Happy Thanksgiving

November, day before Thanksgiving.

She was dressed in layers of shirts giving her the vestige of robes as she shifted the weight of the two large gym bags she carried over her shoulder. She slowly made her way up the long walk of steps toward the double doors that offered respite however brief from the bone chilling wind that cut through her clothing painfully.

Daria Morgendorffer sat at one of the many long tables provided at Boston’s shared library as she tried to read a book she didn’t really want to read. She sighed as she saw that the entire room seemed to be empty.
:Go out and interact with people, good one Morgendorffer.: She thought.

She had just wanted some form of contact with other people after spending two days without seeing a single person since Jane had left. The walls had started to close in on her.

The sounds of the wind outside reached her ears as someone entered the library.

:Maybe I should have told Jane about my plan, about what I did.: She thought.

“You going to be alright with me riding down with Jim a day early?” Jane asked as she finished tossing random clothing items into a suitcase.

“Sure.” Daria answered weakly.

“I figure introduce him to the family now so I can see if he panics to easy.” Jane joked.

“Good plan.” Daria said offhand.

“After you have enough family torture you can come over and watch the carnage.” Jane chuckled.

“Emmm ya sure.” Daria responded.

Jane tossed her bag to her newest boyfriend Jim then hugged Daria tightly and hurried out the front door with him in tow.

Daria watched from the window as they loaded up the wreak that Jane called a car and drove away.

:Of course this came after I called home and made an announcement.: Daria thought bitterly.

“What do you mean you aren’t coming home for Thanksgiving?” Helen demanded.

“Well I just want to relax and have a Thanksgiving up here. I’m planning on making dinner for some friends and just relaxing. I’ve never spent a holiday away from home before.” Daria replied.

“It’s supposed to be about family. Your Aunt Rita and Erin are coming and Quinn is bringing Richard. I really hope you’ll reconsider.” Helen said sounding upset.

“It’s just for Thanksgiving, I’ll be down there for winter break and it will give me time to rent a truck big enough to haul my dirty laundry down in.” Daria kidded.

“What are you going to eat, even if they put turkey on it, pizza is not ok on Thanksgiving.” Helen said.

“I bought a turkey and all the stuff to go with it. I hope it’s big enough, they only had one 28 pound turkey left.” Daria sighed.

“28 pounds, how many people are you having over!” Helen exclaimed.

“Three maybe four.” Daria answered.

“Expect to be eating turkey sandwiches until Christmas.” Helen chuckled.

“Oh.” Daria replied.

:So I’ve pissed off my mother and then Todd breaks up with me then Trent calls and tells Jane that not only is her sister in town but her mother as well. I can’t blame her for wanting to spend a holiday with her family. It’s not like I told her what I was doing.: Daria groaned as she thought.

A figure in layered clothing but no proper jacket bumped into her table and brought Daria back to the present. She caught a flutter of brown hair as the girl made her way toward the help counter.

:What is it with some college students. There is no need to carry half your personal belongings everywhere you go.: Daria thought seeing the two large bags.

“What do you want?” A snobby voice said loudly, causing Daria to look over.

She caught the mumbling of a tired voice but couldn’t make out the words.

“The Fallacy of Global Economics. I’ll check the inventory.” The Liberian said looking annoyed at the interruption.

Daria tried to return to the book but it could keep her attention.
:Why am I still here, if I left now I could be home for in time for Mom to give me a condensing look and promise to wake me up in time for turkey tomorrow.: Daria thought.

“All of our copies are checked out.” The Liberian said loudly, returning to the desk and Daria could see she was upset that because she thought her time had been wasted.

“And I don’t have time to check the returns.” The rather rude woman added before the girl at the desk could say anything.

A brief mumbling followed.

“That’s not my problem, wait till after the holidays and file a complaint with my boss when they get back from where ever they’re spending their time off if you don’t like it. Maybe next time you won’t put off your work until the last minute.” The Liberian said scolding the girl like a child before walking away from the desk.

:That woman needs to get a different job.: Daria thought.

She saw the girl grab up her bags and start toward the door with her head bowed and a sound arrived to Daria’s ears shortly after the girl moved past her.

:Damn it.: Daria said as she threw on her jacket and scooped up her small bag and followed after the girl.

:She was crying.: Daria was surprised.

She wasn’t sure what she was planning to do but she knew she needed to do something. She caught up to the girl who was leaning against one of the pillars that lined the front of the building wiping her eyes. At first she paused not sure what to do but then she smiled when a single thought came to her.
:What would Jane do.:

“Hey, don’t worry about that bitch she’s just taking out her poor life choices on you.” Daria said as she approached the girl.

She took a slight jerk as a good sign and forged ahead.

“Look I wasn’t eavesdropping put I know how you can get a copy of that book.” Daria offered.

The girl looked up and Daria gasped in surprise, taking a step backward.

“Griffin.” Daria said shocked.

“Quinn’s sister, right.” Sandi Griffin said.

Daria was too shocked for words, so she nodded.

“What are you doing here?” Sandi asked looking almost as surprised as Daria felt.

“I go to school here.” Daria answered.

“You said something about getting the book.” Sandi sighed.

Daria noticed the shock red hands that the girl was trying to rub together and the growing splotches on her cheeks.

“Ya c’mon.” Daria said and waved for the girl to follow her down the steps.

Sandi followed her across the street into the parking garage and Daria was truly grateful for the first level spot she had managed to find.

“That’s my car.” Daria said pointing toward her graduation gift, a green Ford Escort that was in top notch shape.

Sandi moved to the passenger door and waited as Daria unlocked it and started the engine.

“Not really fair for her to act like that, every first year professor at Raft assigns a report on that book before the Christmas break.” Daria said as she cranked the heater knob all the way up.

“Same at MSU.” Sandi replied.

“That would be why I haven’t seen you around.” Daria mused.

Daria watched as the younger girl warmed her hands against the vents.

Daria pulled out of the garage and started toward her apartment and had been driving for a few minutes when her stomach started talking.

She pulled into the next fast food drive through and turned to Sandi.

“Sorry but I’m starved, you want anything.” Daria asked.

Sandi shook her head negatively.

“C’mon, I’m dying for some Quinn gossip and this is a bribe.” Daria joked.

“Since you put it like that, I could stand a cheeseburger meal.” Sandi relented.

Daria order matching Burger of Death titan sized meals and handed over a twenty.

“So Quinn still at State back home.” Sandi asked.

“Yep and doing pretty good too.” Daria answered.

“That’s good, dating a math geek must be a good thing, I really need a good mark on this report and no one had the book, I’ve been to every library in the city.” Sandi admitted with a teasing smile.

“Well I can bring you back after we get the book.” Daria offered.

“I rode the bus.” Sandi said shaking her head.

“There’s a stop right outside my door, but I could still give you a ride anyplace you needed.” Daria offered before she realized it.

“Thanks.” Sandi smiled.

The cashier handed out their food and Daria passed it over and quickly rolled up her window and pulled away.

“No eating in the car, we can eat when we get to my place. I don’t want to hear the you’re not taking care of an expensive automobile speech.” Daria smirked.

Sandi nodded as she continued to hold her hands in front of the vent.

:This is a new one, Sandi Griffin so worried about school work that she runs around in the cold trying to find a book and left the house without makeup.: Daria thought with amusement.


Daria pulled her car into the parking space labeled for her apartment and grabbed the drinks and the bags of food before turning to Sandi.

“Ready.”

Sandi nodded and the girls quickly got out then hurried to the lobby door to get out of the cold and started toward the stairs.

Daria waved her away from the elevators and pointed to the stairs.
“That hasn’t worked since the 80s, or so I’ve been told.”

Her apartment was on the third floor and she felt bad for the tired expression on Sandi’s face as they reached it.

“Sorry this place is a dump but it’s cheap and I wanted the extra rooms.” Daria shrugged slightly embarrassed.

“It’s nice.” Sandi said honestly and Daria unlocked the door and pushed it open, allowing Sandi to enter first.
She closed and locked the door behind her and stripped off her coat and watched Sandi strip off the 5 or so shirts followed by the hooded sweatshirt. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a plain t-shirt.

“Lets eat and then I’ll get the book.” Daria said.

“Do you want me to return it to you or bring it to the library when I’m done?” Sandi asked.

“What?” Daria said not catching the meaning.

“The book, you checked it out, right.” Sandi said.

“No, I have my own copy.” Daria smiled and started unpacking the food.

The two girls started eating and Daria noticed that Sandi didn’t pick the cheese or bacon or sautéed onions off the triple stack burger.

“What are you doing?” Daria asked as Sandi made a puddle with several packets of ketchup and then poured salt into it before mixing it with a french fry.

“It makes the salt get to all the fries, here try it.” Sandi said and offered a ketchup dipped fry out to her.

“That’s good, ok here’s one.” Daria said after eating the fry.

She opened up her burger and covered it with a layer of french fries then returned the bun and took a bite.

“I like that.” Sandi said and did the same.

Daria watched Sandi eat as she made her own salted ketchup and smirked to herself.
:She got so caught up in her report she forgot to eat, damn there’s a real person in there.:

Sandi finished eating before Daria and looked around at the apartment and Daria waited for the redecorating tips but they never came.

After finishing her food, Daria washed her hands and then moved to her book shelf and grabbed the book before returning to her living room and offering it to Sandi.

“This is a loan, not a gift.” Daria said with a grin and Sandi took the book and nodded.

“Thank you, my whole Economics grade is riding on this.” Sandi admitted.

“Well if you have any questions I might be able to help.” Daria offered not expecting to be taken up on it.





It was almost 7 pm before Daria realized what was happening.

“So you don’t want us to help develop other cultures.” Sandi said in disbelief.

“I think our goal should be to let them develop and give them tools to help the process. Nothing we’re currently doing does that.” Daria defended herself.

“What about bringing in modern technology to them.” Sandi said shaking her head.

“That’s the problem, let’s give them gameboys and Ipods but they don’t have power in their houses. Lets give them modern medicine but they don’t have watches so they can’t take the pills on time. I don’t think that you should be able to go to a village in the middle of nowhere that doesn’t have running water or electricity and see people arguing over Nike tennis shoes. We’re forcing a standard of living on them that they can’t maintain without dependency.” Daria sighed.

“So we’re making them more modern.” Sandi said honestly confused.

“We’re not teaching them to fish or even giving them fish. We’re selling them silver plated fish forks and telling them that all the cool kids have them.” Daria sighed.

“Oh.” Sandi said as she paced the room looking for a counter argument.

:She’s really into this.: Daria thought impressed.

Sandi caught sight of the clock on the microwave and gasped loudly.

“I’m late, oh my god I got to get home.” Sandi said panicking as she started pulling on her shirts.

“No problem I’ll give you a ride, where are we going?” She asked, slightly worried.

“I need to get to Madison Ave …by …7.” Sandi said and her face fell, it was 6:52. The location was across town, at least 20 minutes by car.

“I can’t do that but I’ll get you there quick.” Daria said moving toward the door. She heard a voice in the back of her head, advising her to move down that street in her mind.

“Doesn’t matter, I screwed up.” Sandi said sadly.

“Look it’ll be ok.” Daria said not sure what was happening as her mind kept pushing.

“They lock the doors at 7, I’ve never been late before but I’ve seen the people who are get turned away.” Sandi sighed and Daria’s head finally was done processing the information.

“Well there goes a bed for tonight, damn I really needed that book.” Sandi said shaking her head.

“The women’s shelter on Madison, you live there.” Daria said shocked.

“Ya, it’s not bad. Just a bed to sleep in and a shower and a hot meal, and they have washers and dryers to do your clothes in.” Sandi admitted.

“How? Why?” Daria asked.

“I screwed up and ran out of money and lost my dorm room for being a bitch to everyone.” Sandi said falling onto Daria’s couch.

“Have you told your parents?” Daria asked.

“My mom thinks I’m making it up, to get more shopping money.” Sandi sighed.

“So convince them, have the people at the shelter call.” Daria said recovering from the shock.

“Alexandra, we set up an account that will give you monies by the semester and if you need more than I guess you need to get a job.” Sandi said doing a decent job of sounding like her mother.

“Not to take sides but that doesn’t sound like a bad idea.” Daria said very carefully.

“It’s not and I tried but my classes are all over the place during the day and living at the shelter means being in at 7 and not leaving until 6 in the morning. So no night job.” Sandi groaned.

“I’m sorry.” Daria said.

“The truth is I spent all the money being a spoiled brat and I could have gone back and got my dorm room back if I hadn’t been so proud. By the time it got cold and I got smarter, they had given it to another student.” Sandi admitted.

“Damn.” Daria said. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“The shelter is having Thanksgiving dinner.” Sandi said and Daria wanted to wince at the look of anticipation on the girl’s face.

“Well I was thinking, my plans got scuttled and I have a ton of food to cook up and I was thinking … if you didn’t have plans … if you wanted to.” Daria said and blushed at the needy tone her voice was taking.

“That would be ok, … um.” Sandi said looking embarrassed down at the couch.

“You can use Jane’s bed, I make her change the sheets every so often. I was thinking a lunch Thanksgiving dinner and then leftovers for dinner.” Daria smiled as she moved into her kitchen and opened the oven and manhandled the wrapped bird onto the counter and started preparing it.

“Why are you eating an ostrich?” Sandi asked and Daria blinked before she realized she was joking.

“I’ve never bought a turkey before so I got a big one.” Daria laughed.

“Um you said dinner tomorrow.” Sandi pressed.

“You won’t get in any trouble if you’re away from the shelter for a few days will you?” Daria asked.

“No.” Sandi answered.

“I could really use the company.” Daria admitted.

“Ok.” Sandi smiled and looked at the mounds of food that Daria was starting to pull out.

“Can I help?” Sandi asked.

“Do you peel potatoes?” Daria grinned.

“If I’m eating them.” Sandi nodded and took the offered peeler and went to work.

Daria had a large cookbook propped up on the counter and followed the instructions to get the turkey ready and then with Sandi’s help gently placed it into the oven.

“Isn’t it a little early?” Sandi asked.

“The book says 30 minutes per pound so that means 14 hours for it to cook.” Daria answered rereading the section to confirm it.

“So what else do you need me to do?” Sandi said pushing over a pot filled with peeled potatoes.

“I think that’s everything till the morning. So what are your thoughts on regulated limits on foreign crop purchases to support American farmers?” Daria said with a smile.

“I was thinking maybe matching amounts.” Sandi said nervously.

“Interesting please explain.” Daria said pulling a bar stool over and listening.






Sandi stretched in the warm bed and sighed contently as she sat up, all before remembering where she was.

:I can’t believe I told Quinn’s sister I was a bum.: Sandi thought as she grabbed a change of clothes and walked into the small bathroom.

The water stayed hot throughout the entire shower but it was the privacy that had her almost giggling, she had been forced to do without it at the dorm and the shelter.
:I didn’t have this kind of privacy at home with those two brats running around.: Sandi thought with a grin.

The smells of cooking food hit her nose as soon as she came out of the bathroom and by the time she made it to the kitchen a phone started ringing.

Sandi grabbed the makings for potato salad and started mixing it together as Daria answered the phone, putting it on the speaker.

“Hiya Kiddo.” Jake Morgendorffer said.

“Hi Dad.” Daria answered as she continued to prepare various dishes mouthing “Thank you” to Sandi.

“Everything going ok?” Jake asked as Daria dropped a pot lid causing a loud clang.

“Hectic, remind me never to pick on the cook again.” Daria laughed.

“Is that Daria, give me that phone.” Helen said and the sudden background noise meant she was using speaker phone as well.

“Hi Mom, how is everyone?” Daria asked as she set aside the completed mashed potatoes and started mixing the stuffing.

“Rita and Erin are good and they say hi,. Quinn and Richard are disappointed that after the fuss you made to meet him, you didn’t show up. I’m feeling abandoned because my oldest child decided to stay away to do … what was it again?” Helen said and Daria pictured a shark circling.

“I wanted to have a Thanksgiving dinner with friends.” Daria admitted.

“opps.” Daria heard over the line. She knew Jane’s voice anywhere.

“But then Todd and I broke up and Jane and Jim went back to Lawndale because her mother and sister are in town.” Daria admitted groaning.

“So if your plans fell through, why aren’t you down here?” Helen said and Daria could almost hear her mother’s eyes narrowing.

Daria stared at her ceiling trying to come up with something besides pride to tell her mother.

“Daria do you want me to start on the deviled eggs?” Sandi said wanting to help, in more than one way.

“Thank you.” Daria said and passed the tray of empty halved eggs and the bowl of mixture to Sandi.

“Who was that?” Helen asked.

“Sandi Griffin, she goes to MSU and we ran into each other and I invited her to help eat all this food. She’s also thinking about renting the third bedroom.” Daria answered as she started rolling out crusts for pies.

“WHAT.” Jane said before being told to hush.

“She seems pretty focused on Economics so maybe she can teach Jane how to budget.” Daria laughed.

“That’s nice dear. You girls could use some help with the bills.” Helen said and Daria noted the change in her voice.

"Why's Jane there?" Daria asked confused.

"Jim and Trent set the kitchen at her house on fire and apparently the turkey ran away when Penny tried to pluck it, while it was still alive. We invited them over to spend the day." Helen answered with an amused tone.

"Sounds like I'm missing all the fun." Daria laughed.

“The biscuits are done.” Sandi said and pulled a tray out of the oven.

“How many pies are you making?” Sandi asked as she buttered the top of the golden brown biscuits.

“Pie.” Quinn’s voice came over the phone.

“Just three, apple, mixed berry and pecan.” Daria answered knowing it was a cruel button to push on Quinn who looked forward to Thanksgiving as her big pig out day.

“That’s not fair.” Quinn complained.

“Quinn we’re having pie.” Helen groaned.

“Healthy pie, it’s not the same.” Quinn said sounding truly depressed.

“Is this Cool whip thawed enough to go in the fridge yet?” Sandi asked with an evil gleam in her eye, winking at Daria as she put the container in the fridge after confirming it was.

“I think so; do you like your cranberry sauce smooth or natural?” Daria asked twisting the knife in Quinn a little deeper as she checked on the sauce and stired it gently.

“Natural of course.” Sandi answered.

“Natural cranberry sauce oh god I’m in hell.” Quinn whined loudly.

“Daria I just checked the turkey and its leg bone fell out in my hand.” Sandi said as she bent over and basted the turkey.

"Oh god." Jake moaned.

“Turkey sandwiches for a month.” Jane squealed in the background.

“Are you really making all this?” Helen asked. “Or are you just enjoying torturing your sister and father?”

“Both.” Daria laughed.

“Hi Quinn.” Sandi said.

“Erm Hi Sandi, how’s school?” Quinn asked.

“I’m skating by, barely. I’m hoping to get serious next semester.” Sandi admitted.

“Well I can think of worst places to be than living with Daria for getting serious about school.” Quinn said and Daria felt a tug at her heart.

A knock at the apartment door surprised Daria and she turned and moved to answer it.

“Who is it?” She asked as she looked out through the chained door.

“Girl’s Best Friend deliveries.” A man she didn’t know said holding up several bags.

“I didn’t order anything.” Daria said confused.

“Your mom says go ahead and take it and she’s sorry.” Sandi said from the kitchen.

Daria opened the door and accept the delivery of a single turkey dinner with all the trimmings before tipping the delivery man and closing her door and returning to the kitchen.

“I don’t think she meant it.” Sandi said, seeing Daria’s face as she placed the food on the counter.

Jake Morgendorffer’s voice filled the room.

“Her first Thanksgiving didn’t go to well and she wanted to make sure you had a decent dinner.” Her father said.

“Um I have to go, many dishes to finish.” Daria said. “Bye everyone.”

Sandi watched Daria’s shaking hand disconnect the call.

Daria turned without speaking and returned to her piecrusts.

“I’m sorry.” Sandi whispered.

“Why? You didn’t say hey Daria can’t even make herself dinner?” Daria growled.

“No I didn’t but I’m still sorry.” Sandi said wanting very much to tread lightly.

“It’s just she thinks I’m still some kind of little girl.” Daria said as she folded a finished crust into the pie pan and accepted the already mixed and seasoned filling she had made earlier.

“At least she cared enough to worry and to understand what she did upset you.” Sandi said gently.

“Sorry, I guess mother issues is not something to try to complain about with you.” Daria said shaking her head, but her tone was more relaxed.

“I doubt she’ll even try to call and when she finds out the number has been disconnected, it won’t matter. Maybe my dad might worry but I doubt it.” Sandi said honestly.

“We are a pretty matched pair, so you want the room?” Daria chuckled.

“It might take me a while to get a job and be able to pay rent.” Sandi said.

“That’s ok, don’t tell Jane but I cover the rent most of the time myself, this place is pretty cheap. There is a bed in the other room but it needs to be setup and I can loan you some sheets and there is a bus stop right out front so you can get to MSU.” Daria said and cursed the almost begging tone that was in her voice again.

“I would like some place I can get mail.” Sandi sighed.

“What happened to you?” Daria asked as she finished the second pie.

“Is that a nice way of finding out why I’m not such a bitch anymore.” Sandi almost laughed.

“Yes.” Daria asked.

“I couldn’t go to college, my grades weren’t good enough. My uncle is on the alumni board for MSU and they bent the rules to get me into school. My mother didn’t think it was worth the effort but agreed in the end. She was happy that I was a failure, at school, at anything that resembled a relationship. It made her feel better I guess and when that hit me, it had some effects.” Sandi said posing for Daria who realized she had never seen Sandi in normal clothes.

The white t-shirt and black jeans graced her slender form and she seemed stripped of all the items she had held so dear in high school.

“So your rebelling against your mother by working hard at school.” Daria couldn’t hold the laugh in.

“And by trying to be nice.” Sandi laughed back.








The lunch was late but neither cared as they stared over the table that was overflowing with food. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, biscuits, cranberry sauce, potato salad, deviled eggs, green beans, corn and pies covered the entire table. Daria took pictures with the intention to send them to her family and then pulled out the last piece of the evening.

“Neither of us is old enough to drink.” Sandi said smirking at the bottle of wine.

“Today we are.” Daria said as she poured two glasses then handed one to Sandi before taking her seat.

“I think I will take the room but I warn you I’m a difficult person to live with.” Sandi said holding up her glass.

“Wait till you have to deal with Jane in the mornings.” Daria raised her glass.

“To family.” Sandi said.

“Who never live up to what we want.” Daria added.

“And friends.” Sandi continued.

“Who do.” Daria said and took a sip.

“Lets eat.” Sandi said holding out the carving knife to her.

“Now you’re talking.” Daria agreed and start to carve the near perfect meat from the succulent bird.





“Helen, I think something’s wrong with the turkey.” Jake said as the knife bent as he cut into it.

Quinn stared at the rubberized bird and the round can shaped cranberry sauce and sighed, leaning against Richard who was shaking as he tried to hold in the laughter.

Jane and Trent were drooling at the pieces of turkey that were either dried out or underdone. Jim just looked worried as he tried to think up some excuse that would allow him not to eat or insult his hosts.

“Natural cranberry sauce and Cool whipped covered pies.” Quinn wanted to cry.


Happy Thanksgiving.