Vanishing Acts

Chapter 16

Madison Survives

Jake was waiting for Madison at the front door when she got to school the next morning.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“So you heard?” she asked sheepishly.

“About your soccer debut? Yeah. A few of the girls were gabbing about it.”

Jake handed her a drawing that showed Madison flying through the air with a goofy expression on her face. She couldn’t help laughing.

“I must have looked pretty stupid, but I’m over it,” she said. She wanted to appear confident to Jake even if it was only partly true. “And you’ll understand why when I tell you why I tripped over that ball.”

Madison told Jake about the girl she’d seen in the woods.

“Do you think she was really Ann?” Jake asked when Madison was through.

“I think it’s possible. And I’ve thought of something I can do to find out if I’m right or wrong.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m going to take the bus out to Prescott-Mather and show a picture of Ann around. If she’s a student, someone will recognize her.”

Going to soccer practice was one of the hardest things Madison had ever done. When Marci spotted Madison in front of her locker, she sneered.

“I’m surprised you showed up today,” she said.

Madison had expected Marci to harass her, and she’d decided how she would deal with her tormentor. Instead of looking embarrassed, Madison looked Marci in the eye and smiled.

“I sure made an ass out of myself, Marci. And I especially feel bad because your pass to me was so perfect. Thanks for showing enough confidence in me to make it. That meant a lot to me.”

Marci hadn’t been prepared to be praised by her rival, and she was speechless for a second.

“Well, pay more attention the next time” was the best she could do. Then she turned away and led her buddies to the practice field.

Madison had anticipated a comment or two from Coach Davis, but the coach simply went over problems she saw with everyone’s play and didn’t single out Madison. Then it was practice as usual. By the time practice ended, Madison was starting to think that she might survive her horrible mistake after all.