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three minutes . . . a hundred
I have to wait and four!!
three minutes . . .
don’t panic,
Mary Anne. . . .

thank goodness the first *beep* thanks for calling dr. kahn’s office.
number the prezziosos we can’t answer your call right now,
but please leave a message, and . . .
left is Jenny’s doctor! . . .

okay, I’ll try
the next-door
neighbors. . . .

hi, you’ve reached the *beep* hello, *beep* you have reached
craine residence. at the this is the pike the spier residence.
household. . . . leave a message for
sound of the tone . . .
richard or Mary Anne
at the . . .

don’t
panic . . .
don’t
panic. . . .

97

normally, I would have
called Kristy, or Claudia,

or Stacey - - but what if
they just hung up on me?

what was I
supposed to do?

-- ah! please,
please
answer. . . .

hello . . .
Dawn??!

98

seven minutes I got here as fast there on the couch!
later . . . as I could, Mary Anne! the doctor still hasn’t

where is she?? called back yet . . .
what should we do??

If mom were home, she could I left a message for them at the gym, to be
drive us to the emergency room, paged to call home as soon as they get there.
but she took my brother to the
try calling 911.
mall. have you tried to reach maybe they can
jenny’s parents?
tell you what
yes! to do.

911, can I hi, I’m baby-sitting young children often run fevers
help you? for a three-year-old, which turn out to be nothing
and she has a fever of
104 degrees! I can’t serious . . . but 104 is high, and she
reach her parents or should be looked at right away.

my father or her
doctor or . . .

okay . . .

99

but I’m only 12, well, then, we’ll you
and I can’t drive. send an ambulance will?!

over .

yes. just
tell me the

address.

okay, dawn -- an ambulance
is on the way. they said to get
Jenny ready to leave, and keep
a cold compress on her head

till the ambulance
gets here.

I’ll make a compress,
you get her coat.
oh, and can you
call the lewiston
gymnasium in chatham?
the number’s in the
kitchen.

100

I already left a message for the got it!
prezziosos to call home, but instead

they should turn around and head
straight to the emergency room at

the stoneybrook hospital!

here. Jenny?
thanks.

wake up, Jenny . . . I know the
you’re not feeling well, ambulance
is here, Mary
so you have to see
the doctor. Anne!

. . . hunh?

101

Is this the
little girl?
yes . . . she
has a very
high fever.

lock the
front door!

102

a doctor will look now what? now we wait,
in on her as soon I guess.
as possible.

thank
you.

103

how are you feeling, look what
Jenny? I brought.

hot . . . and my . . . who’s
throat hurts . . . that?

and my head.

yuck . I’m sorry . . .
the doctor will make
you feel better soon.

that’s my hi, Jenny. this!
friend Dawn.

hi . . .
what did you

bring?

. . . Jenny Prezzioso?

104

It looks like a nice case of strep where are her parents?
throat. nothing too serious.
hopefully on
oh! thank their way here,
you so much! from chatham.

okay. she can stay here while we’re nonononono!!!
running some tests. . . . I’d like to
talk to the prezziosos before
Jenny leaves.

just a . . . she’s
little longer already on

to wait . . . the mend!
okay, Jenny?
105

CHAPTER 12

oh, my baby!!
angel, how are
you feeling?!

I feel
better, mommy.
nice and cool.

. . . I’ll give you a prescription why don’t you take
for her, and let’s make an care of that while I
take Mary Anne and
appointment to see her again
on monday. oh, and I have Dawn home?
a bit of paperwork for
you to fill out. . . .

106

actually, we need to go back to
your house - - I left some things

in the living room, and Dawn’s
bike is still there.

of course!

girls, thank you so I hope you don’t mind not at all! you did
much . . . . you did a wonderful that I called a friend. just the right thing.
job. I’m proud of you both. . . . I really needed help,
calling the gym
I wish I could thank you and I couldn’t think was smart, too.
enough! of anyone else.

the first thing we heard how did you get Jenny
when we got to the gym to the hospital?

was our names being I called 911,
called over the and they sent
loudspeaker . an ambulance

over .

107

oh, and Jenny’s doctor will probably call you wow. thanks,
back . . . . he was the first person I called, but Mary Anne.

he hadn’t called back by the time we left
for the hospital.

you, too, Dawn. I want you to know that wow -- yeah! you really
I’ll always feel at ease having Jenny thanks! didn’t have to pay me.

in your competent hands.

I know, but you gosh. do you sure.
deserve it. want to come

over for a
while?

108

Isn’t mrs. p weird? did you see and she
her fancy black dress? that’s calls Jenny

what she was wearing to a her angel.
basketball game!!

yeah. mr. p does, too. he’s generous. hey, when we’re finished
but he’s all right. gosh. $50.00 eaTiNG, I want to show
I like him. each.
you something.

what
is it??

109

a photo album!

I haven’t looked inside yet -- I
was waiting till you were here.

ooooh!

these pictures yeah. I don’t
look old. recognize

any of these
people.

110

look at this, some of these men look
Mary Anne. . . . more like women! check out

their long hair and their
funny clothes!

a ha ha! ...?

111

Mary Anne, who is that girl
and what are you doing?

oh,
um . . .
112

she looks familiar. I’ve seen If she’s nobody, how
her around school, haven’t I? come you guys are

that’s . . . that’s sticking your tongues
just Kristy Thomas. out at each other??

she’s nobody.

well -- the thing is . . . Kristy and you had a
and I used to be best fight, right?
and how come
you put your arm friends.
around me just now?
was that something
you wanted her

to see?

yes. the first day we met, in the cafeteria, yes. great.
you told me your friends were all
absent. was Kristy one of those
friends?

113

I thought it was weird
that you kept saying your
friends were absent . . .

. . . but I needed a
friend of my own so much,
I just tried to forget about

your other friends.

you lied to me. Dawn, I -- It was pretty convenient that I
showed up right when you needed

a new friend, huh?

from
the first
day of our
friendship,
you lied to

me!

Dawn,
wait!

oh, no. I know the
rest of this story.

see you later.

114

and just like that,
I was friendless

once again.

115

116



CHAPTER 13

I was still numb when
dad and I sat down to
dinner that evening.

I’ll get it - - pardon me . . . what
I think it’s antibiotics? oh . . .
a client. . . .
hello? oh, really?

no, she didn’t tell me that. Mary Anne? did anything . . .
well, I’m flattered to hear it. out of the ordinary happen

I’m proud of her, too . . . I’ll today?
give her the good news.

who was
that?

118

mrs. prezzioso. she called to tell me what a well, tell me now.
good job you did this afternoon, and to let you It sounds pretty exciting.
know that Jenny does in fact have strep throat,

but is feeling much better.

oh my gosh!
I can’t believe I

forgot to tell
you about it. . . .

I told him everything . . . from taking
Jenny’s temperature, to calling Dawn,

to riding in the ambulance.

dad seemed you are?
very impressed. very.

mrs. prezzioso thanks.
said she was
119
extremely proud
of you. . . .

I’m proud
of you, too.

you’re growing up . . . I know. but 12 means
right before my eyes. different things to different

well, I people. It depends how you
am twelve. carry it.

oh.

am I . . . am I more mature yes. I think you
than you realized? are, Mary Anne.

am I . . . please, please,
please . . .

. . . old enough
to stay out a

little later when
I baby-sit?

120

well . . . 10:00 seems a bit how about 9:30 on school
late for school nights. . . . nights, and 10:00 on friday

and saturday nights?

oh, dad,
that’s perfect!!

thank you!

...

dad, can I show you something?
I’ll be right back .

121

122

do you think I could
wear it this way? I mean,

just sometimes. not
every day.

. . . sure.

thank you,
dad.

before I went to bed
that night, I wrote
two letters: one to

Kristy, and one to Dawn.

both were apologies.
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the first thing I CHAPTER 14
did monday morning
here, Dawn . . .
was find Dawn. please read

this.

. . . I forgive
you! I’m

sorry I got
so upset.

Mary Anne, your hair!! and I’m
where are your braids? sorry I

do you lied.
like it?
I love it! you look so pretty with your
hair down! spin around, let me see it
from the back . . . .

125

I looked all over for shoot . . .
Kristy, but I couldn’t I guess I’ll
slip this in her
find her anywhere.
locker .
where
could
she be?

at 3:15 that afternoon,
I arrived at the newtons’ house.

hi-hi!!
hi, Mary Anne!
It’s my birthday
today! guess how

old I am?

happy birthday,
Jamie! how old?

I’m hi, Mary Anne -- I’m glad
four today! you’re here early! I can
that’s this really use you. . . . can you

many! come help me make
the punch?

126

soon . . .

try to get them to settle down. we’ll do time for presents!
presents first, because nobody can wait. come sit over here.

It should go pretty fast. no, sit
over here.

over here! around the will three of you give me a hand,
couch is fine. and somebody else go check
on the baby?

127

I’ll go check no, I no, you won’t.
on lucy. . . . will! I will.

girls! none of you
will because

I’m going!

Stacey, would you
please check on her?

I need the rest of
you over here.

take the kids into the
dining room for cake and
ice cream. I’d like you to

sit among them, so you
can help pass the
food around.

128

C’mon, you guys,
let’s . . .

AAAA! Ow, ow, ow!!

129

Mary Anne, how would
you like to pour the
punch you made?

okay.

hey! watch it! that stuff’s getting what’s the big idea?! that’s what you
in my lap! what’s the big idea?! get for stepping on my foot and not

saying anything about my note!!

what
note?!

130

you know I do
what note. not!!

hey!!

mommy!!!

131

girls, what is
going on?!

132

. . . just a little accident. Kristy, why don’t you go
I’m sorry. we’re all sorry. into the kitchen and get

cleaned up.

come on -- we’re going I don’t care what any of you says,
to help Kristy. or what any of you thinks. . . .

I am calling a meeting of the or else.
baby-sitters club right after

the party. be there . . .

133



CHAPTER 15

there was no more funny
stuff during Jamie’s party.
we all felt pretty guilty

about almost ruining it.

so. where should we
have our meeting?

Claudia, your room fine. we’ll go to
as usual? the Kishis’. c’mon.

I don’t
care.

135

and so . . .

okay, guys -- we’ve we almost wrecked
been mad at each Jamie’s party today.
other for weeks I felt horrible, and
now and it’s time
I know you guys
we stopped. did, too. so . . .

we either make up, or break up. we can’t run the I don’t want the club to
club when we’re mad at each other . I don’t want break up either. you guys
are my best friends here
to end the club - - we’ve worked too hard
for it to fall apart. in stoneybrook .

136

I don’t want to either. remember when that Kristy?
baby-sitters agency almost ruined us? If we

survived that, we can survive anything.

yeah!

I want to make up, who owes
I guess . . . but somebody you one?

owes me an apology!

. . . I can’t remember! . . . neither do I! me neither!
I don’t remember
exactly who I’m
mad at, or why!

well, let’s just make
it official -- why don’t
we all apologize right
now? ready? 1, 2, 3 --

137

I’m sorry!!!

what’s happened to a million
you, Mary Anne? you’ve things have

changed since our happened.
fight.

starting with your hair! so your dad finally
you look very pretty. gave in?! amazing.

thank not without
you. a fight!

138

but he and I have an by the way, I can stay out
understanding now. until 10:00 on fridays and

saturdays, and 9:30 on
weeknights.

gosh . . .

soon . . . Mary Anne, there’s something I left a letter in your
I don’t understand. what was locker. It was an apology. . . .

that note you were talking I thought you’d at least
about at the party? say you’d gotten it!

oh!

but I didn’t oh, no, I must no, no, no -- my locker’s broken. I couldn’t
get it! my - - have put it in the get into it today. the janitor said he’d try

wrong locker! to put a new lock on it tomorrow.

139

oh . . . Kristy, so am I, but I think we’ve done
I’m sorry. enough apologizing today.

friends?

friends!
140

when I got home, the phone hi, it’s me! oh,
was ringing off the hook . I was hoping
you’d be there!!
hello?
hey, Dawn!
what’s up?

you won’t believe this! my mom came across an aaughh! was it them?
unpacked carton labeled “sports equipment,” was it them?!

and guess what was inside?! yes!!

what??

a photo
album . . .
with a prom
picture!!

“my mom did have a rose pinned and her voice got all dreamy,
to her dress with a white ribbon. and she said, “oh, that was richie
so I asked her who the guy was . . . ”
Spier . . . I wonder what ever
happened to him.”

141

and I told her, “nothing! I wonder -- oh, Dawn, dad’s
he’s Mary Anne’s father!” home! I’ll call you back
and she nearly fainted!!
after dinner!
wow!!

. . . dad?

I waited for just the
right moment to ask him.

did you ever know someone yes . . . yes, I did. well . . . I found out that
named Sharon Porter? why do you ask? Dawn’s mother was Sharon

Porter before she got
married, and that she

grew up here.

142

Dawn and I thought it would yes . . . we were very good friends . . . but we
be funny if you two knew didn’t keep in touch. her parents and I didn’t
each other . . . did you? get along very well. sharon and I dated until

we both went off to college, and then . . .

well, she moved to so sharon got married? she brought Dawn and
california, and I lost her brother back here
-- and last month, so they could
track of her . divorced.
all start over again.

how come you and the oh . . . let’s just say that they
porters didn’t get didn’t think I was good enough
along? for their daughter. my family

didn’t have much money when
I was growing up.

143

I wonder if you’d be don’t go
good enough for Dawn’s getting any ideas,

mother now? Mary Anne.

a little while later dad went all sort
of dreamy, too.
. . . Dawn!
I got the hmmm . . .
story! or we’ll have to
part of it, do something

anyway. about it.

yeah. wow . . . you have?
It’s been some yup.
day. I made up with
Kristy. In fact,
the whole club

has made up.

. . . that’s
great.

144

you know, Dawn . . . you did you . . . do much baby- listen . . . I have to go.
were really great with sitting when you lived I’ll see you in school
in california?
Jenny last saturday. tomorrow, okay?

okay . . .
’bye.

yeah.
tons.

“hey, Kristy . . . you there?”

“yeah . . . what’s up?” “I’ve got an idea I want to discuss with you!”
145