Lights Out!

by Laura Dower

  “This is just like how we did it when we were little,” Madison cried, dashing through the sprinkler and sliding on the grass. She landed with a thump and burst into laughter. Her faded jean shorts were completely drenched.

  “I can’t wait until soccer camp starts,” Fiona said, sliding across the lawn in the opposite direction. She wrung the wet out of the bottom of her purple tank top before running through the spray again.

  “I can’t wait for ballet camp, either,” Aimee said, diving into the spray with a carefully choreographed leap. She let the water soak her from head to toe for a moment. Then Madison leaned over and held her hand over the sprinkler, redirecting the water spray straight at Fiona.

  “Quit that! HEY!” Fiona yelled. She stepped onto the grass hard and splashed mud and water back at Madison.

  “Hey, yourself,” Madison said, laughing. By now the three friends were soaked.

  Aimee twirled around and screamed to Dean, “Turn off the water!”

  The trio ran back over to the chaise lounges and stretched out in the sun to dry.

  “Have you decided yet what you’re doing for the rest of the summer, Maddie?” Fiona asked. “Last Friday you said you might go to computer camp, but then yesterday you said you were just hanging out.”

  Madison shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Huh? Guess what?” Aimee asked. “Which is it?”

  “I don’t know,” Madison said.

  “Why don’t you come to dance camp with me?” Aimee asked. “Or work in my dad’s store with me?” Before heading to camp, Aimee was working part-time in her dad’s cyber café, part bookshop and part Internet café, in downtown Far Hills.

  “Get real,” Madison said. “I can’t dance to save my life. And your dad doesn’t need any more help. You have four brothers.”

  “You’d better decide on something to do before the summer’s over,” Fiona said. “You’ll die of boredom doing nothing.”

  “Mom’s away on a business trip for a week and a half. I’ll figure it out before she gets back,” Madison said. “I won’t die of boredom in nine days, will I?”

  While Madison’s mom traveled to Australia to meet with some hotshots at Budge Films, Madison was spending the early part of the summer at her dad’s downtown apartment. It was fun to stay there. She missed a lot of things about her room in the Blueberry Street house, but Dad’s house was special, too. He’d made sure of that. That week Dad even let Madison redecorate her small room with cool patterned sheets and curtains ordered from the latest Boop-Dee-Doop online catalog.

  “Maddie, I have an idea. Why don’t you enter the library’s book-a-thon with me?” Fiona suggested. She was determined to read more books than any other junior high school student—or anyone—in Far Hills that summer. Already Fiona was halfway through reading the fourth Harry Potter book for the fourth time.

  Madison shrugged, uninterested. “I’m a slow reader,” she said.

  Fiona rolled her eyes. “Well,” she said, reapplying some sunblock. “It was just an idea.”

  “Egg, Drew, and Hart all got picked to be junior lifeguards at the pool. They posted the list yesterday,” Aimee said. “Now, that’s a cool way to spend the summer. Hanging out at the pool center, sunbathing by Lake Dora.

  “I know,” Fiona said, blushing proudly. “Egg e-mailed me as soon as he found out.”

  “Of course he did!” Aimee said, teasing her friend. She poked Fiona until they were up and running around the puddles by the sprinkler again, careful not to slide on the slippery grass.

  Madison felt like rolling her eyes. Aimee was so lucky. She always had a million things to do in summer, winter, and all the days in between. Fiona was even luckier. Not only did she have the book-a-thon and then soccer camp to keep her busy this summer, she had a guy, too—even if it was only their friend Walter “Egg” Diaz.

  “Want a drink?” Aimee asked. She hurried inside to grab a few cans of soda. Madison and Fiona played catch with the two dogs.

  “You’ll think of something to do,” Fiona said reassuringly.

  “Thanks, Fiona,” Madison muttered, tossing a stick at Phin.

  “Well, you always have us,” Fiona said, smiling. “There’s always a silver lining—best friends are forever.”

  “You sound like my gramma Helen,” Madison said, smiling back at Fiona.

  “Hey, Maddie!” Aimee yelled from the door of the Gillespie house. “Your dad just pulled up outside!”

  Fiona threw her arms into the air. “What? You have to go now? So soon?” She leaned over and gave Madison a damp squeeze.

  “E me later, okay?” Aimee said, rushing over to give Madison a good-bye hug, too.

  “Are you guys definitely going to Lake Dora tomorrow?” Madison asked.

  “Definitely!” Aimee said.

  “Egg said he’ll be at the pool center all afternoon,” Fiona said. “They have classes there in the morning.”

  Madison and Aimee shot Fiona a look. They both burst into laughter.

  “What’s so funny?” Fiona said, spacing out a little bit. “I just said—”

  “You know Egg’s entire schedule?” Aimee said.

  Madison started to hum the wedding march. “Dum-dum-dee-dum…”

  Fiona blushed a deep pink. “Is that bad?” she said, acting self-conscious. “I mean, I like him…. You guys already know that….”

  Madison threw her arm around Fiona. “Oh, Fiona,” she said. “We’re just kidding. Right, Aim?”

  “Right.” Aimee nodded. “Gee, I wonder if Ben Buckley will be at the pool, too.”

  “Ben Buckley?” Madison raised her eyebrows. “What made you think of him?”

  “I don’t know—um—um…” Aimee stammered. Now it was her turn to blush. “What was I talking about?”

  “Are you in like with Ben or what?” Madison said. “I can’t believe it.”

  “I am NOT in like with Ben,” Aimee said. “I was just…”

  “Ha-ha-HA!” Fiona gave Madison a high five. “So I’m not the only one with a terminal crush?”

  “Okay, I admit it. I like him a teeny bit,” Aimee said. “But neither of you can tell a soul. I would be so embarrassed if anyone knew….”

  “Who are we going to tell?” Fiona said. “Ivy?”

  “Ooooh! Don’t even say her name!” Aimee wailed.

  Madison chuckled. Ivy Daly, also known as Poison Ivy, was their main enemy in school—and out.

  “Yo, Maddie!” Dean yelled out from the house. “Your dad is still waiting outside. Hustle it up!”

  Madison gasped. “I’ve got to go!”

  Fiona and Aimee helped Madison pick up her stuff off the lawn chairs and shove it into her orange bag. And although she didn’t want to leave, the departure was perfect timing. This way Madison could cut out before either friend had a chance to tease Madison about boys she liked. Madison currently had a secret crush on another classmate, Hart Jones, but neither BFF knew about it. Only two people knew. One was Madison’s online keypal Bigwheels, who lived thousands of miles away. The other was her pug, Phinnie. And dogs don’t blab secrets.

  Madison snatched her bag and flip-flops and dashed over to the side gate of Aimee’s house. It led directly to the driveway where Dad’s car was parked. Phin scampered along behind her.

  “Later!” Madison called to her friends, waving. They waved back. Blossom let out a little howl.

  Dad sat inside the air-conditioned car, listening to classical music. Madison felt like she’d entered a concert hall as soon as she piled into the front seat. The AC gave her chills up and down her spine.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting,” Madison said, breathless. She pushed the front seat forward so Phin could hop into the back.

  “Aw, are you still wet?” Dad groaned, grabbing a blanket from the backseat. “Here, sit on this.” He kissed Madison on her forehead and put the car into gear. Phin settled down behind her. He loved the cool air.

  “How was your afternoon?” Dad asked.


  “Good. The same,” Madison said, her teeth chattering a little. “We sat in the sun. Talked. You know. Just like we did yesterday.”

  “Uh-huh,” Dad said, nodding. “Any new ideas about what you want to do for the rest of the summer now that school testing is over?”

  Madison gazed out of the car window and sighed. What to do? First her friends pestered her and now Dad wanted to know, too?

  “I was thinking of joining the circus, Dad,” Madison said.

  Dad made a droll face. “Very funny,” he said. “I’m laughing, inside. I just want you to keep yourself active. Is there a sport you can participate in? Some girl group?”

  Madison leaned back into the seat and let him fire away with the questions. She had no answers—yet.

  They drove on toward his apartment, where he’d prepared a spaghetti dinner for the two of them. Dad loved to cook, which made staying at his place all the better. He served the pasta with sauce onto plates, and the two of them sat down in front of the television. That was another bonus about being at Dad’s. Here Madison could watch TV and eat at the same time.

  After dinner Dad disappeared into his study while Madison disappeared into her room to go online and check her e-mail. She hooked up her orange laptop so she had immediate access to all the same files and mailbox functions she normally had at home with Mom.

  FROM

  SUBJECT

  Boop-Dee-Doop

  Your Order Has shipped

  Bigwheels

  Whassup??

  TheEggMan

  THE POOL

  The first e-mail was a surprise. The sheets and curtains she’d ordered for Dad’s place were being shipped out via Priority Mail. She could redecorate over the weekend—something to do!

  The second e-mail was from Bigwheels.

  From: Bigwheels

  To: MadFinn

  Subject: Whassup??

  Date: Tues 17 June 4:16 PM

  :-V Is testing over yet? Ours is!! I am SO glad. We leave for horse camp soon. My mom is driving me to this mountain cabin with other kids and we all ride horses all day long. It’s supposed to be good for us. Mom always says that about everything. U should be here 2 since u like animals sooo much. We could horseback ride together. Have u ever been on a horse? Well, write back soon and tell me what ur doing for summer. I know it was between hanging at the lake and getting a “real” job. I bet I know what you’ll pick—ha ha.

  Yours till the Popsicle sticks,

  Bigwheels, aka Vicki

  p.s. My cat Sparkles says hello. Well, actually she says meow. LOL.

  Madison clicked SAVE. Then she opened the e-mail from Egg.

  From: TheEggMan

  To: MadFinn, BalletGrl, Wetwinz, Wetwins, W_Wonka7, Sk8ingboy, Dantheman

  Subject: THE POOL

  Date: Tues 17 June 5:01 PM

  just saw the wether chanel & it is like 50% chance of rain that is so totally BAD. Ok. everyone who was coming 2 meet me & Drew & Hart @ the pool—if it rains we should now meet l8r @ the cafe instead. Ok? Call me if u can’t meet at 2. we have swim lessons in the morning rain or shine.

  Bye, Egg

  Madison clicked DELETE. Rain? What was he talking about? It wasn’t even cloudy.

  After logging off the computer, Madison checked the clock. Mom would be making her nightly long-distance phone call to Madison—and she’d know all the right things to say at a moment like this. Madison got ready for bed and waited patiently for the telephone to ring.

  Dad handed her the receiver. “Guess who?” he said, winking.

  Outside the bedroom window, a yellow moon hung in the sky over Far Hills. When Madison heard Mom say, “I miss you, honey bear!” into the receiver, everything seemed all right with the world—even just for a split second.

  It didn’t matter that Madison hadn’t yet decided on her summer plans. Something would come along soon—wouldn’t it?

  Chapter 2

  PHIN’S WIGGLING WOKE MADISON up from a deep summer sleep. For some reason, whenever they slept over at Dad’s, Phin couldn’t be awake in the room unless Madison was awake, too. So he parked himself on top of her head and started to wiggle.

  Madison opened her eyes and pushed him off. The air conditioner in her room hummed louder than loud, but Madison just lay in bed. Her talk with Mom the night before had been a disappointment—cut short when Mom’s film crew interrupted. Thus Madison had gotten no advice on summer plans. She hadn’t even gotten a good-bye “hug by phone.”

  “Maddie!”

  Dad marched into her room and opened the shades.

  “Goodness! This place is a sty, Maddie!” Dad said.

  He was right. Madison was living half out of her suitcase and duffel bag and half out of the permanent closet. She had books she hoped to read piled high in one corner and a mess of CDs piled near a small boom box.

  Phin bounded off the bed when he heard Dad’s voice. Madison snuggled deeper under the covers.

  “Mmmmm…go away, Dad,” she mumbled. “I’m asleep.”

  “Ha-ha. Nice try,” Dad said. He stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed. “Your friend Fiona called. Since it’s raining, everyone’s meeting over at the cyber café. Do you need a ride, or can you walk?”

  “It’s raining?”

  Madison looked out the window. Egg’s prediction had come true. The Weather Channel was right. Big, fat raindrops plinked against the glass. There would be no pool today.

  “I’ll walk to the café,” Madison said, knowing it would frizz her hair. But she liked that. Most people hated what humidity did to hair. Not Madison. She liked the additional volume a few degrees—and a little moisture—could add to her hair.

  Madison crawled out of bed and stumbled into the kitchen, where she poured herself a bowl of Toasty-Os with dried cranberries instead of plain old raisins. Dad usually had extraordinary kitchen ingredients. Dad’s girlfriend, Stephanie, was seated at the kitchen counter, sipping coffee and eating his homemade almond biscotti. She had stopped off at Dad’s after an early-morning doctor’s appointment.

  “Maddie!” Stephanie said when Madison walked into the room. “How are you?”

  Madison made a face and leaned over to scratch Phin’s back. She still had trouble getting used to the idea that Dad’s girlfriend appeared unannounced in the apartment. It had only been a little over a year since the big D, divorce. Did Stephanie always have to drop by?

  “I’m okay. Tired. Good morning, Steph,” Madison said aloud in a monotone.

  “So what’s your big plan for the summer?” Stephanie asked, chomping on her biscotti.

  What’s your plan for the summer? That question again! Madison groaned and chewed extra loudly on her cereal.

  “We don’t have a plan yet for the summer, Steph,” Dad said, walking into the kitchen at that exact moment. “But we’re finding one this week.”

  “I could find a plan today if you would both just quit pestering me!” Madison said, her voice sounding an awful lot like Oscar the Grouch. She dumped her breakfast bowl into the sink and scrambled out of the kitchen to pick out clothes. If everyone was meeting at the café, Madison would be seeing Hart and the other boys. She needed an outfit that would say “cute friend with possibilities” loud and clear.

  Madison rushed back into the bedroom and threw open the closet.

  Moments later, after flinging T-shirts and shorts far and wide, Madison realized that Stephanie was standing in the doorway. Madison knew what Stephanie was doing. Whenever Mom traveled on business, Stephanie liked to act all buddy-buddy. Like she was some kind of robo-Mom replacement Madison never, ever requested.

  But as annoying as Stephanie could be, Madison had to admit that Stephanie did give great advice—especially about fashion. And she always acted super-nice. And she always took Madison’s side….

  “That shirt looks very cute,” Stephanie commented when Madison pulled on a little baby tee with a camouflage print. “And I’d wear your hair up, since
it’s raining.”

  “You think so?” Madison said. She turned around to Stephanie and sighed. “Hey, I’m sorry for being such a—”

  “Don’t even think about it. I’m not a morning person, either,” Stephanie said with a wink. She and her coffee cup disappeared back into the apartment.

  Madison decided to go with Stephanie’s choice and wear the army shirt with a pair of dark denim shorts she’d purchased at a thrift shop. She laced her high-top sneakers and combed her hair into pigtails.

  “Hey, Maddie,” Dad said. “Come into the living room for a second. I want to show you something online.”

  Dad had powered up his high-tech laptop so he could show Madison a Flash Plug-in that he’d installed. Dad was working on a short film for a website that had hired him as a consultant. He’d been doing all kinds of different jobs related to the Internet, including starting up his own web business.

  Madison liked watching Dad work at the computer. It inspired her and made her want to learn everything about creating websites.

  After watching Dad for a while, Madison glanced at the bottom corner of the computer screen. “Oh no! Is that the right time?” she asked aloud.

  Dad nodded. “Yes, it is. Why? Do you have to go?” He looked disappointed.

  Madison leaped up and grabbed her bag. “I’m supposed to meet everyone ten minutes ago!”

  “It’s pouring rain outside, young lady,” Dad cautioned.

  “I know, I know, I’ll be fine,” Madison said, trying to reassure him.

  Dad handed her an umbrella at the door. “You’re absolutely sure you’re okay walking to the café in this weather?” he asked. “I can give you a lift.”

  Madison giggled. She gave Dad a kiss on the cheek.

  “You’re absolutely sure you’re okay watching Phinnie?” she said.

  “Aren’t you the comedian?” Dad said. “Hey—don’t forget to call me later. And you need to be back by five o’clock, okay? Stephanie’s cooking dinner tonight. I want to spend some time with you! We want to talk to you about your summer plans. You need to make some!”