by Laura Dower
When she yawned, the other girls yawned, too.
“I can’t wait until tomorrow,” Fiona said excitedly, stifling another yawn.
“Yes! I want to shop so much more. Aunt Mimi told me she’s taking us to this special place for lunch, and we’re going to the museum, too,” Aimee said.
“I’m glad you’re having fun,” Lindsay said.
“We are!” Aimee and Fiona said in unison. They headed for their rooms.
Madison followed Lindsay through the shared bathroom into the bedroom where they were planning to sleep.
Lindsay belly-flopped onto her bed.
“Lindsay, what’s with you?” Madison asked. “It’s your special birthday and ever since you talked to your mom, you’ve been bummed.”
“I don’t know,” Lindsay said. “I guess I am a little bit sad. Just don’t tell the others, okay? I don’t want to ruin things.”
“Um…I think they know that you’re upset,” Madison said.
“I just don’t like getting emotional like that. It’s dumb. I don’t want to be the party pooper.”
“But it’s your party!” Madison said.
“Forget about it, Maddie. It’s no biggie. I swear. I will be fine.”
“What’s really the matter, Lindsay?” Madison asked. “Just tell me what’s going on. Isn’t that what friends are for?”
“You won’t understand,” Lindsay said.
“Why not?” Madison asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe you will.” Lindsay’s voice dropped to a low, low whisper. “It’s not my mom. It’s my dad. He was supposed to call me tonight. It’s after ten o’clock and he hasn’t called. And he won’t call now. I know it.”
“Why don’t you call him?” Madison asked.
“I already did, this morning—twice. I texted him twice, too.”
“Oh,” Madison said.
“Of course he will call. Eventually.”
“Of course he will,” Madison said.
The room got very quiet. Off in the distance, they could hear the sound of voices singing high notes. Lindsay said Aunt Mimi always listened to opera late at night.
Lindsay pulled on her pajamas and crawled under the blanket. Madison put on her pj’s, too. But instead of getting into bed, she opened her orange bag and yanked out her laptop.
“Would it be okay if I checked my e-mail before we got to sleep?” Madison asked.
“Sure,” Lindsay said. “Whatever.” She rolled over and pressed her cheek into the soft pillow.
Madison booted up her laptop. She opened her e-mailbox. There were two e-mails. The first was from her dad.
From: JeffFinn
To: MadFinn
Subject: Miss You Already
Date: Fri 11 Dec 5:31 PM
It’s Friday & I miss u alredy, Honey (and Phin, too). I will miss our regular Sat. dinner tomorrow but I know ur having a blast with the girls. Have a piece of choc. cake 4 me, ok? Talk 2 u soon.
Love,
Dad
p.s.: What happens when ducks fly upside down? Send me an e-mail and tell me!
She smiled at Dad’s typically bad riddle. The answer (of course) was that ducks quack up. As usual, Dad was telling a riddle he’d already told before.
Madison skipped to the next name on the list. Her jaw dropped. Why was public enemy number one sending Madison an e-mail?
From: Flowr99
To: MadFinn
Subject: Yr science notebk
Date: Fri 11 Dec 6:06 PM
I tried 2 call your hous but yr mom says ur away this weekend. I think after class today u took my science notebook. Dunno if you did it on purpose or by mistake but either way I need it back NOW.
Madison burst out laughing.
“What is it?” Lindsay asked groggily. She lifted her head from the pillow and turned toward Madison.
“Ivy Daly,” Madison snickered. “She e-mailed me.
Lindsay shot up in bed. Apparently, the one thing that could cure Lindsay of her blahs was good gossip. An e-mail from Ivy qualified.
“Typical,” Lindsay said after she read the e-mail aloud.
“I think it’s funny,” Madison said. “Maybe because I’m here in this incredible place and she’s stressing out back home.”
“Do you have the notebook?” Lindsay asked.
Madison shook her head. “Not with me. It could be in my locker, but I doubt it. She probably left it in the bathroom or something.”
Lindsay and Madison laughed together.
“I bet there’s juicy gossip inside that book,” Lindsay said.
Madison scratched her head thoughtfully. “I wonder. But I guess even Ivy’s allowed to have a secret journal.”
Lindsay fell back onto her pillow, eyes open wide. She stared at the ceiling.
“I can’t sleep,” Lindsay said.
“It’s my fault. I woke you up,” Madison said. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I was awake,” Lindsay said. “Look, Maddie, I’m sorry for not talking before. I just don’t know what to say—or feel—anymore.”
“You mean about your parents?” Madison asked.
Lindsay nodded.
“I do understand a little,” Madison said. “Don’t forget that my parents went through the Big D, too, just last year.”
“The Big D?” Lindsay asked. “Oh. Divorce.”
“I know it’s so rough. Especially when they fight, right?”
“I wish mine would fight,” Lindsay said. “Instead, they hardly ever speak to each other.”
“Really?” Madison said.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
Madison nodded silently. Lindsay took a deep breath.
“My dad moved out a few weeks ago,” Lindsay said. She paused. In the half-darkness of the bedroom, her eyes locked on to Madison’s. “Please don’t tell.”
“Tell who?”
“Anyone. Everyone. I don’t like to talk about it.”
“So is that why your dad hasn’t called?” Madison asked.
“Yes,” Lindsay let out a tiny gasp and then started to cry. “I think he’s angry. My mom kicked him out. She yells all the time.”
“Ugh,” Madison said. “I know what that’s like.”
“You do?” Lindsay started to cry a little harder.
“I do,” Madison said softly.
“He hates me,” Lindsay said.
“No, he doesn’t,” Madison replied.
“He does,” Lindsay repeated. She pushed her face down into the pillow to muffle her crying. “I just don’t…want…the others…to see me like this…”
“Lindsay?” Madison hopped out of bed and went over to her friend.
Lindsay sat up a little.
“Please don’t worry,” Madison said. “We’ll make sure this is your best birthday ever.”
“Oh, Maddie, I don’t care about my stupid birthday.” Lindsay choked back her tears.
Madison gave her a hug and promised never to let go.
Chapter 8
LIGHT STREAMED IN THROUGH the curtains in the bedroom where Madison and Lindsay had slept. Madison had awakened at least an hour ago, dragged her laptop into bed, and opened her files.
There was so much to say.
The Birthday Weekend
You could get lost in Aunt Mimi’s apartment. I have never been anywhere like this and I have never met anyone like Mimi. Since Ivy has red hair, I had this negative thing about it, but now that I met Mimi, I’d give anything to have red hair. Hers looks like fire. And today she said “we’re setting our crazy selves loose on the city!” Part of me wonders if we’ll make it back in one piece LOL.
The only problem (and it IS kind of big problem) is Lindsay. Last night she started bumming out. Her parents are in the middle of a Big D and they seem to have forgotten about her. At least that’s what it seems like from where I see it. If her dad doesn’t call her today I just know she’ll be the Big BC, as in Basket Case. I remember one time when my dad was so mad at
Mom that he neglected to call ME for a week. I cried myself to sleep with Phinnie every night.
I wish I could make it easier for Lindsay, I really do. But Gramma Helen always told me that the only way to get over something is to go through it. So I just need to be here and to let her know that I’m her friend no matter what.
Rude Awakening: Life has big ships and small ships and all kinds of hardships. But the best ships are friendships. They help you to sail through ANYTHING.
“Maddie!” Aimee whispered very loudly.
Madison jumped and nearly dropped her laptop off the bed. Fiona giggled. Both Aimee and Fiona were still in their pajamas.
“You scared me,” Madison said.
“Lindsay’s still sleeping,” Fiona said. “But it’s late, and we have to wake her up.”
Madison quickly hit SAVE and closed her laptop. She placed it gently on the floor next to the bed. Then she climbed out and linked arms with her other two friends. Slowly, carefully, the three of them climbed atop Lindsay’s bed.
Lindsay’s mouth was wide open. She wasn’t snoring, but she was deep asleep. Her hair was spread out on the pillow like tentacles.
“When I count to three, hold on tight, and start jumping,” Aimee whispered.
Madison had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing out loud. Fiona almost lost her balance and fell off the bed. Thankfully she didn’t, or she would have dragged everyone with her.
“One…two…three!”
“WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”
“Happy Birthday!”
The three BFFs began to jump up and down on the bed. Everything shook. Lindsay rolled over, eyes half open. She pulled a pillow back over her head. But it was hard for her to pretend to sleep anymore. Her bed was in the midst of a devastating earthquake, and she was in danger of flying off onto the floor.
Fiona jumped harder. “Wake up, sleepyhead,” she said.
Madison kneeled down and pulled on the pillow. “No more sleeping, birthday girl!” she cried, almost losing her balance.
Lindsay groaned. “Uh…uh…uh…what time is it?”
“Well, it’s time for a very big breakfast and a very big day,” a voice said from the doorway.
It was, of course, Aunt Mimi standing there. Today she had her red hair pulled up in a giant black hair clip. She wore a shocking-pink top with pencil-thin jeans and leather boots—straight from the pages of the Fashion Times. Her lips shimmered pink, too. Up and down her arms she wore gold and silver bangle bracelets that jangled as she moved her arms. Madison loved jewelry like that, jewelry that made music. Her favorite teacher at school, Mrs. Wing, wore similar bracelets.
Lindsay finally popped out from underneath the pillow, nearly knocking everyone else off the bed. She bit her lip and pushed her hair in front of her eyes.
“Am I really thirteen?” Lindsay asked the room.
“Yes! Yes!” Aimee shouted. “Now get up, lazy!”
Madison and Fiona leaned in to tickle Lindsay’s side.
Lindsay laughed. “I am not lazy. I’m just…”
“Crazy!” Madison shouted.
Aimee, Madison, and Fiona bounced on top of Lindsay and then jumped down off the bed once and for all.
“Well, I’ll leave you four to your beauty routines. Meet me in the kitchen in ten, gals,” Aunt Mimi said. Her arms jangled again as she gave a little wave good-bye.
Everyone rushed to the kitchen. It wasn’t that the four were particularly hungry. But the sooner the group ate the sooner they got dressed and the sooner they got going.
“Am I considered a real teenager now?” Lindsay asked with a loud groan as she took a bite of granola and fresh yogurt.
“They don’t call it thir-teen for nothing,” Madison said.
“I guess that’s a yes,” Lindsay said.
“What does turning into a teenager really mean, anyway?” Fiona asked.
“It means now you can drive. You can date. You can vote,” Aimee said.
“Aim! I can’t do any of those things,” Lindsay said, smiling.
“Not yet,” Aimee said. “But soon. Well, sort of soon.”
Everyone laughed.
“Hey, you can go shopping!” Madison suggested. “And you can spend the day with your friends walking all over New York City.”
“And you can eat whatever you want and go wherever you want,” Fiona said.
“And you can get Frrrozen hot chocolate,” Aunt Mimi added from where she stood across the room.
“Frrrozen wha’?” Aimee asked.
“Oh, yum,” Lindsay said. “You guys haven’t lived until you’ve had one.”
“We’ll try some on for size at lunch,” Aunt Mimi said. “I’ve got big plans. Let’s hustle.”
The girls quickly gulped down the rest of their breakfast and raced back to their rooms to get dressed. Aimee and Fiona pulled on jeans with almost the same degree of fadedness, so Aimee decided to change into a ruffled skirt, cable-knit tights, and a very cute pair of Mary Janes. Fiona stayed with the jeans and a scoop-neck sweater. Madison wore a short plaid skirt, nubby stockings, and lace-up black boots. She pulled on her rose-colored sweater coat, along with a green scarf that Gramma Helen had knitted for her a few years back. It was a little stretched out, but she loved the way it matched her woolly hat.
“My goodness, aren’t you all the little fashion plates?” Aunt Mimi declared.
“Hardly,” Madison quipped. “This jacket is so old.”
“Ah, but trés fashionable,” Aunt Mimi said with a knowing grin. “Style is what you make it.”
Lindsay held her head in her hands. She still hadn’t changed out of her pajama bottoms. She stared at her open suitcase with a blank look.
“I’d better stay here,” Lindsay said, sounding defeated.
“What are you talking about?” Aimee asked.
“I have nothing to wear,” Lindsay shot back.
“Why don’t you wear your long denim skirt, Lindsay?” Madison suggested. “The one with the leaves embroidered on the front?”
“And the little T-shirt that says, ‘Radioactive,’” Fiona added. “I love that T. You have to wear that T.”
“Maybe,” Lindsay said. But she continued to dawdle, and no one really knew why. After all, it was her birthday—why wasn’t she more excited than anyone to hit the sidewalks? Madison guessed that Lindsay had waked up thinking about that phone call from her dad—or rather, the non-phone call. She quietly took Lindsay’s hand in hers and squeezed.
“You want to borrow something of mine?” Madison asked. “Not that I have anything very exciting, but…”
“You mean it?” Lindsay said.
“My closet is your closet, too, Lindsay,” Aunt Mimi reminded her.
Lindsay broke into a wide smile and then disappeared into a side room with both her aunt and Madison. Fiona and Aimee waited in the living room with the big windows. About fifteen minutes later, Lindsay, Madison, and Aunt Mimi walked into the living room.
“Ta-da!” Lindsay said, cocking her hip to one side.
Aimee’s eyes bugged out. She could hardly speak (for a change), but Fiona tried.
“You—look—like—amazing—you—look—so—different,” Fiona stammered.
In the short time it took to vanish into Aunt Mimi’s walk-in closet (or walk-in room, depending on how you saw it), Lindsay had transformed herself. She went with the “Radioactive” T-shirt, as Fiona had suggested, and she also wore the long jean skirt. But on top, she wore Aunt Mimi’s incredibly cool tweed jacket with ribbon edging and chunky buttons. It made the outfit. Aunt Mimi also lent Lindsay a crocheted sweater that tied over the T with a large blue pom-pom. (Aunt Mimi clearly loved her pom-poms.)
“You have to wear my boots! They will match perfectly!” Fiona declared. “You’re a size seven, right?”
Lindsay nodded. “Yes.”
Fiona ran into the rooms where they’d slept and came out with a pair of red sheepskin boots with chunky heels. She handed them to L
indsay.
Lindsay pulled on the shoes and stood in front of one of Aunt Mimi’s many mirrors.
“I feel better,” Lindsay mumbled, turning around to see what she looked like from the back, “so much better.”
“You look better, too,” Madison said. She grabbed Lindsay’s hand again. “I mean, pajamas could be the next trend, but why risk it?”
“It’s almost eleven,” Aunt Mimi reminded everyone. “Tut-tut.”
The weather outside was chilly. Madison wrapped her scarf around her neck twice and braced herself against the wind. The sun was shining brightly and reflected off the glass buildings. And it was that sun that gave Aunt Mimi her first big idea of the day.
“Let’s go get some shades,” Aunt Mimi said.
So they raced across three city blocks toward an entrance to Central Park near Fifty-ninth Street where, just outside the park on the corner, two guys stood behind a table that was covered with sunglasses.
“Take your pick,” Aunt Mimi said to everyone, gesturing at the table.
“You’re joking,” Aimee said.
“We need to get our cool on,” Aunt Mimi said.
Fiona laughed out loud. She reached for a pair of reddish tortoiseshell frames with gray lenses. They looked perfect with her hair, which was braided and adorned with amber and red beads.
“I love those,” Madison said.
“Me, too,” Lindsay said. She scanned the table looking for a pair of her own.
“Try these, Lindsay,” Madison said, handing her a pair of sleek silver (or fake silver) frames. Then she grabbed thick orange frames for herself.
Lindsay balanced the glasses on the bridge of her nose and posed.
“Are they me?”
“Abso-tootly!” Aunt Mimi said. She held her hands up. “Where’s the camera?”
“I’m thinking pink,” Aimee announced as she showed off the pair she liked the best. Teeny rhinestones were embedded on the edges of the frame.
“Another hit!” Aunt Mimi declared as she paid the vendor for all four pairs of glasses.
They continued back down the street and boarded a bus to cross town. It was only a short while before they arrived in front of Bloomingdale’s department store. Aunt Mimi suggested that they use the Lexington Avenue entrance and travel through the store (past walls and walls of mirrors), to the exit on Third Avenue. It was a shortcut to the place where they’d be having lunch.
