by Laura Dower
“Did you see the bee that stung her?”
“Does Fiona hate bees?”
“Do we have to finish the field trip now?”
Madison shrugged. She didn’t know the answers to any of those questions. Where was Mr. Danehy? Where was Jimmy?
Egg poked his way through a group of kids. Hart was right behind him.
“Did you save her life?” Egg asked Madison.
“You did save her life, didn’t you?” Hart said. He sounded impressed.
Madison frowned. “I didn’t do anything special.”
“YES, YOU DID!” Aimee said. She looked at Egg directly. “While you guys were wasting time making stupid comments, Maddie was doing something important.”
“Aimee,” Madison contested. “I wasn’t doing anything really—”
“I am still so worried,” Aimee said to Madison as they lined up together again. “Should we be in there with her? Are you absolutely sure she’s going to be okay?”
Madison nodded and smiled. “Of course.”
The teachers blew a whistle, and all the seventh graders got back into their designated groups. With more than an hour left on the field trip, the class had to move right along to the next activity. The only faculty member who remained missing was Mr. Danehy, who stayed inside the nature center’s infirmary with Chet and Fiona. He was waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Waters to arrive. The rest of the teachers and guides led everyone over to another lodge on the property of the nature center.
Jimmy made an announcement. “Okay, everyone,” he said. “For the remainder of your time here, I’d like to invite you into our nature center gift shop.”
Madison raised her hand. She was ready to volunteer right now. But Jimmy didn’t see her at first.
“What are you doing?” Aimee asked, pulling Madison’s arm out of the air.
“I think I might become a volunteer here,” Madison said, trying to raise her arm again.
“Maddie,” Lindsay said. “You were just talking this morning on the bus about how busy you are.”
“Yeah,” Aimee said. “You don’t have time to volunteer at the animal shelter and here and do all your work. What planet are you on?”
“I can find time,” Madison argued. “I know I’m busy. But I really want to do this. It’s a great place.”
“You just want to do it because Jimmy is Mr. Cute,” Lindsay teased.
“Not true,” Madison said. She giggled. “Well, only a little true.”
They trio laughed together as they entered the gift shop.
Standing by the display of stuffed animals, Madison bumped into Ivy—literally. Ivy sneered.
“Walk much?” she said, turning away. Ivy’s drones, who were standing there, sneered, too.
“Who does she think she is?” Joanie asked. “Florence Nightingale or something?”
They all laughed.
“Who is Florence Nightingale?” Aimee whispered to Lindsay. She softly explained that Florence Nightingale had been a nurse who helped soldiers during war.
“I’m actually writing an English paper on her,” Lindsay said. “Ask me anything and I bet I can tell you.”
“Oh, maybe another time,” Aimee said. “Did I tell you guys that I’m writing mine on Isadora Duncan? She was a dancer.”
Madison was reminded that she still hadn’t finished her Women’s History Month paper on Eleanor Roosevelt. Maybe her friends were right. Volunteering for the nature center wasn’t a good idea after all. She did have homework that was late, other commitments with Mrs. Wing, flute lessons (and she’d hardly even practiced for the next one), and a bunch of other stuff.
She was busier than busy. Her Calendar Girl agenda was booked.
Madison Finn was busy as a bee, in fact.
Inside the gift shop, Madison used her allowance to buy a butterfly puzzle. She was thinking it might be a nice thing to give to Fiona after she recovered from her terrible bee sting. It was also on sale for only five dollars—exactly the amount she had in her bag.
Outside the gift shop, Mr. Danehy rejoined the group with his camera in hand. He wanted the classes to pose together for a field trip photo. Everyone stood next to a cardinal-red whirligig.
“This isn’t the same without Fiona,” Aimee said.
“Or Chet,” Drew said.
But everyone said, “Cheese,” and posed, anyway.
The field guides waved good-bye as the kids headed for the buses back to Far Hills Junior High. Jimmy stopped to pull Madison aside.
“I just wanted to say,” Jimmy told her, “that you were very brave in there. You really helped your friend and all of us. The doctor wanted me to thank you personally. You and your friends.”
Madison blushed like she always did when a guy stood so close.
“Tanks,” she mumbled. “I mean, thanks.”
Jimmy put his hand on her shoulder. “Thank you. Take good care of your friend now, okay? You should both come back to see us again.”
Madison nodded like one of those plastic bobbleheads you put in the back window of a car. She was swooning inside, twice as much as she’d been earlier in the day while standing next to Hart. She hurried onto the bus, waving good-bye to Jimmy the entire time.
“What did he say?” Aimee and Lindsay asked as soon as Madison had taken her seat.
“He thanked me,” she said. “He thanked me personally.” She said the last part a little louder so Ivy could hear a few rows back. Madison could tell Ivy was eavesdropping, and she wanted to give her something really good to hear.
“He was so cute,” Lindsay said.
“Megacute,” Aimee said.
“And he’s all mine,” Madison said, giggling.
She turned back around to see her friends giggling, too. Unfortunately, she could also see Hart Jones. He wasn’t giggling at all.
Madison stared out the window to avoid his stares, or what she thought were his stares. He could have just been looking in her general direction, right? She wasn’t sure.
The bus driver passed another sign on the way out of the nature preserve with its familiar message:
THANKS FOR VISITING
TAKE NOTHING BUT MEMORIES
LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS
“Let’s get out of here!” some boy yelled from the back of the bus. A few other kids yelled in agreement. Madison could hear most boys in the back getting rambunctious just like they had that morning. Mr. Danehy voiced his loud disapproval.
Not everyone was acting dumb, though. Madison heard Drew say something about hoping that Fiona was okay. That was nice, Madison thought—for a boy.
Egg’s voice could be heard above the rest, as usual. “I got stung by a bee on my foot once!” he said. “I went to the emergency room, and it hurt so bad.”
“Me too!” Hart said. “I actually bumped into a whole beehive once. What happened to me was way worse than what happened today—”
“Who asked you?” Ivy Daly said.
Madison felt herself smile when she heard that, even if it was super-obnoxious.
Score another one for Ivy.
Madison’s mind was abuzz. She couldn’t wait to get home and open a new file to record all of today’s adventures. She wanted to make a final plan of how she and her science partner, Ivy, and the rest of the girls could beat all the boys in Mr. Danehy’s science class this week.
Sometimes even enemies had to come together and save the day.
Chapter 10
“MOM? MOM!” MADISON YELLED when she walked in the front door of her house. Phin rushed to the door, fanny wriggling.
“Rowrrooooooo!” he barked, sliding on the wood floors. He chased his tail around in circles and then made a mad dash for the living room. For the next few minutes he sped around the first floor, ears and tail wagging.
“Phinnie!” Madison said. But he didn’t stop. “Mom, are you home?”
She wandered into the kitchen to grab a Capri Sun.
“Madison!” Mom exclaimed as soon as she’d enter
ed the room. “I didn’t hear you come in. I was wondering what was going on with Phinnie running all around the house like a mad dog….”
Madison stood as still as a statue, her mouth open.
Mom was sitting in the kitchen with a stranger.
A man stranger.
“You look as pale as a ghost,” Mom said, standing up to feel Madison’s forehead. “Oh, my goodness, what’s happened?”
“Huh?” Madison said. “Who are you?” she added, looking directly at the stranger.
“This is Paul,” Mom said, oozing sweetness. “He’s a friend from work.”
“Oh,” Madison said. She wondered if Mom was telling the truth.
Was this guy from work or was he really from Date-O-Magic?
“Hey, there,” Paul said in a low, low voice. He sounded like a DJ from the radio station Madison liked.
“Hey,” she said, grabbing her juice. “I’m Madison.” She looked right over at Mom. “You would not believe what happened on the field trip, Mom.”
“So tell me,” Mom said. Madison looked over at Paul and shrugged. “Maybe I’ll tell you later.”
Mom wrapped her arm around Madison’s shoulders. “Come on, honey bear. Tell me. I’m sure Paul would love to hear your story.”
“Well, I have homework,” Madison mumbled. “I’ll tell you later. Nice to meet you.” She nodded to Paul and walked out of the kitchen.
“Maddie!” Mom yelled after her. Phin was following, too. “Are you okay? What was all that about?”
“Nothing. Forget it,” Madison said. “I’m going up to my room.”
Madison grabbed her laptop from the den and headed upstairs. She didn’t care about the mess. She didn’t care about the hole in her ceiling. She didn’t even care if Billy the contractor was up there working.
All she cared about was being in her space—and calling Fiona’s house to see if her best friend was feeling any better since the bee incident.
Fiona’s telephone line was busy the first, second, and sixth times Madison tried. Figuring that maybe Fiona was online, Madison logged on to TweenBlurt.com. Unfortunately, Fiona wasn’t in any of the chat rooms that were open, and when Madison checked her buddy list, she didn’t find Fiona’s name.
The only name Madison recognized there was Bigwheels.
So she sent her a message.
Madison couldn’t believe it. She tried to message Bigwheels a second time, but her keypal had already logged off.
Was Bigwheels writing from school and that was why she couldn’t say much more?
Madison was a little worried. She opened a new e-mail and addressed it. She had some advice for her keypal after all.
From: MadFinn
To: Bigwheels
Subject: You Got Offline So Fast
Date: Fri 30 Mar 4:21 PM
I was bummed when you got off the computer w/o telling me what was REALLY bothering you. You don’t sound ok at all. I know this thing w/Lainie is stinky, but it won’t last 4ever. I have friend fights 2 and they always, ALWAYS work out. Well, mostly they do. Except for Poison Ivy LOL.
Today’s trip was a little weird 4 me 2. We were @ this nature center and my friend Fiona got stung by bees. Or maybe one ginormous bee. It must have been huge because her arm all swelled up like an inflatable raft.
I think u should call Lainie right now and ask her what’s up. Maybe if u talk 1 on 1 she will be nicer? Maybe she has a good reason for not telling u something. Maybe she’s embarrassed or too scared. You should try.
I hope u write back sooner than soon. I will be waiting.
Yours till the bees wax,
MadFinn
P.S. At the field trip, we also saw these incredibly beautiful butterflies. This is the symbol for a pretty little butterfly: {(i)}
“What are you doing up here?” Mom said. She’d been standing in the doorway to Madison’s water-damaged bedroom.
“I’m online,” Madison said. “Where’s Paul?”
Mom walked over and sat on the edge of Madison’s bed, even though it was covered with a plastic cover. “He left.”
“Oh,” Madison said.
“Is that what’s bugging you? Paul?” Mom asked. “You really have a bee in your bonnet today.”
Madison stared at Mom. “Why do you say that?”
“First of all, you come storming into the house like it’s on fire. You growl at me in the kitchen. Now you’re up here in the half dark working at a messy desk in a room that needs to be cleaned and repaired—”
“So?” Madison said.
“Honey bear, what is going on? You have me a little worried,” Mom said. She reached over and wrapped her arms around Madison.
Madison’s eyes filled up. Then her bottom lip started to quiver. Within moments, she was bawling.
“Oh, Maddie,” Mom said. “What is it?”
“Fiona got stung by a bee today,” Madison said. “At the nature center. And everyone was helping her, but I thought she was going to die or something—”
“Shhhhhh,” Mom said. “Hush. She’s fine.”
“How do you know?” Madison said through her tears.
“She called a little earlier and left a message. She wanted you to know she was at home and feeling better.”
Madison sighed. “She called?”
Mom reached around and wiped off some of Madison’s tears with her sleeve. She touched her cheek very softly. They sat there together in silence for a few moments.
“You know, it really smells up here,” Madison blurted.
“What?” Mom cried.
“It smells like wet, damp, icky room,” Madison said. “Can we go downstairs now?”
She was still sniffling as they headed down to the first floor.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m sorry I was so mean.”
Mom just smiled. “You weren’t mean,” she said. “You were just upset.”
When they got down in the kitchen, Mom made Madison a cup of hot chocolate. It was getting past the winter and into full-time spring, so the “cocoa days” were numbered. Madison only liked drinking it when she was feeling cold or feeling blue. That usually meant only in winters—or times like right now.
Mom stood over by the kitchen sink while Madison explained everything that had happened that day on the field trip. Mom couldn’t believe all the mishaps, especially the bruise on Madison’s shoulder from where the Frisbee hit.
“What a day!” she said.
“Mom …” Madison said her name very slowly. “Who was that Paul guy?”
“Someone I know from work. A film editor, actually,” Mom said. “He’s very funny. Well, you didn’t really get a chance to talk to him, but he is. I know you would like him.”
“Are you guys dating or what?” Madison asked.
“Dating?” Mom laughed. “Don’t be silly.”
“Why is that such a silly question?” Madison asked.
“Maddie, if I’m going to date someone, you’re going to know about it.”
“Did you meet him on Date-O-Magic?” Madison snapped.
�
��Where?” Mom said. She sat down in the chair next to Madison’s chair. “What do you know about Date-O-Magic?”
“I know you surf that Web site—” Madison started to say.
She cut herself off. Whoops. Now Mom would know she’d been nosing around the computer.
Sure enough. Mom crossed her arms and made an “Oh, you do?” face. “Have we been snooping around on my computer?” she asked.
Madison skipped right over what she’d done to get to the heart of what she wanted to say. “Mom, do you know what happens to people who date other people from online? Don’t you ever watch those shows on TV? On the news once they had a story about this guy who got this woman to leave her whole family and move across the country to be with him,” Madison said. “She left her kids behind and moved to the middle of nowhere.”
Mom sighed. “Do you think that’s what I’m going to do?”
“Well,” Madison said.
Mom stood up from the kitchen table and poured herself a cup of hot chocolate. She sat back down and pushed closer to Madison, reaching out for her daughter’s wrist, holding on to it tightly while she explained herself.
“I’m not dating anyone from the Internet, Maddie,” Mom said seriously. “And I don’t want you to worry that I might ever do that. I know plenty of people have met dates online. My friend Olga gave me the Web site address to check into it. But I’m not ready for all that.”
“Really?” Madison asked.
Mom smiled. “Really.”
Madison squeezed her mom’s wrist right back.
“Maddie, I wouldn’t date anyone without talking to you about it, okay?” Mom said.
“You mean like asking my permission?” Madison asked.
“Well, no,” Mom said. “Not exactly. But I would want you to know who I was going with and where we were going. I would want to include you in all my major decisions.”
Madison sighed. “Oh. I guess I can handle that.”
“Are we okay now?” Mom said. She put their cocoa cups into the dishwasher and wiped down the countertop. Madison didn’t answer right away, so Mom decided to sneakily change the subject. “Maddie, why don’t you try to call Fiona back? She sounded like she really wanted to talk. I’m sure she’d love to talk to you after the day she had.”