Daria in: The Lawndale Reunion
By: Claudette Helstrom

Part Two: The Big House
Summary: After Mercedes RSVPs for Daria, she gets caught, and Daria punishes her in a unique way. Meanwhile, not everything is how Daria planned either…
Lawndale, Connecticut

Twenty years after graduating, Jodie Landon-Mackenzie couldn't believe she was still getting roped into organizing school events. Leafing through the RSVP cards, she found one of particular interest.

Daria Morgendorffer.

Jodie was completely surprised that Daria would actually come to a high school reunion. She hadn't come to the ten year reunion.

Looking at the card, Jodie soon realized she knew Daria's handwriting. And this wasn't Daria's handwriting.

Deciding it was probably best to hear it from Daria herself, Jodie decided to call and make sure she was really coming…


Highland, Texas

Mercedes had convinced the band to practice at Alicia's that day, so Daria had the house to herself. Daria couldn't remember the last time she had enjoyed such peace and quiet…probably because she had never enjoyed such peace and quiet.

After a bit of reading, Daria decided to try to get another chapter of her newest Melody Powers book written. However, about half way through, the phone rang.

"Damn phone," Daria muttered to herself. After three rings, she decided to pick it up.

"This better be good," she told the person on the other end, not caring who it was.

"Daria, sorry to bother you, is this a bad time?"

Daria recognized that voice, she knew she did. "Jodie?"

"I can call you back later…"

"Now is fine," Daria said. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"As you know, I'm in charge of organizing the class reunion," Jodie started.

"I've decided not to go," Daria interrupted.

"You have? Well, I knew the handwriting on this RSVP card wasn't yours…"

"RSVP card?" Daria was confused. "Who could have…" That's when she got it. "Mercedes."

"What?"

"Oh, sorry Jodie, but it seems that an outside force has come into play. And who am I to argue with fate? I'll go to the reunion."

"You will?"

"Jodie, don't sound so surprised. Of course I will," Daria said.

If Jodie was thinking anything negative, she was wise not to say it, and the two hung up. Daria smiled her Mona Lisa smile as she decided to get even with that daughter of hers.


Mercedes came home to see her mother tearing the living room apart. She cocked an eyebrow as she decided that this was probably not normal.

"Uh, Mom? What are you doing?" Mercedes asked, slowly walking up to her mother.

"Mercedes! I've lost it," Daria explained, searching the cushions of the couch.

"Yes, you have," Mercedes replied, deadpan. "But what are you looking for?"

"The RSVP card for my reunion. I've decided to go and I can't find it."

Mercedes rolled her eyes. Was that all?

"Oh, Mom, I filled it out for you and sent it in. I knew you'd come around, and I figured that would save you time. I mean, you're reunion is in three weeks, and you had to RSVP by Tuesday."

"That was so thoughtful of you, Mercedes," Daria said. After a pause, she added, "You know, it's been ages since you've seen your grandparents. I think that when I go to Lawndale, you should come with me. I'll go call your grandmother and tell her we'll be there in three weeks."

Mercedes eyes went wide as she saw her mother leave the living room. She had to go to Lawndale, too? Her plan was falling apart…


That Monday, during Van Driessen's class, Mercedes was telling her friends about how her plan backfired.

"And now Mom is making me go to Lawndale with her. She already called Grandma. There's no getting out of it now!" she whined.

"Man! Then we'll have a whole lost weekend!" Meredith complained.

"I know! Can't you fake the Hungarian flu or something?" suggested Ashley.

Mercedes repeated the words "no getting out of it" when Alicia asked, "When exactly is this reunion?"

"March 26. Why?"

"Oh, my gosh, Mercedes! Do you not read the Entertainment of the newspaper ever? Mystik Spiral is giving a free concert in Lawndale that weekend, at the Zon! You can go while your mother's at the reunion! You could actually meet Trent Lane!"

"Really?"

Before the conversation continued, Mr. Van Driessen said, "Girls, while I appreciate your creativity and the ways you choose to express that creativity, I really need you to pay attention, okay? This project is pretty important."

After a chorus of "Yes, Mr. Van Driessen"s, Mercedes started thinking. Her mom must have known Mystik Spiral would be in Lawndale…Mercedes had the coolest mom in the state of Texas…


"Mom!"

Daria turned from the board where she was writing her class's assignment to see Mercedes right behind her.

"Miss Sloane?"

Mercedes rolled her eyes. "Miss Morgendorffer, is my mother around. I need to thank her for letting me go to Lawndale with her!"

Daria blinked. "What?"

"Yeah, Mom! You knew Mystik Spiral was giving a concert in Lawndale that weekend, and you decided that instead of being at home, bored, doing nothing, I should go enjoy the concert! Thanks, Mom! I have the best Mom ever!"

After giving Daria an excited hug, Mercedes ran off to find her friends.

Daria shook off her confusion. "I should have never given Tom a second chance in college. His daughter is a loon."