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after school, a doctor appointment—everything was jotted down. Sabrina constantly teased her about her old-fashioned ways insisting she should use her smartphone or tablet instead. But Madeline couldn’t afford the latest gadget and she enjoyed the process of writing down her agenda. It gave her a sense of peace and even security, probably because it was a habit she picked up from living with her uncle and aunt. It was also a convenient place to stash important papers like her paycheck. She hadn’t had a chance yet to run to the bank to deposit the money. After her dentist appointment, she planned on cashing the check and paying bills.
    She listened to the last message and smiled when she heard her Uncle Mark’s voice. “Honey, if you don’t have plans for the night, Mrs. Hayward made her delicious chili and brought some over before. It’s in the fridge.” His tone held a degree of warmth when speaking of their next-door neighbor as he added, “I think she feels guilty for asking me to take care of her cat again this weekend since she’s off to visit her sister in Pennsylvania.”
    Madeline’s smile grew. Her uncle always referred to Mrs. Laura Hayward as the one who lived next door, as if trying to keep Madeline clueless about the budding relationship between her uncle and their neighbor. She shook her head, and couldn’t help laughing aloud to herself. Really, sometimes he acted as young as her students.
    “So, you stayed home on a Friday night to have dinner with a lonely old man. You’re a good-hearted girl, my Maddie.” Her Uncle Mark kissed her on the cheek.
    “You’re not that old,” Madeline teased, following him into the kitchen with Rusty on her tail. “And you have lots of friends you could have had dinner with, but you’re too proud to call any of them.” She tousled his full head of white hair, the only thing about him that gave away his age. Behind his glasses, his face was smooth of wrinkles. His mind was as sharp as a first day of school pencil, and when he power-walked, which he did daily with his senior citizen friends, including Laura Hayward, he led the pack. No one would have guessed he was seventy-two.
    “Nonsense, they’re members of my senior group, not family.” He took a ladle and spooned out two servings of Laura’s delicious five-alarm chili. “Come, sit.” He placed the steaming bowls on the kitchen table. Then he reached into a cabinet for two glasses and poured iced tea from a pitcher that rested on the table.
    Madeline dove into the chili, not realizing how hungry she was. Whew! It burned. How it was possible to be hungry after all the junk food she had eaten at the carnival only a while ago, she hadn’t a clue.
    “Careful there, missy. It’s hot. And I don’t mean just spicy hot.”
    Fanning her tongue, she replied, “Found that out.” She gulped her iced tea. “Seriously, Uncle Mark, you should go out more. It’s not good to stay home alone every night.”
    He peered over his glasses. “I could say the same to you. You should be with young people. Get your own place with some roommates.”
    She pretended to ignore his comment and hesitated before she took another bite. This time she blew on her spoon and waited. “Why would I want to live with a bunch of strangers? Just to hang out with people my own age? They’re not all that appealing sometimes.” She braved the chili instead of looking into her uncle’s face.
    “Now, Maddie, we’ve been through this a hundred times. You’re all grown up and need to have your own life, not take care of an elderly uncle.” He patted her hand before diving into his dinner. “Ever since your Aunt Patty died, you felt the need to take her place.”
    She turned her gaze the other way not wanting him to see the moisture forming in her eyes. “I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.” She’d be all alone in the world if she didn’t have him.
    “Now, now, what’s this all about? Nothing’s going to