Tie-Dye Disaster Chapter 1 The Call


Maddie Wilson’s slippered feet swung back and forth under her bedroom desk. Scratch, scratch went her pencil. This dress had a sweetheart neckline and feathers all over the skirt. Maddie got some of her best ideas first thing in the morning.

She was just adding the final touches to her latest design sketch when a familiar, mouthwatering smell reached her. “Mmmmmmm! Pancakes!”

Maddie ran downstairs. “Thanks so much, Mom! You make the best—”

“Sorry, kiddo,” said Maddie’s father, standing at the stove and waving his spatula. “Your regular pancake maker is not available this morning. Luckily, she’s not the only one who can flip a flapjack around here.”



“Sorry, Dad!” said Maddie. “Where is Mom?”

“In her sewing studio. This is a busy time of year, so she’s been there since sunup. You should go say good morning. But first—get ’em while they’re hot!” he said, handing her a plate. Maddie did not need to be told twice.



When she finished eating, she volunteered to bring breakfast to her mom.

“Thanks, sweetie,” said Margie Wilson, looking up from her sewing machine. “Hey, do you have time to give me some feedback on my designs? I need someone with a critical eye and a passion for fashion.”



“Sure!” said Maddie. It was fun to have a mom who was a seamstress. Maddie thoughtfully studied several pencil sketches with swatches of fabric taped to them. “Hmmm . . . that dress would look amazing if you added some sequins to the hemline. And maybe using a brighter color, like coral, would make it pop—”



Just then Maddie’s dad burst in, holding out a phone.

“It’s him!” he whispered urgently.

Maddie’s mom quickly grabbed the phone. There were a lot of “Yes, sirs” and “Thank you, sirs.” Then, “Oh! So soon!” and finally, “You can count on me, sir.”



She hung up and sank back in her chair.

“I still can’t believe he hired me,” she said.

“Who?” asked Maddie.

“Mayor Barnstable,” explained Maddie’s mom. “He asked me to create a custom-tailored suit for him to wear to the unveiling of the new town hall.”

“Wow!” said Maddie. “That’s huge.”



“Huge and terrifying,” said Maddie’s mom. “I just learned that the big event is Saturday night. That’s less than a week away!”

“You can do it, Mom!” Maddie said confidently. Suddenly, she had a thought: Wow! This could make Mom famous! And if she gets famous . . . will that make me famous?