Give and Take Read Free Page B

stretched out. Maybe Dad will take me to the mall once he makes the final plans for our trip? I hope that’s sooner than soon.
    Mom woke up this morning and asked me about the vacation again at breakfast. Arrgh! I pretended I didn’t hear. I know that Dad might change the vacation plans because he does that sometimes. But the thing is, I can deal with it. What I CAN’T deal with is the way Mom feels about Dad when he does that.
    Mom and Dad are so nice to each other all year long and then at Christmas, why does it get awkward and angry and YUCK? It’s just one of those things that bugs me since they got divorced.
    The weather forecast says we might get up to twenty inches of snow on the mountains outside Far Hills. Isn’t that wild? And even if I won’t be enjoying the ski slopes with Dad, I won’t get bummed out like Mom thinks.
    Rude Awakening:
Snow news isn’t always good news. But I’m still looking forward to my winter break.
    Madison saved her file onto her brand new snowman-shaped flash drive, leaned back in her chair, and glanced around the room. She and Fiona came up to the library media center during their last free period to do homework. Madison was falling behind in social studies class and owed her teacher a few chapter reviews. At least, that was what she was trying to work on. In reality, she wasn’t writing about the American Revolution. She was writing in her files.
    “Maddie,” Fiona said, distracted from her homework, too. “Do you … do you think Egg likes me?”
    Madison looked over from her computer terminal. “Yes, Fiona. How many times are you going to ask me that? And Aimee thinks so too.”
    Fiona giggled. “Sorry.”
    “Are you blushing?” Madison asked. She giggled too.
    The bell rang indicating that the free period had ended. Fiona shoved her papers into her bag.
    “Should I ask him out?” Fiona asked.
    Madison shook her head. “Absolutely not. Wait for him to ask you.”
    “No way,” Fiona said, grinning. “I’m no good at waiting.”
    “Yeah, I know. And we’re supposed to be in charge of our destinies and all that. That’s what my Mom says all the time. But remember that Egg will get all weird if you ask him first. Not because he’s a boy. Just because he gets weird about everything,” Madison said. “ Everything.”
    Madison had known Egg since they were little kids.
    “Okay,” Fiona said with a shrug and hurried toward the door. “I have to go to soccer now. E-mail me later, okay?”
    Madison nodded and pulled her own books together. She had to dash, too. She was meeting Señora Diaz and the rest of the Adopt-a-Grandparent volunteers in room 306, the Spanish classroom.
    She raced down to the room, almost slamming right into Egg and Hart on the way inside.
    “Where’s the fire?” Egg cracked.
    Madison frowned. “Whatever, Egg. Can I please get by?”
    Egg smiled back. “Sure, if you can fit.” He and Hart blocked the doorway.
    Madison stood back with her hands on her hips. “What is up with you?” Madison asked. She couldn’t believe that Fiona liked one of these guys. Then again, Madison couldn’t believe that she liked one of these guys, too.
    “Excuse me,” Ivy Daly said as she came up from behind Madison. “Is there a reason why you guys are holding up everything?”
    Madison turned to Ivy. “I’m with you,” she said, not believing the words as they came out of her mouth. “Move it, Egg.”
    Unbelievably, Ivy smiled. “Yeah.”
    Egg and Hart rushed in and sat down.
    Madison scanned the colorful ceiling and walls of the small room. They were covered in posters of Spain and Puerto Rico. Señora Diaz had also hung red, yellow, and blue streamers everywhere.
    Chairs were arranged in a semicircle, and everyone had their book bags lying around on chairs and on the floor, so it was hard to find the right empty seat to sit in. For a split second Madison stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do.
    But a lot can happen in a split