Max and I

Chapter Thirteen

I couldn't sleep the next weekend. I just couldn't. It was strange. And on Tuesday I woke up to a phone call. Who would call this early? I had no clue.

I looked at my clock. It was already 8:30. Maybe some people could call at this time. But I needed to get some sleep. I still went into the hall and got the phone. Mom and Dad were already up. I sneaked back into my room and picked up my phone.

"Hello. Who's this? I'm still kind of sleepy now," I said.

"It's Max. I need to tell you something urgent."

"What? Really. I'm still sleeping and I have to go to school. And you have to be in school too already."

"Oh, I'll explain to you later."

"Bye."

Max immediately hung up. I didn't want to be rude, but my eyes were really barely open.

In a few minutes, I entered the living room and then went to eat some cereal.

"Hi, everyone," I said. "I overslept."

Mom smiled. "I see. Eat quickly and get packed."

I ate very quickly, like I never had before. Then I went outside for the bus. All day in school I was anxious why Max had called me so early. Something was probably wrong.

When I got home that day, I dialed up Max's number, trembling. But no one answered.

Someone picked the phone up.

"Hello? Anyone?" a woman said.

"Hi. It's Margaret Lorie. I just need to call up Max. Is he available?" I asked.

"No, not right now, Margaret. Maybe at about six or seven. He's really busy."

I said good-bye. The problem with the early phone call was getting bigger. I wanted to ask Max, but he wasn't even there.

Maybe at six or seven o'clock there'd be another problem. I anxiously ate dinner. I ate too quickly and didn't really enjoy the meal and Wayne didn't seem to either.

"Wayne, are you OK?" Mom asked.

"Yes."

I fidgeted my fingers, trying to act calmer than I really was. My arms shook a little and Elli noticed. "Mom, I think Meg's acting strangely," he said.

"No I'm not," I argued.

I thought Elli was about to start to argue with me and say that I really did look strange.

Mom didn't say anything, as Elli and I looked at each other, puzzled. Finally she said, "Meg and Elli, let's get it figured out. I think Meg's just worried about doing the history project."

I nodded. "I'm afraid I'll get a bad grade."

After dinner I went and read the slip of paper Mr. Robertson had given us for the book report. I did that for a long time, worrying about Max even more. When I started reading a book in my bookcase, Mom suddenly came in.

"Is everything all right, honey?" she asked me, sitting on my bed.

"Yeah." I didn't want Mom to know about Max and the problems with calling him.

"Meg, you look a little sad today."

"No, Mom. I feel fine. I just am a little tired for some reason." This was true. I hadn't got much sleep at all these few days.

Mom went out of my room and I looked at the phone again. Should I call Max or not? I didn't know.

I finally decided not to call, but to do my homework instead. I would make a poster, and I didn't care about the quality. Max was the thing worrying me right now. I didn't know what to do. "Please don't tell me he's sick or something even worse," I whispered.