Madison’s New Buddy

Friendship Advice

When school lets out, Madison follows the crowd to the exit, dragging her feet the whole way. The next day is when the Shelter Dog Reading Project is beginning, and everyone else is so excited about it, they’d been talking about it all day.

Madison is relieved to see her mom waiting outside on the sidewalk. She runs up to her mother and hugs her tightly. Her mom can guess that she had a rough day at school, and asks her about it as they begin the walk home.

Madison explains how everyone keeps talking about the reading project at the shelter, but she doesn’t feel ready to read in front of anyone. Her mom says that she’s sure Madison’s friends will understand. Madison guiltily says that she hasn’t told her friends yet. She’s afraid of what they’ll think.

Madison’s mom says she thinks her friends will be very supportive. Perhaps Madison’s mom can talk to Ms. Chu. She can explain Madison’s hesitations and let her know she won’t be participating.

Madison suddenly turns to stare up at her mom. That cannot happen! If she backs out, then the class won’t win the pizza party, and her friends are all counting on her! Madison can’t be the reason they lose!

Madison’s mom nods her head, and sits down on the front step of their house. She pats the ground and Madison sits next to her. As her mom holds her, she can’t help but let a few tears fall down her cheeks. Her mom suggests that in that case, maybe it’s time to tell her friends the truth.

Madison gasps. She can’t tell them that. She’d be so embarrassed! What if they make fun of her? What if they don’t want to be her friends anymore? Her mom explains that if they’re her real friends, that won’t happen. Madison knows her mom is right, but what if she’s wrong? What if her best friends aren’t there for her after they learn the truth?

The next morning, Madison feels a bit better. She vows to take her mom’s advice and tell her friends the truth that morning. But first, Madison goes to her bookshelf and picks up a book on top: Bunnicula, a story about a vampire rabbit. The narrator is actually a dog, and Madison thinks it’ll be the perfect story to read to the dogs. But, it won’t be easy for Madison to read.

Madison’s eyes skim the rest of the books on the shelf. They’re all books Mom reads with her. Then, she notices some books on the bottom, some of her favorite Dr. Seuss books from when she was learning how to read. Madison grabs The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham and slips them in her backpack. She won’t have to read from those books at all—she can just recite them from memory. Finally, Madison has a plan for getting through the reading project.