Read All Shook Up (From the Files of Madison Finn, 22) for Free Online Page B

my parents don’t know about it, and I shouldn’t. I don’t take the bus alone….”
    “You won’t be alone,” Madison said. “We’ll be with you. And it’s only two stops away.”
    Madhur looked conflicted. “I can’t. Really.”
    Madison didn’t want to press the issue. But then she said, “I could introduce you to all the animals. You’d love it.”
    A wide smile spread across Madhur’s face. “Okay. I guess my parents won’t mind. I’ll go.”
    Just then, Dan appeared, and the trio raced to catch one of the local buses that passed the clinic. Dan told Madison he was happy to see an extra volunteer.
    Dan’s mom, who worked the front desk at the clinic, was overjoyed to see three helpers coming to the clinic that afternoon—even if Madison and Madhur would only be there for a short time. Madison took Madhur into the back and showed her the rows of animal cages where dogs in all shapes and sizes barked their hellos.
    “This place is great,” Madhur said, leaning toward a cage with a little dog inside.
    Dan opened the cage and pulled out the dog, a small Pomeranian. He cradled the dog in his arms and then passed it over to Madhur.
    “Wanna hold her?” Dan said. “Her name is Polly Doodle. Don’t ask.”
    Madhur laughed as she took Polly from him. “Oh, you are so cute! Just the cutest thing ever, ever, ever.”
    Madison giggled. “That’s what I always say,” she joked.
    “I know it’s a huge bummer, but we have to deal with the kittens, Maddie,” Dan interrupted.
    He explained to Madison and Madhur that the animals had already been cremated; they just needed to be buried, out behind the clinic, where there was a garden with little pet headstones for animals who died during a stay at the clinic or the shelter.
    “This is weird,” Madhur said as they stepped into the little pet cemetery. “But sweet.”
    “Sweet?” Dan said. “Man, sugar is sweet. This just stinks.”
    “Dan doesn’t like saying good-bye,” Madison said. “We get pretty attached to the animals here. You know?”
    Madhur nodded. “I know. I lost a pet once. It’s hard.”
    Dan said a few words over a large sign he’d made with the names of all the kittens written on it. Then Madison said a few more words, and Madhur said her own good-bye.
    “Oh, man,” Dan groaned when they’d finished up. “It’s after four o’clock. I have to help my mom with these parrots that are coming in tonight. This guy has three birds, and they’re all getting surgery.”
    Madison made a face. “What kind of surgery?”
    Dan just shook his head. “Don’t ask.” He said that a lot.
    “I’d better get home,” Madhur said. “I told my mom I’d be home by four thirty. If she finds out I came here and I’m late …”
    All at once, Madison’s face grew pale. It was after four o’clock ?
    “Oh!” she blurted out, scrambling back inside to pick up her orange bag.
    “What’s the matter?” Dan asked, following her.
    Madhur chased after the two of them.
    “It’s after four,” Madison said, “and I promised Aimee I would—” she sighed. “I promised,” she groaned.
    “It’s not that much later. She’ll understand,” Madhur said sweetly. “That’s what friends do. They understand you. Right?”
    “Normally. Except that Aimee had this terrible day today, and I just … I better go….”
    “Call me back about Sunday, okay?” Madhur asked.
    Madison stopped short. “We should see each other before that. Why don’t you come out tomorrow night with us?”
    “Is it family night?” Madhur asked.
    “Not exactly. Depends on what you mean by ‘family.’ My parents are divorced,” Madison said.
    “Oh,” Madhur said.
    “Don’t worry. I’m used to the Big D—that’s what I call their ‘divorce.’ Besides, Dad is married again now. And I like my stepmom a lot. I think my mom will probably get married again sometime, too. Then again, she’s married to her job….”
    “Don’t you have to go?” Dan