Give and Take Read online

  “Hey, Finnster,” Hart said, calling Madison by a name he’d made up years earlier. “You signing up?”

  Hart was Madison’s junior-high crush: cute, smart, and silly. Madison couldn’t take her eyes off him.

  “I think so,” Madison said, looking for a pencil in her orange bag. “Are you guys signing up?”

  “Well, my tía Ana, the one who’s a nurse, is super cool,” Egg explained. “So I figured it would be a good thing to help her out. I mean, I’ve got hockey practice, but my mom is bugging me to do it, so …”

  “What about you, Hart?” Madison asked.

  “Yeah, I’m doing it with Egg,” he said, smiling. “Our hockey coach said that we can miss one or two practices and still play in the game next Saturday.”

  That was all Madison needed to hear. She smiled back and leaned forward to add her name to the list. Even though Fiona and Aimee had been Madison’s first hope to join her at The Estates, Egg and Hart would be just as entertaining company.

  The list was almost filled. The name at the very top was “Hilary Klein,” a girl in Madison’s English class who always dressed up in matched sweater sets and frilly socks; carried a purse in addition to her book bag; and applied eyeliner in the girls’ room between classes. She wasn’t very friendly, so Madison wasn’t quite sure why she would volunteer to be some stranger’s friend. But there she was.

  Underneath Hilary’s name were those of Hart, Egg, Davy Miller, and Joey O’Neill, nose-picker extraordinaire.

  Then, in giant letters, was the name Ivy Daly, with a curlicue on the y. Madison groaned. Although she didn’t want to spend free afternoons with the enemy, she added her own name under Ivy’s.

  After leaving the chorus room, Madison headed to the lockers to retrieve her social studies textbook and some other papers. Fiona and Aimee were waiting there.

  “Now the three of us can walk home together,” Aimee said. She had on her lemon-colored parka with a furry white crocheted hat and gloves.

  “I think it’s cool that you volunteered,” Fiona said. She wore a baseball cap that read ANGELS, and a jean jacket with a sheepskin lining. She’d wrapped her scarf all around her braids and neck.

  “Yeah, it’s cool. Except for Ivy,” Madison said. She pulled her quilted winter jacket out of her locker and zipped up the front. “Let’s go,” she told her BFFs.

  They headed out the school doors toward home.

  As Madison approached her house, Phin saw her and made a dash for the sidewalk. But the pug couldn’t reach. He was tethered to a post in the front yard, wearing his green sweater, of course.

  “Hey, Mom!” Madison called out. Mom was bent over a hedge by the porch, wrapping it in preparation for snow.

  “Hey, honey bear!” Mom said, tying knotted rope around a wide piece of burlap. “Come and help me, would you?”

  Madison skipped over to the porch and dropped her bag. She couldn’t wait to tell Mom about her new volunteering gig at The Estates.

  Mom had other questions on her mind.

  “Did you check your e-mail today?” Mom asked.

  Madison nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

  “I was just wondering when your father is going to firm up those Christmas plans. He said he would e-mail you right away, didn’t he? I need to make reservations for myself and I can’t do it unless I know you’re going to be safe and sound somewhere with Dad. Did he e-mail?”

  Madison squirmed. “Well, I don’t know what’s happening.”

  “What?” Mom said. “You told me yesterday that he confirmed all the plans and dates. Now we were waiting for him to—”

  “Waiting!” Madison said. “Oh yeah. Well that’s true. I am waiting for… for…”

  “ROWROOOOOO!” Phin let out a howl. His leash was wound all around the post in the yard. Mom ran over to unwind him. Madison took advantage of the break in the interrogation.

  “I’m going inside, Mom, okay?”

  “Okay,” Mom said. “We’ll talk about this later.”

  Madison hurried into the front hallway. She checked the message machine first, hoping that she’d find a recorded greeting from Dad. But the only message was a garbled one from Gramma Helen. That happened sometimes when Gramma called from her cell phone out near Lake Michigan.

  Fzzzzzzzzzt. Love you. Szzzzzzbpp. Bye-bye. Kkkkkchk.

  With no greeting from Dad on the machine, Madison started to worry. She powered up her laptop and opened an Internet browser immediately. With fingers and toes crossed, she searched TweenBlurt.com for a message from Dad.

  NEW MAIL.

  Madison gasped when she saw three new messages blinking inside her e-mailbox. There were notes from Gramma, Fiona, and DAD!

  FROM SUBJECT

  GoGramma Missing You

  Wetwinz Fw: Re: Chorus

  JeffFinn Vacation

  Madison opened Dad’s mail first.

  From: JeffFinn

  To: MadFinn

  Subject: Vacation

  Date: Wed 5 Dec 1:24 PM

  I’m off to a big meeting, but I just wanted to check in with my one and only. How is school? You must be excited about the upcoming vacation. Can’t wait to see you.

  Here’s a joke for you.

  What happened when the ice monster had a fight with the zombie? He gave him the cold shoulder! LOL.

  Thinking of you all the time. I love you.

  Dad

  Madison reread Dad’s e-mail twice more just to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. This was the vacation confirmation Madison had been waiting for… wasn’t it? She wasn’t sure. The only thing certain in this e-mail was the standard bad Dad joke.

  What was Madison supposed to tell Mom now?

  She hit SAVE and moved along to the other messages.

  Fiona’s note was simple. She had a few boring questions about the chorus schedule.

  Gramma Helen’s message was a little longer. She was “checking in on her family.” Madison read the e-mail and hit REPLY.

  From: MadFinn

  To: GoGramma

  Subject: I Have Super Big NEWS

  Date: Wed 5 Dec 5:01 PM

  Thanks for your nice note, Gramma. Mom and I are fine. We got your voice message too but it was all static. You have to get a new phone, I think.

  I have the coolest news about school. Remember I told you about the chorus and Winter Jubilee at FHJH? Well, I’m also going to be a volunteer at this place in Far Hills called The Estates. It’s for older people (older than you, though, because I don’t really think you’re old!). But the funny part is that the program is called Adopt-a-Grandparent, so how could I not remember you! I hope you don’t mind if I’m standing in as an adopted granddaughter for someone else. I wonder what everyone there will want to talk about? I may be calling or e-mailing you for ideas, Gramma. I love you so much. How is life by the lake? I hope I can come visit you sometime soon. Are you excited about Christmas?

  Love you lots,

  Maddie

  As Madison hit SEND, she felt teeny butterflies inside her belly. Although vacation was still a little undecided, she sensed that this Christmas season just might turn out special in some way.

  She just wasn’t sure how.

  There was a long—and hopefully snowy—road ahead.

  Chapter 3

  Winter Break

  Please let there be SNOW. Lots of it. I went through my entire closet last night after dinner and pulled out all the clothes I could find for skiing. I wish I could go shopping for more, but I can’t. My sweaters are getting soooo stretched out. Maybe Dad will take me to the mall once he makes the final plans for our trip? I hope that’s sooner than soon.

  Mom woke up this morning and asked me about the vacation again at breakfast. Arrgh! I pretended I didn’t hear. I know that Dad might change the vacation plans because he does that sometimes. But the thing is, I can deal with it. What I CAN’T deal with is the way Mom feels about Dad when he does that.

  Mom and Dad are so nice t
o each other all year long and then at Christmas, why does it get awkward and angry and YUCK? It’s just one of those things that bugs me since they got divorced.

  The weather forecast says we might get up to twenty inches of snow on the mountains outside Far Hills. Isn’t that wild? And even if I won’t be enjoying the ski slopes with Dad, I won’t get bummed out like Mom thinks.

  Rude Awakening: Snow news isn’t always good news. But I’m still looking forward to my winter break.

  Madison saved her file onto her brand new snowman-shaped flash drive, leaned back in her chair, and glanced around the room. She and Fiona came up to the library media center during their last free period to do homework. Madison was falling behind in social studies class and owed her teacher a few chapter reviews. At least, that was what she was trying to work on. In reality, she wasn’t writing about the American Revolution. She was writing in her files.

  “Maddie,” Fiona said, distracted from her homework, too. “Do you … do you think Egg likes me?”

  Madison looked over from her computer terminal. “Yes, Fiona. How many times are you going to ask me that? And Aimee thinks so too.”

  Fiona giggled. “Sorry.”

  “Are you blushing?” Madison asked. She giggled too.

  The bell rang indicating that the free period had ended. Fiona shoved her papers into her bag.

  “Should I ask him out?” Fiona asked.

  Madison shook her head. “Absolutely not. Wait for him to ask you.”

  “No way,” Fiona said, grinning. “I’m no good at waiting.”

  “Yeah, I know. And we’re supposed to be in charge of our destinies and all that. That’s what my Mom says all the time. But remember that Egg will get all weird if you ask him first. Not because he’s a boy. Just because he gets weird about everything,” Madison said. “Everything.”

  Madison had known Egg since they were little kids.

  “Okay,” Fiona said with a shrug and hurried toward the door. “I have to go to soccer now. E-mail me later, okay?”

  Madison nodded and pulled her own books together. She had to dash, too. She was meeting Señora Diaz and the rest of the Adopt-a-Grandparent volunteers in room 306, the Spanish classroom.

  She raced down to the room, almost slamming right into Egg and Hart on the way inside.

  “Where’s the fire?” Egg cracked.

  Madison frowned. “Whatever, Egg. Can I please get by?”

  Egg smiled back. “Sure, if you can fit.” He and Hart blocked the doorway.

  Madison stood back with her hands on her hips. “What is up with you?” Madison asked. She couldn’t believe that Fiona liked one of these guys. Then again, Madison couldn’t believe that she liked one of these guys, too.

  “Excuse me,” Ivy Daly said as she came up from behind Madison. “Is there a reason why you guys are holding up everything?”

  Madison turned to Ivy. “I’m with you,” she said, not believing the words as they came out of her mouth. “Move it, Egg.”

  Unbelievably, Ivy smiled. “Yeah.”

  Egg and Hart rushed in and sat down.

  Madison scanned the colorful ceiling and walls of the small room. They were covered in posters of Spain and Puerto Rico. Señora Diaz had also hung red, yellow, and blue streamers everywhere.

  Chairs were arranged in a semicircle, and everyone had their book bags lying around on chairs and on the floor, so it was hard to find the right empty seat to sit in. For a split second Madison stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do.

  But a lot can happen in a split second.

  “Let’s just sit there,” Ivy suggested, pointing to the chair nearest to Hart.

  Madison’s eyes got very wide. “There?”

  “Duh,” Ivy said. “Where else?”

  Duh was right. Ivy had never in the history of junior high asked Madison to sit with her; and Madison was dumbstruck. Should she sit with Ivy or not?

  Madison quickly weighed her options. She could sit near Davy Miller, who smelled, or Joey O’Neill, who picked his nose.

  One of the other Adopt-a-Grandparent volunteers, Hilary Klein, was seated across the room. Madison briefly considered sitting with her … but decided against that, too. Everyone in the seventh grade knew Hilary was the class brainiac—but she wasn’t very friendly. She and her clique kept to themselves, usually in the library. Plus, she was staring.

  “Can we please make a sitting decision,” Ivy said, pushing in front of Madison.

  “Okay, over here is great,” Madison said to Ivy, dragging herself over to the empty seats Ivy had indicated before. Ivy plopped down into the chair nearest to Hart—of course. Madison squeezed in on the other side.

  “I can’t believe you’re volunteering for this,” Egg said to Madison.

  “Yeah, well, so are you,” she replied.

  “Only because I HAVE to do it, I told you that,” Egg said.

  “I don’t believe you, Egg. You like doing this stuff. Admit it,” Madison said.

  “It’ll be cool,” Hart said.

  Madison smiled at him. “Yeah, cool.”

  “Totally cool,” Ivy blurted.

  “Yeah, well then you guys can be cool. I’m telling you that if it wasn’t for my tía Ana and my mother—”

  Egg stopped speaking because Señora Diaz had just walked into her room, carrying a pile of purple folders. She handed a folder to each student in the room.

  “Hola, estudiantes!” Señora Diaz said cheerfully.

  “Hola,” everyone replied, including Egg.

  Señora Diaz explained that each member of the small group of Adopt-a-Grandparent volunteers would be assigned to a specific resident of The Estates. Names of boys and girls had been matched randomly to men and women living in the home. Since each resident had requested a holiday “friend,” the student’s job was to keep that person company, chat, get snacks, and do whatever else they wanted to do together. The only catch was that some of the older people were dealing with certain illnesses. Señora Diaz wanted to make sure this would not be problematic for any of the kids.

  “How sick is sick?” Ivy asked aloud.

  “That’s a very good question, señorita. The truth is, sickness depends on the person. I know one gentleman on our list is in a wheelchair. Another woman can barely see because she has cataracts in her eyes. And a couple of the residents have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease—in its early stages.”

  “Oh, man, what’s that?” Davy Miller said.

  Egg and Hart laughed, but shut up quickly. Señora Diaz was shaking her head.

  “Is something funny, Walter? Boys, this is no laughing matter. Alzheimer’s starts out as minor memory loss, forgetfulness, and other symptoms. As the disease progresses, the symptoms get worse and worse. Sometimes the man or woman forgets more serious things.”

  “Like what?” Hilary asked.

  “Like what they were doing yesterday. Or who they are. Or who you are,” Señora Diaz explained. “But don’t worry. We will have a meeting after every afternoon at The Estates to discuss what happened that day. That gives everyone a chance to talk about your experience. If you feel in any way uncomfortable, you can switch your visits or stop altogether.”

  “You mean I could be hanging with some old dude one minute and then the next time I show up he won’t even remember me?” Davy asked.

  Señora Diaz sighed. “Yes, David. That is what I mean. Thank you for explaining that so eloquently.”

  Davy shrunk down into his seat.

  The group reviewed a bunch of other procedures and rules about visiting The Estates and discussed the schedule for departure from school the very next day. They would meet downstairs in the school lobby, board the school minivan, and arrive at The Estates at three o’clock. Madison counted eight volunteers altogether, including herself and Hart. She was determined to get a seat near her crush for that ride. Hopefully Ivy wouldn’t get there first.

  Mom wasn’t home when Madison arrived on the porch. She’d left a
note.

  Went for supper. Back by 5. Phin already went out. How was your day? Luv, Mom

  P.S. Call your Dad

  Without Mom to pester her about staying on the computer too long, Madison hurried upstairs to log onto the laptop from behind her bedroom door with its DO NOT DISTURB sign. She had just enough time before Mom got back home to swim around online at TweenBlurt.com. Madison needed to check her e-mailbox and see if anyone from her buddy list was there, too.

  Her keypal Bigwheels wasn’t online. Neither was Fiona nor Aimee.

  Egg was online, but Madison didn’t feel like talking to him.

  In the middle of reading her list, Madison got a message from Dad.

  : Maddie online? Hip hip

  : Hooray!

  She had been waiting to hear from him for so long! Madison was relieved to know Dad was finally online so she could ask all of her questions about the ski trip. What should she pack? How much snow had fallen on Mount Robinson? When were they leaving?

  : I want to know if you still want to spend Christmastime together

  : OF COURSE!!! What do you think Dad? I’ve been waiting to hear

  : Good. I want to spend it with you too. There’s been a little change in our plan, just a little

  : change

  : we can’t go ski that’s all

  : oh

  : are you disappointed? I know u must be

  : not really

  Madison lied to Dad, too. She didn’t know what else to say.

  : I just can’t get away for a whole week and Stephanie will be around

  : Stephanie?

  Madison’s heart sank a little more. Stephanie was Dad’s girlfriend, and ever since they’d been dating, Madison had always felt a little bit jealous. Stephanie rode in the front seat all the time—where Madison used to sit. Stephanie sat near Dad when they ate at restaurants or went to the movies. Stephanie was the last person Dad thought of every night. At least Madison guessed all that was true.

  : IMS are you there?

  : yes

  : I know you were looking forward to this trip