Double Dare

by Laura Dower

  “Ha-ha!” Chet laughed and pointed at his sister. “Watch and learn,” he said. He bowled the ball, which veered slightly to the right. “Go to the left!” Chet shouted. “Left, left, left!” The ball skirted the edge of the gutter, but rolled slightly right at the last moment, knocking down two pins. “All right!” Chet shouted. “Two!”

  “Two?” Ivy looked disgusted as the score popped up on the screen and the scoreboard chirped a happy tune. “Well, at least we’re winning.”

  Fiona’s ball popped up onto the conveyor belt, and she took her second turn. She got another gutter ball. She gave a little half-laugh, half-groan as the scoreboard played “Taps.” “I guess I haven’t discovered my hidden talent,” Fiona said, flopping into her chair. “Next time I bowl, maybe I should put up the gutter guards.”

  Chet knocked down three more pins on his next turn. He did a victory dance around the lane.

  Hart was up next for Fiona’s team. He knocked down eight pins on his first try and then got a spare. Everyone on the team stood up and cheered as the scoreboard erupted into electronic fireworks.

  “Way to go, cuz!” Drew called from Chet’s team. “But we’ll get you back!”

  “Go, Hart! Go, Hart!” Egg started a chant. Everyone joined, including Madison.

  Egg went next, knocking down nine pins in two turns. Madison was impressed. As the rest of the team congratulated him, he looked right at Madison. Quickly, she gave him a thumbs-up, and he flashed her a goofy half-smile in return.

  “Madison, you’re up,” Rose Thorn called.

  Madison grabbed her yellow ball, and walked to the line. She could practically feel everyone’s eyes on her as she rolled the ball. It went straight into the gutter, just like Fiona’s ball.

  “Thank goodness!” Fiona called. “Now I don’t feel so bad!”

  Madison laughed as the electronic guards went up at the end of the lane. Seeing that made her BFF feel even better. Luckily, Madison didn’t mind bowling gutter balls—luckily, because she threw another one a moment later.

  Madison felt a little guilty that her score would bring the team down, but Lindsay Frost was up next. She pulled her green ball off the conveyor belt and bowled a strike. Everyone ran up to congratulate her.

  Phony Joanie turned out to be a pretty good bowler, too. She knocked down eight pins.

  “Wow,” Madison said as Joan returned to her seat. “How did you do that?”

  “You just have to keep your arm straight,” Joan replied. “And look at the pins, not the ball.”

  Madison nodded. She hadn’t actually expected an answer like that from Phony Joanie.

  Aimee got up to bowl next for Chet’s team. Madison grinned as her friend took three large leaps, then gracefully swung the ball away from her. It looked like a choreographed dance routine, but—amazingly—it knocked down six pins.

  Madison clapped even though Aimee was on the other team. “Way to go, Aim!” she said.

  On Chet’s team, it was Ivy’s turn. Gingerly, Ivy picked up a ball, and tottered up to the line in her platforms. She took a step forward, then started to bend over to roll her ball … but at the last minute, she straightened up and turned around. Her face was bright red—and Madison knew why. If Ivy had leaned over any further in the short skirt she was wearing, everyone at the party would have gotten a good look at her backside.

  “I see London, I see France….” Chet called out.

  “I see Ivy’s—” Egg started to say.

  “SHUT UP!” Ivy yelled so loud her face got all puffy. Madison knew that look. She’d been on the receiving end of it too many times.

  Ivy smoothed her miniskirt back down again and pressed her lips together as she turned back to face the lane. Without bending over, Ivy dropped the ball with a thud. It rolled a few feet, and fell into the gutter.

  And it stopped.

  Ivy crossed her arms and just stood there. Mrs. Waters found an attendant to walk into the lane and free the bowling ball. He reset the machine, and then pointed to Ivy’s shoes.

  “You can’t wear those shoes on the lane surface,” he said. “Sorry. I’d be happy to bring you some bowling shoes. What size do you wear?”

  “Oh, that’s okay,” Ivy said, uncrossing her arms and acting sugar-sweet. “I think I sprained my finger when I bowled that last one. I should probably just sit out for a while.”

  “Say what?” Chet cried. The kids on his team rushed over.

  Mrs. Waters picked up Ivy’s hand and examined her fingers. “Everything looks okay….” she said. “Can you bend them? Should I bring you some ice?”

  “Oh, yes,” Ivy replied sweetly. “Thank you so much.”

  Madison bit back a sarcastic comment. It was so obvious that Ivy just didn’t want to ruin her outfit or flash everyone her stupid underwear. Did she have to be so fake about everything?

  Mrs. Waters brought Ivy a cup of ice while everyone else continued with the game. Daisy bowled a spare, Ben got a perfect ten, and Rose knocked down seven pins. Chet’s team was ahead.

  A delicious smell wafted past Madison’s nose, and when she turned, she saw a man holding a stack of four pizzas. Madison and Aimee hurried to help Mrs. Waters set up the food on the large table against the wall. A pile of brightly wrapped presents decorated one table. Madison pulled the plastic off a stack of cups and began filling a few with ice from the cooler Mrs. Waters had brought. After washing her hands, Aimee served slices of pizza onto plates.

  “I really can’t thank you girls enough,” Mrs. Waters said. “I think this party is going wonderfully.”

  “It’s a lot of fun, Mrs. Waters,” Madison said. “We were glad to help.”

  “Absolutely,” Aimee agreed. “And I love bowling, even if I stink at it.”

  “You definitely have a unique technique,” Madison told her.

  Suresh and Drew wandered over and grabbed slices of pizza and sat down. Fiona ran up and gave Madison a huge hug from behind. “You guys, I am having the best time!” she exclaimed. “This is the best birthday ever.”

  “Oh, come on,” Aimee said, laughing.

  “No,” Fiona shook her head. “I really mean it. The best. Ever.”

  The friends looked at one another a moment, then dove into a group hug. The craziness of the past week was totally worth it, Madison thought, if she could help make her friend this happy.

  “And the party’s only just beginning!” Madison shouted.

  The bowling match was close, but in the end, Fiona’s team won by five points, thanks to the Princess of Strikes, Lindsay Frost. Once everyone had finished bowling and pigging out on pizza, they headed out to the parking lot, where Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Señora Diaz, and Mrs. Gillespie were waiting in their minivans to take everyone over to the Waterses’ house. Madison couldn’t believe how much organization it took to plan a surprise party—and Mrs. Waters had really thought of everything.

  When the convoy of minivans pulled up in front of the Waterses’ old Victorian house, everyone tumbled out onto the sidewalk. Chet and Fiona were headed up the flagstone path when the front door to their house flew open.

  “Aunt Sheila?” Chet cried. “Whoa!”

  Chet and Fiona raced each other up the steps to say hello. Aunt Sheila squeezed her niece and nephew until they were gasping for air.

  Madison and the other kids hung back, not wanting to spoil the moment.

  “I’m so glad you’re here!” Fiona said. “Come and meet my friends!”

  The party guests stood in a semicircle on the front lawn while Fiona and Chet introduced their aunt to everyone. Aunt Sheila had caramel-colored skin and long, dark hair just like Mrs. Waters’s.

  “Okay, troops! Let’s go inside for cake!” Mrs. Waters said, clapping her hands. The group hustled through the door.

  When everyone was settled into the couch and on the floor of the living room, Mrs. Waters turned out the lights so everyone could sing “Happy Birthday.” Then she and Aunt Sheila came into the room with the dessert.

/>   “Two cakes?” Chet howled. “Wahoo! We never got that before.”

  “For once, we didn’t have to fight over who gets to blow out the candles,” Fiona said.

  “Mmmm. This cake is awesome!” Dan said, taking a big forkful of chocolate frosting. Dan always got to the food first.

  “I can’t believe you guys made this,” Chet said to Madison and Aimee, sounding impressed.

  After the cakes were sliced, Fiona and Chet opened presents. Chet tore the wrapping off each of his gifts, but Fiona went more slowly, pulling off ribbon and placing it aside, then opening the paper as though she didn’t want to tear it.

  Madison rocked from foot to foot as she watched them open all the gifts. Chet really liked the screen savers Madison had got him. “I saw this in the store!” he said when he unwrapped it. “Thanks, Maddie.”

  But Fiona’s reaction was even better. When she pulled the paper off, Fiona just stared at Madison’s collage box for a long time, examining it from every angle, taking in each and every picture and word. Then she opened it, and smiled when she saw the clouds.

  “Maddie, I love it,” Fiona said quietly.

  “Pass it around, so everyone can look at it,” Hart said.

  Madison beamed. She knew a store-bought gift wouldn’t have gotten that reaction.

  “Nice job, Madison,” Ivy said as she passed the box to the next person.

  Madison stared at her enemy. Was Ivy being sarcastic? Was it possible that Poison Ivy had just given her—Madison Finn—a compliment? Maybe Ivy still had a nice streak inside of her somewhere?

  When Egg looked at the box, he didn’t make one of his usual obnoxious remarks. He just smiled. So Madison smiled back. Although they hadn’t exchanged two words today, things seemed better with Egg. Once the party was over, she could apologize and they’d be best friends again—she hoped.

  Madison sank back onto the living room couch, happily squeezed between Aimee and the armrest. She took a forkful of chocolate cake. It was yummy.

  “We did a good job,” Aimee whispered. “Didn’t we?”

  Madison looked up at Fiona, who was laughing at something Chet had said. Both twins couldn’t stop smiling and joking around. Neither twin could stop this party.

  On top of Fiona’s collage box, Madison had pasted the words love to party with my pals. She’d found it in some teen magazine. Right now, those words felt truer than true.

  This was one party that no one would soon forget.

  Chapter 13

  “MADDIE! PHONE!” MOM YELLED. She was standing in the hallway holding the portable phone.

  Groaning, Madison rolled over and looked at her alarm clock. Who in the world would be calling at nine o’clock on a Sunday morning? She rolled out from under the blankets, bleary-eyed, and tugged on her monkey slippers. Mom handed her the phone.

  “Hello?” Madison croaked.

  “Maddie!” It was Fiona. “I’m not waking you up, am I?”

  “Uh—no, no,” Madison lied, rubbing her eyes. She climbed back onto her bed and plumped her pillow against the headboard. Phin moved into her lap to snuggle. “What’s up, Fiona?”

  “I just wanted to call and say thank you for everything. The party was such a surprise,” Fiona chirped. “I had so much fun!”

  “I’m glad,” Madison said, stroking Phin’s silky ear. “I had a great time, too.”

  “The cakes were awesome—I can’t believe that you and Aimee actually made two of them,” Fiona went on. “And I love, love, love my box, Maddie. I put it on my dresser, so I can look at it every day.”

  “It was no big deal,” Madison said.

  “No big deal?” Fiona squealed. “Even Chet had a good time—and we never like the same things. But we think it was our nicest birthday ever.”

  Madison giggled. “When I checked my e-mail last night, Chet had sent me a note.”

  There was a beat of silence. “You’re kidding,” Fiona said.

  “No lie,” Madison said. “He said thanks for the screen savers. I guess he was in the middle of downloading them onto the computer.”

  “Now, that’s a surprise!” Fiona laughed. “I have to admit that my brother can sometimes be a pretty good guy, even if he is a big pain in the butt.”

  “I guess you can keep him,” Madison said.

  Fiona snorted. “Not like I have a choice. Wow! It actually is possible to have a twin birthday that isn’t a total drag. Who knew?”

  “So—” Madison said, fighting back a yawn, “what are you guys up to today?”

  “We’re going to the aquarium with my aunt Sheila,” Fiona said. “That’s part of the reason I called. I know that I said you and Aimee and I would hang out together today, but—”

  “No problem,” Madison said. “I totally understand. Besides, Aimee said that she might have to help out her dad at the cyber café, so this actually works out.”

  “Sorry,” Fiona replied. “What about you?”

  “I’m not really doing anything,” Madison said honestly. “I’m going to do some homework and chill out with Phin, maybe rent a DVD or stream a movie on Netflix.”

  “Sounds good—oh, wait, hold on a second.” Madison heard Fiona shout, “I’m coming!” then she put the receiver back to her mouth. “Listen, my family is about to leave. I’ll call or e-mail you later, okay?”

  “Sure,” Madison said. “Have fun.”

  “Bye.”

  Madison clicked off the phone, closed her eyes, and stretched her legs out on the bed. Phin yawned and slid onto the mattress from her lap. He licked his lips. “I feel the same way,” Madison said. “Why am I so tired?”

  Madison got up out of the bed and pulled a sweatshirt on over her pajamas. “We have a lot to catch up on, Phinnie,” she said aloud. Maybe today was a good day to reorganize her computer files?

  Madison padded over to her desk and booted up her laptop.

  Surprises

  Sometimes, I get so caught up in doing things that I completely forget what I’m doing them for.

  1. Fiona’s party. I got so tied up in who to invite and who not to invite, what food to serve, and what kind of cake to bake, that I totally forgot that the party was supposed to make Fiona happy. And I NEVER thought about whether it would make Chet happy or not. But it did. Way happy. And everyone else had a good time, too—including me.

  2. The contest webpage. Fiona and I worked so hard, and once we turned it in, I was frustrated that it didn’t come out perfect and that it didn’t have all those sounds and flashy graphics. But we didn’t have that much time, and we did a really good job, considering. Why be bummed? The whole point was to do it and be proud about it, right?

  3. The stuff with Egg and Dad and being mad. I haven’t totally been myself lately. Was it because Egg didn’t pick me as his webpage partner? That doesn’t make any sense. I can’t stay mad at someone I’ve known forever. Just because he picked Chet instead of me? And when I blew up at Dad the other night—that was bad. He was only trying to help me. I mean, what was that argument for?

  Rude Awakening: This week I’ve managed to make it through thick … and twin. LOL. But no matter how difficult things seem … they always work out in the end, right? Gramma Helen says so. I keep telling myself that. All I have to do is say I’m sorry. That can’t be so hard, can it?

  Madison closed the file and went into TweenBlurt.com, hoping that Bigwheels would be logged on. But she was nowhere to be found.

  From: MadFinn

  To: Bigwheels

  Subject: LTNW!

  Date: Sun 1 Oct 10:36 AM

  Hey! Haven’t had an e-msg from you in a while. How’s school? Life? Everything? Do u go in TweenBlurt chat rooms n e more?

  The webpage and Fiona’s surprise party worked out great. Whew!

  And remember Hart? When he saw the birthday gift I gave Fiona, he said it was cool … and then he told me that I was a good bowler, too. What does that mean? Is that one for the Random Compliment Dept., or what? (Especially
because, hel-lo, my bowling is lame-o). But that’s another story, LOL.

  Write back because I MISS U!!!

  Yours till the gutter balls,

  MadFinn

  BTW, a big, fat THANK YOU for your help with the webpage!! My teacher loved it! Your homework links were the best ones.

  “Honey bear?”

  Mom’s voice behind her made Madison jump.

  “Mom!” she cried. “I hate it when you sneak up on me like that!” Madison was still sleepy.

  Mom grinned and shook her head. “I’ve been calling you for the last five minutes,” Mom said. “It looks like you were just too lost in cyberspace to hear me.”

  “Sorry,” Madison said, yawning again.

  “Your dad is on the phone,” Mom said. “Pick up, okay?”

  Madison dove for the cordless and flopped onto her bed. “Thanks, Mom!” She clicked the talk button. “Dad?”

  “Hi, Maddie,” Dad said.

  “Where are you?” Madison asked breathlessly. “When are you coming home?” There was so much she wanted to say—including, I’m sorry, for the other night at Bombay Palace.

  “I’m at home,” Dad said. “Actually, I was wondering if I could come over. I have an idea about something we can do together, just the two of us.”

  “What is it?” Madison was practically squealing. “Oh, come over, Dad. Come over right away. What’s your idea?”

  “I was thinking we could go back and see the puppies again.”

  Madison grinned. “The puppies! Oh, yes!”

  “I’ll come by in twenty minutes,” Dad said. “Okay?”

  “I love you, Dad,” she said.

  “I love you more,” Dad said.

  Madison jumped into a pair of jeans and pulled on a thin sweater. The temperature had dropped ten degrees from the day before. “Mom!” she called, hurrying into Mom’s office, where Mom was flipping through some notes on a yellow legal pad. “I’m going to hang out with Dad today, okay?”

  “Of course, honey bear,” Mom said. “I’ll be working, anyway.”