by Laura Dower
Even Ann.
“The turtle you are looking at now,” Myrtle continued, pointing to the screen and trying to get everyone’s attention, “is the green turtle. There have been sightings of up to fifteen hundred nests each year, although most nest on islands in the Caribbean Ocean. Many years ago, I had the good fortune to witness one of the green turtles’ nests with my husband, Walton, a researcher and writer …”
All at once, the sound of ten dozen pinball machines went off inside Madison’s head. How could she have been so dumb? This was Myrtle, the same Myrtle that Walton, the man from the plane, had told her about. Duh! This was the Myrtle. Madison had always believed that coincidences were very good luck, but this was a doozy. How could it have taken her so long to see the connection?
Madison glanced over in the half-darkness of the Seahorse Auditorium and saw Ann scribbling notes. She was always taking notes on something. Just beyond Ann, Madison’s eyes caught Will’s eye. He was staring at her.
And then he smiled.
Madison froze.
It was just a smile—an ordinary smile. But everything about it made Madison’s stomach flip-flop.
She quickly turned to face forward.
How long had he been staring at her?
Without thinking much about what had happened, but needing to confirm that it had indeed happened, Madison shifted her body slightly and looked one more time.
Will was still staring.
Madison froze again, but this time she was looking right at him. After a moment, she looked away again.
Flip. Flop.
The last reptile Myrtle put up on screen was the most important turtle of all—at least for Camp Sunshine’s purposes. This was the turtle Madison and her fellow campers would be searching for along the coast.
“Ah, the mighty loggerhead,” Myrtle said as she pointed to the screen. “It’s named for its rather large head and jaws. It crushes heavy-shelled clams, crabs, and other animals for food.”
Although she didn’t turn to look (she wasn’t sure she could ever turn to look that way again), Madison heard Will and Teeny laugh about something. Madison hoped it was the turtle they were laughing at—and not her. There was no particular reason to think that that was true, but she was feeling just a wee bit paranoid. Was it Ann’s influence? For some reason, Madison felt self-conscious about everything just then.
The lights went up and Myrtle continued her talk. Now she asked campers to tell her what they knew about loggerhead turtles.
A kid down in front raised his hand.
“I know that they have heads shaped like logs,” the kid said.
Everyone laughed out loud.
“Well,” Myrtle’s voice was deep, but gentle. “I suppose you might say that,” she said. “Anyone else?”
“I know that the loggerhead is on the endangered-species list,” another kid grunted.
“Yes, yes, very good,” Myrtle said. “Did you know that there used to be millions of sea turtles in our oceans? But because of the demand for sea turtle meat, eggs, shells, leather, and oil, their numbers have been greatly reduced. It’s sad, but we can help change all that.”
A few other kids raised their hands, and added their own points. Naturally, Madison wanted to raise her hand and say something, too. She’d surfed the Internet for more than an hour the night before just to learn a few cool turtle facts of her own. But the whole eye-contact thing with Will had turned Madison’s brain off, not on. Sitting there, she couldn’t recall a single fact.
Madison didn’t even utter a peep when Ann aggressively nudged her and said, “Madison, say something; I know you want to; you know a lot about turtles,” in that squeaky voice that had—in only three days—driven Madison crazier than crazy.
But it was too late to participate. Myrtle was no longer looking for contributions from the kids. The presentation had ended. Leonard was back up at the microphone, leading a round of applause for Myrtle—and the turtles.
“Brilliant,” Leonard said, clapping his hands together. “And campers?”
He looked out at everyone, urging them to clap louder. Madison leaned backward ever so slightly so that she could look behind Ann’s head and spy on Teeny, Will, and the others during the round of applause. Madison caught a glimpse of Will’s shaggy hair. He had on a T-shirt with a license-plate design on the front and sleeve. She’d noticed it when they sat down. Now she could just barely see it. The letters ILUVDOGZ were pictured on the license plate.
Madison smiled to herself. Will would probably like Phinnie, wouldn’t he?
“Now, campers, if you would like to introduce yourselves to Mrs. Shelly,” Leonard said as everyone was dismissed, “you will have an opportunity to do so at our lunch. Please follow the other groups into the dining area.”
Madison shuffled into the dining room with the rest of the Egrets. Thankfully, she didn’t have to deal with Ann. She must have gotten the hint, Madison mused. Logan was standing there talking to her. Suchita and Teeny were joking around together, too. That left Madison and Will next to each other in the lunch line.
It was hard not to giggle, standing there. Madison felt awkward and more self-conscious than ever. She couldn’t stop thinking about—or seeing inside her mind—Will’s green eyes staring back at her in the auditorium. Her stomach still had not recovered. What with the nervous flip-flops caused by Will’s staring and the pangs brought on by missing her BFFs, Madison had a total case of indigestion.
As they stood there, not speaking, Myrtle Shelly breezed past. Madison turned to look just as Myrtle walked by. And she nearly collided with Myrtle’s shoulder. But the near miss gave Madison a chance to say a proper hello.
“Oh, n—n—no,” Madison stuttered, “Mrs. Shelly, I’m so sorry.”
“No blood,” Myrtle joked as she smoothed her sweater with a free hand. “Any injuries?”
“No,” Madison replied.
“Well, then, no doctors needed.”
“Thank you so much for your speech,” Madison gushed, tripping over her words. “I feel like I already know you. Of course, I do. Well, sort of …”
“Come again?” Myrtle stuttered. “I’m not sure I understand you, dear.”
“Well, the truth is, I do know some things about you from before today. I know that your granddaughter and you have the same name.”
“Oh?” Myrtle’s eyebrows went up.
“You see, when I came here from New York, I sat next to your husband, Wally, on the plane.”
“Aha!” Myrtle cried. “So you’re the fine, funny young girl he was telling me about!”
Myrtle took Madison’s hand in her own. Her skin was softer than soft. She held on tight as she continued speaking. “Walton told me he hasn’t had such an enjoyable flight home in a dog’s age. And he flies at least once a month, so that’s really saying something.”
“Well, he was totally nice to me,” Madison said. She was still wondering why Myrtle described her as a fine and funny young girl. What was so funny about Madison?
“Yes, you are a real sweetheart, aren’t you? I would love to chat, my dear, but I’m starved. Toodle-ooooo!”
Madison nodded. “Yes. Toodle? Oooo? Um … thanks!”
And just like that, Myrtle dashed off.
“You know her?” Will asked Madison as soon as Myrtle walked away.
Madison nodded proudly. “Sorta.”
The server presented Myrtle with a lunch tray, and she sidled up to the counter for a helping of macaroni and fruit salad. Will wandered over to the tables where everyone sat.
Of course, Ann grabbed the seat right next to Will. It was a key body block. Madison ended up in the chair next to Suchita and some other kid from the Crabs.
But Madison didn’t mind.
She had a better view of Will from where she was anyway. It was a good time to get a little distance, to let her stomach flips and flops subside. It was one of those sweet moments she’d have to write about in her files.
And to make t
hings even sweeter, Madison even caught Will staring a few more times during lunch.
Chapter 13
AFTER DINNER THURSDAY NIGHT, Madison went online before heading to bed. To her delight, she discovered her keypal online.
Talking to Bigwheels was better than eating ice cream. Madison felt yummy all over. And by the time they said their fourteenth good-bye and Bigwheels went *poof*, Madison wasn’t feeling quite as guilty about her burgeoning crush on Will.
It was only a two-week crush anyway, right?
Madison logged off and then curled up in bed. After lying awake in the dark for a half hour, her thoughts bouncing from Hart to Will and back to Hart again, Madison finally got the bright idea to count turtles in her head.
Somewhere around seventy-three loggerhead turtles, she fell asleep at last.
“It’s raining again?” Madison groaned when she woke up on Friday and looked out the window to see puddles everywhere.
“Afraid so,” Stephanie said. She poured Madison a cold glass of orange juice. “It’s been at it for hours and shows no signs of stopping. I actually called your camp to see if it was canceled. But no, it’s still happening. They just want everyone to bring a rain slicker.”
“A slicker?” Madison said. That sounded so kindergarten.
The original camp plan for the day had been to go bird-watching on a pontoon boat. Now that trip would be moved to week two.
Much to Madison’s surprise, Dad was still in the apartment that morning. His own business meeting for that day had also been rescheduled.
“I’ll drive you over to the ELC this morning,” Dad said. He had a scruffy beard. He looked tired.
“Sure thing,” Madison said, sounding less than enthusiastic.
“I’m happy to take her over, Jeff,” Stephanie said. “I know you have some phone calls to—”
“I told you I’ve got it under control,” he said.
“It’s okay, Dad. I know you’re busy.”
“No,” Dad said firmly. “I’m not busy today.”
“Jeff,” Stephanie said in a low voice. “We’ll be together this weekend. No worries. You don’t have to—”
“I know we’ll be together this weekend,” Dad snapped. “You don’t have to talk to me like that, Stephanie.”
“Like what? I was just—” Stephanie started to say.
Dad cut her off. “Let’s not get into this again, Stephanie,” he said coldly.
“Daddy?” Madison spoke up. “I think she was just trying to …”
“I know what she was trying to do,” Dad grumbled.
“You know everything these days, don’t you?” Stephanie said, shaking her head. “But I don’t. I don’t know what you want from me, Jeff.”
Stephanie walked out of the room. There was silence for a moment. Madison felt weird about breathing, let alone speaking. But she did.
“Dad? What was that about?” Madison asked. “Are you and Stephanie okay? Because the other day she told me there were some things going on. …”
“What did she say?” Dad asked with a frown. He looked up at the ceiling and bit his lip. Then he looked away. “Oh, Maddie,” Dad said. “I wish you didn’t have to hear this.”
“Hear what, Dad?” Madison said. She put her hand on his back to make him turn around and face her. “It all sounds familiar to me,” Madison said.
“No,” Dad said. He shook his head. “Aw, I don’t know. Let’s go.”
Madison was afraid to ask for more details. She knew for sure now that something (and a not-so-good something, at that) was happening between Dad and Stephanie. But Dad didn’t seem to want to talk about it. And Stephanie had disappeared into their bedroom with her coffee mug.
What was going on?
There would be no answers that morning. Rain slicker in hand, Madison followed Dad to his car, and they drove over to the ELC.
Madison checked her reflection in the backseat mirror. With all the rain, the air felt hotter than it had the days before, and it left a film all over Madison’s body. Her skin was part rain, part sweat, and all … gross. She dreaded the thought that Will would see her looking like that.
For some bizarre reason, an edgy Dad decided to accompany Madison in to the ELC—even though Madison begged him not to. Camp had been going on for a week; no one had their parents bring them inside anymore. To make matters worse, Dad insisted on meeting Madison’s camp friends. Everyone was mingling in the front when she and Dad entered.
Teeny and Ann were sitting talking. Ann saw Madison right away and waved. Half the other kids in the room were sopping wet, as though they’d been standing in the rain for a day. All the wetness, combined with the body heat, made the room downright steamy, even though the ELC’s air conditioner was running.
Madison didn’t see Will anywhere. A part of her was grateful—she didn’t want Dad to embarrass her in front of him. Another part of her was disappointed. She had wanted to see what Dad’s reaction would b
e.
“Are you going to introduce me to your pals?” Dad whispered. “Or are we going to stand here like totem poles?”
Madison wanted to shrink down to the size of a minnow. Pals? Totem poles? Sometimes Dad could be so corny.
“Hey, Mad Dog,” someone called out from behind Madison. She whipped around and saw Will standing there.
He was there.
Madison saw Dad’s eyebrows shoot up. “Mad Dog?” he repeated, a little suspicious of the name. “Is that you?” he asked Madison.
“Don’t ask,” Madison said, giving him the brush-off. “Long story.”
“Is this your dad?” Will asked right away. He gave Dad a flat little “Hey, what’s up?” wave.
Just then, Teeny and Logan came over to see what was going on. After that, Leonard and other camp staffers walked in.
Dad knew it was time for him to go.
“Yup, I can see you’re busy,” he said calmly. He turned to leave. Madison was pleased with Dad’s getaway. No major embarrassments had been incurred.
But then Dad surprised her. He turned on his heel, took five long strides over to Madison, and grabbed her shoulders. Dad kissed her—smack!—on the cheek. “Love you, sweetheart,” he growled. “Don’t forget your slicker.”
Madison saw Teeny laugh at the word “slicker.” She felt her skin flush with mortification. This was her most embarrassing moment to date—which was saying a lot, considering the number of times Madison had been embarrassed in her very short life span.
Of course, there was nothing surprising in the way Dad spoke to Madison, as if she were in first grade, not seventh. But nothing could counteract the embarrassment.
After Dad’s departure, the day went by pretty quickly, although the group spent most of the time indoors. Madison didn’t actually spend a lot of time with Will, though. She ended up hanging out with Suchita and Ann most of the time. Guys gravitated toward guys, girls toward girls.
All of that didn’t mean that Madison ever let Will out of her sights. By the time the day ended and they’d played a game of “ocean charades,” completed an underwater word puzzle, and helped to reorganize a part of the nature room, including touching up the paint on the plaster alligator, Madison and Will had had a few conversations.