Sink or Swim

by Laura Dower

Madison was disappointed that she had no BFF to come to the rescue. Neither Aimee nor Fiona was anywhere to be seen—and here she was outnumbered three to one. The enemies giggled loudly, too, taking great pleasure in Madison’s embarrassment. As the trio walked away in their perfect bathing suits and sunglasses that made them look sixteen instead of twelve, Madison guessed that Rose and Joan would follow Ivy for the rest of their lives and that right now Ivy was going off in search of Hart.

  Meanwhile Madison was nowhere near Hart. She remained poolside with Eliot, her summer boyfriend.

  Eliot held up a dirty Popsicle stick that he must have picked up off the ground. He put it into his mouth just in time for Madison to pull it out again.

  “Stop! Stop!” she cried, taking the stick out of his hand.

  “Why?” he asked. “Gimme. Gimme.”

  “It’s dirty,” Madison said. “Why don’t we go get a real ice cream? Would you like that?”

  Eliot’s whole face lit up. “Yummy nice cream. I want chocklit.”

  Madison breathed deep.

  It will take some time.

  They walked over to the snack shop together.

  One red, white, and blue pop and prepackaged fudge-ripple cone later, Madison and Eliot were both feeling better. Madison cruised back around toward their chairs and bumped back into her BFFs. She introduced them to Eliot.

  Aimee was smitten. “Aren’t you cute?” she kept saying. Eliot didn’t know what to make of all her cooing and aahing.

  Fiona stuck out her hand. “Gimme five!” she said. Eliot promptly smacked her hand right back. She tried again and he smacked again.

  “He is cute,” Fiona said.

  “Where have you been for the last hour?” Madison asked. “I saw you sitting over here, but then you vanished. I’ve been sitting over there by myself.”

  Eliot looked up at her with his big brown eyes as if to say, “Um, excuse me, but you’re not by yourself.”

  “Well, I’ve been playing with Eliot,” Madison corrected herself.

  “Then let’s hang out together right now,” Aimee suggested. “I think I saw Ben Buckley in the recreation room. Let’s go play Ping-Pong.”

  “We can find Egg, too,” Fiona said. “I think life-guarding is over for the day.”

  “But I can’t bring Eliot into the recreation room,” Madison said. “It’s only for ages ten and up, I think.”

  “Bummer,” Aimee said. She leaned in close to Fiona and Madison and pointed across the pool. “Look! I swear that was Ben. Oh, wow, we have to go find him. Come on.”

  Fiona grabbed Aimee’s hand and giggled. “Let’s go. Let’s go!”

  “Wait a second. Where are you going?” Madison asked. “I can’t go.”

  She looked down at Eliot. He was tugging at his pants, and they were starting to fall down a little bit. Madison knew that meant he had a dirty diaper. Plus, there was ice cream all over his hands and face.

  “Okay, we’ll go but come back in a little while,” Aimee said. “How’s that?”

  “Yeah, we’ll come back,” Fiona said.

  Madison watched as Eliot stuck the entire ice cream cone into his mouth at once and started to chew. Madison needed to change his diaper and wipe off his stickiness.

  “Okay. But if I miss you, can we meet later?” Madison asked. “Will you guys be online this afternoon or tonight?”

  “Maybe,” Aimee said. “We have a family dinner tonight for my visiting aunt and uncle.”

  “I’m around,” Fiona said. “Call me from your dad’s later. Maybe I can even come over.”

  “Oh, good.” Madison nodded, walking away. “See you later, then!”

  “Bye,” her BFFs said in unison before scurrying over to the recreation room.

  Madison looked down and saw that Eliot had eaten his entire ice cream by now. He was wearing half of it. His diaper was officially falling off, too.

  “Was that yummy or what?” Madison asked as she dragged Eliot toward the bathrooms. “You have chocolate on your face, do you know that?” She tried to lean down and wipe off Eliot’s chin and the corners of his mouth, but he protested—loudly. Then she took him inside to change the diaper.

  When they came back out again, the two ran into Mrs. Reed and Becka. Madison was relieved. The four spent the remaining time lying around in the sun quietly together. Eliot even played peekaboo with his little sister.

  When the day was done, Mrs. Reed gave Madison a ride back home to Dad’s apartment. Everything was going great in the car until Eliot pinged another one of his miniature toy trucks at her head.

  “Ouch!” Madison yelled.

  As if on cue, Eliot started to cry for no reason.

  “I think he’s teething again,” Mrs. Reed said. “Eliot, are you teething again?”

  Madison shrank down into the seat. What did I do to deserve this? she thought. Since she’d started her summer job, she hadn’t caught a break. Eliot was one test after another.

  “See you tomorrow!” Mrs. Reed said as she let Madison off. Eliot was still crying a little bit in the backseat.

  “See you tomorrow,” Madison said as the car pulled away. Inside she was thinking: Oh, goody.

  Phin greeted Madison at the door with hysterical panting and tail wagging. Madison picked him up and kissed his ears because she was so happy about the warm reception. They went for a short walk down the street and into a small park called Shady Glen around the corner from Dad’s place. There was a fenced-in dog run in the park. Phin trotted through the fence gate and began to sniff wildly at the ground. This was dog heaven. He alternated hanging out with a dachshund named Frankie and an Irish setter named Scruff. Someone let him join in a game of Frisbee, too, even though he didn’t catch the disk. He just raced back and forth in the dirt with a bunch of other dogs.

  It was nice to look after someone who wasn’t crying or fussing or throwing a fit, Madison thought as she watched the dogs playing. Dogs were definitely easier than little boys.

  When they returned from the walk, Dad greeted the pair at the door with a big hello and a big bowl of freshly popped popcorn.

  “Snack time!” Dad announced. “Hey, Maddie, I rented a movie for tonight—a scary one. Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. You haven’t seen it yet, have you?”

  Madison shook her head and grinned. Dad always acted so goofy when he rented old movies for them to watch together. He liked telling bad jokes and watching thrillers. But watching scary movies with Dad was the best because Madison could scream and squeeze his hand and feel safe no matter what.

  “Can Fiona come over and watch, too?” Madison asked.

  “Sure!” Dad said. “Why don’t you call her? I can go pick her up.”

  “Okay. But is it all right if I go online for a little bit before dinner first?” Madison asked.

  “Okeydoke.” Dad nodded. “Let’s eat in an hour. Sound good?”

  After grabbing a handful of the popcorn, Madison went straight for her laptop while Phin went straight for his water dish and chew toys.

  Madison logged on to TweenBlurt.com and opened her e-mailbox. She had an urgent e-mail to send.

  From: MadFinn

  To: Bigwheels

  Subject: Put a Fork in Me

  Date: Mon 23 June 5:15 PM

  Put a fork in me. I’m done! My list of baby-sitting disasters is growing longer. Not only did Eliot throw my favorite woven orange straw bag into the pool today, but he also SPIT UP on me a little bit after we had ice cream. I told Mrs. Reed, but she didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. Just tell that to the puke spot on my T-shirt! Will I ever get the hang of this? I think the worst part of all is changing diapers.

  Lucky for me he is good about being still when I change him because it takes me twice as long as it takes his mom to get the diaper off and a new one on.

  I just realized that I’m writing this to u on ur first day at horse camp so I hope u can write back soon. My dad and his girlfriend and my mom are all trying to cheer me up. My friends
don’t really seem to get it, though. They’re too busy chasing boys at the pool, and I think that is so lame (even though I secretly wish I were chasing boys, too—and not ones who are 2!).

  When u baby-sat b4, what was the worst thing that ever happened to you? Just when I think I’ve experienced the worst, something else crazy happens. Write back & tell me about the horses. Have u gone riding yet?

  Yours till the pony expresses,

  Maddie

  Chapter 9

  “LOOKS LIKE THE POOL will be closed again,” Dad said, sipping his cup of coffee. “They say the rain is supposed to keep up most of the day.”

  As Madison gazed out the window, her entire body ached with dread. It was hard enough keeping track of Eliot at the pool, but at least he had other kids to see and places to go there. What was she supposed to do with him if they were stuck inside all day?

  Dad leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Hey, Maddie,” he joked. “Why can’t you go over to the Shady Glen dog run today?”

  Madison made an annoyed face. “I don’t know, Dad. Why?”

  “Because you might step in a poodle!” Dad chuckled. His own bad jokes always cracked him up.

  But something about Dad’s joke made Madison reconsider her way of thinking. What was she doing sitting around worrying? The rain was her big chance. She wasn’t going to let Eliot ruin another day for her…or him. She could get creative! This was the kind of baby-sitting challenge Mom was talking about. Maybe Madison needed to give Eliot some more things to do.

  The digital clock in the living room read 7:13. Madison had an hour to get ready and figure out her plan of attack.

  After pulling on her plaid shorts and pink T-shirt, Madison logged on to Dad’s flat-screen computer in the living room. He had a super-speed connection, so the Internet was easier to access than the dial-up connection she sometimes used with her laptop. She quickly typed in her search words.

  Rainy Day Activity 2 Years Old Fun

  The screen popped up 1,812 hits. Madison selected the first few for ideas. She scribbled notes down on a scratch pad sitting on Dad’s desk.

  Bath toys in the sink, towel on floor, take off shirt

  Color in paper plates—need non-toxic markers and plates

  Go fishing with magnets in middle of floor?

  Cookie cutter sandwiches—stars and moons

  I could always go outside and play with Eliot in the poodles, too, Madison thought. She chuckled at Dad’s joke again. It was time to go.

  Mrs. Reed seemed flustered when Madison walked right into the house, even though she’d told Madison it was fine to do that.

  “You startled me,” Mrs. Reed said.

  Becka was sitting in her lap, drinking from her morning bottle. Eliot was playing with the cushions on the sofa.

  “My husband had to leave earlier than usual today,” she said. “So I’m a little out of sorts. He usually feeds Becka the morning bottle. Now I’m running late….”

  “What can I do to help?” Madison asked.

  “Can you take Eliot out of here? He keeps jumping on my shoulders, and I just can’t get anything done with her. Plus, I think they’re both a little out of whack with all this rain. Unfortunately, we won’t be going to the pool today. You can go outside with him if you want….”

  “No problem. I’ll figure it out,” Madison said. She moved toward Eliot. “Good morning, Eliot! Hey, it’s Maddie. Do you remember me?”

  Eliot smiled. “Course I ʼmember you! See my slide?” He pointed to the sofa cushions.

  “Why don’t we go and play with your trucks in the other room?” Madison suggested.

  Eliot looked up at her and smiled again. “Okay, Maddie, we can play tucks,” he said. Madison was encouraged by his willingness to play along with her. He even said, “Bye, Mama,” without throwing a hissy fit.

  “Bye, sweetheart,” Mrs. Reed said. She looked super-relieved and cuddled Becka closer to her middle. “I’ll see you two in a little while.”

  The truck room, formerly known as the Reed dining room, was a total mess. Madison knelt down and started to pick up the teeny cars and trucks one by one.

  “Hey! No!” Eliot cried. “Those are tuck stops. Don’t move.”

  “These are what?” Madison asked. “Truck stops? How did you figure these out?”

  “No touching!” Eliot cried.

  Madison dumped all the cars that were in her hand onto the floor again. “Sorry,” she said. Instead of getting frustrated, she tried harder to understand what Eliot wanted next. “Should we put them back together?”

  They replaced all the truck stops and played unloading and loading games for about half an hour. Then Eliot jumped up and announced to the room that he was ready to go “thwimming.”

  Madison gulped. “I’m sorry, Eliot,” she said. “But it’s rainy, so we have to stay here and play.”

  “No thwimming?” he asked.

  Madison shook her head. “No. But we can find other things to do together, can’t we?”

  “Like what?” Eliot asked. “I want thwimming. I want Mama.”

  “Well, Mama’s busy right now, so why don’t we make up some other games together?”

  “Like what? What?” Eliot asked again. “WHAT?” he wailed.

  “Is everything okay?” Mrs. Reed called out from the other room. “Madison?” She was acting as anxious as her kids. Madison had to keep her cool and stay focused.

  MAKE ELIOT HAPPY.

  “We’re okay,” Madison called to Mrs. Reed. Then she turned to Eliot. “I have an idea. Since we can’t go swimming, let’s do something else and get wet,” Madison said.

  “Go outside?” Eliot said with a big grin.

  Madison glanced out the window at the rain. It was a total downpour. They could survive playing in the yard during a sprinkle, but this was too, too wet.

  “How about we play in the bathroom?” Madison asked.

  Eliot was intrigued, so he nodded and followed Madison upstairs.

  Eliot had his own bathroom with his own little stepping stool up to the sink. Madison was happy about that, because the web article she’d read about this particular activity called for a teeny stool just like his. Overhead, in the bathroom ceiling, was a skylight window. The rain plinked overhead. It was almost like being in the middle of the downpour—without getting wet.

  But Eliot was about to get very wet.

  Madison threw a thick towel down on the floor and pushed Eliot’s stool up to the sink. He was busy gathering his tub toys. Madison told him to get his plastic boats, too. His eyes were glimmering with excitement.

  “What are you two up to?” Mrs. Reed asked from the bathroom doorway.

  Becka looked around the room, wide-eyed.

  Madison explained, and Mrs. Reed smiled. “You’re terrific! What a great idea!” she told Madison. “You already know how much he likes playing with his boats, huh? What do you think, Eliot?”

  “Mama gonna play in the sink!” he cried.

  Mrs. Reed laughed. She told Madison that Eliot could take off his T-shirt and strip down to a diaper so he wouldn’t get his clothes soaked. Of course, Eliot loved that. He pulled his shirt right off and started to hop around the bathroom like a kangaroo.

  Madison filled the sink with water and soap bubbles. Eliot battled his boats. Water went everywhere, but Madison didn’t mind one bit. Eliot was giggling with each dunk.

  They had so much fun together in the bathroom that an hour flew by. Soon it was time for lunch. Eliot whined a little about stopping, but Madison convinced him that it wouldn’t be so bad. She was planning another creative idea for lunch—the next item on her list—making little sandwiches and cutting them into shapes with cookie cutters.

  The rain outside seemed to be letting up a little. Mrs. Reed put Becka down for a nap. Madison could tell that Eliot was the happiest he’d ever been when Madison was with him, but he still cried out a little at times for his mother. Unfortunately, whenever she tried to spend
a few moments with Eliot, Madison noticed that Mrs. Reed always got distracted. Eliot asked her to read him a book, and she passed the task along to Madison. He asked Mrs. Reed to play Legos, but she had to get the phone. He asked for a hug, and she had to run and check on the baby.

  By late afternoon, Mrs. Reed’s casual brush-offs seemed to be making Eliot crankier than cranky. He lost interest in reading books and playing toys with Madison. She suggested they play with the boats in the sink again, and he stuck out his tongue. She asked him what he wanted to do, and he pulled Madison’s hair.

  Of course, Madison knew what he really wanted. But that was the one thing she couldn’t do for him. Eliot didn’t want to color, and Madison had no luck fishing with magnets, another game the Internet suggested. She only had two refrigerator magnets, and they didn’t work very well at all.

  When Mr. Reed arrived home, Madison called Dad to say that she’d be going over to Aimee’s house and that he should pick her up there.

  And even though Eliot was moody when Madison left, he seemed a little sad to say good-bye. It was the first time Madison thought he even noticed that she was leaving.

  “Buh-bye, Maddie,” Eliot said, waving to Madison as she sprinted out into the rain. “See you tomollow.”

  Madison chuckled. “See you then. Bye, Mrs. Reed!”

  She leaped over a few giant puddles and walked down the street toward Aimee’s house. Blossom was spread out on her belly on the Gillespie porch, sniffing at the rainy air.

  “Blossom!” Madison cried. She leaned down to kiss her big ears, and Blossom shook her head.

  “Maddie!” Aimee said as she pulled open the door. “I was so glad you called. Come inside!”

  Two of Aimee’s brothers were inside watching TV and eating homemade vegetarian nachos. Every meal in the Gillespie house was a tribute to health food. Even TV snacks here were healthy.

  “Wanna go out on my roof?” Aimee asked Madison.

  “It’s kind of wet outside, Aim,” Madison said. “Can we just hang here and make milk shakes or smoothies or something?”

  Aimee nodded. “I have something to tell you,” she said in a singsong voice. Her eyes bugged out wide.