Chapter 4

"What's for dinner, Mr. Monk?" Julie called from the kitchen.
"I don't care. I'm not really hungry." Mr. Monk replied.

"Mr. Monk, I didn't mean you, I meant me!" Julie said. "I'm hungry! Mom says you're supposed to watch me, so doesn't that include making me dinner?"

Mr. Monk sighed as he got up from his favorite chair and walked into the kitchen. "Can't you make something for yourself?"

"Um, yeah... I guess. "Julie said, taken aback by his question."Do you want anything?"

"No, I'm fine. Just don't make a mess in there, okay?"
"But Mr. Monk, you love cleaning up messes!"

"Oh yeah..." Mr. Monk said, as though suddenly remembering.

His sullen tone brought Julie of the kitchen. "Are you okay?"
"Why would you ask me something like that?"

Julie shrugged. "No reason. Are you sure you don't-"

"I'm fine, Julie!"
Mr. Monk's harsh tone startled her. He'd never yelled at her before. Shaken by his sudden change in mood, she went back into the kitchen and made herself a sandwich, then ate it alone. When she finished, she cleaned up the kitchen as much as possible then quietly walked into the living room. Mr. Monk was reading in his favorite chair and she cast a quick glance at him.

She was almost into the hallway when she heard him.

"Julie?"
She winced and turned around, wondering what he would do. He was obviously mad at her, and she hated to think that it was her fault. She wanted so much to be friends with him.

"Yes, Mr. Monk?"
He motioned for her to come closer. Her throat felt dry as she moved toward him.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, okay?"

"It's all right, Mr. Monk. Are you sure you're okay?"

"No, actually."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No. Did you find something to eat?"

"Yeah, thanks for letting me use your kitchen. Can I call my friend Susan?"
"Is it long distance?"

"On my cell phone, Mr. Monk." She said, smiling as she held up a cotton candy pink flip phone.

"Okay then. You can go into the guest room, if you want."

Julie hugged him, causing Mr. Monk to flinch. "Thank you, Mr. Monk. I cleaned up the kitchen and everything, but you might want to double check to make sure I did a good job."

Before he could answer, she disappeared.

Adrian resumed reading, but he couldn't keep his mind off the state of his kitchen. It was terrible not knowing. He stood and slowly made his way to the kitchen. The countertop gleamed and there was no evidence of a meal anywhere.

His eyes landed on a brown bag in the middle of the counter, and underneath a note scribbled on a yellow memo pad. The words on the page made him smile.

Dear Mr. Monk,

I'm sorry I made you mad. I thought you might be hungry so I made you a sandwich too. I used exactly two pieces of cheese and three slices of meat, just the way you like it. I was extra careful to make everything come out even. Thank you for watching me while Mom is out with Ambrose.

Love,
Julie.