Free Double Dare (From the Files of Madison Finn, 14) by Laura Dower Page A

Even more than the food, Madison loved the atmosphere. They played music from Indian movies, and the interior was decorated with strings of teeny white Christmas lights. But best of all, Bombay Palace had the ultimate location.
    “We go by Far Hills Animal Clinic on the way, right?” Madison asked. “Dad, could we stop there for just a second? Mrs. Wing said that one of the collies just had puppies, and I really want to see them.”
    Dad checked the clock on the dashboard. “Well …” he hedged. “We’ve got a reservation, and I don’t want to keep Stephanie waiting.”
    “Oh,” Madison said, deflated like a balloon losing air. Even though Madison didn’t love the idea that Dad was dating, Stephanie was always nice, she had to admit that. Madison could understand why Dad didn’t want her to be sitting by herself in the restaurant.
    But, she still wanted to make the detour to see the puppies.
    “I swear I will only go in for a split second,” Madison pleaded.
    “I know you,” Dad said, “You’ll see one puppy and hold it. And then you’ll want to hold all of them…. Maybe we can go there after dinner?”
    “They’ll be closed then,” Madison said. “Please, Dad? Puh-leeez?”
    “Okay,” Dad sighed. “Okay. But you’ll have to be quick.”
    “I will, cross my heart,” Madison said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
    Dad pulled into the parking lot of the Far Hills Animal Clinic, and Madison opened the car door and jumped right out. “Five minutes only,” she said. “I know.”
    “What about me?” Dad replied, “I want to see the puppies, too.”
    “You do?” Madison said. She grinned as Dad scrambled out of the car and they walked into the clinic.
    “Maddie!” said a blonde woman behind the desk. It was Eileen Ginsburg, animal nurse at the clinic and the mother of Madison’s friend from school, Dan.
    “You’re here to see Fleet’s pups, aren’t you?” Eileen said.
    Madison nodded and introduced Dad. After the grown-ups said their polite hellos, Eileen showed them into the back room. A volunteer was there tending to a sick kitten. Dan was there, too, washing cages.
    “Hey, Maddie!” Dan yelled. He volunteered at the clinic after school to help his mom out. Madison admired how good he was with the animals. “Did you hear that Fleet had puppies?”
    “Yes!” Madison said. “That’s why I’m here. Your mom guessed right away.” Madison introduced Dad.
    “You’ve got your hands full here,” Dad said.
    “Yes sir,” Dan said. “Let’s go see the dogs. There are seven. Can you believe it?”
    Dan led them to a low basket lined with blankets in the corner of the room. “We thought she needed some extra space,” Dan explained. “Usually we don’t have special setups like this, but sometimes. Fleet is special.”
    Fleet lay on her side, looking exhausted, while seven tiny collie puppies nursed at her side. Madison sucked in her breath. The puppies were so little that they hadn’t even opened their eyes yet! “They’re adorable,” she gasped.
    “They really are,” Dad agreed, sneaking up behind Madison. “Lucky dogs.”
    “Dad!” Madison groaned.
    “They’re only four days old,” Dan said. “You can’t touch them yet, or else I’d let you hold one.”
    “Oh, that’s okay,” Madison said. “I’m happy just to look.” She gazed at the puppies again, until she noticed Dad checking his watch. “Whoops! Hey, Dan, we have to boogie.”
    “So soon?” he said.
    “Yeah,” Madison said, smiling at Dad. “But thanks so much for showing them to us.”
    “It was nice to meet you, young man,” Dad said.
    “Come back and see them again,” Dan said. “They get cuter every day.”
    “I don’t see how they could get any cuter,” Madison said, “but I’ll definitely come back.”
    Dan showed them out. “Oh, by the way, Maddie, I got your e-mail invitation. It sounds like fun.”
    “So you’ll be there?” Madison said. “So many people are coming. I