Read The Tori Trilogy for Free Online Page B

“Did you sleep well?”
    â€œI slept great. That’s probably why I’m awake already.”
    â€œGood for you. What would you like for breakfast? Oatmeal? Cold cereal?”
    But before I have a chance to answer, Joey bounds into the kitchen. “’Morning, Mom! ‘Morning, Gory--I mean, Tori!” He skids to a stop and studies me closely. “So, what was with that letter?”
    â€œLetter?” Mom repeats, arching her eyebrows. “What letter?”
    Neither of us answer her.
    â€œI just felt like leaving it,” I say. “I don’t think I ever thanked you for taking us skating that day.”
    â€œOh.” Joey continues to interrogate me with his eyes, as if he’s sure I have some underhanded motive. “That’s it?”
    â€œThat’s it,” I repeat.
    â€œWell...thanks for the letter,” Joey answers doubtfully.
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    Mom’s watching this whole exchange with a puzzled expression in her eyes. Before she can ask again, though, Ben bursts into the kitchen, still wearing his p.j. pants and the sweatshirt he sleeps in.
    â€œTori! I found a note from you under my door last night. What’s that all about?”
    I take a seat at the table. “I just wanted to thank you.”
    â€œFor giving Gina a reindeer two years ago?”
    â€œExcuse me?” asks Mom. I feel a little bad for her since none of us seems to be up to explaining at the moment.
    â€œWell, yes,” I tell Ben. “And not only that, but the fact that she still talks about it. I mean, it’s a nice memory she has of you. And I thought it might make you feel good to know that.”
    Ben’s eyes pop open wide and he shakes his head, a low whistle escaping on his breath. I can tell he’s just as curious and suspicious as Joey.
    â€œReally,” I assure him. “That’s all there is to it.”
    â€œI got a note, too,” Joey informs Ben. “To thank me for taking the squirts ice skating last January.”
    â€œYou got a note?” Ben drops into the chair across from mine. “So, what about Nate? Did he get one too?”
    I’d forgotten that I wouldn’t witness Nate’s reaction this morning, since he’s been up and out of the house for an hour already. “Yes,” I say. “Nate got one too.”
    Mom looks at me, as though she’s fitting the pieces of a puzzle together inside her mind. “Last night,” she says slowly, “you left your brothers thank-you notes.”
    â€œReally random thank-you notes!” Joey puts in.
    â€œAre you sure you’re feeling, okay, Tori?” asks Ben. “Or is this part of some elaborate practical joke to get us back for being your annoying big brothers?”
    I shake my head no. “I promise, it’s not.”
    â€œThen why...?” Joey trails.
    Mom looks from him to Ben. “Maybe what you see is what you get in this case. Maybe Tori really is saying thank you. Can you swallow that?”
    My brothers stare at Mom, and then at me. All through breakfast, they don’t insult me once.
    At dinner that night, I get the same disbelieving reaction from Nate. “I mean, Abuelito’s birthday party!” he cries. “That was last year, Tori. What made you all of a sudden decide to thank me for that brilliant idea I had?” Even when he’s in the middle of trying to puzzle something out, he still manages to get a few words in about what a wonder he is.
    â€œI’m just saying thank you,” I insist. I’m almost sick of defending myself over those notes. “Why can’t any of you guys just accept that?”
    â€œBut, I guess,” says Ben, “what we want to know is why? Why did you even bother to thank us?”
    Dad looks over at Mom. “What are they talking about, Susan?”
    Mom shakes her head. “I’ll fill you in later.”
    â€œWhy?” I