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history.”
    “Luke said you make it really interesting,” she replied.
    “Well, you tell Luke I appreciate his endorsement,” he said.
    “We’d better let Mr. Barnes get back to his work,” Mr. Woodruff commented to Madison. “Let’s go back to my office and get your new schedule printed out.”
     

     
    That night as they sat around the dinner table, Madison’s father brought up her appointment with Mr. Woodruff. “So I heard you went to see the school counselor today, and he changed your schedule for you.”
    “Yeah. Sort of. He changed my history teacher, but I’m still stuck with first period PE,” she replied.
    “Seems like you are into running in the mornings these days,” he said. “Maybe that will turn out to be a good fit.”
    “Yeah,” Caleb piped up. “You could just run in your PE clothes and then go straight to school.”
    Madison nodded. “I guess.”
    “Want a potato, honey?” her mother asked. “You don’t have much on that plate of yours.”
    “No thanks. I’m good.” Madison kept her eye on her plate, but she could feel both of her parents studying her. Trying to change the subject, she turned to Caleb. “How was your double-decker fudge brownie cone?”
    “Delish! You missed out,” he replied. “When’s your stupid diet going to be over?”
    She glared at him.
    “Diet? You don’t need to be on a diet, Madison,” her father said. “You look great just the way you are.”
    “Your father’s right, honey,” her mother added.
    “She thinks she’s fat,” Caleb replied.
    “I do not!” Madison pushed her chair away from the table and stormed out of the kitchen.
    Her mother was on her heels as Madison headed for the stairs. “Wait, Maddie. Can we talk?” Michelle asked.
    “There’s nothing to talk about. Caleb’s a jerk. He needs to mind his own business.” She turned from her mother and bolted up the stairs to her bedroom.
     

     
    After both kids were in their rooms for the night, Michelle approached Steve. “We need to talk. I’m really worried about Madison.”
    “Is it the diet thing?” he asked.
    “Yeah. She’s eating less and less, and I can tell she’s losing weight.”
    “Seems like every one of her magazines has something on the cover about weight loss.”
    “Yeah,” she replied. “I’ve seen some pretty scary anorexia cases at Magnolia,” she added, thinking about one girl in particular who’d been in her eighth grade English class the prior year until she ended up in a treatment center for eating disorders.
    “You’re thinking about your student from last year, aren’t you?” he said, as if reading her mind.
    “Mmm hmm. It was really sad to see how far she took the thinness thing.”
    “So what do you think we should do?” her husband asked.
    “I’m not sure. I’ll talk to the counselor at my school and see what she suggests. But I really think we should do something.”
    “You’ve got my cooperation, honey. I’ve already mentioned to her how great she looks, but I’ll be happy to do whatever you want.”
    “Maybe I’ll try making some dinners that are higher in calories too, like that lasagna she loves. You know, my mom’s recipe?”
    “Oh yeah,” he replied with a grin as he patted his stomach. “Good idea, honey.”
     

     
    Madison had her earphones in her ears, as she listened to some music and paged through a fashion magazine. Suddenly she remembered that Luke was going to send her pictures of his school. She picked up her phone and tapped the text icon. Nothing. He must have forgotten or gotten busy with something else.
    Returning to her magazine, her eyes fell on a model about her age. The girl was wearing an off-the-shoulder shirt and very short cut-off jeans shorts. With one hand on her hip and her head cocked to the side, she had a smile on her face and a glint in her eye like she knew someone’s secret. Her long, dark hair was almost to her waist and her makeup was a little heavy but so cute.
    “That’s