Max and I

Chapter Eighteen

After school tomorrow Max invited me over for a final good-bye. He was leaving at noon tomorrow. We sat on the grass in front of his house. Max pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket.

"This is from my sister," Max said.

"What?"

"Yeah. It's for you. See, on the envelope it says 'From Beca, To Meg Lorie.'

"Why didn't it come to me?"

"Beca doesn't know your address."

"Oh. Can I see it?"

"Sure."

I ripped open the whole thing and I opened the letter. It was written in neat purple pen. I couldn't believe this was for me, or maybe this was a joke or something. I began to read.

Dear Meg,

I am so sorry for being mean to you. I hope you accept my apology. Max did tell me you babysit. I used to babysit but my mom did not want me to. Then my mom is worried about everything so I guess I am so mean to everyone. Sometimes only Jack can help. Now about the babysitting: can you write an email to me about your babysitting, what you do, etc.? I might be able to help you if you send me the email.

Max is a nice brother. I just spill out all of my worries about my mom and then yell at people. It's a hard time in my life right now. And since I'm in college now, I won't be mad anymore. You can send me emails about your progress.

Thanks a ton,

Rebeca Nannison

P.S. My email is rebeca.rocks@girls.com (my own website on all about my friends and me.)

I smiled when I saw that.

"So, what did she write to you?" Max asked.

"She wants me send my babysitting progress and my news. She says she acted mean because of your mom."

"My mom..." Max looked puzzled.

"Well, Beca told me your mom was worried and she spilled all of that out on everyone."

Max still looked a little puzzled. He looked at his shoelaces for a long time. Then he finally began talking again. "Meg, I don't know what you're talking about. I think Beca is lying. I don't like how we're suddenly talking about my mom on the last day we see each other."

"OK, I'll stop, then," I said.

I got up and wanted to say good-bye to Max, but then he stopped me.

"Meg, don't go away so fast," he said.

I sat back down. I really wanted to go back home. Max was acting indeed strange right now. "OK," he said, "Beca tells you to send babysitting progress? Do you actually babysit? because, well...no offense, it's too young."

"Of course not. Beca misinterpreted. I just come see the girl Rosie and play with her. That's it."

"What do you do?"

"We play, we color, maybe read."

"Tell me, Meg. How long have you been doing this? And why? Is this a sudden teaching inspiration?"

I laughed. "No. I'm not going to be a teacher, this is for practice. It actually started with a play. My friend wanted me to come, but I couldn't since it was expensive. So I began working for Rosie and her mom June a while ago."