Save the Date by Laura Dower

while Madison went inside. Dog and Dad were only gone for a minute.
    “Hey, Maddie,” Dad said. “What do you call a cat who knows how to bowl?”
    Madison groaned. “Oh, Dad.” She prepared herself for the punch line.
    “An alley cat.” Dad chuckled to himself as he took off Phin’s leash.
    Madison went into the other room and clicked on the television.
    Lame-o.
    “Let’s have some hot chocolate or something,” Dad suggested. He followed Madison into the den. “Hey, wait a minute, are you still sleeping down here?” he asked.
    “Mom says the contractor is coming back to replace the roof shingles,” Madison said, clicking the channels without stopping. “And then I can go back into my room. Finally.”
    Dad sat down on the sofa and wrapped his arm around Madison. “I wish your mother would just let me help her with repairs like that once in a while,” he said.
    Me too, Madison thought. She leaned into Dad’s side, and they watched TV together.
    Madison assumed they must have fallen fast asleep, because the next thing she remembered was the sound of Mom’s voice. Mom was standing directly over Madison and Dad with a smirk on her face.
    “Wake up, you two,” she whispered. “I’m home.”
    Madison blinked. Phin jumped off the sofa. Dad shook off his sleep, waving his arms and jumping up.
    “Whoooeee,” Dad said. “Some guardian I make! Falling asleep on the job. Sorry ’bout that, Frannie.”
    “You two looked sweet,” Mom said, smiling. “I can’t thank you enough for coming, Jeff.”
    Madison looked at her mom’s face—glowing. Her cheeks looked pink, like she’d been sunburned with happiness. Neither Madison nor Dad had seen that look in a long, long time.
    Dad leaned over to give Madison a kiss good-bye. As he walked away, Madison felt her chest contract, like she’d just swallowed an ice cube or a big wad of gum. Something was stuck in her throat: a funny feeling, a weird sensation, and the realization that Mom and Dad were never getting back together.
    “I am SO exhausted!” Mom said after he’d gone. She was still glowing from her date. “Bedtime for me.”
    “You’re not even going to tell me about your date?” Madison said. She pulled Mom’s arm to come sit on the sofa, but Mom resisted.
    “I really do have to get to bed now,” she said softly. She brushed the hair out of Madison’s eye. “You had a nice time on your date with Dad, though?”
    Madison shrugged. “So-so. Bowling really stinks.”
    “But I thought you liked it,” Mom said.
    “What a bout your date, Mom?” Madison pleaded. “You haven’t even given me a little clue about your date.”
    Mom laughed. “We got along very well,” she said.
    Madison raised an eyebrow. “And?”
    “Oh, Maddie, and I’ll tell you everything else tomorrow,” Mom said, walking away. “I promise.” She blew a kiss.
    As soon as Mom left the den, Madison booted up her laptop computer and went into her files.
The Big D
    Rude Awakening: Better date than never.
    I used to think that I couldn’t deal with Dad dating. But I got used to Stephanie. I even like her a lot now.
    And just this week I thought the world would go to pieces if Mom went out with some stranger. But now she went. And she looks happy. Really and truly, she looks like someone put on a flashlight behind her eyes. Even Dad saw.
    I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m glad Mom went on a date. I’m glad that she’s starting to feel pretty again.
    I just wish I could I could figure out the boys in my life, too. Like I’ll probably be date-phobic with Hart forever. Not that he’d ever ask me out, of course.
    Bigwheels would probably tell me that I have nothing to worry about … But I can’t help it!
    Madison hit SAVE and turned off her computer. She was looking forward to tomorrow. Her mind buzzed with different questions. Would Ivy be nice in science class for the presentation? Why hadn’t Bigwheels written again?
    After an overdose of parents,