Chapter 4 - Stones Have a Way High Score and Low Point
Berit exalted as she put the game controller down and pumped her fist. "Oh yeah, oh yeah, high score!"
This was the most excited Daria had ever seen her friend she reflected as she looked at the slight girl sitting on her bed and bouncing up and down. Daria felt jealous and proud at the same time; her coaching led Berit to amazingly best Daria's own respectable high score on only Berit's third game of Cannibal Frag Fest.
Daria turned her attention back to the screen; aside from high score it was also galling in an oddly sweet way that Berit had somehow unlocked the preppy schoolgirl character type and the lively jig the character was dancing atop a pile of bones from slain foes.
"High score for now, you mean, you're so going down." She promised Berit.
Berit grinned. "This is great fun. Too bad Da doesn't program something this good. All he talks about from work is stuff called Big Data and hash tables. Then Mom and I fall asleep."
"Is that like your mom's corned beef hash?" Daria tried to joke. "It's yummy. I eat a lot and fall asleep."
Berit giggled but before she could respond Quinn swept into the bedroom she shared with Daria. Berit put her hand to her mouth and giggled more intensely as she took in Quinn's attire. Daria's reaction was more of a scowl although the sight before them did have a comic appeal. Quinn stood a moment in practiced model fashion to let her audience review her blue blazer with an insignia of a haloed smiley face; crisp white button-down shirt; pleated blue skirt and baggy white stockings. The only features differing greatly from Berit's signature look were the overly high white baggy socks and the skirt fell far higher above the knees than Berit's modest version. Daria suspected it had been rolled up an inch or three. Berit kept her blazer closed with shirt primly buttoned up and sometimes even wore a tie; Quinn had unbuttoned more than one. Once she was sure she had given an adequate first impression, Quinn moved to her closet granting the girls a rear view.
Berit managed to recover first. "Quinn, that's smashing. Although perhaps not totally prep school dress code, but really right on."
Daria filled in for her more circumspect chum. "Berit means in that get-up you'll get the attention of middle-aged Texan perverts everywhere."
That brought Quinn to an about-face. "Daria, don't be crude. For your information, Little Miss Dirty Mind, this was a big hit at school, but of course. They don't say it, but a lot of girls want to dress like this now, but, ha-ha, they don't know where I got this genuine pukka stuff or where I had the insignia embroidered. And they're too proud to ask."
She beamed at Berit. "Thanks Berit. I got Mom to take me to that APES store in Dallas like you told me."
Quinn glanced down at her socks. "But, you're right, these socks are more Japanese than American or European. And they keep slouching down. And the skirts keep getting unrolled." Quinn pouted.
Daria muttered, "Weeaboo." Berit nodded and reached into her purse, soon extracting a small tube of clear stuff.
"Here Quinn, it's 'It Stix' made for skin invisible glue. Use just a little dab afore and behind the knee. Mind you, a little dab goes a long way. Take it, I have more at home. Now don't use the discount stuff, it itches. As for the skirt, try a safety pin but dear, Daria's kind of right; it, uh, looks a little, uh, for a young girl such as yourself I mean, flashy."
Daria knew there was no chance Quinn would ever use the discount stuff of anything, just as she could tell from Quinn's look as she accepted the skin glue that 'flashy' was just the right effect she was looking for.
Quinn smiled and nodded her thanks and turned back to the closet. She found what she was looking for a moment later and swept out of the room. Berit lay back on the bed with her sides shaking, hand over mouth; she giggled and kicked her legs before sitting up again.
Berit let her soft Irish brogue assert itself, "I believe I've created a monster."
Daria succumbed to a wry smile.
"A whole class of sixth grade monsters, you mean." Daria responded. "And worse if they can't get to APES in Dallas and then just buy the discount stuff around here."
Berit giggled anew and Daria, after making sure Quinn was not returning, joined her for
a few breaths.
"Oh, I envy you, Daria, I wish that I had a younger sister to laugh with."
"I think you mean laugh at. Hey, you can have Quinn on the weekends for a small fee. Wait, what am I saying? I mean I'll pay you anything to take her home."
"Oh, you just don't appreciate Quinn, don't you think?"
Daria's mouth opened and closed a few times involuntarily as she tried to form a reply to that absurd conjecture.
"I guess people want what they don't have, like me, I always wanted a plantar's wart on my big toe, a distraction from living with Quinn," Daria settled for that as a response. "But don't you have a brother, Berit?"
Berit sighed. "Yeah, Jimmy. But he's seven years older." She became conspiratorial and quieter. "I overheard Mom and Da say I was a 'love child'; I think that means accident." She bit her lip. "But I know they love me, maybe even the more for all that."
"I love him dearly, but Jimmy went away to university years ago. It's not the same only having him home for holidays. Being the only kid in the house most of the time isn't all steak and onions."
Daria and Berit both laughed at that. Daria realized she appreciated Berit's ease with poking delicate fun at herself while seriously addressing a subject.
From the hall they heard Jake exclaim, "Gahh! What's that getup? No girl of mine…" The rest was lost in Quinn's objections and assurances of the inherent innocence of her fashion sense. Daria thought this would be one of the rare Father Jake lays down the law occasions and Mother Helen backs him up times. Still, once Quinn slipped out the door with skin glue and safety pins what could they do?
Berit and Daria looked at each other; Berit giggled soundlessly and Daria smirked wordlessly so they could pick up more of the discussion. Jake and Quinn were worthily matched opponents but the fight soon ranged downstairs and out of hearing.
As Berit took up the controller for her last turn, Daria sat beside her on the bed. Daria was determined to regain her honor and high score. She concentrated on the screen, ready to pick up some tips from Berit's play.
"Maybe we both need a sister," Daria granted. "Well, me a second one, and God, that's the dumbest thing I've ever said. I'd threaten you not to repeat that but there's probably no one at school who'd listen to either of us."
Berit nodded and gave Daria an impromptu hug from the side. Daria straightened her glasses and blushed.
Berit paused before she reengaged Maebh, her schoolgirl character, in digital cannibal destruction.
"I heard you frag fested one of Claire's aspiring minions into a locker the other day."
"Yep," Daria admitted. She was still undecided what to think about the incident, mostly she was happy the principal did not call her parents.
"Your crystal pendant worked then," Berit looked pleased but concerned. "Still, I don't know if violence, even against Cathy, is the best way to solve things, you know?"
"C'mon, Berit," Daria started, unsure what to say. "I know Cathy's pushed you around too. I just got sick of picking my books off the floor. And give me some credit: I did the judo-kung fu job on her, not your stone."
Then she hastened to add, "But it's very beautiful. I like to wear it and watch the colors flash around. Some of the nicer girls even said it was pretty. Not that I care, you know."
Berit's accent seemed to get more blended and confused as she spoke softly. "Yes, Cathy's a thug. Don't tell anyone but she hitched my skirt up in back once while her buddy distracted me. Thank God, I noticed it right away and no one had a camera. But don't you think she's just trying to get Claire's approval? I don't think it will work for her, do you? Her family is too poor for the nice clothes Claire expects in her buddies."
"I don't care, Berit." Daria found her voice hardening. "I just want her to leave me the hell alone, isn't that what you want too? And so far she has. I think she's backed off you too. Some of the girls say she's scared of McVickers calling her step-dad, and scared of me too, believe it or not. They've even thanked me for smacking her down a bit, not that I care, you know."
"Yipe, Berit's getting quieter and I'm talking louder. I don't like this but…but…"
"Look, I don't like Cathy either, I don't want to be her chum but I feel sorry for her. I just ignored her bullying and she got bored and moved on. I didn't need to get violent."
"Moved on to a different target, you mean, me. I suppose I sympathize too but nothing I can do about it, right? Good, she's not picking on either of us. But how much crap did you have to take before she left you alone? And I still say she wouldn't have quit so quick if I hadn't kicked her ass. Well, booted her a little anyway."
Berit paused as she was about to reply and looked at the sparkly stone on Daria's silver chain.
"Maybe that quartz is too strong? Yeah, here I know, try this."
She opened the new purse which Daria was trying not to admit to herself that she admired and pulled out a bracelet of gleaming bits of black stones.
"Yes, hematite, that's the ticket. This sucks up the negative energy other people throw at you. Daria, wear this and the quartz."
"No, no, no, but it's pretty."
"Berit, really? Look, it's lovely but it's just a bunch of stones. Give it to your mom or my mom or Quinn, or Cathy even."
"That quartz helped you, didn't it, Daria?"
"I helped myself, Berit. I like my quartz necklace, thanks ever so much. I wear it all the time and it's even Quinn-approved but it's just a piece of rock. Maybe you gave me some courage when you gave it to me but that's all. I was getting fed up with my books getting scuffed up on the floor already. I sort of just snapped at Cathy, finally."
"You're not very imaginative then," Berit said, apparently making the worst accusation she could think of.
"And you're just batty, then." Daria covered her mouth in instant regret.
She tried but failed to say something as Berit stood up and rushed from the room. She did not hear Berit respond to a now-cheerful Quinn saying good-bye. Daria fumbled for her boots then jumped up and gave chase in her stocking-feet.
"Berit, please." Daria called from her front step as she watched the short blonde girl rush down the sidewalk without a backward glance.
"I'm an idiot. I'm an idiot. Okay, no argument there but what do I do?"
She took a step on to the sidewalk and onto a sharp rock pointed up like a caltrop in her path.
"Boots, idiot."
Daria turned to find Quinn leaning arms crossed against the door frame.
"Daria, what's wrong with Berit? No, I bet I should ask, 'What did you say to her?'"
"Nothing, Quinn. Now get out of the way. I need my boots."
Quinn assumed the older-than-her-years look she often infuriatingly got when she thought her older sister needed instruction on something.
"A little argument, huh? Look, she's a sweet girl—I'm surprised you found her—but give her time to be alone. Tomorrow, you'll both forget all about it."
Daria blew out a huge breath she was barely aware she was holding.
"Okay, okay, maybe you're right, Quinn. But now do me a favor. Get my boots and put 'em on and start kicking me."