Disclaimer: Daria and associated characters are owned by MTV. This is fan fiction written for entertainment only. No money or other negotiable currency or goods have been exchanged.

Richard Lobinske

Gift Hunt

Bundled against the cold, a young woman trudged along the slushy, snow scattered on the sidewalks of Dega Street and caked on her black boots. Heavy green pants and a dark, hooded coat covered the form, just a hint of reddish hair peaking out from the edge of the hood. Over one shoulder, a long, slender gift-wrapped box was slung. The woman looked to the side at it, “Jane will really love this. A professional-grade easel with more adjustments than I’ll ever understand.” She smiled and trudged along. She smiled vanished in a bout of shivering. “Damn wind-chill.”

Stopping at store windows and shaking her head, looking inside shops and back out in frustration; the quest for the next gift seemed hopeless. “Dammit, I need to find something perfect for Trent. Why did I wait until Christmas eve?”

She stopped for lunch at a small café, ordering a hot sandwich and coffee. She used the coffee more to warm her stiff fingers than to drink. She looked out the window toward the gaily decorated street in frustration. “I’m going to be leaving soon and want them to have something nice to remember me by.”

She ate her lunch in silent thought before picking up the easel box and forcing her way back out into the street. More stores, more aggravation. “Nothing, damn well nothing. I want something that will have meaning for him.”

She spied something up ahead and increased her pace. The guitar shop. “We may have a winner.” She went inside and looked around at the new and used guitars on sale. After a few words with the owner, she found a red and white electric guitar. “I think this will be perfect for him. Can I have it wrapped?”

The shop owner smiled at the young woman. “Certainly, a gift for someone special?”

“He is.”

His job completed, the owner handed over the largish, flat box with bright gold wrapping. “I hope he enjoys it.”

“I’m sure he will, thanks.”

Back out into the cold afternoon, she began her long walk home. Finally, she reached the steps of 111 Howard Drive and went inside, placing the gifts under a small tree decorated with ceramic ornaments. Penny Lane sat down on the sofa with a soft sigh. “I’m going to miss those two delinquents when I get out of this burg after graduation. I hope these will help them to remember me.”