All That Glitters (From the Files of Madison Finn, 20) by Laura Dower Page B

said.
    “Oh, pish posh,” Aunt Mimi cried. “Just open it, already.”
    Inside a purple satin box Lindsay found a leather backpack with patches of tapestry sewn together on it and a beautiful silver buckle at the center.
    “That is awesome!” Aimee cried.
    “It’s like a college backpack,” Madison said.
    Lindsay slung it over one shoulder and modeled it for the room.
    “You can use it for school,” Aunt Mimi suggested. “It’s even big enough for a laptop computer.”
    “When I get one…” Lindsay said.
    Madison smiled. She knew how much Lindsay wanted to have the same kind of computer she had.
    Lindsay reached way over to give Aunt Mimi a smooch and nearly fell on top of another gift.
    “Careful!” Aimee cautioned her. “Don’t crush my present.”
    Lindsay leaned back and tore the tape off the top of Aimee’s gift. It was a square box. No one seemed to have any idea what was in it.
    Neither did Lindsay. She opened the box and fluffed out the tissue paper inside. But she found nothing.
    “Um…Aimee…I don’t mean to be rude, but…” Lindsay stammered.
    “Look at the bottom,” Aimee said.
    Lindsay looked underneath all of the paper. There, taped to the bottom of the box, was a gift card. It was a card to be used at Aimee’s dad’s bookstore.
    “Oh, wow!” Lindsay cried. “I can buy more books.”
    Madison wrinkled her nose. “Aim, why did you wrap it in that big box?”
    “Because!” Aimee said. “Everyone always gives those gift cards in a plain wrapper or envelope, and I’m sorry, but that is just not as much fun as opening up a box with tissue paper.”
    The girls laughed.
    Mrs. Frost stepped into the center of the room with a large envelope. She placed it on the sofa.
    “Something from your mother,” she said. “For you, for us.”
    Lindsay tore open the top of the envelope. Out slid two tickets.
    “Theater tickets!” Lindsay exclaimed. “I told you that was what I wanted. These are amazing, Mom.”
    “Read the note,” Mrs. Frost insisted.
    Lindsay read it aloud.
For my darling daughter
    Look to the moon for all your dreams.
    The stars hold all the secrets.
    No matter what happens, I am always here for you.
    Love, Mom
P.S.: Any show you want, any dinner you want, anything you want!
    “Did you know we were going to the planetarium today?” Aimee asked.
    Mrs. Frost shook her head. “I’m afraid not. That’s just one of those coincidences, I guess. I’ve got stars on the brain.”
    “I don’t believe in coincidences,” Aunt Mimi said matter-of-factly. “I believe in destiny.”
    Madison liked the sound of that. “Um…here’s my present,” she said sheepishly as she passed a small gift box to Lindsay. “I was going to get you this picture frame, but then I saw this, and I liked it way better.”
    Lindsay gave Madison a funny look and then opened the little box, lifting the lid to find a charm suspended on a silver chain.
    Lindsay reached into the box and pulled out the necklace. The charm was shaped like a book.
    “So cool,” Fiona gushed. “I want one.”
    “Me, too!” Aimee said. “We should get them for all four of us.”
    “That’s a grand idea,” Aunt Mimi said.
    Mrs. Frost was smiling, too. “Lindsay, you certainly are lucky to have such a special crew of friends. My goodness.”
    Ding-a-ling-a-ling.
    “What was that?” Madison asked.
    “Oh,” Lindsay said. “Aunt Mimi’s intercom.”
    “I wonder what George wants,” Aunt Mimi said as she strode across the living room to get to the intercom receiver located in the outer hallway.
    The girls helped Lindsay and Mrs. Frost pick up the wrapping paper, ribbon, and cards from the floor. Lindsay proudly wore her new necklace. She gave Madison a hug.
    “Thank you for everything,” Lindsay whispered in Madison’s ear. “Talking to you about the Big D and all that…well, it really helped me deal with today.”
    “Of course,” Madison said. She gave Lindsay another big squeeze.
    Aunt Mimi marched