Tommy didn't get home until four-o-clock that day. His mother greeted him at the door.
"Tommy, I didn't know school got out this late."
Tommy shook his head, keeping his eyes on the ground. He didn't want his mother to see the black and blue eye he had received. He knew that she would flip out.
"I stopped at Chuckie's for about an hour to do some homework. Sorry." He mumbled as he started to make his way up the stairs.
"Well, dinner will be ready in about an hour."
"Actually, mm, I'm not that hungry. I'm just going to go upstairs for the rest of the night."
Tommy continued to go up the stairs.
"Well, okay, but it's only four."
Tommy merely nodded.
"If you change your mind, you're welcome to come downstairs." Didi told him as she made her way into the kitchen.
It was an hour and a half later and the Pickles were all eating dinner.
"Where's Tommy?" Stu asked his wife.
"He came home about four-o-clock from Chuckie's house. He went straight upstairs and told me that he was going to stay up there for the rest of the night."
Stu frowned. "He didn't want any dinner?"
"No. He seemed so down. I wonder if he's okay. Dil? Do you know if anything happened at school today?"
Dil, who had been quiet for most of his dinner, swallowed his food and shook his head.
"No. He seemed normal to me." He lied before taking another bite of his hamburger.
Dil was still pretty shook up about what Tommy had called Lil. He didn't know what had triggered his sudden change of emotions, but he knew that was unlike Tommy to speak about any girl like that, especially Lil.
"UmâMom, dad? I'm not very hungry. Could I be excused?"
His parents nodded, knowing precisely that Dil was going upstairs to check on Tommy.
Dil knocked on the door of Tommy's bedroom.
"Knock, Knock." He called.
"Come in, Dil." Tommy said, a bit agitated.
Dil walked into Tommy's room and found him lying on his bed tossing a football in the air.
"Hey, T." Dil greeted him.
"Hey." Tommy said as he rolled his eyes.
"Umâso I was just wondering if there was something wrong. I mean, you seemed a little off today. What, with you calling Lil a"
Tommy interrupted Dil. "Are you actually going somewhere with this, or are you just here to annoy me?"
Dil sighed. "I just wanted to know if there was anything I would be able to do for you. Do you need anything?"
Tommy shook his head and sat up.
"No. I'm good."
Dil stared at his older brother for a moment before heading for the door.
"Well, if you think of anything, just let me know."
As Dil was about to walk out of the room, Tommy stopped him.
"Hey, Dil."
He turned around.
"Yeah?"
Tommy paused for a moment.
"Nothing."
Dil left Tommy's room a little distraught by the fact that Tommy wouldn't tell him what was wrong. He knew in time that he would, so he didn't feel too bad. He just had to give Tommy some time and he'd come around.
That night, when everyone else was asleep, Tommy got up from his bed. He turned on his desk lamp and looked on the top of his shelf. He took down a picture frame. Inside it was a picture of the whole gang from that past summer. They were all at the beach. Susie, Angelica, and Harold were standing in back. Phil, Kimi, Chuckie, Lil, Tommy, and Dil were kneeling in the sand in front of the others. He noticed that Kimi's arms were around both Phil and her brother. Lil had her head rested upon Tommy's shoulder. And Tommy had his arm around his little brother. They were all smiling. Tommy, personally, thought it was an excellent picture of the nine of them. He took one last look at the picture before stuffing it in his desk drawer with his other junk. At least now when he woke up in the morning he wouldn't have to see it. He wouldn't have to be reminded of how much fun they all had with each other or how much Lil actually hates him. He breathed a sigh of relief before turning out the light and hopping into bed. Today was certainly a wild first day of school. He couldn't wait to see what the day brought for him tomorrow.