Free Save the Date by Laura Dower Page A

seventh grade swarmed after Madison with questions.
    “Did you see the bee that stung her?”
    “Does Fiona hate bees?”
    “Do we have to finish the field trip now?”
    Madison shrugged. She didn’t know the answers to any of those questions. Where was Mr. Danehy? Where was Jimmy?
    Egg poked his way through a group of kids. Hart was right behind him.
    “Did you save her life?” Egg asked Madison.
    “You did save her life, didn’t you?” Hart said. He sounded impressed.
    Madison frowned. “I didn’t do anything special.”
    “YES, YOU DID!” Aimee said. She looked at Egg directly. “While you guys were wasting time making stupid comments, Maddie was doing something important.”
    “Aimee,” Madison contested. “I wasn’t doing anything really—”
    “I am still so worried,” Aimee said to Madison as they lined up together again. “Should we be in there with her? Are you absolutely sure she’s going to be okay?”
    Madison nodded and smiled. “Of course.”
    The teachers blew a whistle, and all the seventh graders got back into their designated groups. With more than an hour left on the field trip, the class had to move right along to the next activity. The only faculty member who remained missing was Mr. Danehy, who stayed inside the nature center’s infirmary with Chet and Fiona. He was waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Waters to arrive. The rest of the teachers and guides led everyone over to another lodge on the property of the nature center.
    Jimmy made an announcement. “Okay, everyone,” he said. “For the remainder of your time here, I’d like to invite you into our nature center gift shop.”
    Madison raised her hand. She was ready to volunteer right now. But Jimmy didn’t see her at first.
    “What are you doing?” Aimee asked, pulling Madison’s arm out of the air.
    “I think I might become a volunteer here,” Madison said, trying to raise her arm again.
    “Maddie,” Lindsay said. “You were just talking this morning on the bus about how busy you are.”
    “Yeah,” Aimee said. “You don’t have time to volunteer at the animal shelter and here and do all your work. What planet are you on?”
    “I can find time,” Madison argued. “I know I’m busy. But I really want to do this. It’s a great place.”
    “You just want to do it because Jimmy is Mr. Cute,” Lindsay teased.
    “Not true,” Madison said. She giggled. “Well, only a little true.”
    They trio laughed together as they entered the gift shop.
    Standing by the display of stuffed animals, Madison bumped into Ivy—literally. Ivy sneered.
    “Walk much?” she said, turning away. Ivy’s drones, who were standing there, sneered, too.
    “Who does she think she is?” Joanie asked. “Florence Nightingale or something?”
    They all laughed.
    “Who is Florence Nightingale?” Aimee whispered to Lindsay. She softly explained that Florence Nightingale had been a nurse who helped soldiers during war.
    “I’m actually writing an English paper on her,” Lindsay said. “Ask me anything and I bet I can tell you.”
    “Oh, maybe another time,” Aimee said. “Did I tell you guys that I’m writing mine on Isadora Duncan? She was a dancer.”
    Madison was reminded that she still hadn’t finished her Women’s History Month paper on Eleanor Roosevelt. Maybe her friends were right. Volunteering for the nature center wasn’t a good idea after all. She did have homework that was late, other commitments with Mrs. Wing, flute lessons (and she’d hardly even practiced for the next one), and a bunch of other stuff.
    She was busier than busy. Her Calendar Girl agenda was booked.
    Madison Finn was busy as a bee, in fact.
    Inside the gift shop, Madison used her allowance to buy a butterfly puzzle. She was thinking it might be a nice thing to give to Fiona after she recovered from her terrible bee sting. It was also on sale for only five dollars—exactly the amount she had in her bag.
    Outside the gift shop, Mr. Danehy rejoined the