Just Visiting by Laura Dower Read Free Book Online Page B

returned to the house. She was sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea, knitting blue and gold afghan squares.
    “I’m making a blanket for the neighbors’ new grandchild,” she said, knitting one and purling two. Madison marveled at how her grandmother always kept herself busier than busy.
    “So have a seat and tell me everything,” Gramma said.
    “Everything? Like what?” Madison asked. During their card games, she’d already filled Gramma in on the basics: school grades, friends, and even Dad.
    “How are your files?” Gramma asked. “I see you brought your laptop here, so you must be keeping up with them.”
    Gramma always remembered to ask about the really important things.
    Madison stood up, leaned over, and gave her a big hug and kiss. “I am so happy to be here,” she said. “My files are great.”
    “I just want you to make yourself at home, dearie,” Gramma went on. “I want this to be a great vacation. I know it’s hard without your pals…”
    Madison sighed.
    “I set up a little table in the back guest room for you and your laptop,” Gramma said, winking. “So you can e-mail them.”
    Madison hadn’t noticed it before, so she dashed into the other room to check it out. Indeed, there was a small table near a phone jack, a chair, and even a jar with pencils, pens, and a ruler. It inspired Madison to pull out her computer immediately.
    “Do you mind if I try it out?” Madison asked.
    “Go on, Maddie,” Gramma called back. “That’s what it’s there for.”
    Madison quickly plugged in the modem and logged in to check her e-mailbox. Someone would have written by now, she thought.
    But the message on-screen read otherwise.
    Mailbox is empty.
    Madison clicked the mail icon again. Not a single friend (or enemy) had written a note? She hadn’t even received any spams or messages from unknown sources.
    Mailbox is empty.
    Madison had to find out what was happening. Where was everyone? Immediately she opened a new e-mail and started to type.
    First she wrote to her BFFs back home.
From: MadFinn
    To: BalletGrl, Wetwinz
    Subject: WHERE R U GUYS???
    Date: Sun 29 June 3:12 PM
    Where r u guys??? I am here at my gramma’s house and I MISS YOU SO MUCH. You would like it here. Gramma’s house is on a small pond and she has a wooden dock, but we’re only a little walk from the big beach on Lake Michigan. So I can go to the beach, too. Are you spending every day at Lake Dora? I bet ur having the best time getting ready for the carnival and all that, aren’t you? You have to write and send me details!
    I MISS YOU!!! Did I say that already?
    p.s. Phin misses Blossom, too, LOL
    p.p.s. HB! xoxoxxo,
    Maddie
    After hitting SEND, Madison typed a couple of other e-mails to Dad, Mom, and even Egg. There was a definite theme:
    WRITE!
    She sent her third note in two days to Bigwheels.
From: MadFinn
    To: Bigwheels
    Subject: R U OUT THERE?
    Date: Sun 29 June 3:41 PM
    Did you get my other e-mails? R U still in Oregon or another state? I am FINALLY here with my gramma Helen and my dog. I love her soooo much. She always plans stuff for us to do. She says she wants to teach me how to knit. My grandmother is so smart about things. She cooks fun food and plays the piano and all sorts of other stuff. You never told me about ur grandmother. Do you have one or two? Are they nice?
    BTW: what do u do all day inside a camper when ur driving around? Does ur little sister get on ur nerves? I will try to find an e-postcard from here that will make u laugh.
    Yours till the globe trotters, MadFinn
    Madison marked the entire e-mail as priority, with a red exclamation point, and then she typed an extra P.S. in big, capital letters.
P.S. WRITE BACK SOON! PRETTY PLEEZ?
    Madison left TweenBlurt.com to visit her own personal files next. Without friends to chat with all the time, Madison could always talk to her files—especially when she had a lot on her mind.
Summer Vacation

    Rude Awakening:
I’ve got a case of the summertime red,