Malory Towers Break Barriers

The Misfit

Tori finally got into the rhythm of school. She was advised to use her wheelchair as much as possible to prevent exhaustion that prevented her from walking. She was really enjoying her classes, but she still felt different.

She was the only one who had to go to the San daily. She was the only one that had one on one help with assignments. She was the only one with a note taker. She felt like she was a misfit. She didn't dare share this with any of the girls because surely they wouldn't understand. She would keep that feeling to herself.

In the dorm, she stayed silent around the girls. She just kept to herself. She decided to write a letter to her parents about how she felt. She apologized for feeling the way she did because Malory Towers was the only school that didn't turn her away. She told her parents what she liked about school as well. She then secretly put the letter in an envelope and put it in the drawer of her night table.

After writing the letter, she just lay on her bed cuddling her doctor bear. Tears were starting to roll down her face. She felt like she didn't belong. She felt she was too different to be in a boarding school with able bodied girls.

Just then, both Darrel and Sally heard Tori crying. Then went over to their beds to see what was going on. They sat on Sally's bed. They asked Tori what was going on. She told them that she didn't feel worthy of being at Malory Towers. She told them that she felt she was too different to be at the school. They reminded her that Miss Greyling accepted her when the other schools turned her away because of the polio. They told her that Mrs. Greyling looked passed her polio and looked at her as a bright girl. She then told them that she felt like a misfit.

Both Darrel and Sally told her that everyone was unique and that everyone faced their own challenges. Darrel told Tori that she had something called word blindness. She explained that words got jumbled up when she read or wrote. She told Tori that Tori had a physical difference and needed help with getting around and trying to keep up in class was difficult that's why Sally was her note taker. Darrel told Sally she appreciated her as well. Tori apologized to Sally for making her have more work with being the note taker. Sally told her that it wasn't too much trouble because it helped her conserve her strength for the assignments. They hugged Tori and she felt a bit better.

Now there was one other thing on Tori's mind. She had to keep a secret from Darrel. She couldn't tell her that her dad was at the school all the time for her stretches. She felt bad that she had to keep a secret with her best friend.

She then thanked Sally and Darrel that they were going to be the best of friends. She told them that she had friends before she had polio, but they didn't want to be her friend anymore after being diagnosed. Darrel and Sally told Tori that they wanted to get to know her no matter if she had polio or not. That touched Tori so deeply she began to cry. Sally and Darrel surrounded Tori in a huge hug.

Then Tori told them that they had a favour to ask them. They asked what it was. She told them that she had to mail a letter to her parents. Darrel told her she would be glad too. Tori took the letter from the drawer and handed it to Darrel.