by Laura Dower
Dad was boiling under the surface, Madison could tell. Dad’s not drinking was something important that Mom had obviously pretended to forget. And in a matter of seconds, Madison’s parents had gone from cordial to cranky.
“Hey, Dad, did you get any corn on the cob?” Madison asked as she peeked into one of the greasy bags.
Dad slapped his own forehead. “No! I forgot!”
Mom rolled her eyes again and laughed softly. “Well, I’ll leave you two to your chicken,” she said, disappearing out of the kitchen toward her office. “Love you, honey bear.”
She walked out with her glass of wine and a bowl of chips and clicked the lock on the office door behind her.
“Sorry, Dad,” Madison said. “I mean, sorry that you have to come here when I’m sick. I know it’s hard seeing Mom in the house and everything….”
“Nonsense! I love being back,” Dad said, looking fondly around the kitchen. “I remember when we had these countertops installed.” He ran his hand over the surface. “Great space for cooking here.”
Dad was a real gourmet, Madison thought. At least he was a gourmet compared to Mom, whose cooking skills were best described as a cross between “boils water” and “burns toast.” Dad was always trying new recipes. If there was anything good about the divorce, it was the weekly dinners with Dad.
Madison picked at a piece of chicken. She wasn’t hungry.
“Do you have a fever?” Dad asked, feeling her hot forehead. “Feed a fever, starve a cold, right?”
“Actually, I think it’s the other way around, Dad,” Madison replied.
“I always mess that up,” he groaned, half laughing. Taking a huge bite of fried chicken, he changed the subject. “So, is Mom being a good nurse?”
“Well, Mom is really busy with work,” Madison said in a low voice so that her mom wouldn’t hear. “You know how that goes….”
Dad bit his lip. “I wish I could take care of you, Maddie. It’s just that I can’t miss this business meeting tomorrow. Wait! If you’re sick, maybe you could stay with Stephanie.”
Stephanie was Madison’s brand-new stepmother. And although Madison liked her very much, she didn’t like the idea of asking Stephanie to nurse her back to health. Stephanie wasn’t really Madison’s mother, after all. Wasn’t that a job for her real mom?
“Just forget it,” Madison said, trying to sound convincing. “I’m okay at home. I understand that you both have jobs. You’re busy….” Inside, a little voice screamed, Tell him the truth! You want attention! You want TLC! You want warm cocoa! You want chicken soup! You want it NOW!
“Maddie,” Dad went on. “Are you sure?”
“Dad,” Madison said. “I’m really fine. I swear, I’m not even that sick…”
Gack! Hack! BLECCH!
Madison coughed. It wasn’t an ordinary sputter. It was a long, dry, tickling cough that wouldn’t stop no matter how much water or medicine she swallowed.
Dad slapped her on the back.
“Maddie!” Mom came rushing into the kitchen. “Are you okay? What’s going on in here?”
Dad rubbed Madison’s arm. She finally stopped coughing.
“I think maybe I should go up to bed,” Madison said. “This bronchitis doesn’t feel so a-cute anymore.”
“Very funny,” Dad said.
“Maddie, I want you in bed,” Mom said, as if she were giving an order. She handed Madison two pills. “And take these.”
First, Madison helped Dad clear the dirty dishes and wrap the leftovers. Of course, Dad still remembered the drawer where the plastic wrap and containers were kept. Madison gave him a huge bear hug before leaving the kitchen.
“E-mail me from your hotel?” Madison asked.
“I’ll E you and call you. The doctor should have all of his test results by then, too, right?” Dad asked, kissing the top of her head as he had when she’d been younger. “I want you to get well quick, sweetie.”
“I will, Dad,” Madison said, pausing for a moment. She secretly hoped he would change his mind and stay.
But he didn’t.
“Okay! I’m going to bed, Mom,” Madison announced, leaning over the banister. “Are you happy now?”
Mom and Dad both chuckled at that one.
“Maddie, be nice to your mother, will you?” Dad said in a sterner tone.
Mom smiled. “Thanks, Jeff,” she said.
“Lub you,” Madison said through her stuffy nose. She blew them each a kiss and promptly sneezed again. It seemed like old times for a brief moment, as she stood there on the bottom step: Madison, Mom, Dad, and Phinnie, together again.
But it wasn’t old times. The Big D had changed everything forever.
“Rowooororooroooooo!” Phin howled from upstairs. He’d raced ahead.
As soon she climbed to the top, Madison disappeared into her room. But despite her promise to Mom, she still didn’t have sleep on her mind. Madison booted up the laptop again and headed into her e-mailbox.
She hit NEW MAIL.
From: MadFinn
To: Bigwheels
Subject: FEVER!
Date: Mon 22 Sept 8:56 PM
My fever is almost 102. But I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. And lucky me, my dad came over tonite and he and Mom got into some weird non-fight. That’s how they do it. They’re mad but they don’t really yell. They just talk all around stuff. I hate it!!!!
How r u? How is Sparkles? How’s that guy Reggie u like so much? I guess I have a lot of questions today. Must be the cold medicine.
Madison stared off into space again. The medicine was definitely working better this time around. Her nose wasn’t so runny anymore. She gazed right past her desk and out through her bedroom window. Streetlights illuminated the sidewalk in front of the house next door. Someone was out walking a dog.
Madison didn’t recognize the dog or the dog walker. She got up and went to the window for a closer look. It was a boy. He had red hair, or at least it appeared red under the street lamp. He wore an old corduroy jacket, ripped jeans, and lumberjack boots. The big dog sniffed madly at a hydrant.
“Phinnie,” Madison asked as she lifted the pug up to the window. “Do you know that dog?”
Phinnie wriggled loose and leaped to the floor. Apparently, he didn’t know the mutt. And he wasn’t in the mood to look out of windows. Phin just wanted to curl up on a pillow somewhere.
As Madison squinted to get a better look at the boy, he and his dog walked right into the neighboring house.
Madison gripped the windowsill and took a deep breath.
Who was this guy? Why had she never seen him before?
Madison touched her cheeks. Her face felt flushed. Was this another cold-medicine hallucination?—or had she really just discovered that a cuter-than-cute boy lived right next door?
For a brief moment, Madison didn’t feel all that sick.
Chapter 3
“THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE CALLED,” Mom said as she brought a tall glass of cold orange juice into Madison’s bedroom on Tuesday morning. She raised the blinds and pulled back the curtains. “And it’s a good thing you’re staying home from school. Dr. Pinkerton says you officially have bronchitis. You will be out for a few days.”
“What?” Madison asked, rubbing her eyes. Mom’s words drifted over her like a thick fog.
Phin, who had followed Mom into the bedroom, jumped up and licked Madison’s nose. Madison swatted him away.
“How are you feeling this morning?” Mom asked.
“Okay, I guess,” Madison said. But as soon as she started to sit up in bed, she let out a long moan. Her shoulders drooped. “Oh, that was a big lie, Mom. I feel awful.”
Mom reached out to feel Madison’s forehead. “Yup,” she said. “You’re burning up.”
“I feel ten times worse than yesterday,” Madison rasped. “How is that possible?”
Mom shook her head. “Have some OJ,” she said. “And take your medicine.”
Madison took the juice and the m
edicine. She gave the top of Phin’s head a pat. He rolled over to have his tummy rubbed, too.
“Maddie,” Mom said. “I need to talk to you about work….”
“Yeah?”
“Well the thing is … I have a few important appointments this week that can’t be skipped,” Mom explained. “And with your being sick, and your father being away, I’m in a tricky spot….”
“Why?” Madison asked. “I can watch myself during the day. No prob.”
“During the day is fine. But I have to go away for a night or two,” Mom admitted finally. “And someone needs to take care of you when I can’t be here.”
“Do—you—really—have—to—go—away?” Madison asked, coughing between every word. She fell backward among her pillows and pulled the quilt up to her chin. She was still feeling hot and cold at the same time, just like yesterday.
Mom plumped up the covers around Madison. “Well, I have a surprise for you,” she said. “I called Gramma Helen. She’s flying in from Chicago to help us out.”
Madison’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t believe Mom had convinced Gramma to come all the way to Far Hills just to nurse Madison back to health. It was true that Gramma Helen had been saying for almost a year that she would visit, but then she had thrown her hip out and decided against traveling east. She was always making excuses about why she wouldn’t get on a plane.
“Gramma?” Madison said, blowing her nose loudly. “I guess I can deal with that. When is she coming?”
“Tomorrow,” Mom said.
“Tomorr—” Madison sneezed before she could get out the words. The sneeze sounded like an elephant’s call.
“Let me go make you a cup of tea with honey,” Mom said. “And how about breakfast? What do you want to eat?”
Madison made a yucky face. “No food. No tea,” she said, sticking out her tongue. “I just want to lie here.”
“Okay, Maddie,” Mom said gently. “I’ll get your tea later. But drink some water, will you? You need to stay hydrated. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
As soon as Mom left, Madison kicked off the blankets and dragged herself over to the window. She peered out. The bright air outside looked warm and inviting; it was like one of those perfect September days that still feel like summer.
And she was stuck with a cold.
Madison looked across the yard to the neighbor’s house where she had spotted the cute mystery boy the night before. She tried to guess which window was his. She wondered about his name. Where did he go to school? With each question her head spun. The medicine was kicking in.
Madison crawled back under the covers and closed her eyes tight. The only sounds in her room were the low rumble of Phin’s shallow doggy breaths and her own squeaky breathing.
Within seconds, she was fast asleep.
Madison blinked because the sun was pouring in through her window and her face felt hot. She imagined herself getting sunburned while lying sick in bed. That would be funny!
The clock next to Madison’s bed said 4:06. She’d been asleep longer than an entire school day.
“Phinnie?” Madison asked aloud, looking under the blankets for her pug. But he was no longer in the bedroom.
Madison took a sip of water from the cup on her nightstand. Then she reached down to the floor and pulled her orange laptop into bed with her.
Once the laptop purred on, Madison connected to the Internet and opened her e-mailbox.
FROM SUBJECT
Xcr_ultywQ DON’T MISS THIS
DantheMan Lizard Alert
TheEggMan Hmeowrk
newsflash88 Get Rich NOW
Bigwheels Sorry UR Sick
GoGramma My Visit!!!
Madison immediately deleted the messages marked DON’T MISS THIS and GET RICH NOW. Then she opened a note from her good friend Dan. In addition to being a classmate at school, Madison and Dan volunteered together at the Far Hills Animal Clinic.
From: DantheMan
To: MadFinn
Subject: Lizard Alert
Date: Tues 23 Sept 3:33 PM
Someone told me ur sick. No way b/c I am @ the clinic & there are 5 lizards here right now and they are sick 2!!! I had 2 tell u b/c u always laff @ stuff like that.
Some guy collects exotic animals or something & they all got the FLU so his whole collection is HERE. Dr. Wing put them in the cages way in the back. I named them already: Wizzy, Fizzy, Dizzy, Tizzy, and Lizzy (of course).
Write back if u get bored.
See ya, Dan
Madison made a mental note to write back to Dan about the funny lizard names. Then she clicked on the message after his.
From: TheEggMan
To: MadFinn
Subject: Hmeowrk
Date: Tues 23 Sept 3:41 PM
hey maddie I volntered in scool 2day 2 get homework assns 4 fiona and then I said I would 4 u 2 I hope that’s ok I will clal l8r bye
Egg
ps I will prob get 4 aimee if she wnts
pps u need 2 decide who ur doing that web project with topics r due soon
Egg was the worst e-mail speller on the planet, Madison decided. She chuckled to herself. And of course he was getting Fiona’s homework! He was acting so mushy around Fiona lately. His reminder about the web project set Madison’s mind spinning. She had to e-mail Aimee and Fiona so that they could decide on their topic.
Madison took another sip of water. She didn’t feel like her normal self for so many reasons. Her nose was clogged. Her head pounded. Plus, she actually felt popular today—she felt more popular staying at home sick than she did when she went to school in good health!
“I have to get sick more often,” Madison sniffled to herself.
The next message was from her keypal. Madison had written to tell her about the mystery boy next door. Bigwheels had a lot to say on that subject.
From: Bigwheels
To: MadFinn
Subject: Re: FEVER!
Date: Tues 23 Sept 3:58 PM
That is so weird what u wrote me about a guy next door. I have a neighbor who is a boy, too, but he is the opposite of cute. How can someone live so close but u never even notice him? Maybe your boy just moved in. Send more info! BTW what’s up w/Hart these daze? U don’t mention him as much as b4. R U still crushing on him?
Life here is ok. But I’m having trouble in math already which is a drag cuz math can be a good subject 4 me. Oh well. My 2 cats r GREAT. How’s Phinnie? The other day I was in the mall and Pets Central had a baby pug in the window. I thought of u. :>)
I hope you feel better VERY VERY VERY soon. It is so yucky to be sick. At least u & ur friends can all be sick 2gether tho. You should have a sick sleepover LOL with cocoa and videos. Write back soon.
Yours till the puppy dogs,
Vicki aka Bigwheels
Gramma Helen had sent the final e-mail. She had written to say that she loved Madison very much and was glad to be coming to Far Hills to help out. Madison smiled at the thought of seeing her grandmother. It had been a while. She hit DELETE. She didn’t need to save this one. After all, Gramma Helen would be in Far Hills tomorrow.
Bleeeeeeep.
Her laptop made a noise. A message! Madison hit REPLY and started to chat with her friend Lindsay.
d
As Madison signed off, she blew her nose. It was fun reading all the e-mails, but her head was so congested. Mom was right. She needed more sleep. Madison quickly exited her e-mailbox and placed the laptop back on the floor.
“Mommmmm!”
Madison screeched as loudly as she could, so Mom could hear her, all the way downstairs in her office.
“Mommmmm!”
Madison called out once more, and then she snuggled under the covers, rubbing her bottom lip with the satin edge of a purple blanket.
Mom appeared a few moments later.
“What is all the fuss?” Mom asked, poking her head into the room. Phin trotted inside, too.
“My ears are ringing,” Madison said.
“I’m sorry you don’t feel well, honey bear,” Mom said.
“And my throat is killing me,” Madison said.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mom said. Then Mom spied the laptop on the floor. “Um … what’s this? Have you been resting—or writing to your friends online?” she asked.
Madison looked down. “No,” she answered.
“No, what?” Mom asked.
“No, I haven’t exactly been resting,” Madison admitted.
Mom clucked her tongue. “Maddie…” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I told you…”
“I feel dizzy,” Madison said aloud. A picture of Dizzy the lizard at the animal clinic popped into Madison’s head. She giggled to herself.
“Well, lie down,” Mom said. “I’m going to get you some food, whether you like it or not. I don’t want you to start passing out. You need your sleep, Maddie.”
Madison curled up into a ball and called for Phin to jump up onto the bed next to her. Her whole body ached. As Mom fussed with blankets and put away folded laundry, Madison wondered what the boy next door was doing right at that moment. Was he outside, right then, walking his dog?
