Give and Take Read Free Page A

unless I know you’re going to be safe and sound somewhere with Dad. Did he e-mail?”
    Madison squirmed. “Well, I don’t know what’s happening.”
    “What?” Mom said. “You told me yesterday that he confirmed all the plans and dates. Now we were waiting for him to—”
    “Waiting!” Madison said. “Oh yeah. Well that’s true. I am waiting for… for…”
    “ROWROOOOOO!” Phin let out a howl. His leash was wound all around the post in the yard. Mom ran over to unwind him. Madison took advantage of the break in the interrogation.
    “I’m going inside, Mom, okay?”
    “Okay,” Mom said. “We’ll talk about this later.”
    Madison hurried into the front hallway. She checked the message machine first, hoping that she’d find a recorded greeting from Dad. But the only message was a garbled one from Gramma Helen. That happened sometimes when Gramma called from her cell phone out near Lake Michigan.
    Fzzzzzzzzzt. Love you. Szzzzzzbpp. Bye-bye. Kkkkkchk.
    With no greeting from Dad on the machine, Madison started to worry. She powered up her laptop and opened an Internet browser immediately. With fingers and toes crossed, she searched TweenBlurt.com for a message from Dad.
    NEW MAIL.
    Madison gasped when she saw three new messages blinking inside her e-mailbox. There were notes from Gramma, Fiona, and DAD!
    FROM        SUBJECT
    GoGramma       Missing You
    Wetwinz        Fw: Re: Chorus
    JeffFinn       Vacation
    Madison opened Dad’s mail first.
From: JeffFinn
    To: MadFinn
    Subject: Vacation
    Date: Wed 5 Dec 1:24 PM
    I’m off to a big meeting, but I just wanted to check in with my one and only. How is school? You must be excited about the upcoming vacation. Can’t wait to see you.
    Here’s a joke for you.
    What happened when the ice monster had a fight with the zombie? He gave him the cold shoulder! LOL.
    Thinking of you all the time. I love you.
    Dad
    Madison reread Dad’s e-mail twice more just to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. This was the vacation confirmation Madison had been waiting for… wasn’t it? She wasn’t sure. The only thing certain in this e-mail was the standard bad Dad joke.
    What was Madison supposed to tell Mom now?
    She hit SAVE and moved along to the other messages.
    Fiona’s note was simple. She had a few boring questions about the chorus schedule.
    Gramma Helen’s message was a little longer. She was “checking in on her family.” Madison read the e-mail and hit REPLY .
From: MadFinn
    To: GoGramma
    Subject: I Have Super Big NEWS
    Date: Wed 5 Dec 5:01 PM
    Thanks for your nice note, Gramma. Mom and I are fine. We got your voice message too but it was all static. You have to get a new phone, I think.
    I have the coolest news about school. Remember I told you about the chorus and Winter Jubilee at FHJH? Well, I’m also going to be a volunteer at this place in Far Hills called The Estates. It’s for older people (older than you, though, because I don’t really think you’re old!). But the funny part is that the program is called Adopt-a-Grandparent, so how could I not remember you! I hope you don’t mind if I’m standing in as an adopted granddaughter for someone else. I wonder what everyone there will want to talk about? I may be calling or e-mailing you for ideas, Gramma. I love you so much. How is life by the lake? I hope I can come visit you sometime soon. Are you excited about Christmas?
    Love you lots,
    Maddie
    As Madison hit SEND , she felt teeny butterflies inside her belly. Although vacation was still a little undecided, she sensed that this Christmas season just might turn out special in some way.
    She just wasn’t sure how.
    There was a long—and hopefully snowy—road ahead.

Chapter 3
    Winter Break
Please let there be SNOW. Lots of it. I went through my entire closet last night after dinner and pulled out all the clothes I could find for skiing. I wish I could go shopping for more, but I can’t. My sweaters are getting soooo