Maddie's Big Test by Louise Leblanc

1 No Need to Study
    I am on pins and needles! I’m a contestant on Road to Stardom and the host is about to announce the results of the final vote.
    â€œAnd the grand prize winner is … Maddie!”
    The crowd leaps to their feet and cheers. What a triumph!
    In the middle of all the screams and bravos, I hear a little beep-beep. What is that?

    Grrr, it was my alarm clock. I turned it off and listened to the awful silence. Real life filled up all the space. My problems suddenly took over.
    For the last two days, I’d been shaking in my boots. Our report cards were due to arrive any day now, and my grades were rotten. My parents would die when they saw them. But wait! Maybe they hadn’t picked up today’s mail yet.
    I jumped out of bed, pulled on my clothes, and rushed to the mailbox. It was full — hooray! I took out the package of stuff and rifled through it. No report card. What was going on? I wandered to the kitchen, perplexed.
    â€œWell, if it isn’t our new letter carrier!” said my mom.
    What an idiot I am! I’d brought the mail with me.

    â€œIs this what you were looking for?” asked my dad, tossing my report card onto my plate.
    I wished I could disappear under the table.
    â€œI guess you’ve decided to repeat your grade,” he said sternly.
    â€œWe’ll be in the same class!” my brother Alexander snickered.
    â€œUnless you have to repeat your grade!” My mom put him in his place.
    â€œNeither one of you has any excuse,” my dad said. “You’re just lazy. You don’t work hard enough.”
    â€œI study every night in my room!” I protested.
    â€œYou don’t have good work habits,” said my brother Julian.
    What was he going on about, the little genius?
    â€œYou study in bed, listening to music. So you’re lost in space — ”
    â€œWith the stars!” my mother added.
    â€œTars!” screamed Angelbaby, splatting her pablum in the shape of a star.
    She gurgled, proud of her new word. She won’t be laughing when she has to study to learn new things!
    â€œAll you think about is that star show,” my dad continued. “You’re not being responsible, Maddie.”
    â€œI am so! I intend to win on Road to Stardom one day.”

    â€œIn the meantime, you’d better put yourself on the road to school. You too, Alexander. Both of you!”
    â€œAll three,” said my mom, with a funny look.
    â€œAll three?” My dad was puzzled. “Julian’s doing fine!”
    â€œI was referring to myself,” said my mother. “I’m going to finish my degree. I’ve already registered.”
    My dad was floored. And so were the rest of us. Was Mom going to leave us in the lurch, now when our marks were so bad? It was shocking.
    â€œThe bus is here!” cried Julian, jumping from his chair.
    â€œMaddie! Alexander! Quick, hurry!”
    Dad practically threw us out the door. I think he was in a hurry to talk to Mom. He didn’t seem too happy that she was going back to school.
    On the school bus, I complained to my friends.
    â€œNo more fun and games, if my mom goes back to school.”
    â€œNot so!” Tough guy Patrick tried to cheer me up. “She’ll have less time to get on your case.”
    â€œThat’ll just leave more room for my dad.”
    Then Little Miss Perfect Clementine had to add her bossy two cents’ worth.
    â€œYou really do have to study, Maddie.”
    â€œNo, I don’t, if I’m going to be a singer.”
    â€œSame for me,” said Nicholas. “I’m going to inherit the family store.”
    â€œThen you’d better learn to add at least,” sneered Patrick.
    â€œEver hear of a calculator, Smart Man?”
    â€œYou’d look pretty stupid if it broke down,” said Clementine. “You really need to finish school if you want to get ahead.”
    Nicholas knew how to shut her