The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg Read Free Book Online

completely taken aback. “But … it’s a registered letter.”
    “I know, but Earle said I didn’t have to sign for it, if I don’t want to.”
    “Oh … well … huh … I’ve never had this happen before … so I guess I’ll just write out a first attempt slip and try again tomorrow, then.”
    “But I won’t want it tomorrow, either.”
    “Well, officially, I’m required to make three attempts to deliver it.”
    “Pete, I don’t want it. I don’t even know who it’s from.”
    “Huh … well, that’s up to you. But it does seem a shame—somebody sure went to a lot of trouble and expense to make sure you got it. And it could be important.… It looks like it’s some kind of medical records.”
    “Pete! I really don’t want to know. Right now, I’m busy trying to plan a vacation. Did you know that Earle and I have not been anywhere alone since 1970? And what makes you think it’s medical records?”
    “It’s from the Texas Board of Health, so I just figured it had something to do with health information.”
    “Texas Board of Health? How weird. What could they want?”
    “I don’t know,” he said, looking at the large envelope. “Did someone ever get sick in Texas or hospitalized for anything there?”
    “No. I was born in Texas … but …”
    “Well, there you go. Maybe it’s an outstanding hospital bill or something.”
    “Oh, I can’t imagine it could be a bill at this late date. You knew Daddy. He always paid his bills.”
    “Yeah, that’s true. Maybe it’s a refund.”
    “Fifty-nine years later? I don’t think so.”
    “Well, if you’re sure you don’t want it, I’ll just leave you the attempted delivery slip on the door and go on then.”
    “Okay, thank you, Pete. Sorry.”
    As soon as Pete walked away, Sookie looked out in the backyard. Once again, it was full of blue jays. Not one little bird to be seen. Her plan was clearly a failure—not only a failure, but she might have made things worse. She wouldn’t blame the little birds if they all just packed up and never came back. And it was so sad, because they were her favorites, and they didn’t even know it.
    L ATER , AS SHE SAT in the tub, she tried her best to forget about the letter, but it was still on her mind. It wouldn’t have been so hard if Pete hadn’t waved it around in her face and hadn’t blurted out who it was from. It was so irritating. All she had wanted to do today was relax and not have to think about any more problems. She knew the letter had something to do with her mother, but what? She couldn’t imagine. Had Lenore been sick or hospitalized when she was living in Texas? She had never said anything. Was there something her mother didn’t want her to know? Everyone always said how young and beautiful she looked for her age. Maybe she had had a major face-lift in Texas. Or she could have hit somebody and put them in the hospital. Lenore was a terrible driver, and she had run into almost everybody in Point Clear at one time or another. Or maybe she had had some sort of mental break, like Aunt Lily, and been committed at some point. Could Lenore have been in a mental hospital? Oh, dear.
    By the time Sookie had dressed and put on her makeup, her imaginationhad completely run away with her. The next thing she knew, she was downtown at the post office with the pink slip and had picked up the letter and was on the way home with it. She never did make it to the bookstore or the travel agency. She stared at the envelope it on the seat next to her all the way home. Sure enough, it had TEXAS BOARD OF HEALTH written across it, and stamped in big black bold letters across the front was PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL MATERIAL ENCLOSED .
    At 5:15 that afternoon, Earle walked in the house. “Hi, sweetheart. I’m home.”
    “Hi, honey,” she said, not giving him a chance to sit down. “Earle, I know you think I’m silly, but I’ve been waiting for you to come home all day. Would you sit with me while