Caught in the Web (16 page)

“It is you!” Dan said, supersurprised. “No way!”

“So you two know each other?” Eileen smiled.

“Your son helps out here, too. Well, isn’t that nice,” Mom said, tucking her cell phone away. She seemed relieved to know that Madison wouldn’t be the only twelve-year-old being a veterinarian’s helper. Dan extended his hand to shake Mom’s.

“Hi, Mrs. Finn,” Dan said.

“This boy’s a regular Dr. Dolittle, if you ask me,” Eileen said.

Dan looked mortified. “Ma, do you have to—”

“Dan, I didn’t know you liked animals,” Madison said. “I mean, that’s so cool. I love animals more than—how come you never said anything?”

“I don’t know.” Dan seemed flustered. “I never thought about it. I’ve been coming here since I was little.”

“Cool,” Madison said. She was genuinely impressed.

After a few more words about forms and schedules, arrangements were made for Madison to officially come back and help out at the clinic Tuesday after school. Dan said he’d be there, too.

Madison and Mom thanked Eileen and said good-bye. The door jingled as they exited, and Madison grinned to herself at the bell’s tinkling. It was like a joyful ringing to mark the beginning of this new adventure. She’d be helping animals as often as she could.

Suddenly she felt less jumpy. Not only was she a real volunteer, but she even knew someone who already worked here. She couldn’t wait to tell everyone. Dad would be prouder than proud. And Aimee and Fiona would think the clinic was really cool.

On the way home, Mom stopped to pick up pizza dinner. Mom was famous for picking up takeout. Tonight Madison wouldn’t have to add to her Scary Dinner file. Sometimes when Mom felt like cooking, it was more than scary.

“Well, I guess you were right, Maddie. Maybe volunteering does beat flute lessons,” Mom said on the car ride home. “You have a great smile on your face! I wish I had a camera. And Dan seems very nice. Wasn’t he the Lion in
The Wiz
?”

Madison flashed a grin and nodded.

“Who knows, Maddie?” Mom added. “Maybe you’re destined to be a vet yourself someday.”

“Well,” Madison mused, “I could be a vet … or I could be a computer programmer … or maybe a writer. I know I want to be famous, that’s a definite.”

“You’ll be a vet on some weekday afternoons, anyway,” Mom said, turning into their driveway. “Right now, I’d like you to take Phin for a walk. Okay?”

“Okay!” Madison hopped out of the car and skipped up the front porch steps.

“WOOOOOOOOOORRRRF!” Phin snorted a combination hello and sneeze as Madison came inside. The dog jumped up and sniffed Madison’s hands and legs and jacket and sneakers.

“Phinnie!” Madison said, leaning down to greet him. “What are you doing?”

Phin smelled something. He smelled
everything.
Was it the pizza they’d picked up on the way home? Or the Far Hills Animal Shelter all over Madison’s clothes and skin? He licked her legs all over.

“Run!” Madison squealed, making a dash for the kitchen. After much petting and a handful of dog treats, Phin finally calmed down enough to go for his walk. They made their usual loop around Blueberry Street before dinner.

Madison ate a giant slice of pizza and then headed straight for her bedroom. It was getting late, and she still had science reading and math homework. She also needed to send an e-mail to Bigwheels, her online keypal.

As she logged on to TweenBlurt.com, Madison was still wired with excitement from her trip to the Far Hills Animal Shelter.

From: MadFinn


To: Bigwheels


Subject: BIG NEWS for Bigwheels


Date: Sun 12 Nov 5:23 PM


Do you like animals? Do you have a pet? I know I asked you that but I forget. I am bouncing off the walla-wallas because my mom says I can volunteer at this animal clinic in our town. Have you ever volunteered for anything? I can’t concentrate and I have to study, too. Where r u?


Please write back soon.


Yours till the puppy loves,


MadFinn


P.S. Attached is a picture of my dog, by the way. His name is Phin and he’s a pug. Isn’t he cute?


<>


Just as Madison was about to log offline again, Aimee sent her an Insta-Message.

: hey I tried calling you


: mom is on the line with clients


: how wuz the vet


: sooo many 3:]


: huh


: DOGS


: I get it. Meet me B4 school tomorrow


: xtra credit in SS???


: TOTALLY C U


: woof!


: *poof*


Tomorrow was back to school, but Madison couldn’t get her mind off the animal shelter. She’d rather spend time with dogs than Pilgrims. Maybe she and Aimee could combine the two?

Suddenly she got a silly idea.

Maybe they could do an extra-credit report on dogs that crossed on the
Mayflower?

Dad would have a good laugh at that one.

M
ONDAY MORNING MADISON WENT
to the school lobby to put her canned tomatoes in the large donation box. Egg and Fiona had just done the same thing.

“There must be five cans of yellow waxed beans in there,” Egg said.

Madison laughed. “And a can of pinto beans, too. What are those?”

“It’s like a vegetable graveyard,” Fiona said.

Students and teachers were asked to bring canned food from home just before Thanksgiving. The cans would be given to the homeless and other needy people in the Far Hills community.

“GOOD MORNING, STUDENTS,” a voice suddenly boomed from the loudspeaker, which just happened to be on the wall near Egg’s head. Egg faked a sudden eardrum injury. Madison and Fiona chuckled.

“STUDENT COUNCIL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD THIS AFTERNOON IN THE ASSEMBLY,” Principal Bernard said. “AND YOUR ESTEEMED CLASS PRESIDENTS WILL BE TAKING THE NAMES OF VOLUNTEERS FOR OUR ANNUAL TURKEY TROT AT THESE MEETINGS … AND PLEASE DON’T FORGET THE CAN DROP IN THE LOBBY. …”

November was a busier-than-busy month at school. While the can drive was about helping the homeless, the Turkey Trot was a short running race for students to raise money for the Far Hills Senior Center. Everywhere kids went, someone at school wanted them to give time, give cans, or give thanks.

“Why don’t they just give it a rest?” Egg snapped. “Like we don’t have enough to do.”

“Did Principal Bernard say ‘esteemed’ class president? That’s a joke.” Fiona snickered. “Since Ivy was elected, I don’t think she’s done much of anything.”

Madison just shrugged. Ivy Daly was their enemy number one, appropriately nicknamed Poison Ivy, but Madison wasn’t in the mood to talk about her. Madison had more important things on her mind.

“Hey, Finnster!” a voice called from across the lobby. Madison turned to say hello. She knew it was Hart Jones. He’d nicknamed her Finnster years ago and it stuck. She didn’t like it very much, but somehow the way Hart said it made it seem beautiful. She was crushing on Hart big time, so when she did greet him, Madison did it very carefully.

“Oh … hey …” she said, tossing her head as casually as she could. Whenever she saw Hart’s brown tousled hair and wide smile, Madison could feel her own heart thumping inside her chest.

“What’s going on?” Hart asked.

Madison pretended to look for a book in her orange book bag. “Just going to class. What about you?”

DUH! Madison wanted to run as soon as she had asked that dopey question. Of course he was going to class. Where else would Hart be headed in
school
?

Egg interrupted them with a hard tug on Hart’s shirt. “Hey, man, I gotta show you something. Let’s go.”

“See you later, Finnster,” Hart said, letting himself be dragged away.

Egg and Hart had become fast friends along with Drew and Chet. They liked to travel in a pack.

“I totally love your outfit, Maddie. Did I say that already?” Fiona giggled. Madison was wearing a denim skirt and a purple T-shirt with little flowers embroidered around the neckline.

“Thanks,” Madison replied. “I like your shirt, too.”

“Where’s Aimee?” Fiona asked.

“Probably dancing,” Madison said.

Aimee sometimes took ballet private lessons in the morning before school. She was determined to be a ballerina or some kind of professional dancer when she got older, so she went to private lessons in addition to her afternoon practices for Dance Troupe. Sometimes Aimee would have to get late passes to morning classes if her ballet lessons interfered. She often made dance her number-one priority.

As the first round of bells rang, Madison said good-bye to Fiona and went to Mrs. Wing’s classroom. Egg and Drew weren’t there yet.

“Madison!” Mrs. Wing said, smiling from ear to ear. “My husband told me you’ll be volunteering at the Far Hills clinic. I think that’s terrific.”

Madison felt herself blush a little bit. “He told you? But he wasn’t even there when I visited.”

“He goes in late on Sundays to prepare for the coming week. He saw your name on the sign-up sheets.” Mrs. Wing leaned down closer to Madison. “That’s a very fine thing you’re doing, you know. The animals need so much attention. Good for you!”

Madison blushed a little bit more at the compliments.

Brrrrrrrring.

As the second round of bells clanged, Egg and Drew appeared suddenly at the classroom door and scurried over to two empty seats near Madison.

Egg leaned over to Drew and whispered, “Whoa. Mrs. Wing looks pretty today.”

Madison couldn’t believe Egg had developed a crush on Mrs. Wing when seventh grade began—and that it still hadn’t fizzled. He couldn’t get the goofy stare off his face whenever he was inside her classroom.

“Today we’ll be learning the basics of PowerPoint presentations,” Mrs. Wing said. “Who has played with PowerPoint before?”

The class was noisy, so she clapped to get everyone’s attention. The satin scarf over Mrs. Wing’s shoulders made a soft swoosh with each clap. The painted scarf, with autumn leaves in brown, orange, and yellow, sounded like a rustle of
real
leaves.

Egg was right, Madison thought, staring at the scarf. Mrs. Wing was so pretty. She even had a cool husband. She had a perfect life.
Perfect.

Madison wished her family were close to perfect like that.

By the time social studies rolled around in the afternoon, Madison was ready with a tentative outline for her extra assignment with Aimee. They had planned it out during lunch, and they were both really excited.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Belden, their social studies teacher, wasn’t as enthusiastic. She had a cough and a cold and was crankier than cranky.

Rat-a-tat-a-tat-a-tat

Mrs. Belden tapped the edge of her desk with a plastic ruler to get everyone’s attention.

“As you know, I’m proposing extra-credit projects with a holiday theme.”

A wave of whispers flooded the room as Mrs. Belden pulled down a map of the original thirteen colonies and pointed to Massachusetts.

“This is Plimoth,” she said. “P-l-i-m-o-t-h, as they spelled it back then.”

Egg and Drew were chattering. Madison felt certain they’d agreed in advance to be partners.

Fiona was across the room talking to her soccer buddy, Daisy. The circle of friends had agreed ahead of time that if Madison and Aimee partnered, Fiona and Daisy would do the same. That way no one would feel left out.

Madison glanced around the room, to see who else might pair off together. She guessed that Ivy and one of her drones would be partners. Rose Thorn and Phony Joanie were always right by Ivy’s side.

Mrs. Belden kept talking over all the distractions and noise. “Class! Now listen up. I want you to do these projects in pairs. I think that if we can work together better as a group, we may begin to have a little more discipline about our work. You all have loads of great ideas, so it should be fun working together.”

Hart raised his hand. “So can we pick our extra-credit partners?” he asked.

Aimee and Madison looked at each other with a smile, and then Mrs. Belden shook her head no.

Madison’s stomach did a 180-degree flip-flop. Aimee’s hand shot into the air.

Mrs. Belden kept right on talking.

“Actually, Hart, the topic of your project will be up to you, but pairs working together will be chosen by me. This isn’t really a voluntary thing, either. I’ve decided everyone must do the extra credit. And yes, that includes you, Ben.”

Ben Buckley, the smartest kid in the room and probably in the entire school, didn’t look happy with that news.

Madison’s jaw dropped. She scribbled in the margin of her notebook: MAYBE U WILL STILL BE MY PARTNER?

Aimee wrote in the margin of her notebook: HOPE SO.

Mrs. Belden read from a list of names and pointed to different student pairs-to-be. Fiona and Daisy were matched up first. Madison felt more hopeful that Aimee would be her partner.

Next Ivy was matched up with Drew. Everyone giggled out loud. The thought of a boy-and-girl pair—especially
that
pair—was so funny. Drew looked especially embarrassed. Poison Ivy looked … well, disgusted. Then again, Madison always thought she looked that way.

“Hart Jones and Dan Ginsburg.” Mrs. Belden read the next pair off her list. The two boys smiled and high-fived on the other side of the room.

Madison kept up hope that she and Aimee would be paired.

“Madison Finn.” Mrs. Belden read her name off the list, and Madison took a huge breath. “Your partner will be …”

Madison listened closer than close.

“… Walter Diaz,” Mrs. Belden said.

Madison gulped.
Egg
? She’d been matched up with her closest guy friend? Was that a bad thing or a good thing? She couldn’t decide.

Aimee punched Madison on the shoulder. “You’re soooo lucky,” Aimee whispered. “Now who am I gonna get?”