I'm not sure what convinced me to go with my parents to the Landon's.

"Well it is a party." I thought. "Maybe you're just hungry."

I had only been to the Landon's once before, with Daria, although I had met Jodie several times before. She was an extremely smart girl, just like Daria, but unlike Daria, she was extremely active in school politics and all of that. From my understanding, she had applied to Crestmoore University, an institution as prestigious as Bromwell. I didn't know what happened afterward, but it wouldn't have surprised me if she made it in.

As for Andrew Landon, I found the man was probably just as pretentious, if not more so, then my father. We exchanged all of a few words together, and he certainly enjoyed name dropping and sycophantically sucking up to me, trying to pretend as though he was concerned about my family. To get into Winged Tree? Or was he like that to all rich people? Daria stated once that Mr. Landon was fairly indifferent to her father Jake, and treated him very coldly, although that was hardly fair as the two had met before that one day father and daughter went on a bonding day.


The Landon's were throwing a garden party, and they certainly had a well-manicured lawn. I don't know who it was that proposed this party, but Mr. Landon was definitely taking it seriously.

"Welcome, Sloane family." Andrew greeted us warmly. He had been completely unchanged in the entire year in which I saw him. He was flanked by Jodie and an older woman in a red business suit, who I presumed was Mrs. Landon.

"May I introduce my wife, Michele." Mrs. Landon smiled warmly, but the bored look on her eyes showed me just how annoyed she was with her husband. I liked her immediately.

"And this is my lovely daughter, Jodie." Jodie curtsied respectfully. She seemed less disinterested then her mother, but I had spoken to Jodie before, and I knew just her much she hated this ridiculous farce of a party, but her obligation to her father took precedence.

"Tom, such a pleasure to see you again." Mr. Landon made it a point to address me specifically, as if I couldn't see the put-on.

"Hello, Mr. Landon." I knew how to respond to these types of situations. "The pleasure is all mine. Such a shame we couldn't see each other sooner."

"But you're here now." He spoke like an affectionate uncle, and I suspected that, despite the posture, Mr. Landon had some small bit of genuine friendliness, although even that could be another farce. "And congratulations on your acceptance to Bromwell. A marvelous school."

I pleasantly thanked him, avoiding any mention of talking about Jodie and Crestmoore. There was apparently a huge rivalry between Crestmoore and Bromwell, and there was no sense in getting my father, who used to play college sports, started. He still starched his old Bromwell sweaters.

"Help yourselves to some food and enjoy the party." Mr. Landon and Dad broke off to discuss politics or business, the only two topics Dad even remotely knew, while Mrs. Landon pleasantly took a seat and engaged Mom in a discussion of summer fashions. Another boring party, ones I avoided with a passion.


"Tom, it really is nice to see you again." Jodie dragged me towards a seat while I grabbed a few hors d'oeuvres. Food was perhaps one of the few reason to attend formal affairs.

"Likewise." Now that my parents were gone I could finally dispense with the posturing, although I made sure to sit up straight in case Mom looked our way.

"I'm real sorry about Daria." Jodie seemed regretful. I wasn't sure if she would have known about the breakup; I was clueless how close Daria and Jodie were.

"You don't need to be. It's not your fault."

"All the same, it's too bad. You were a really cute couple."

"Thanks. How's that guy you are dating. I don't think I've ever met him." Discussion of Daria was annoying me, and when I saw my opening for a transition, I eagerly jumped on it.

"No, I don't think so. Mack is great. He got accepted into Vance and got a scholarship. I'm glad he did, or he wouldn't have been able to go." My opinion of this Mack immediately raised. Someone who worked and fought tooth and nail just to get to college. An accomplishment well deserved.

"Unlike donating a stupid wing so that all your relatives get a leg up." I thought bitterly.

"And you? Daria mentioned Crestmoore, but I didn't hear the results."

"I got in." Jodie did not seem excited about the news. "But I'm not going there, I'm going to a different school. At least for a year or so."

"That sounds like a story." I probed. There would be nothing worse then my mother, or worse, Mr. Landon, coming over and seeing us not engaging each other. I'd be handcuffed to Mom, or worse, Mr. Landon might force his own conversations on us.

"It is, but Dad said not to discuss it here. He's still privately miffed that he doesn't get to brag about it properly."

"Then let's ditch this party and go get some food with some actual substance." Jodie seemed positively elated by the idea.

"Just follow my lead and I'll get us out of here." Our parents had all regrouped. Now was the time to get away from this place.

"Hey, Mom." I postured my mother, who would be my ally in this. "Jodie and I are thinking of taking a walk. That way you'll be able to talk about us behind our backs." Mom chuckled a little, which meant Mr. Landon immediately followed.

"No chance of that." Mr. Landon returned. "What could we possibly have bad to say about two wonderful young adults."

"Well, dear, as long as your back in two hours." Mom replied. She seemed a little disappointed that I was leaving, but ultimately said nothing to make me stay. Mr. Landon shook my hand like an adult. Dad made absolutely no motions whatsoever. Mrs. Landon nodded to us politely, but her expression stated as if she would have liked to go with us.


It was a good thing that my parents hadn't met the Landon's at their home before, as they let me drive so I could lead them. It was a quick drive over to Pizza Palace, although we made a short pit stop to pick up Jodie's boyfriend. After getting a pie, we grabbed a booth. I couldn't help and think this was how Daria and Jane felt when the one that wasn't my girlfriend tagged along with us. It wasn't as uncomfortable as I thought it to be, although Mack and Jodie were much different from me. I was more lovey-dovey then Mack was.

"So, although my father wanted me to go to Crestmoore, I wanted to be able to take a break from being the perfect little Jodie and not have to worry about impressing everyone." Jodie had told me the entire story about how Crestmoore and Turner University, which I had never heard of before today.

"So, it's about not trying to impress everyone? Not about the family alma mater?" I asked seriously. Jodie might have better insight into my predicament then anyone I knew, although I wondered whether or not her father donated to his alma mater.

"I like the idea that I'm going to the same school my grandmother and father went to, but no, that's not the reason I applied. And what about you, Tom? Many of your family went to Bromwell, right?"

"Yeah." I became dismissive again. So much for insight.

"Oh, did I say something wrong?" Jodie seemed genuinely regretful, even though she had no reason to be.

"Don't worry about it, you couldn't have known." I covered.

"I know a little. Daria mentioned something about it."

"She did? All she ever told me was that it didn't bother her, though I never believed her."

"Hey, it's not like that. She never said anything about that." I knew exactly what she meant by "that," which of course, meant that Daria did discuss it. I took deep breaths to prevent my rage from boiling over.

"Didn't you graduate salutorian at Fielding. That's an incredible accomplishment." Jodie recovered, speaking faster as if to cover her faux-pas. I felt myself calming down.

"When you consider that it's only because I paid the slightest bit of attention, it becomes hardly an accomplishment. But I guess that is a quality for those admissions people." Jodie chuckled, Mack didn't say a word.

"If you didn't want to go to Bromwell because of your parents, why not apply to different schools?" Jodie asked seriously. That was a very good question, but with a very good reason.

"Because my parents don't think there are any other prestigious universities other than Bromwell. That's why I didn't mention Crestmoore to him. He might have poisoned the cheese cubes when no one was looking." Now both of them got a chuckle. My parents would never have considered a university other then Bromwell for me.

"You really were Daria's boyfriend. That's a snide comment worthy of her." Jodie noted. I said nothing.

"What happened between you two, if you don't mind me asking. You two got along so well. So did you and Jane. They were so much happier when you were around."

"I like Jane, and I like Daria. But our colleges are too far away for that kind of relationship and it just wouldn't work out." I stated the lines like Daria had said, even though I didn't believe them in my heart. What would I have said, that Daria hated me for nepotism and wanted me to go back to a world of horse races and highballs?

"Well, if that's how you both feel, then maybe you're right. But hey, Raft and Bromwell aren't too far apart, and BFAC's right there. You guys could easily make the occasional weekend trip to see each other."

"I don't see Jane waking up early enough to catch the bus. And Daria, well, I doubt she'd exert that kind of effort just to keep in contact with someone." In much of the time Daria and I were together, I was the driving force, not her. She was the most passive girl I had ever dated.

"Hey, you're not giving Daria enough credit. She has a high opinion of you."

"Had one, maybe." I corrected. "After we broke up we've barely seen each other and neither of us have been making the effort. And when we do see each other, we turn those snide comments against each other."

"Why don't you give her a call?" Mack offered. "I haven't heard much from her either, but you were very close to her and she did hold you in regard. Maybe she could use a friendly face." Mack had been silent the entire time, but his one comment struck me closely. He was very decisive, and he spoke precisely when he meant to. I liked him even more.

"Well, maybe I will. But we're leaving for a family vacation tomorrow and we'll be gone all week. Maybe I'll try after that."

"You should." Jodie eagerly jumped on the topic. "I think it's important that people stay in touch with each other, especially if they had the relationship like you and Daria had. And, Tom, you shouldn't worry about Bromwell so much. Didn't you get into every school you applied for?"

"Those were all safeties." I reasoned. If I could get into Bromwell, I could get into the other schools I applied to. I didn't even need to see them. Or even interview with them.

"Even so, the fact that you didn't even get rejected once is an accomplishment. And if it bothers you that much, ask your parents about it. Didn't they have to deal with the same problems?" My mind went blank at Jodie's comments. Maybe she was right. I know much of my family had gone to Bromwell, and who knew, maybe they thought the same things. It would be impossible to ask Dad that sort of question. I had seen his old high school report cards, and he did worse then I did at school. But Mom? She had done very well in school, and wasn't very big on extracurricular activities. Would she understand?

It couldn't hurt to ask.

"So, should we be getting back now?" I asked. Our pizza was finished and over an hour had already passed.

"Yeah, we'll need to drop Mack off at home first anyway." Jodie replied.

"I don't mind stopping by." Mack replied. "That fancy party is probably almost over anyway."

"Alright, if you prefer." Jodie replied. I was surprised by their closeness. They very considerately cared about what the other would want and didn't try to offend each other. I'm sure they weren't perfect, but it was looking on the other side of Daria and me. I bitterly regretted thinking so, but it always seemed like I gave more then I got. It took a lot of patience to deal with Daria, and I reasoned that she was trying to smash our relationship before it could ever get to the point where we could be comfortable with each other. But it had it's great moments, days in the sun that made me feel like King of the World.


We got back into my car and I drove back to the Landon's.

"Thanks for taking me away from my father's preening." Jodie smiled.

"At least the feathers stay shiny." I barbed. Mack chuckled. Mr. Landon seemed to be talking with my father about some sort of crazy invention, while Mrs. Landon and Mom seemed to be engaged with a small child. Jodie identified him as her younger brother, Evan.

"It's as if they didn't even notice we were gone." I noted. "Maybe we should have gotten tattoos."

"Or piercings." Mack noted. Jodie and I rejoined our fathers.

"Tom, there you are." Dad noted. "Mom told me you had left. Shame, Mr. Landon has such excellent stories."

"I've heard a few about Bromwell too, although ones you probably already know." Mr. Landon continued. I grimaced on the inside.

"Sometimes hearing the story from someone else makes it better. Different vantage points." I said, not feeling remotely enthusiastic about Mr. Landon's stories.

"Dear, are you boring the children." Mrs. Landon's voice sounded. She and Mom joined us.

"Oh, Michele." Mr. Landon brushed off his wife's comments.

"We should be going, we have an early start tomorrow." Mom noted.

"Enjoy your vacation." Mr. Landon replied. "Thank you so much for coming. Please, come back anytime."

"This was truly a delightful afternoon, Andrew." Mom shook his hand. "I'm sure the board would love to know what a pleasure it has been."

"It takes them eons to say goodbye." I groaned in thought. "Ever hear of 'okay, thanks.' Try it sometime. You'd have more time for exploiting third-world markets, Dad." Dad and Mom started to walk to the car, Mr. Landon following them, sucking up every step of the way.

"Tom, was it?" Mrs. Landon, now that we were alone, spoke to me.

"Good evening, Mrs. Landon." Mrs. Landon was by far the most polite person here, and I could stomach the pretense for a moment if it meant she enjoyed it.

"Thanks for taking Jodie out. The last time she needs to see are grown men with severe penis envy posturing themselves for handouts." Mrs. Landon's bluntness, and how much her thoughts mimicked my own, caused me to laugh.

"My pleasure. It was nice to see her again."

"Oh, don't thank me."

"Oh, well." Mrs. Landon looked as though she had something she wanted to tell me, so I waited.

"Your mother is very proud of you." She got out.

"I take it you've exchanged stories about us kids." I replied. It seemed Mom was talking about me to Mrs. Landon.

"Put two mothers together and that's all they'll do is brag about their kids." Mrs. Landon chuckled. "It's only natural for them to talk, brag, and worry about them."

"Oh, so she's told you different stories, huh?" Brag was a good sign, at least they were talking good things. But worry was something else. Yeah, I figured Mom was worried about me. Parents always fretted over the stupidest things. Every skinned knee I got as a kid was like the apocalypse.

"Don't worry about it. Women gossip, and mothers talk about children, particularly when their trying to ignore their pretentious husbands. But go easy on her."

I never imagined I'd have such an adult conversation at 18. But as I drove back home, I reasoned that perhaps I was being too harsh thinking about Mom. Perhaps she was better then I gave her credit for.