All Shook Up (From the Files of Madison Finn, 22) Read Free

Aimee was extremely territorial when it came to lunchroom seating—and friends.
    “Thanks for letting me sit here,” Madhur said. “The cafeteria looks different from this table.”
    “I liked your talk in class,” Hart said to Madhur. “You’re a good writer.”
    Madhur nodded. “You are, too,” she said, looking away from Hart.
    Across the table, Egg flicked one of his fries. It landed in Madison’s lap.
    “Thanks a lot, moron,” Madison said. “What am I supposed to do with this?”
    “Stick it in your nose,” Egg said.
    “You’re so funny I forgot to laugh.”
    “You forgot to barf?” Egg cracked.
    The other boys laughed loudly.
    “ You make me want to barf,” Madison said.
    Madhur giggled. “You and Walter must be good friends,” she whispered.
    “Yeah, this whole group has all known each other forever,” Madison explained. “Everyone except Fiona and Chet. They just moved here last summer from California.”
    “I know them,” Madhur said, glancing over in Chet’s direction. “Fiona seems nice. So does her brother.”
    “Before, when I was telling you about how much I liked your presentation,” Madison said, “I forgot to tell you that I know a little bit about Punjabi culture.”
    “Really? How?”
    Madison shrugged. “It’s my mom, actually. She’s a documentary filmmaker and producer, and she’s been to Pakistan and India. She told me all about the monsoons. And her crew took this incredible footage, too. The way you described the weather and the places was so intense.”
    “Just my grandmamma’s words,” Madhur interrupted. “I’ve actually never been.”
    “Well, I felt like I really understood what you were saying,” Madison said. “I think I’m going to surf the Net and find out more information about that part of the world.”
    Madhur ate a bite of salad from her plate. “Do you go online very much?” she asked Madison.
    Aimee, who happened to overhear Madhur’s question, laughed out loud.
    “Did you just ask Madison if she ever went online?”
    “Is that a funny question?” Madhur asked, sounding confused.
    “My friends tease me,” Madison said. “The truth is I’m on the computer most of the time. I keep these files, I have a screen name at TweenBlurt.com, I have a long-distance keypal … the works.”
    “I’ve heard of TweenBlurt. I’ve never been on it, though.”
    “You’ve never been?” Madison said.
    “Wow,” Fiona said. “You’re missing out.”
    Lindsay grinned. “We gossip … well, chat … online all the time there.”
    “I don’t actually have a computer at home that works. I go to the library to check my e-mail or do homework,” Madhur explained.
    “You don’t have a computer at home?” Madison asked, incredulously.
    Madhur shook her head. “My dad said maybe this year we will get one.”
    Madison felt guilty. Not only did she have her very own personal computer—it was right there in her orange messenger bag.
    “Maybe you should help on the school website,” Madison suggested to Madhur. “Then you could use Mrs. Wing’s computers to do work.”
    “That’s a good idea,” Madhur said. “I’m trying to do more extracurricular activities, rather than just studying all the time.”
    “Do you play sports?” Fiona asked. “You should join the soccer team.”
    “No way. I’m a total klutz,” Madhur said. “I tried soccer once, and I tripped on the ball.”
    “Everyone trips on the ball!” Fiona said.
    “Well …”
    “It’s not like you have to dance ballet or something,” Fiona joked, eyeing Aimee. “Soccer is all practice and kicking and—I’m sure you’d have fun.”
    “I bet you’d be good at soccer,” Chet blurted out from across the table.
    The girls all stared.
    Normally, Chet didn’t pay attention to anything girls said or did. But today he was acting differently.
    “Who asked you?” Fiona grumbled, kicking Chet under the table.
    “It’s a free country,” Chet barked. “I can talk if I