Bending the Rules

Summary

Book #2: When Tori's parents send her to high school in America, Tori wonders how she's ever going to get along with her crabby Aunt Tessa. But the discovery of a mysterious but talented artist, forbidden rooms, and some strange comments from Tessa's parrot all lead to big surprises.

Takes place September 1997 to January 1998

Locations

• 8th Avenue
• 13th Street
• Abrams Art Galleries (Henry Abrams Art Gallery)
• Africa
• Arizona Desert Artists' Colony
• Aunt Tessa's Home
• Bank Street
• Chelsea Piers
• Columbus Circle
• Corner Store Grocery
• Eatz
• Greenwich Village
• Harlem, New York City
• Hudson River
• Hudson Street
• Madison Avenue
• Manhattan International High
• Melbourne, Australia
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Morelli-Strauss Home
• Museum of Modern Art
• Neighborhood Veterinarian Clinic
• New York City, New York, USA
• Russia
• Statue of Liberty
• Secondhand Clothing Store
• Soho
• West Street
• West 15th and 9th Avenue
• Williams/Watson Home

Characters

• Tori Burns
• Barbie Roberts
• Lara Morelli-Strauss
• Nichelle Watson
• Ana Maria Suarez
• Chelsie Peterson
• Aunt Tessa
• Bagel the Dog
• Bungee the Cat
• Earnest Steinmetz
• Fletcher the Dog
• Mr. Burns "Dad"
• Mrs. Burns "Mum"
• Waldo
• Mrs. Morelli-Strauss
• M'Dear
• Mr. Budge
• Mr. Harris
• Mr. Henri Toussaint
• "Poogy" (Mr. Boris Pugachev)
• African Boys
• Boy in History Class
• Francine
• "Pants Boys" Andy
• "Pants Boys" Evan
• Angry Trucker
• Bill the Cook
• Board Members/Mr. Franklin
• Cop at Intersection
• Fancy-Looking Woman
• Frank the Doorman
• Henry Abrams
• Louie the Doorman
• News Guy and Camera Woman
• Rock-Climbing Attendant
• Rosalyn Harris
• The Guy on the Skateboard with a Pet Monkey
• Veterinarian
• Woman with a Briefcase
• Yapping Dog
• Madonna
• Super Models

Full Book Summary

Chapter 1: No Skating in the Lobby!

As Tori skates through the hallways of her aunt's up-scale Greenwich apartment, on her way to school, she passes Louie the Doorman, who shows irritation at her skating in the lobby. Tori advises the Doorman to "lighten up", and continues speeding towards the exit.

When she finally bounds outside, she is happy to escape. Tori begins to reflect on her experiences in New York City, how New York was an extreme place, waving at a man in tight leather shorts with a monkey, and how her Aunt Tessa, who her parents had sent her to live with, was "not much fun" and never allowed her to enter three rooms at the end of the hall.

As Tori gets closer to the hugely diverse and over-populated International High, she meets up with her friend Barbie. She chats with her about history class and Barbie's boring teacher, Mr. Budge. Then, she heads up to the Fifth Floor with Barbie to check for notes under a loose tile. The school was still new and hadn't been finished with repairs before school began. The Generation Girls decided to use the remaining loose tiles for notes.

When Tori checks under the tile, she sees a note from Lara asking her to meet at Eatz during Lunchtime to talk about something.

Chapter 2: In America They Call It A Crush

After two long classes, with her French classes covering the same things she already learned in Australia, Tori hurries to meet Lara at Eatz, especially considering she only has a 38-minute lunch.

When she arrives at Eatz, the normally calm and cool Lara looks upset and is barely eating the cheese fries she ordered. Tori helps herself to some while she listens to Lara's trouble. Lara has developed a "crush" on her handsome art teacher, Mr. Harris. Knowing crushing on a teacher isn't cool, Tori tries to snap Lara out of it, inviting Lara to go to the skate park with her to see the "Pants Boys", two skater boys whom Tori thinks are cute and are more around their age.

But they aren't Lara's type; she prefers boys who are more "sophisticated". Lara also tells Tori she promised her mom she'd go straight home after school. She asks if Tori wants to come over instead. Tori agrees, but first has to drop off her new Biology book at home. She had to get a new one since it had writing in it. Lara sympathizes, sharing that her books look chewed. Overall, though, Lara sighs, completely distracted and overwhelmed by her crush.

Tori tries to tell her about a cute boy in her history class who likes Lara, with him liking girls who "have it all together". Lara still isn't interested.

Before lunch is over, the girls once again agree to meet after school. Tori remembers to tell Lara about the rules of her Aunt's strict home; mostly not to bother her aunt or make too much noise. She shares with Lara that her aunt doesn't like having kids around. When they part, Tori wonders if her aunt will be home and how it will feel having Lara visit.

Chapter 3: Lara Breaks The Tessa Barrier

Lara and Tori meet outside of school. Tori decides they should take the bus to her Aunt's house since she had a rough time playing softball in Physical Education class.

When they arrive in Greenwich Village, Lara admires the beautiful homes. They enter Aunt Tessa's apartment building, and the doorman is relieved Tori is walking inside instead of skating. As they stepped onto an elevator, a woman's dog barks at Tori, and Tori barks back, to the owner's annoyance.

Right before Tori pushes her floor, 12, Louie the doorman stops her and hands her a letter that seemed to be addressed to her aunt. The first name is the same, Tessa, but the last name is different, Steinmetz (when her aunt's last name is supposed to be Livingstone), and it's from Henry Abrams from Abrams Galleries. Mystified and curious, Tori takes the letter and agrees to give it to her aunt.

When they arrive at the apartment, Tori introduces Lara to her Aunt Tessa, who is initially uninterested and dismissive. However, she quickly comes to open up to Lara after Lara displays very good manners and an interest in the various pieces of art around the house. Lara is quite knowledgeable about the Western American antiques, which impresses Aunt Tessa. Aunt Tessa even offers to show Lara around, which shocks and impresses Tori.

While in the dining room, Lara admires a painting of a man. She doesn't recognize the painter, and asks Aunt Tessa about it. Aunt Tessa dismisses the painter as someone who is long forgotten, and walks away sharply on her heels. This causes Tori and Lara to eye each other suspiciously. At that moment, Aunt Tessa's parrot, Waldo, starts saying, "Goodnight, Earnest". Lara asks if Earnest lives there. Tori tells her he doesn't and that the bird always says that. He's been with her aunt for many years.

At that moment, Tori remembers to give her aunt the letter. Her aunt dismisses the letter, stating that it was delivered to the wrong address again. She tells Tori to give it back to the doorman. Tori agrees, still mystified. She then takes Lara to her room to drop off her book.

While in her room, Lara insists that her aunt is nice, and Tori agrees she was nicer to Lara. Lara thinks maybe she just has to get used to Tori, and Tori considers that. Tori explains more about her aunt to Lara. Her aunt is her mother's sister, the oldest, and had a big falling-out with the family. She ended up moving to America. She explains that her mother is very different from Aunt Tessa. Lara thinks it's nice Tori is getting to know her, but Tori doesn't think her aunt likes her very much.

Later, when Tori returns home from Lara's house, she decides to write a postcard to her parents. At first, she doesn't know what to write. Eventually, she writes a positive letter, telling them how kind her aunt has been, how she's been trying to remember her manners, how much she loves her school, and how much she loves New York City. She asks how her parents are doing, and then tells her parents to give her cat, Bungee, a hug for her because she misses him.

Chapter 4: Bagel

Tori wasn't the type to brood on the hard parts of her life. If she couldn't have fun at Aunt Tessa's, she found other places she could enjoy. Tori managed to keep busy. She thought her school was great, and felt she could learn something at International High. She loved hanging out with her Generation Girl friends, too.

Her favorite part of the school day was visiting Room 712 where the Generation Beat newspaper (magazine)'s meetings were held. The room had no windows, but it was always bustling with students coming in and out. Tori worked on the newspaper's brand-new website, since she was so good at computers, and she aimed to make it the best website any school has ever had.

When Tori wasn't at the newspaper room, she was doing her homework with friends, which was fun. She always quickly finished her work, so she had time to play extreme sports, such as skateboarding, handball, and rock-climbing at Chelsea Piers, where she went to think.

Tori was at Chelsea Piers one day, rock-climbing and sitting at the top, thinking about her Aunt Tessa. Though her aunt wasn't mean to her, Tori felt that she wasn't open to her. While Tori is lost in thought, a worker gets frustrated with her, trying to get her down so other people can have a turn.

Tori scrambles down the rock-climbing wall and out onto the street. When she reaches 15th Street and 9th Avenue, cars are backed up in the street, all being blocked by a little dog. The dog is terrified, unable to move. Tori leaps to the rescue, trying to coax the dog onto the sidewalk. Even amidst loud shouting, she tries to convince the dog to move towards her with her lunch bagel. Eventually, the dog manages to move towards her, and Tori is able to bring the dog onto the sidewalk. Once the dog calms down, Tori realizes that it has a collar without a tag and soft fur that just needs a bath. She tries to figure out what she should do with it. At first, she tries to give the dog to a lady with a briefcase that walks by, but the lady ignores her. Then, she spots a cop in a car stopping at the intersection. She asks if the police officer can take the dog home or make a home for the dog at the station. Unfortunately, the dog isn't allowed at the station and the officer has two cats at home. Tori asks if there's any place to take him. The police officer suggests that the only place to take the dog isn't too nice. At this, Tori resolves to take the dog home herself. She figures out the dog is a boy. The dog begs for more bagel, so Tori names the dog Bagel.

Chapter 5: Bathtime for Bagel

Tori is ready to take Bagel home for a bath, but can't find a leash. She uses the drawstring from her windbreaker as a leash, carefully pulling it out of her coat.

Though Bagel isn't cooperative, she manages to bring him to the corner grocery store. She ties him to the fire hydrant while she picks up canned dog food (liver and bacon). When she exits, she notices Bagel urinating on the hydrant, remarking that she's happy he's housetrained.

As Tori brings him down the street, she sees Nichelle. Nichelle had been strolling downtown to buy a shawl from a secondhand clothing store on 13th Street. Nichelle notices the dog eventually and asks Tori what she's doing with it. Tori tells her she found him, and asks if Nichelle wants him. Nichelle shares that her mother is allergic to anything that barks and meows, and can only have pets that "croak". Tori remarks that her aunt will croak when she sees what Tori has brought home. She asks Nichelle to come home to her aunt's house with her and help. Nichelle agrees, not having much homework that weekend. Tori advises Nichelle put on her best manners, remembering how Lara won over her aunt that way. Nichelle shares that her grandmother taught her manners at a very young age. By the time she was two years old, she could say, "Yes, ma'am" and "No, ma'am". Tori is impressed, remarking that she can barely remember to say "Thanks for the grub".

Before they head to Aunt Tessa's, they stop by the second-hand store, but the shawl is gone.

They move on towards Aunt Tessa's. A new doorman is on shift named Frank. While he's shorter and stubbier than Louie, he behaves the same. He's not pleased with the new dog Tori has brought into the building, commenting on the dog's smell. Tori tells him that he won't smell long and is a lot better than the "fancy-dancy" dogs that live in the building.

She brings the dog up into the apartment. Aunt Tessa isn't home, and Tori figures she's at a poetry reading, which she's curious about and would like to attend one day.

First, she brings the dog into the kitchen and gives him a bowl of water. He laps it up and licks her. Nichelle feels he's easy to fall in love with. Tori agrees, and she worries that she's falling in love with him.

She changes into worn-out sweats and then brings the dog into the bathroom. At first, the dog jumps into the tub quickly when Tori taps it. But after Tori starts the shower-massager hose and rubs the dog with baby shampoo, the dog begins violently shaking himself, flinging soap all over the bathroom and onto Nichelle's forhead.

At that moment, a familiar voice clears her throat from the doorway behind Nichelle.

Chapter 6: Bagel Makes A Friend, Sort of

Aunt Tessa is standing right outside of the bathroom door. Tori greets her, not knowing what else to say but the obvious. She introduces Nichelle. Nichelle uses her best manners to greet her. Aunt Tessa acknowledges Nichelle briefly and then asks about the dog. Tori introduces Bagel. She explains to her aunt that she didn't want the dog to get run over and just brought him home until she could find a home for him.

Aunt Tessa sets her books down on the hallway table and takes Bagels paw in her hand. She allows Bagel to stay, understanding that it's not safe on the streets and in the pound. She warns that if it pees or chews on her rugs, she will "kill the dog" and his "mistress" (i.e. Tori). She also warns that Tori will be paying for it until she's as old as her aunt. Her aunt also tells Tori that the dog must stay in the room when Tori isn't home. Tori understands this to mean she can keep the dog, though she isn't sure whether to be excited or scared. Aunt Tessa nods to Nichelle before leaving the bathroom.

Tori is relieved her aunt didn't kill her. She and Nichelle dry the dog off. While they are tending to Bagel, Aunt Tessa enters with a braided leash from a dog she once had. She cuts herself off before explaining any further, and hurriedly exits the room before Tori can ask any questions. Tori and Nichelle shrug at each other, and Tori thanks her through the door.

Tori and Nichelle bring the dog to her room. Curious, Nichelle is about to open one of the three rooms Tori was forbidden from going into. Tori is able to stop her in time, a bit shocked at how much she's willing to abide by her aunt's rules when that's normally not how she operates.

Tori brings the dog into her bedroom just as the phone rings. Lara is on the other line asking if Tori would come with her to the Museum of Modern Art. She's has an art history project covering 20th century artists, showing the connection between their life and life's work. She wants to find someone unique and unusual (knowing all the students will choose Picasso). She asks if Tori wants to come with her. Tori suspects that Lara is going out of her way to impress her Art teacher Mr. Harris. Lara ignores remarks made about that. Tori deliberates over whether she should leave the dog alone, especially because on Monday, a school day, the dog will be trapped in the room all day.

Tori asks if Nichelle can come, but Nichelle has to go to a reception with her mother, since her father got a call to work at the Harlem Children's hospital. Tori agrees to meet with Lara the next day, believing maybe Bagel can handle one day in the room. Besides, she hasn't visited any museums in NYC, besides the MET where her aunt works. Tori has no idea that the visit to the museum will change everything.

Chapter 7: Surprise In The Lobby

Bagel sleeps soundly throughout the night on Tori's parka, but Tori has doubts about the dog truly being house-broken. She wakes up early to take Bagel for a walk.

When Tori arrives back at the apartment, Tessa is making coffee and toast. She invites Tori to have some, and even offers to share a bit of her toast with Bagel (granted the dog isn't to touch her hand). The dog carefully takes it. Tori comments that he's nice. Aunt Tessa still isn't so sure and wants to wait to see how he will behave when Tori isn't around.

Tori shares with her aunt that Bagel will have a test run that day because she's going to the Modern Museum of Art with Lara. Aunt Tessa remembers her. After that, they just eat in silence.

For the rest of the morning, Tori finishes her French and Biology, no thanks to her lab partner Francine, who doesn't complete her Biology assignments.

Thirty minutes to noon, Tori hugs Bagel good-bye and hopes he's well-behaved. She then heads out.

Tori meets Lara outside of the museum exactly at noon. Barbie is there as well. Just like Tori, she hasn't been to any museums in New York City and wanted to see some of them.

The three girls enter the museum. They are able to use their Student IDs to get half-price tickets. As they manuever to the top floor, they pass a whole room exploding with the color and light of Claude Monet's Water Lilies. They then enter a room full of Jackson Pollock's enormous drippy paintings, which Tori doesn't understand. They pass a Picaso painting of a woman who seemed to be fragmented into a thousand pieces and looked at from a thousand different angles. Tori understand this art best.

Lara is still not satisfied with what they have seen. She pulls ahead of the girls, still searching. Tori continuously remarks that she's trying to impress their teacher, which isn't something she will truly want. Lara says "she knows", but keeps looking anyway.

Finally, the trio stop at two paintings of landscapes. They are scenes from a desert, with sand and cactuses and animal skuls bleached into the sun. Yet, nothing in the pictures seemed to be holding still. Waves were traveling through them, making them ripple. Tori loves this art. Lara also loves it, and she finds the artwork familiar. She reads who the artist is and the name is "T. Steinmetz". At first, Tori believes it was a male artist that painted on wood; but Lara reminds Tori it could be a female artist. Tori begins to believe the name is familiar, but she can't fully remember.

Lara suggests they go to the gift shop. She wants to find an Art book so she can research more about the mysterious artist. While in the shop, Tori buys some stationary that gives the illusion that it's been crumpled up and straightened out. Barbie buys a hi-tech black steel holder for her pens and pencils. Lara continues hunting in the book area for anything on T. Steinmetz. Eventually, she finds something on the artist in a Modern Art book.

However, even in the book, there was little information. The artist had been promising back in 1969, but suddenly vanished, removing all but two paintings from circulation for reasons unknown. Sad, Lara gives up, not having enough to write her report on.

At that moment, Tori's mind begins to remember the name Steinmetz. She remembers that it was the same name on the letter she'd tried to give her aunt, and she begins to wonder if her aunt knows something about the artist. Unfortunately, she doesn't believe she can ask her aunt about it.

After seeing the photography galleries among others, the girls eventually part ways at Columbus Circle. Tori is anxious to get home and check on Bagel, hoping he'd behaved while she was gone.

When Tori steps into the lobby, she hears a committee of voices in the common room. The room was usually where the building's board had meetings. As she passes, Tori overhears them talking about her negatively, insisting that she's been skating and doing cartwheels in the hallway, singing loudly, and brought in Bagel. One member even states that children aren't even allowed in the building. She's sure they want her kicked out, especially when she hears her aunt's voice.

However, her Aunt Tessa does the unexpected and stands up for Tori. She insists that the rule for "no children" applies to 12 year olds and younger. Tori is fifteen. Her aunt then begins to express how Tori still has "blood running through her veins" and a "heart that has not yet withered inside her". She even suggests that the others have gotten old and boring.

Tori is shocked by her Aunt Tessa's passion and surprised that she actually stood up for her. Tori sneaks over to the elevator before anyone from the common room comes out and sees her. Just as looks back from the elevator, Louie the Doorman winks at her.

Chapter 8: T. Steinmetz

When Tori enters the apartment, she frees Bagel from the room. Bagel gratefully exits. Tori fills up his water bowl, and is about to feed him what she believes to be his last can of dog food before she can buy him some more.

However, when she opens the cupboard, she finds that her Aunt Tessa has bought great green bags of high-quality dry dog food from the pet store. Tori is overwhelmed to tears, feeling that her aunt truly likes Bagel and her, too. She says this out loud just her aunt enters. Her aunt acknowledges that she does like them a bit. Tori leaps to hug her, though her aunt quickly pulls away. Her aunt does confess that she let the dog out for awhile and found him to be good company. However, she still makes it clear to Tori that she wants her to find him a good home. Tori thanks her aunt, looking down.

For a moment, there's a silence between them. Then, Bagel bangs on the garbage can trying to get to his food. Tori and her aunt laugh as Tori lowers his bowl from the counter. They watch him eat happily.

In the midst of this, Aunt Tessa shares with Tori that the people in the building do not like her or her dog. Tori doesn't let on that she eavesdropped. She's also not sure what to say because she's not ashamed of being herself. Before anymore could be said, a buzz comes from the doorman's intercom.

Since Aunt Tessa hardly had visitors, Tori never learned how to use it. She steps aside as Aunt Tessa speaks to Louie. Henry Abrams is on his way up, and he tricked Louie into letting him in, telling the doorman that Aunt Tessa was expecting him. Aunt Tessa is not happy about this, and the doorman promises this won't happen again.

Henry Abrams arrives at the door. Tessa opens the door for him. He apologizes for sneaking up, but he knew she wouldn't see him, which she agrees. He tries to convince her to release her artwork at his gallery, and calls her Tessa Steinmetz, insisting that "Earnest" wouldn't want her to close up like a hermit and hide her art. Tori realizes that "T. Steinmetz" is her aunt. Aunt Tessa dismisses Henry. He insists that she think about releasing her art, and she promises she'll think about it.

When Henry Abrams leaves, Tori emerges from the kitchen slowly, apologizing for overhearing. Her aunt waves her hand, dismissing it all. Tori notices she suddenly seems very tired and sad.

That night, Tori finally opens express mail she received from her mother the day before. Her parents are happy she is doing well, and admit that the house is quiet without her. Her mum tells her the "spring" flowers are coming up (due to Australia's seasons being opposite the USA's). She also tells her they bought a new "telly" (television) with a new picture. She also assures Tori they scratch Bungee's ear every day and tell him his mistress will be home soon. She then tells Tori her parents miss her, they want her to be careful, and she signs off with love.

Chapter 9: Tori To The Rescue

That night, Aunt Tessa didn't leave her bedroom. The next morning, when Tori got back from walking Bagel, Aunt Tessa was going. Tori assumed she went to work early.

At school, it was a draggy Monday, and everyone was in low spirits. The most electric teacher, Mr. Toussaint was even less inspiring. Normally, Ana is attentive in his class, but she was daydreaming. She passed a note to Tori asking for help typing her story for the Generation Beat newspaper. Tori agreed to help.

After the very long day, Tori rushed up to Room 712 to help with the Generation Beat. On her way there, she met with Poogy. She knew he was an immigrant living alone and trying to bring his family over to America. Tori asks if he would like to adopt Bagel for company. Unfortunately, his building doesn't allow dogs. He does suggest that Tori use her computer to make flyers, and she thinks that's a good idea.

A new sign is hanging outside of 712: M.I.H. Generation Beat, and Tori is happy to see it. When she enters, swarms of kids are aurrounding Chelsie Peterson at the computer. Chelsie was the new Assistant Managing Editor. Though Chelsie could write very well, she was sensitive, not very organized, and didn't deal well with pressure.

Tori, the computer whiz, went over to Chelsie to help. The comuter Chelsie was working on froze, and she forgot to back her file up on a disk. Tori asked when she last saved the file. Chelsie told her around the afternoon lunchtime. Tori assures Chelsie that they can retrieve the file. She suggests they shut the computer down pressing the power button. By doing this, the computer will believe there was a power failure and will know what to do.

Though Chelsie is scared to take the risk, she does what Tori says. Once they reboot the computer, the file is restored and asks if they want to rename it. Chelsie is relieved, and Ana tells Tori she is the girl. Tori wishes all of her problems could be solved that easily.

Chapter 10: History Lesson

Tori has to leave Generation Beat earlier than usual to make sure Bagel has behaved while she was away the whole day. She's not able to make flyers for the dog; she's only able to quickly help Ana. She decides to make them the next day.

When Tori arrives home at her Aunt Tessa's house, something is different. The lights are on, and normally Aunt Tessa doesn't come home until late after Tori does.

Tori finds her aunt in a big armchair with a glass of wine, staring off into space, with Bagel at her feet. She's so lost in her thoughts that when Tori asks if she's okay, she's startled. Her aunt says she had a headache and came home from work early. Tori knows there's more to it because her aunt has gone into work with the flu.

Tori thinks maybe she should be scarce, but now she's starting to worry about her aunt. She asks her aunt if her headache has anything to do with Henry Abrams, the man that came to the apartment before. Aunt Tessa confesses that it possibly does. Tori asks who the man is. Aunt Tessa shares that Henry was once an artist, though not a very good one, and now he owns an art gallery on Madison Avenue. Tori comments that the man wants to show her aunt's work now. Aunt Tessa tells her yes.

Tori tells her aunt she didn't even know she was an artist, and that the family never talks about it. Aunt Tessa shares that the family wasn't fond of her lifestyle. They felt she should've just worked in a shop somewhere and, when she didn't, it was like she was a traitor. Tori relates to her aunt. Her Aunt Tessa comments that Tori's family probably sent Tori to her because they are different from the rest of the family. She shares that Tori's family loves her, they just don't know what to do with her. Still, she believes her parents want her to be happy.

At this, Tori sort of gets choked up. She's not sure her parents want her to be happy, and isn't sure they know what she wants nor is she sure what they want.

Aunt Tessa shares that they were young once, too. She shares that Tori's mom once got suspended for dancing the can-can in school hallways. Tori bursts out laughing, having never heard the story. Aunt Tessa shares that after becoming parents, they felt they had to be more serious.

Then, she asks about her aunt, and asks why she stopped painting. Her Aunt Tessa insists it's a long story. This time, Tori brings up Earnest and asks if it has to do with him. She overheard Henry Abrams mentioning him. She asks if that's the man in the dining room picture.

Suddenly, Aunt Tessa says maybe it's not such a long story after all. Aunt Tessa manuevers towards the dining room picture. She introduces Earnest Steinmetz, a sculptor and her late husband. Tori is shocked, not knowing her aunt had been married.

Aunt Tessa begins to unravel the story. She and her husband lived in an artists' colony. Henry Abrams used to live with them, but he preferred to live in the city with all its "distractions'. One day, while she was working on an exciting new painting, her husband left to get some more painting supplies. Unfortunately, there was an accident with an oil truck. Her husband didn't pass away, but he was badly injured. He couldn't work again. He only lived two more years after that.

They used to have a dog named Fletcher. The dog passed away a year after him do to old age. The dog made Earnest happy. Ever since, Aunt Tessa burned her paintbrushes and bought back all of her paintings to erase herself. She moved to New York City and got a job fixing antique picture frames.

Tori is silent for a moment, trying not to cry, knowing how hard it must be for her aunt to hold up. Tori looks at the painting and asks where the others are. Aunt Tessa tells Tori she already knows, and Tori realizes the paintings are in the three rooms at the end of the hall.

Tori races to the three rooms. Aunt Tessa tells her she can open any room, and it will be the same: full of paintings. Tori opens one room, and she notices it's filled with a cloud of dust. No one has gone in so long the light bulb has gone out. Aunt Tessa opens the shade and Tori is able to see her aunt's wonderful work.

At this point, Tori feels it's a shame that the paintings haven't been see in 30 years. Aunt Tessa shares with Tori that when Earnest passed away, her light went out, and she can't paint without her light. Tori comments that Henry Abrams is right; her aunt shouldn't be making picture frames, she should be creating art.

Aunt Tessa gets silent, and Tori gets frustrated. Tori tells her aunt that she's just like Tori. She always has to have her own way, and doesn't follow by anyone's rules. But Tori realizes that though some rules are stupid, when she breaks them, they hurt her aunt. When she skates in the lobby it hurts Aunt Tessa. She also states that when Aunt Tessa refuses to paint, she hurts herself and the world. Tori promises to stop skating in the lobby if her aunt promises to paint again.

For a moment, Tori is afraid that her aunt will be angry at her for lecturing a grown-up. Instead, Aunt Tessa tells her niece that she's a smart girl, and asks her to get Henry Abrams's card for her.

Chapter 11: Everybody Wins

After many years, the T. Steinmetz art gallery opens at Abrams right after New Year's, and the Generation Girls are invited to attend the party. The Generation Girls are star-struck, seeing so many people who look famous like Madonna and a few super models.

Aunt Tessa is interviewed. They ask her why she decided to return to art after all these years. Aunt Tessa responds that sometimes people change their minds, and sometimes people need other people to help them change, looking straight at Tori.

Henry Abrams approaches Tori and clinks his martini glass with her ginger ale. He thought he'd never see this day, and acknowledges that if it hadn't been for "pain-in-the-neck" Tori, it probably wouldn't have happened. Tori feels her Aunt Tessa looks happy. Henry isn't sure what Tori did, but Tori tells him she just annoyed her aunt to death.

After the interview, Aunt Tessa checks on the girls. She asks if they like the food. She enjoys the stuffed mushrooms, but advises they stay away from the hot dogs. To Tori, those are her favorites.

Aunt Tessa also asks Lara how her report went. Lara is very happy to have interviewed Aunt Tessa and had a sneak-peak at her art before almost everybody else. Tori is sure this will impress Mr. Harris. Chelsie gets the idea to put the paper in Generation Beat website, which could make them famous. Tori agrees to create graphics to go with it.

Nichelle compliments Aunt Tessa's work. Aunt Tessa thanks her, and shares she'd been thinking of doing a little portrait painting. She's not sure what type of artist she is, but will need a model. She offers Nichelle an after-school job as a model and agrees to talk about it when the excitement dies down. Nichelle almost faints.

At that moment, Mr. Harris and a red-headed woman arrive to the party. He approaches the group, complimenting Lara on her paper and giving her an A-plus. The woman on his arm compliments her as well. He introduces the woman as Rosalynn, his wife. At this, Lara's enthusiasm dwindles. But Tori reminds her that "easy come, easy go". Lara repeats it, and is at least happy she received an A+.

The party lasts for hours, but eventually the Generation Girls retire to carpeted stairs and kick off their heels. Aunt Tessa finds them, and offers to pay for their cabs home. She's ready to go home to check on their new dog Bagel. At this, Tori smiles.

Before going to sleep that night, Tori writes to her parents on a Statue of Liberty postcard. She shares that things are getting better in New York all the time, and that she and her aunt are getting along "like mad". She's looking forward to visiting her family for the summer, even though it will be winter in Australia. She has many things to tell her parents. She signs off with "I love you".

Generation Beat Newsletter

Number of Abandoned Animals Growing

New York is full of dogs and cats that have been abandoned by their human companions. These animals are sometimes very thin, and often sickly.

Tori Burns, a sophomore at Manhattan International High School, recently found a stray dog on West Fifteenth Street.

"Bagel is a great dog," said Tori, "but I think it's terrible to leave a poor, defenseless creature all alone on the street like that. If I hadn't taken Bagel in, who knows what might have happened to him?"

A veterinarian at a neighborhood clinic said that this problem gets worse when people give animals as holiday gifts. At first, people love the animals, then they realize they can't care for them.

So, if you are thinking of asking for a dog or a cat as a gift this holiday season, be sure you can give it the love and care it deserves.

Gathering Information

As you write a news article, it is important to remember that your goal is to inform your readers. When they have finished reading your article, they must know something new. Before you can write like a journalist, you must first learn to be a detective.

You job is to think of an interesting idea for an article, research it, and organize your information. Once you have done that, you will find that the writing part is easy!

To Write a news article:

• Think of an idea. You might hear someone talking about a problem, or read something in a magazine, or see something on television. If you think other people would be interested in this idea, then you can move on to the next step.

• Research your idea. The author of the article on stray dogs spoke to Tori Burns and to a veterinarian about the problem. What every journalist needs to know: As a reporter use your eyes and ears! Everything you see and hear can be used to help you write your stories. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to research information at the library and on the internet. Always take careful notes while doing your research.

• Reread your notes. Think carefully about the general idea you are trying to get across. The author of the Generation Beat article realized that stray animals are a problem in New York City, and that the problem tends to become worse over the holidays. She used this topic as the main idea of her article.

• Write the article. Be sure to answer the "who, what, when, where, why, and how" questions.

• Ask a friend to read the article. Did they learn something about the topic?

Have fun! And always remember what Mr. Toussaint says: Writing=Honesty=Truth