Citizen Lane
Cupping her hands to block out the sunlight, Daria peeked through the glass in the door. 揑t looks like he抯 closed for the day.?she said. 揑 guess he抯 gone home. At least I don抰 see any movement. Although with Trent that抯 never been an indication he wasn抰 there.?/p>
Laughing, Jane said, 揝ad but true. Let抯 go by his house. If he抯 left, he should be home by the time we get there.?/p>
When they got to Trent抯 house, Daria, Jane, and Miranda all piled out of the minivan and went to the front door. Since Jane got there first, she knocked several times. When Trent didn抰 acknowledge her poundings the first time she gave it a second try. It was just as successful as the previous attempt.
Jane finally had enough of knocking. She saw Trent抯 car in the driveway so she knew he was home. Taking her key, she opened the front door and she, Daria, and Mandy all went in.
Jane yelled out, 揟RENT!?After no response, she shouted again. 揟rent! I have company!?/p>
After no reply, she figured he had probably got home and fallen asleep while trying to remove his shoes. It was a common occurrence for him. Knowing the best way to get him up, she led the trio down the hallway to his bedroom to see if they could rouse him back to the world of the conscious.
As they approached his bedroom, Miranda noticed the bathroom light was on and the door was open. Walking over to turn the light off, she noticed Trent lying across the bathroom floor, his head leaning against the commode.
In shock, all she could say was, 揢ncle Trent!?
Hearing her daughter scream her brother抯 name, Jane ran over to see what was wrong. When she saw Trent prone on the floor, she looked at her daughter and said, 揅all an ambulance right now.?When Miranda didn抰 move, Jane was preparing to repeat the order when Daria said, 揑抣l do it. You see if he抯 okay.?/p>
Once Daria had left, Jane and Miranda went over to see how Trent was. Both knelt down to see if he was still breathing. Luckily, they quickly noticed he was so they tried to see if he was conscious.
揟rent??Jane asked.
After no reply, she made the decision to shake his shoulder slightly. She knew it was dangerous to move an injured person but she needed to see if he was still coherent enough to let them know what happened. Carefully she took her hand and shook his shoulder slightly.
揟rent??she repeated, 揅an you hear me.?/p>
Slowly, Trent opened his eyes and looked at the two people in front of him. 揘nnnnh.?was all he said.
Both Jane and Miranda were relieved to see he seemed to be able to do that much.
揟rent??Jane asked. 揅an you hear me? What happened??/p>
Trent looked at the person talking and tried to form some words. As he tried to gather his thoughts, Jane saw what he was attempting and leaned forward so she could hear him better.
揧es Trent??/p>
Finally he managed to work up a response. As the two women listened intently, he said, 搇een on?and promptly passed out again.
A second later, Daria returned to the bathroom.
揟he ambulance will be here in a few minutes.?she said. Looking at Jane, she asked, 揌ow is he? Did he say what happened??/p>
Jane looked at Daria, shook her head and said, 揘ot exactly.?/p>
At the hospital, all three waited in the emergency room for the doctor to let them know how Trent was. After about an hour, she came out. Walking over to Jane, she asked, 揂re you Mr. Lane抯 sister??/p>
Jane nodded.
揧es. How is he??/p>
揌e抣l be fine. He suffered a concussion and twisted his ankle but other than that he抣l be fine.?/p>
揟hank goodness.?Jane said. 揇id he say what happened??/p>
揥hen he finally regained consciousness he mentioned something about picking up the shampoo bottle.?she said. 揗ore than likely he tripped on something and hit his head on the commode. Most accidents do happen in the home you know.?/p>
揧ea. I抳e heard that.?Jane said. 揝o how long will he be here??/p>
揥e抎 like to keep him a few days. The ankle is fine but he did take a nasty blow to the head and we抎 like to keep him here a little while to make sure he抯 really okay. When he woke up, his speech was slow and he seemed very incoherent.?/p>
Jane just smiled at the doctor.
揙h that抯 just how he is. I抎 be more worried if he wasn抰 that way.?
揂h I see. Well regardless, we抎 like to keep him under our care until a neurologist can see him.?the doctor said, 揥e抣l be moving him up to a room in a little while. Until then you抮e free to wait here.?/p>
揟hank you Doctor.?Jane said.
Smiling back, she said, 揧ou抮e welcome.?/p>
After she left, Jane turned to look at Daria and Mandy. 揟hat抯 a relief.?she said. 揑 guess the only question is what to do with the guitar shop.?/p>
揋uess it抣l just stay closed until he gets back.?Daria said. 揕ane and Quinn can抰 come home from school to open it for him.?/p>
揥ell I can open it Saturday if he抯 not out of here by then.?Jane said. 揢ntil then, the musicians of Lawndale will have to make do with the strings they have.?
Miranda decided this was a good time to chime in with her opinion.
揑 could keep it open tomorrow after school. After all, I抦 going to help him over spring break.?/p>
Both Jane and Daria looked at her.
揘o way young lady.?Jane said. 揧ou haven抰 even worked one day there yet. Until you have more experience, there抯 no way you抮e going to be left there alone.?
Miranda bowed her head slightly and said, 揧es Maam.?/p>
Turning her attention back to Jane, Daria decided to change the subject, 揇id he say anything when you woke him up??she asked.
Shaking her head, Jane said, 揘ot really. When I asked him if he was okay, all he said was, 憀een on?and passed out.?/p>
揥hat does that mean anyway??Miranda asked.
Both Jane and Daria shrugged.
揇on抰 know.?Jane said. 揌e was stunned so it was probably nothing.?/p>
揗aybe. Maybe not.?Daria said. 揌e might have been thinking about Sean Lennon again.?/p>
Miranda looked at Daria and asked, 揥ho抯 that??/p>
Turning her attention to Mandy, Daria said, 揧oko Ono抯 son.?/p>
Miranda nodded to indicate she understood now.
揂h Okay. So what does that have to do with Uncle Trent??/p>
揥ell it was about a week after Mystik Spiral broke up for good. Trent was feeling pretty bad about what had happened. Your mom was still on her honeymoon with your dad so I went over to see how he was doing.?/p>
Daria knocked on the bedroom door. She heard music so she knew he was in there. He was probably asleep.
揟rent??she asked.
After no reply, she slowly opened the door and peeked in. To her surprise, Trent was wide-awake and sitting on the edge of the bed. It looked like he hadn抰 slept in days. Looking up from the floor, Trent noticed Daria in the doorway.
揌ey Daria.?/p>
揌i Trent. Mind if I come in??/p>
Trent sighed, 揧ea, I guess.?/p>
She went over and sat next to him on the bed. 揑 just heard what happened.?she said. 揝o how are you holding up??/p>
揙kay I guess. I just can抰 believe it抯 really over.?Pausing for a second to collect his thoughts, he continued, 揑 mean, we抳e broken up more times than I can count. It was never real until now.?Shaking his head, he said, 揂nd we were about to get that Landon guy to sponsor our tour.?/p>
揂ndrew Landon??/p>
Trent just nodded.
揌e was going to sponsor you for a tour??/p>
揧ea. But that抯 over now. That抯 life I guess.?
Looking up at him, Daria asked, 揝o what are you going to do now??/p>
Trent shook his head.
揟ry to become normal I guess.?Looking over at Daria, he asked, 揌ow does that work exactly??/p>
This amused Daria a great deal. 揑 don抰 think that抯 something you can describe exactly.?she said. 揧ou just sort of have to do it and hope for the best.?/p>
Trent nodded in understanding, 揙h. Okay.?he said. 揥ell if I have any trouble can I call you for advice??/p>
揊or all the good it抣l do. I抦 having a problem with real life too. But I抣l try to lend a hand whenever I can.?/p>
Smiling, Trent said, 揅ool.?/p>
The two sat there in silence enjoying the moment. As they were enjoying each other抯 company, Daria finally noticed the music playing in the background.
揥hat is this music??she asked.
Without hesitating, Trent said, 揝ean Lennon.?/p>
揝o you抮e the one who bought that cd. Why are you listening to it??/p>
Shrugging, Trent said, 揂fter I got back from the gig I was so bummed I just grabbed a pile of music and loaded them into the player. The changer got stuck on this and it抯 been playing ever since.?/p>
揂nd how long has than been??Daria asked.
揇on抰 know for sure. What day is it??/p>
揊riday.?/p>
Taking a second to do the math, Trent finally said, 揝ince Monday I think.?/p>
Daria couldn抰 believe it. 揥hy didn抰 you get up and change it??/p>
揂fter a while it got comforting. I guess I should have changed it but after a while it seemed to be easier to just leave it alone.?/p>
Getting up, Daria went over and turned the player off. 揥ell I think you抳e heard enough of that.?she said.
Nodding, Trent said, 揧ou抮e probably right. I guess I need to begin assimilation now.?/p>
揧ou believe he was thinking about a crappy cd??Miranda asked. 揥hy would he have done that??
揥ell he was out of it after he bumped his head.?Daria said. 揑n moments of great distress, it抯 been said that your life flashes before your eyes. Perhaps he was remembering a moment from his life.?/p>
揑 don抰 know.?Miranda said. 揑t seems too easy.?Thinking for a second, She looked at Daria and asked, 揧ou mentioned someone named Landon. That sounds a lot like 憀een on? If he was out of it perhaps he wasn抰 able to say the whole name.?/p>
Jane interrupted the conversation. 揗aybe but I don抰 think so. It seems something of a stretch. I mean why would he think of Jodie抯 dad? He barely had anything to do with him.?/p>
Miranda looked at her mom. 揓odie抯 dad? You mean Lisa抯 grandfather??/p>
Nodding, Jane said, 揧ea.?/p>
揑 wonder if he would know anything.?Miranda said.
揇oubtful.?Jane said, 揥hy is this bugging you so bad anyhow? It抯 not like it means anything.?/p>
Mandy shrugged.
揑 don抰 know for sure. It just seemed like a weird thing to say at a time like that. It has to mean something.?/p>
Jane shook her head and laughed.
揓ust give it a rest. It doesn抰 mean anything.?/p>
Mandy looked at her mom and smiled.
揑 guess.?/p>
The problem was, the more Miranda tried to forget Trent抯 words, the more they bugged her. The next day after school she went to Andrew Landon抯 office to see if he might be able to shed any light on her uncle抯 cryptic comment. When she got there she was informed that he was very busy and couldn抰 see her. She was about to leave when fate stepped in. Jodie walked through the foyer and saw her daughter抯 friend. She immediately got Miranda past the receptionist and into her father抯 office.
When he saw the young lady enter his office, Andrew stood up and shook her hand.
揌ello. I抦 Andrew Landon. It抯 nice to meet you. I understand you抮e a friend of Lisa抯.?/p>
Miranda nodded and said, 揧es.?/p>
Sitting down, Andrew gestured for her to do the same. Once they were both comfortable, he looked at her again.
揝o to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit??he asked.
Not entirely certain of what to say, Miranda just started talking and hoped it made sense.
揗y uncle got hurt yesterday.?/p>
揑抦 very sorry to hear that.?he said. 揑 hope he抣l be fine.?/p>
揌e抣l recover okay.?/p>
揟hat抯 nice. I hope I don抰 seem rude but what does that have to do with your visit??/p>
揥ell while we were waiting for the ambulance he said something that sounded like 憀een on? A friend of my mom抯 told me a story but it didn抰 make much sense. In the story though, your name came up and it sounds like what he said so I thought I抎 see if you had any idea of what it meant.?/p>
Andrew leaned back in his chair. He doubted he could help her any but decided to humor her some.
揑 see.?he said. 揝o who is you uncle??/p>
Miranda looked at him to see if there was nay reaction when he heard it. 揟rent Lane.?she said.
Looking at the ceiling, Andrew tried to recall the name. After a few seconds, he returned his attention to Miranda.
揑抦 sorry.?he said, 揑 don抰 recall the name.?/p>
揌e was in a band called Mystic Spiral. He said you were going to sponsor them.?/p>
That clicked on the memory for Andrew. 揙h yes. I remember now.?he said. 擸es. After a very nasty tax season I was looking for a good shelter. I had heard that there was a local band looking for a sponsor for their tour. After hearing them I realized they would meet my needs perfectly. I spoke with your uncle about it and he seemed open to the idea but a few days later, when I went to see them perform, he informed me they had just broken up for good.?/p>
揟hat抯 it??Miranda thought. 揝o you never really had anything to do with my uncle??she asked.
揑抦 sorry I couldn抰 be more help.?he said. Suddenly he remembered something. 揧ou know, one of the members of the band works in the accounting firm on the sixth floor. Perhaps he might know what your uncle meant.?/p>
揙h.?she said. 揥hat抯 his name??/p>
揘ick something I believe. I抳e seen him in the cafeteria from time to time.?Sitting up in his chair, he continued, 揑f you like I抣l call down and see if he抯 in.?/p>
Miranda nodded. 揧es. If you don抰 mind.?she said.
Andrew smiled.
揗y pleasure.?
After thanking him for his help, she took the elevator to the sixth floor. Once there, the receptionist let her into the office and she soon found Nick抯 cubicle.
揌ello. Are you Nick??she asked.
Nick nodded and said, 揧es.?Leaning back he looked at her. 揝o you抮e Trent抯 niece. How is he? I haven抰 seen him in years.?/p>
Miranda bowed her head.
揌e was hurt yesterday in his house.?/p>
Nick was shocked. 揑抦 sorry to hear that.?he said. 揑s he okay??/p>
Nodding, she said, 揧es he抣l be fine but, when we found him, he said something that bothered me and I wondered if you might be able to help me figure it out. For some reason I feel it has something to do with the breakup band you guys were in.?/p>
揟hat was a long time ago.?Nick said. 揃ut I抣l try to help. What did he say??/p>
揑t sounded like 憀een on??/p>
Swiveling back and forth in his chair, Nick kept repeating the words and trying to figure out what it could possibly have to do with the breakup of Mystik Spiral. A few seconds later, he thought he might have an idea of what it could possibly mean. Stopping the chair he returned his attention to Miranda.
揟his may not be it. But that sounds very familiar to something that happened on the night we broke up. We had just finished up our first set and were backstage, actually the alley, taking our break when the owner came out to talk with us.?/p>
揟hat was a great set guys.?/p>
Trent turned to look at the owner.
揟hanks. We felt pretty good up there.?/p>
揋reat.?the owner said. As the band looked at him they could see he was uneasy. Even Trent saw something was up.
揥hat抯 going on??Trent asked.
揑 don抰 know how to tell you guys this except to just come out with it.?/p>
Jesse looked at the owner. 揥hat is it??he asked.
揢h well, the club isn抰 going very well as it is anymore so I抦 closing after tonight for two weeks to remodel and reopen as a new place.?/p>
Trent抯 eyes got very large. 揥hoa!?was all he could say for a minute. After he had given the news time to sink in, he asked, 揝o we抮e going to need to find a new gig? That won抰 be easy. You抮e our first job in two months.?/p>
揟hat抯 what I wanted to talk to you guys about.?the owner said. 揑抦 gonna have a house band. If you抎 like it, I抦 offering you guys the job.?/p>
The four members all looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Once they had a consensus, Trent looked back at their new boss.
揟hat抯 cool. Sure.?/p>
The owner smiled. 揋reat. Now the new club will be a little different so you抣l have to learn some new stuff.?With that, he handed Trent a list. 揑抣l need you guys to learn these songs before we reopen.?/p>
Trent looked over the list.
揝orry man. Mystik Spiral doesn抰 do covers.?/p>
Nick and Max looked at each other. Then they both looked at Trent.
揥e will if it抯 a steady paying job.?Nick said.
Wadding the list up and tossing it on the ground, Trent said, 揘ot me. It抯 our stuff or nothing.?Looking at the owner, he said, 揝orry man but we抣l have to pass.?/p>
That was too much for Nick. Standing up, he looked Trent in the eye.
揥hy are you speaking for all of us? I thought the band was a group. Not just you.?/p>
This outburst took Trent by surprise. 揌uh??was all he could say.
揑 mean, we抳e all been at this for over ten years.?Nick said. 揘ow that we finally have a break you抮e ready to throw it all away without seeing if any of your partners have anything to say.?/p>
揝orry man.?Trent said. 揃ut you don抰 know what the list had on it. Do you really want to play 慙ean On Me?every night for the next few years? ?/p>
Nick looked Trent directly in the eyes and said, 揑f there抯 a steady paycheck in it, I抎 play backup for Wayne Newton for the rest of my life.?
Trent shook his head, 揘ot me.?he said. 揑抦 not selling out?and neither is the Spiral.?/p>
Nick had finally had enough.
揟hat抯 it. I抳e had enough of this. I quit.?/p>
Going back into the club, Nick came out a minute later with his guitar. Looking at Trent, he said, 揑 hope you had fun playing tonight. Because it抯 my last gig with you guys.?/p>
Nick looked at Miranda.
揥hen I spoke to Max the next day I understand they all got into an argument and never finished the second set.?he said. 揂fter that we never played together again. I eventually went to college and the others went their own ways as well.?/p>
揝o you believe Uncle Trent was thinking about the song 慙ean On Me??
Max shook his head, 揚robably not.?he said. 揑 was reaching when I told you the story. More than likely he was just rambling.?/p>
Miranda sighed, 揧ou抮e probably right.?she said. 揑t抯 probably nothing. I just thought it was odd.?/p>
揥ell are you going to see him soon??Nick asked.
揧ea. I抦 going to stop by on my way home.?/p>
揟hen why don抰 you just ask him what he meant??/p>
Embarrassed that she hadn抰 thought of that herself, she turned red and said, 揑抣l do that. Thanks for the suggestion.?Getting up, she shook his hand. 揟hanks for the help anyhow. It was nice meeting you.?/p>
揑t was nice meeting you too.?Nick said. 揚erhaps I抣l stop by and see Trent later. It抯 time to bury the hatchet.?/p>
Miranda gave him a smile.
揑抦 sure he抎 like that. Bye.?/p>
A half hour later, Miranda stuck her head in through the door of Trent抯 room. Looking over to see his niece, Trent smiled and said, 揌ey come in.?/p>
Walking over to the bed, she sat down and asked, 揝o how are you feeling??/p>
揗y ankle still swollen and my head still hurts a little but I抣l be okay.?/p>
Smiling, Miranda said, 揟hat抯 cool.?Pausing for a moment, she continued, 揢ncle Trent??/p>
揧ea??/p>
揗ind if I ask you something??/p>
揥hat??/p>
Turning the chair so she could see him better, she began.
揧esterday when we found you, you muttered the words 憀een on? What does that mean??/p>
Just like Nick, Trent repeated the words several times as he tried to figure out what they meant. Finally he had to admit the truth to her.
揑 was pretty loopy after I tripped. I don抰 recall anything. I was probably just babbling. Sorry.?/p>
She smiled at her uncle.
揟hat抯 okay. You抮e probably right. Thanks anyway.?Looking around, she asked, 揝o I thought Mom was coming by.?/p>
揝he and Daria were here earlier.?Trent said. 揟hey left to go clean up the bathroom for me.?/p>
揙h okay.?Mandy said.
Back at Trent抯 house, Daria and Jane were just beginning the task of getting the bathroom back in shape. Leaning down, Daria picked up the shower curtain and tried to hang it back up.
揇oes Trent have another curtain??she asked Jane. 揟his one抯 ruined. All the little holes where the hooks attach are ripped. They must have torn when he grabbed it while falling.?/p>
揔nowing my brother, I抎 say no. That one probably came with the house when he bought it. Throw it in the bag. I抣l buy him a new one tomorrow.?/p>
揙kay.?Daria said.
As she wadded the curtain up and put it in the garbage bag, neither woman noticed the label.
60% Linen
40% Nylon
The End
As always, Daria and all related characters belong to MTV. This was written for my own amusement.