THE TEACHINGS OF DOÑA DARIA
by Galen Hardesty
Part Thirteen
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THE CALL OF THE WILD


Back at camp, the Morgendorffers were striking their tents and preparing to steal away into the night. Or late afternoon, to be more accurate.

"But we're going to have to vacuum them and air them out before we put them away," Daria pointed out reasonably. "Packing them now is a waste of time. Let's just put them in the back of the car."

"'Anything worth doing is worth doing right," Jake said, chewing on a grass stem as he supervised. "Fold them up neatly, and pack them in their bags."

Daria turned away so her father couldn't see her expression. She'd bet every cent she had that that was a direct quote from Mad Dog. The new, more self-confident Dad wasn't quite an unqualified improvement over the old one.

She and Quinn were working out which way to fold their tent next when a possum waddled into the campsite with a can on its head. As it staggered nearer, making little noises that sounded eerily like cursing, Daria could see that it was the chili can she'd thrown away earlier in the day. The possum evidently didn't have the brain power to use its front paws to push the can off its head. "Eek! Mad possum!" Quinn squealed.

No, just pissed off, thought Daria. Guiltily, she realized that this poor possum's predicament was her fault, and that it might actually die before it could get free of the can. As its drunkard's-walk course was bringing it past her, she stepped swiftly in front of it, reached down, and grabbed the can.

The possum stopped dead for a second, and then it backed up, which was all it took to get its head out of the can. Once free, it stood on its hind legs and tail and started wiping chili out of its eyes with its front paws. Its head was liberally smeared with chili, which contained quite a few ants and a couple of yellowjackets. Daria couldn't help but grin at the sight. Good thing it was mild chili, she thought.

Once it had cleared its eyes, it looked around, and saw Daria looming over it, holding the chili can. It made a noise between a sneeze and a snort, turned and fled the campsite as fast as it could trot. Daria made a mental note to look up whether or not possums had the ability to gallop. "Haha! Sorry!" she laughed at its retreating backside. Then she looked around.

Jake, Helen, and Quinn were standing as if rooted to the spot, staring at her. "Did you see that?" Quinn inquired, of no one in particular. "She just ran up and grabbed it!"

Daria looked at them, surprised. It had been obvious to her that the possum was harmless and easy to catch with a can on its head, and that, once free of the can, it would flee the humans. So she'd helped it a little. They seemed to think she'd done something remarkable.

Suddenly, that wicked little voice was whispering in her ear. She stifled a grin, and put on something more like a surprised, wondering smile.

"Hey, that was kind of fun. That was kind of... exciting! Really, this whole trip was kind of exciting! It was like finding your roots, you know, finding out who you really are! Where you came from!"

Smiling excitedly, Daria walked up to them, talking to each of them in turn , with reaching, grasping hand gestures. "Oh, man! I feel the veneer of civilization cracking and falling away! I feel the old ancestral memories awakening! The primitive instincts stirring!" she half growled. Flinging wide her arms, she shouted to the forest, "I feel The Call of The Wild!"

Helen, wide-eyed, nudged Quinn. "Throw everything in the back. We'll fold it later."

"Right," said Jake and Quinn.

Daria turned to the others, who were hurrying to the car with armloads of camping gear. "Hey, let's stay another night, you guys. Naah, never mind, you guys go on home, and I'll stay. Pick me up in a week or two."

"Quickly!" urged Helen softly.

"Right," agreed Jake and Quinn, heaving packs and bags into the back of the SUV.

Smiling dreamily, Daria strolled toward the forest.
"o/ In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight... o/"
she sang softly.

Helen took hold of her upper arm and gently steered her toward the SUV. "Daria, why don't you have a seat, sweetie? We're just about finished here." Daria allowed herself to be cautiously helped into the back seat. Helen closed the door and leaned against it while she gestured at Quinn and Jake to hurry up and get in.

Daria smiled and let herself sink into the upholstery. That little piece of guerilla theater might come back to bite her later, she reflected, but it had been fun. Ooh, this seat felt so good.

As the SUV started to roll, Daria turned to her window for a last glance at the campsite. Was that a possum, sitting at the edge of the clearing, rubbing its eyes? "Hey, Quinn, your little friend came to see you off. Aww, I think he's crying!"


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