have a table ready for us. Bring your drinks and we can go sit down. We thought that since you both had first days on the job today that we ought to get both families together. It has been what, almost two years since we all had a chance to get together? With you two living here now we will have to do this more often!"
Daria and Tom got up with their drinks, which for Daria gave her a good excuse not to have to hug everyone. Together they walked over to the dining room and sat down at their table. The club always set the tables with white tablecloths and high quality stainless flatware for dinner. Glasses were high quality glass. The hostess gave them menus and the waiter took drink orders for Tom and Daria's parents. Daria was planning to count her mother's drinks this evening.
As they looked over the menus Kay started off with, "So, how was your first day at the university Daria?"
Daria began her story, "It went pretty smoothly all told. The department secretary is someone I knew in high school. I took her out to lunch. My office is pretty nondescript. It is ten by twelve and at least doesn't have a sweeping view of the dumpster. It actually looks out over the grassy quadrangle."
The waiter returned and took their dinner orders. Daria continued by telling them in detail about her adventure at the campus police station and contrasting that to her experience at HR. By the time she finished the waiter had returned to refill their drinks.
Helen was the next to pop up and ask Tom how his first day went. Tom responded, "Well, it was nice that everything was well organized. Unlike Daria, I didn't have to traipse around all over creation just to do simple things. Of course, unlike the university, the company is all in one building. Still, I had a great lunch with two of the senior accountants." With his dad present Tom felt the needed to make his lengthy reading assignments sound exciting and fascinating.
"Of course just like any corporate entity today we attempt to weed out questionable employees early by trying to bore them to death on their first day. That is the only way of legally eliminating them and removing them from the gene pool," Angier commented with a straight face. "Congratulations son. You'll live and work yet another day." Everyone laughed.
Dinner was pleasant and the conversation was good. Daria was glad that her mother only downed three glasses of wine. She was doubly glad that her father behaved himself and didn't go on a rant about his childhood, his father, military school, or any of the other things that he could rant about. Kay and Angier for once seemed truly happy to be with Tom, Daria, and the Morgendorffers. In their five years of marriage Daria had to say it was the first time she really saw Angier demonstrate that he had a sense of humor. Kay even seemed to loosen up. There was definitely far less tension with Tom's sister Elsie out of the picture.
At the end of the evening Daria and Tom got into their car and drove home. It was late enough that they just went upstairs and got ready for bed. Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling Daria said to Tom, "You know, this was a good day. I just have the feeling things are going to turn out OK. Call me an optimist, but I think this move was the right thing to do."
Tom rolled onto his side and looked at his wife's profile in the dim light coming in through the curtains. He responded, "I don't know if I would call you an optimist, sweet love of mine. But, I agree with your assessment. Now get some sleep. We need to do this all over again tomorrow." Tom leaned over, kissed Daria's cheek, and then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.