The Jigsaw Jungle Read online

  Mom: Oh, Claudia. Did he say that?

  Claudia: Well, not exactly, but . . .

  Mom: I think your dad is thinking about you. I’m not sure you should read much more—

  Claudia: Why are you being so mean?

  Mom: I’m not being mean. I’m being realistic.

  Claudia: I’m going to find the time capsule and I’m going to find Dad!

  Mom: Okay, okay. Look, I’m exhausted, I barely slept on the plane last night. Let’s talk about this tomorrow.

  Claudia: Fine.

  Mom: I love you, sweetie.

  Claudia: Yeah. Love you too.

  TEXT MESSAGE

  Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Monday, July 6, 2015, 5:15 p.m.

  KATE

  He sent you a puzzle piece?

  That’s kind of a weird thing to do

  If you want to tell someone something,

  send a letter or a text or call

  But a puzzle piece?

  I thought you’d be excited for me

  I am excited

  It’s just odd

  You sound like my mother

  Sorry, just kind of tired

  Mom and I were up late painting the nursery last night

  Your dad didn’t . . .

  No

  Sorry

  I don’t want to talk about it

  Okay

  Hey, didn’t you have your

  first baby care class today?

  Yup

  And?

  Kinda awful

  They made us play that game where

  you have to go around in a circle

  repeating everyone’s name

  You hate that one

  Yup

  It’s all your fault!

  I’m sorry ☹

  Did you learn anything?

  Yes. First three months after a baby is born is sometimes called the 4th trimester

  Basically, they just eat, poop, sleep, and cry

  Sounds great, doesn’t it?

  Haha

  Wish I were there

  NOTE TO READER

  I GOTTA ADMIT, I was a little hurt that Mom and Kate weren’t more enthusiastic. I mean, I knew it sounded crazy, but now I had something to do!

  That afternoon, I worked three puzzles with gold: “The Golden Egg,” “Midas’s Touch,” and “Pirates and Buried Treasure.” That was the one from the video! I figured that had to be it, but the piece didn’t fit in any of them.

  I took the list of puzzles down from the bookshelf in the attic and carefully checked off the ones I had done. Three down. One hundred two to go.

  VOICE MEMO

  Walter Dalton’s Cell Phone | Monday, July 6, 2015, 7:30 p.m.

  [RECORDING BEGINS]

  Lily, now he’s sending puzzle pieces. I don’t know what to think. Claudia’s so excited. She spent all afternoon doing puzzles. I wanted to help her, but I’m just not good at jigsaws. You were always begging me to try. Said I’d get better with practice. I should have done a few more puzzles with you.

  Dinner was so quiet again. Wish I could think of something to say. I’ve invited the new neighbors over tomorrow night. I’m pretty sure they have a kid Claudia’s age. Maybe if she has a friend, things won’t be so awkward.

  I miss you, Lily. You were the one who knew how to make conversation. “Claudia, tell us about sixth grade! Is Kate in your class this year?” Or “Walter’s team won the bowling league championship last week. Want to see his trophy?” You were the one who brought us together. Without you, it’s like we’re just two strangers sharing a table at a crowded coffee shop.

  [RECORDING ENDS]

  RECEIPT

  GIANT FOOD

  425 E. Monroe Avenue

  Alexandria, VA 22301

  Store Telephone: (703) 555-8149

  Store #752

  7/7/15 9:45 AM

  GROCERY

  5.99

  GROUND BEEF, 80%

  1.99

  HAMBURGER BUNS

  0.15-

  BONUS BUY SAVINGS

  1.84

  PRICE YOU PAY

  1.79

  KETCHUP

  2.49

  MUSTARD

  1.99

  CORN ON THE COB

  1.69

  BAKED BEANS

  15.94

  Total Before Savings

  0.15

  Your Savings

  15.79

  Total After Savings

  0.39

  TAX

  16.18

  **BALANCE

  Payment Type: CREDIT

  Card: **** **** **** 6342

  Payment Amt: $16.18

  EMAIL

  From: Claudia Dalton

  Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2015 7:49 PM EST

  To: Jeffery Dalton

  Subject: Cookout

  Dear Dad,

  Papa invited the neighbors over for a cookout this afternoon. They were nice enough, I guess. The man and the woman are both lawyers. They have a little baby and a boy my age. They made us sit next to each other, like we were going to be friends because, *gasp,* we are both going into 7th grade! But my “new best friend” just spent the whole evening filming stuff with this video camera. Apparently, he’s taking some documentary film class that involves recording people’s “real-life stories.” But who wants to watch someone flip hamburgers?!

  Anyway, it felt really weird to be cooking out at Papa’s. I think the last time we did was about a year ago. You were the grillmeister, and I was helping, but somehow, we still burned the hot dogs. Nana said she liked them that way.

  About a month after that, the doctor figured out why Nana had been tired so much. That didn’t cause it, right? I mean, eating too much processed meat has been linked to a higher risk of cancer. But her cancer didn’t come from the one burnt hot dog I served her, right?

  I know it didn’t. Just . . . cooking out made me think about it. Papa only bought burgers this time, but hot dogs were Nana’s favorite. I wonder if Papa was thinking about that too.

  Was there something I did to make you leave? Are you mad we stopped doing stuff together? I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me. Why do I need to find the time capsule? Please send another clue.

  Love, Claudia

  TEXT MESSAGE

  Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Tuesday, July 7, 2015, 9:02 p.m.

  KATE

  How was class?

  A little less awful today

  Learned how to swaddle a baby

  What’s that?

  Wrap them tight in a big blanket so they don’t flail around and wake themselves up

  Had to practice on a doll

  And?

  The doll didn’t complain

  Haha

  What you up to?

  We had a cookout with the neighbors

  Wow, quite the social life with old gramps

  Yeah

  It’s kind of awkward when it’s just Papa and me

  I think it was a friend setup.

  The family has a son our age

  Ooooh!!

  Haha

  Was he cute?

  I guess

  That means yes

  . . .

  LUIS

  Hi. This is Luis from across the street

  KATE

  OMG, he just texted me!!!

  What?????

  LUIS

  Your grandpa gave my mom your number

>   KATE

  What do I say?

  What did he say?

  “Hi. This is Luis from across the street. Your grandpa gave my mom your number”

  Say hi

  No

  Do it!!

  LUIS

  Hi

  This is kind of weird. But I don’t know anyone here

  I live with my dad, but I visit my mother in the summer

  She just moved here

  Yeah, me too

  I mean, I’m visiting my grandpa, but I don’t know anyone either

  Oh

  Want to hang out sometime?

  KATE

  He wants to hang out sometime

  Say yes! You said he was cute

  I did not!!

  LUIS

  Do you like photography?

  Not really

  Oh

  But we could hang out sometime

  Do you like the movies?

  Of course

  We should go

  I’m so bored, I’ll even let you pick the movie

  Just no chick flicks

  Haha

  JK

  I’m so bored I’d even go watch a chick flick

  KATE

  What’d he say?

  He wants to go to the movies sometime

  Eeeeekkkk!!

  Not fair!! Your life is so exciting

  Kate!!

  LUIS

  So do you want to go?

  Sure

  You busy tomorrow?

  Tomorrow?

  You already have plans?

  No

  Okay. Around 3 then

  We can walk to the theater

  Okay

  Cool. See you then

  KATE

  We’re going to the movies tomorrow!

  Eeeeekk!!

  What does he look like?

  He’s totally out of my league

  Like boy-band pretty

  Take a selfie at the movies

  Are you gonna kiss him?

  Kate!

  Sorry. Just glad something good happened

  Yeah. Guess I am too

  Is it bad to be happy about something even though my father’s gone?

  Of course not

  It feels wrong

  Shut up and stop worrying

  And call me when you get home

  NOTE TO READER

  I WAS SUPER EXCITED about being invited to the movies. I would tell you how cute Luis is, but he’s actually ended up helping me with a lot of the things in this binder, and the comment about him being “boy-band pretty” is already embarrassing enough.

  But I didn’t tell Mom about Luis when she called. I was still hurt she wasn’t more excited about the puzzle. I didn’t want her to be “realistic” about the movies too.

  RECEIPT

  FANDANGO

  Your purchase is complete! This page is your Print at Home ticket.

  With this printed page, go directly to the ticket-taker.

  New! Send Mobile Ticket to my mobile device, too.

  2 matinee ticket(s) to:

  ZOMBIES AND EXPLOSIONS 4

  Date: Wednesday, July 8, 2015

  AMC Hoffman Center 22

  Auditorium: 6

  Time: 3:35 PM

  206 Swamp Fox Rd.

  Alexandria, VA 22314

  CONFIRMATION NUMBER: A05620R789J

  PHONE TRANSCRIPT

  Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Wednesday, July 8, 2015, 6:02 p.m.

  Kate: Hello?

  Claudia: It. Was. Awful!

  Kate: Oh no. What happened?

  Claudia: First of all, it was pouring rain, so his mom had to give us a ride.

  Kate: Awkward!

  Claudia: Yup. And yesterday he said I could pick the movie. But when we arrived at the theater, it turned out he had already bought tickets for Zombies and Explosions 4.

  Kate: But you hate zombie movies!

  Claudia: I know.

  Kate: Did you say something?

  Claudia: No, I didn’t know what to say! Then he was hungry, and since he’d paid for the tickets, I said I’d get the popcorn. He ordered the biggest popcorn there was and a large soda. It cost more than the tickets!

  Kate: Yeah, that’s how theaters make their money.

  Claudia: Whatever. Anyway, the movie starts. You know how I am in horror movies?

  Kate: Yeah, you always jump.

  Claudia: Yup.

  Kate: Oh no.

  Claudia: The first zombie lurches out of one of the exploding cars and I jump.

  Kate: Oh no.

  Claudia: Luis picks that exact moment to take a sip of his soda. And my jumping startles him.

  Kate: Oh no.

  Claudia: So he flinches and spills his soda all over me!

  Kate: Okay, I know I shouldn’t laugh but . . . hahahahahahahahahahaha!

  Claudia: Shut up. We had to leave in the middle of the movie. Then, while I was shaking the soda and ice cubes off my T-shirt, the puzzle piece from my dad falls out of my pocket!

  Kate: You were carrying it around with you?

  Claudia: I don’t want to lose it! It’s the only clue I have. But of course, Luis, trying to be helpful, picked it up and wanted to know why I had a puzzle piece in my pocket.

  Kate: What’d you say?

  Claudia: I just told him the truth.

  Kate: What did he say?

  Claudia: He thought it was the coolest thing ever. Started going on and on about how he should have brought his camera.

  Kate: His camera?

  Claudia: His dad bought him a semi-pro camera and now his goal is to spend the summer filming “real-life stories.”

  Kate: That’s kinda cool.

  Claudia: Not when you’re covered in soda.

  Kate: Oh no. What happened?

  Claudia: He wanted to go home so I could retell him the story about the puzzle piece and he could film it this time.

  Kate: What did you say?

  Claudia: I started yelling at him to get me a paper towel. Then he ran to the bathroom and came back with a roll of toilet paper. When I tried to use it to dry off my T-shirt, it disintegrated and left little bits of paper everywhere. So he ran back to the bathroom, but they were out of paper towels, and it sort of went downhill from there.

  Kate: Geez.

  Claudia: I can’t believe I was covered in soda and he was going on and on about filming me telling my story. So rude!

  Kate: Hmm.

  Claudia: You don’t think so?!

  Kate: He thought you were interesting enough to interview. I think I might be flattered.

  Claudia: Really?

  Kate: Yeah. It’s nice when people want to spend time with you.

  Claudia: Oh. Are you okay, Kate?

  Kate: I had to eat dinner alone all this week.

  Claudia: I’m sorry. Did you say anything—

  Kate: My mom keeps saying, “I have to wrap up this project before I go on maternity leave.” And my dad, well, if he responds to my texts, which he doesn’t always do, it’s always one word. Sure. OK. Later. Sorry.

  Claudia: Geez, Kate. That’s awful.

  Kate: If they are like this now, what’s it going to be like when the baby comes?!

  Claudia: You’re always welcome at our house for dinner.

  Kate: You’re not here!

  Claudia: I know. I’m sorry.

  Kate: It’s okay.

  Claudia: Don’t be too jealous. I totally overreacted at the movies, didn’t I?

>   Kate: Maybe a little.

  Claudia: He’s never going to talk to me again!

  Kate: I thought you didn’t like him anyway.

  Claudia: Shut up.

  Kate: I’m sorry it wasn’t more fun.

  Claudia: Thanks. I’m sorry you’re feeling lonely. How’s the class going?

  Kate: Today we covered diapers and burping techniques.

  Claudia: That’s a thing?

  Kate: Apparently.

  Claudia: Miss you.

  Kate: Miss you too.

  PHONE TRANSCRIPT

  Claudia Dalton’s Cell Phone | Wednesday, July 8, 2015, 7:34 p.m.

  Claudia: Hello?

  Luis: I know what it is!

  Claudia: What?

  Luis: The puzzle piece. It’s C-3PO’s head!

  Claudia: What?!

  Luis: The puzzle piece you had in your pocket. The one from your dad. I just realized why it looks familiar. It’s C-3PO! The droid from Star Wars.

  Claudia: Oh yeah! My dad was a big Star Wars fan.

  Luis: Is there a Star Wars puzzle on the list?

  Claudia: Let me check. Call you back in a minute.

  * * *

  ___

  7:41 p.m.

  Claudia: Yes! There is! It’s called “Star Wars: Stormtroopers Stop the Landspeeder.”

  Luis: Cool! How many pieces?

  Claudia: Only 140. There’s an old VHS copy of the movie in the box too.

  Luis: We gotta do it tonight.