Picture-Perfect (From the Files of Madison Finn, 8) (14 page)

The last remaining e-mail in the box was the one Madison was most excited to open and read. Hearing from her best friends was always fun, but getting keypal mail was super special. It made Madison feel important. And she always knew the right things to say.

Unlike Madison, Bigwheels had obviously gotten up early in Washington, which was three hours behind Far Hills. She’d just sent the e-mail a little while before Madison opened it.

From: Bigwheels


To: MadFinn


Subject: Write Back Soon.


Date: Sat 25 May 10:04 AM


I can’t sleep late anymore on weekends because my little sister has to go to this special accelerated class on Saturdays. Mom makes us rise and shine at the crack of dawn. But at least I can write to you! That and watch cartoons. They are showing this bonanza of old Bugs Bunny cartoons and they make me laugh so hard. I also love the Powerpuff Girls even though my uncool sister does too.


HOW WAS THE CONCERT????!!! I have been thinking about you since yesterday. I told my mom that I wanted to go to the Nikki show and she said “NO WAY,” so all the more reason why I wish I were you. Was she amazing? I think that she wears the best clothes. I saw on one of her Web sites that the theme of her concert is like a carnival or something. Is that true?


Send me ur update. I will be waiting!


Yours till the flower pots,


Bigwheels a/k/a Victoria a/k/a Vicki


p.s. That’s what most people call me at school and I don’t think I told you that—Vicki. CWYL! Bye!


Madison dashed off an extra long e-mail. She included all the details too, right down to Ivy’s appearance and Nikki’s zits.

The rest of Saturday flew by. And Sunday, too. Madison spring cleaned her closet with Mom’s help, boxing up some of her winter sweaters to put upstairs in the attic. Spring was here, and summer wasn’t too far off.

By Monday morning, the high of the concert had mostly worn off, although everyone in school was talking about Nikki. Most people were still idolizing her clothes and her poses, but Madison and her friends knew something everyone else didn’t. Before homeroom, Madison went into her school locker and peeled off the Nikki poster from the door. She didn’t worship the singing star quite as much as she had a few days before.

“I still can’t believe we met her. In person!” Aimee said. “She wasn’t that bad, was she?”

“She was kind of rude to you,” Fiona reminded Aimee. “Don’t you remember?”

“I want to put a picture of you guys up on my locker instead,” Madison said.

Aimee threw her arms into the air. “Oh yeah, because we are just soooo much more beautiful!”

Madison smiled. “Well, we’re not famous. But so what?”

“Do either of you have a math quiz today? Can I borrow someone’s notes?” Fiona asked. “Since the Nikki concert happened, I didn’t concentrate on anything else. I have so much homework and studying to make up!”

Madison was about to commiserate with her BFF, when someone called out to her from across the hallway.

“Hey, Finnster!”

It was Hart Jones. As soon as Madison heard his voice, she turned away. She was trying hard to ignore him. But then he walked by and all hope was lost. As soon as she laid eyes on his brown curly hair, Madison’s heart began to pitter and pat. She said a soft “Hello,” and he smiled.

As soon as the class bell rang, the three friends went their separate ways. Madison spent the morning classes in a little bit of a post-concert fog. She’d had the whole weekend to recover, and she’d torn the locker poster down, but Madison was still thinking about Nikki.

On the way to lunch that afternoon, Madison passed through the school’s main lobby. A small group of kids had gathered in front of the display case in the center of the lobby. As Madison drew closer to the glass cabinet, she saw that Mr. Duane had put up an art exhibit.

Madison Finn’s self-portrait was in the middle of everything.

“That looks really good,” a voice, said from behind her.

Madison spun around to see who was talking.

It was Carmen.

“I like the way your self-portrait is kind of abstract. It’s way better than everyone else’s,” Carmen said. “More interesting.”

Madison wasn’t so sure “interesting” was a good thing.

“Thanks,” she mumbled, slinging her orange bag over her shoulder. “I guess it’s okay—if you like blobs.”

“Mr. Duane wouldn’t have put yours in the middle if he didn’t like it, would he?” Carmen asked. She smiled, and Madison noticed again how pretty she was up close.

“I guess you’re right,” Madison said. She glanced around the cabinet so she could see Carmen’s portrait, too. It was tacked up a row away.

“No one’s picture really looks like them,” Carmen observed.

“Yours does,” Madison said. “You are such a good artist. I meant to say that in class the other day. I was really frustrated drawing that fruit.”

“Thanks for saying that,” Carmen said in a soft voice, smiling even wider.

“Well, I have to go to lunch now,” Madison said. “What are you doing?”

“I have lunch, too,” Carmen said. “Wanna sit together?”

Madison wondered what Fiona and Aimee would say if she brought a new friend over to the orange table at the back of the cafeteria. What would Hart Jones say if he saw Madison talking to Carmen? Did it matter?

She glanced back at her self-portrait one last time and heard another kid say something about how cool it looked.

Madison beamed.

Like her picture, she wasn’t perfect either, but it didn’t matter so much anymore.

“Let’s go to lunch!” Madison said to Carmen, and they disappeared down the hall.

<:>))        Very, VERY happy

:-6            I’m sooo wiped out

&’‘ ‘ -1    You’re making me cry!

RN!         Right now!

YTTT?     You’re telling me the truth?

BFB        Bigfishbowl

2morrow  Tomorrow

Tix           Tickets

WWBY   Wouldn’t Wanna Be You

WBS       Write back soon

GMTA     Great minds think alike

CWYL    Chat with you later

TX           Thanks

YW         You’re welcome

HELP! That seems to be my favorite word these days. Sometimes I really do need help, though … fast
E-mails and texting are a great way to reach out for help and advice from friends
—and get answers fast.
Like when I asked Fiona for fashion advice for the Nikki concert and she gave it to me … presto … online! And I love the fact that I send e-mail to my keypal Bigwheels all the way across the country, and moments later she’s giving me the best advice in the world.

Visit Madison at the author’s web site:
www.lauradower.com

Author Laura Dower has a lot in common with Madison Finn: They’re both only children and they both love dogs, the color orange, and books! Laura has written more than ninety kids’ books to date, including twenty-five in the series From the Files of Madison Finn. Her other books include the new Palace Puppies series and
For Girls Only
, a guide to girl stuff. When she’s not writing, Laura loves to garden, sing (loudly), and volunteer as a scout leader for her daughter and two sons. She and her family live in New York. Want to be keypals? Drop her a note at
www.lauradower.com.

All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Text copyright © 2002 by Laura Dower

Cover design by Connie Gabbert

978-1-4804-2292-6

This edition published in 2013 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

345 Hudson Street

New York, NY 10014

www.openroadmedia.com