Purple Sweater

Surprise Gift

The breakfast was almost over, it seemed that it would be a bright and sunny day outside and very soon the Morgendorffer family would be on their way to Lawndale High.

"Hey Daria" Quinn said in a not very friendly voice, looking at her sister for a moment as she finished her orange juice at last- "Look, I don't want you anywhere near me during the entire trip, alright? If my friends see you talking to me again, I swear I'll kill you!"

"Trip? What trip?" Helen asked, already standing up and taking everything to the nearby dishwasher machine- "What are you talking about, Quinn?"

"Yeah, what travel is that?"

Daria had already started to read one of her History books again, hoping to finish that chapter about the English Civil War before they would depart, and so she was not looking at any of them as she quietly replied to those questions...

"What? I thought the little princess had already informed you about that!"

"Daria, I was sure you were going to tell them" Quinn explained- "Mom, dad... The Medieval Fair was such a financial success, that the school has not only organized the Thanks Everyone event! We also have a field trip, for the weekend! Woodslack Forest, we depart tomorrow!"

"Oh, that's sweet news, girls" Helen said, now almost ready to go upstairs and grab her cell phone in a hurry- "A great camping adventure awaits you!"

"Yeah, great experience! Take a swim in that cold lake, walk for hours through rough terrain, campfires at night and spending time with a whole bunch of imbeciles!"

"Daria, try to be more positive!"

"The best part" Quinn added, now standing up in quite cheerful spirits- "Is that Lawndale High has hired the expert forest guide John Astrella! I looked him up on the web, and he's like Italian, the most handsome guide in the entire state!"

"Well, that explains why you want to go to Woodslack Forest..."

"The forest is safe, Daria!"

"Gah Gah Damn It!" Jake cried out, and finally he tossed the alarm clock away.

The family soon departed together, and just ten minutes later the blue Lexus had almost arrived at the parking lot of Lawndale High...

"Thanks for the ride, Mister Morgendorffer" Jane Lane said, sitting right beside her best friend Daria inside of the now crowded Lexus- "Since Trent's car finally burned down, we have to move by foot everywhere!"

"You are welcome, Jane!" Jake replied as he drove all the way to the school- "You are Daria's best friend! The Thanks Everyone event is important!"

"So, are you going to Woodslack too?" Daria asked, still reading that book.

"Yeah, I found no way to escape from it! You?"

"Same... Let's hope we're not going to get devoured by a bear!"

"Daria!" Helen exclaimed- "There are no bears!"

"Who knows! What about a pack of wolves?" Jane suggested with a casual laugh- "What surprises me the most, is that you seem happy about the travel, Quinn!"

"We got John Astrella..."

"So, Daria" came a low and raspy voice, speaking from the other side of the car- "What's that Woodslack thing about?"

"Nothing, we just fake happiness in the mountains and the forest..."

"Mountains... Good" Trent said, peacefully looking outside now that the car had almost arrived at destination- "I needed somewhere to go, while my room gets power-scrubbed again..."

"You think that's alright?" Daria asked.

"Well, the trip is open for Lawndale High students and siblings..." Jane explained- "That's cool! You are welcome to join us, Trent!"

The vast parking lot of Lawndale High was already full with cars everywhere, since plenty of parents had found enough time to visit for the event of that day, and so many students were making their way towards the Lawndale Lions football field at the other side of the school.

It was Friday, though there would be no classes at all, most of the students would join the adventure trip the following day and so the atmosphere was truly one of joy and celebration...

"Quinn, we got something for you!" Helen said, relieved to see that her husband Jake managed to find a good parking spot without much trouble- "We just wanted to cheer you up, after that disaster with the Canterbury Tales play, so you have a surprise gift today!"

"Oh, thanks! What is it?"

"You shall see!" Jake replied, and after that the doors were opened and they all enjoyed the wind and sunshine of that day- "Now, let's go!"

"See ya later!"

"Daria! Wait! Oh, that girl..."

"Well Quinn, you get your gift as soon as we get back home" Jake added- "Hey, do you know how long this Thanks Everyone thing will take us?"

"About an hour, Jake..."

Trent followed Daria and Jane as they disappeared somewhere in the distance, they could already hear music and chatter coming from the football field and it was then when Quinn discovered something that cheered her up quite a bit.

Stacy and Sandi waved at her from somewhere near the library, and so Quinn Morgendorffer hurried to join her Fashion Club friends...