Madison (Maddy) Briggs is from Manhattan, New York. She was in 3rd grade, just 8 years old, when the World Trade Centers fell on September 11th, 2001. Her dad was a firefighter, and his station was one of the first on scene that day.
Her dad, Larry...
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If Maddy wasn't already annoyed enough at Mateo for sleeping in the station, instead of asking her, or anyone, if he could stay with them... she found out that Grace decided it would be a wonderful idea to drive to the grocery store... alone.. to get ice cream. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm not being short with you Grace.. you can kick my ass. Ha. I'm just asking why you didn't call me or miss Ruth?"
"I had it Maddy.. I just wanted rocky road."
"And that couldn't have waited?"
"No. It couldn't have.."
Maddy didn't reply.
"Sorry.. it's just so dang hard. I'm perfectly capable of going to the dang store to get some groceries..."
"No ones saying you're not.. it's just that, right now, you're not capable, and that's okay! See, this is why it's just easier to ask.. no one bitches at ya!" Maddy chuckled. She heard Grace break into a slight chuckle on the other end of the phone, "ain't that the truth."
"But just pleaseeeee ask Judd, or me, or your parents or neighbors or Ms. Ruth for help. Okay?"
"How's your knee Maddy?" Grace replied with a sense of snark.
"Ew... don't be smart! I'm having it looked at tomorrow, thank you!" Maddy rolled her eyes to herself as she laughed.
"Yes I will ask for help... as hard as it may be."
"Good! And nothing stronger than Advil.. okay? I know it'll be hard to stand the pain with just that, but anything else is just so easily addictive."
"Oh yeah.. sure, no worries Maddy."
"Good. Thank you. I'll talk to you." ———————————————————————— "Mateo Julio Chavez! Front and center!" Maddy called from the entrance of the 126.
"Oh shit.." Mateo said to Paul as he swallowed hard. He got up from the table in the kitchen, and walked towards Maddy's voice. Paul was laughing his ass off in the kitchen.
He saw her, standing by one of the rigs, tapping her foot, and smirking. "Mateo! I need to talk to you... let's go!" she said. Mateo slowly approached Maddy. He finally made it to her, "Maddy?" He cleared his throat.
"Mateo Julio Chavez! I am still mad at you.. you would rather sleep in the weight room than ask to stay with me?!" Maddy barked. "I wouldn't bother you at all!"
"Nah.. it wasn't like that Maddy. I didn't wanna bother you or impose."
"Ma-tay! I wouldn't have thought that! You didn't even ask though!" Maddy sighed. "You can always ask me for help with anything .. I hope you know that!"
"I do.. I do. I just.. I have it under control."
"Oh yeah.. why have you been wearing that same shirt for the past two days?" Maddy snarled.
"Uhh.. it's uh.. the only thing that survived.."
"Mateo! Oh my god.. that's actually kinda awful. Want me to take you shopping?"
"Nah... you don't..." Mateo looked at Maddy, who had a smile on her face. "You don't have to. But., if you're offering, I could use some clothes and stuff. Can we run to my place first though.. see if anything else made it?"
"Of course!" Maddy smiled. She grabbed her keys out of her bag, and headed back to her car. "I'll keep it unlocked." She winked. ———————————————————————— "Oh my god.. Mateo! How the hell did it blow up so bad?" Maddy gasped as she parked her car in front of Mateo's house. Mateo shrugged in return, "my friends suck."
"Well do you see anything you can salvage?" Maddy sighed as she followed Mateo towards the remains of his former residence. "Nah.. not really. I don't know if it's even safe.. but I'll just go look around really quick anyway, and be right back."
"Okay Mateo.. sounds good. I'll be in the car then." Maddy smiled gently, and got back in her car.
She watched as Mateo carefully stood on the perimeter of his house, and looked around the rubble for anything of value. He was able to find his important paperwork, and a few family photos— a few more items of clothing as well. He looked overwhelmingly sad, and annoyed, while also looking relieved and satisfied with his finds. He put them in the backpack he brought, and Maddy caught him sighing before he walked away, and back to her car.
"You good?" Maddy asked when he got back in the car. Mateo shook his head, "yeah.. I'm good Mads. Let's take me shopping!" ———————————————————————— "You didn't have to buy me all this stuff Maddy... but thank you." Mateo said shyly to Maddy as she drove to Paul's place to drop Mateo off.
"I know, but I wanted to Ma-tay! You've been such a good friend to me, and it's the least I could do! It's just some clothes, and kitchen supplies and toiletries." Maddy smiled.
"Well it means a lot." Mateo replied with a smile. Maddy rubbed his arm before she backed out of her spot in the mall parking lot. "You're welcome Mateo.. it's really no problem at all!" She smiled. As she started her drive towards Paul's house, she thought about what her life was like just two years ago. She was at a job that she liked, but that was without growth. And she was close to her mom, but wanted a change of pace. If Maddy wouldn't have made this massive move, she would've never met these incredible hero's at the 126 that she loves so much.
After the quick drive to Paul's apartment, Maddy and Mateo both got out of her car, and embraced in a hug. "Plans tonight Maddy?" He asked as they broke their hug. Maddy pondered it for a moment, "going to either bug Owen or TK and Carlos." She shrugged with a laugh. "Possibly both!"
"Sounds fun!"
"Yeah! Also.. Mateo.. you can say 'no' to Owen, okay?" She added with a laugh. "I do all the time!"
"Well he's your dad.. that's different!"
That was the first time a non-stranger, or non-family member called Owen Maddy's dad. It filled her heart with joy. "Alright Ma-tay, I'm out! Catch ya later!"
