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CHAPTER 6 jenny! what are you
supposed to do when the
I’ll get it!!
doorbell rings?

say,
“who is it?”

then please do that. who It’s me, very good, sweetheart.
Stacey? would you mind is it? Stacey. hello, Stacey.
ringing the bell again, the baby-
sitter. hi.
please?

hi, jenny. It’s a very pretty skirt, but
not as pretty as my little angel
hi. I like
your skirt. in her brand-new dress!

now,
jenny . . .

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all right, I’m ready, okay, angel, be
madeleine! a good girl for

your sitter!

oh, be
careful!

her new well, let’s go. we’ll be at elliot taggart’s this
dress . . . thanks for coming afternoon -- his number is in the
kitchen, and the emergency numbers
over, tracey.
are next to the phone.

okay.
have fun.

Stacey.

well, what do oh, come on . . . there must
you want to do be something you want to do.

first? we have two hours to play.

nothing. no.

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well, then I guess I’ll just . . . kid-kit?
have to play with the kid-kit

all by myself.

I can play with
this stuff?

sure. that’s why
I brought it.

anything
I want?

Is this a painting here, how about the I want to
book? stickers? don’t they paint!!!

look like fun? . . .

oh! er,
yes . . .

49

okay, okay . . . Into here you go. rinse the brush
the kitchen . . . all you have off pretty
to do is brush often so the
water over the
pictures, and colors don’t
the color will mix together,

appear . okay?

jenny, wouldn’t you like to put on I don’t want
playclothes while you paint? an apron!!

no.

not even a
smock? what
about one of

mommy’s
aprons?

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well, I’m getting aha . . . here we go . . . okay, jenny,
you one, anyway. let’s --

oops.

... okay, off with your
dress. right now!
no!
no, no, no!

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no, no, there we go! c’mon,
no! I’ll show you some

magic.

see? out . . . magic?
comes the
does your mommy
stain! have a hair dryer?

yup.

52

ooh! your mom’ll be how was she?
back soon, jenny,
c’mon!

we’re home!

an absolute
angel.

53



monday night CHAPTER 7 I’m 12 years old now,
and I feel that I could
dad, I’ve been
thinking. stay out until 10:00
every now and then when

I’m baby-sitting.

not on school nights, . . . dad? we lost the cutter case today.
of course, because I I can’t believe it. I thought
recognize that I need it was open-and-shut.

my sleep, but . . .

Mary
Anne?

the jury was highly honestly, people can letting someone go, who
unreasonable. be so . . . unthinking. is so clearly guilty
can you imagine -- of grand larceny?
-- dad?

I guess
not . . . dad?

55

. . . what is it, dad, I’ve hello? yes, I
Mary Anne? been know . . . I know . . .
right, an appeal.
thinking.

that’s what I was think --
what? . . . oh, yes. definitely.

hello??
yes, this
is he . . .
yes . . .

okay . . . okay. I want to stay out until
fine. I’ll call you 10:00 when I baby-sit.

right back .

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what? . . . oh. oh, no. I’m afraid that’s
Mary Anne. out of the question.

but dad!
everyone else

gets to.

I’m sure not everyone gets to. and I am the only
you can’t possibly be the only member of the

sixth–grader who has to be baby-sitters club who
in by 9:00 or 9:30. can’t stay out till
10:00.
Dad, I’m in
seventh

grade.

you treat me like a baby, but Mary Anne, what your friends are
I’m almost a teenager. Kristy allowed to do is not your concern.
It’s not easy for a father to raise
and Claudia and Stacey --
a daughter alone. plus, I’m not
home much. I’m doing the
best I can.

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that’s not fair! don’t you think look at me, dad -- I’m too old to wear
mrs. Thomas is a good parent? she my hair in these dumb braids, and my
takes care of Kristy and Kristy’s
room looks like a nursery.
brothers by herself.
young lady,
I do not like
your tone of

voice.

I don’t care!!

It’s time for some
changes around here!

Mary Anne,
please!

are you my father ! Mary Anne, the
or my jailer?? subject is closed.
please go to
your room.

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I honestly hadn’t meant to If I wore my hair loose or
insult him, but what did he took down humpty dumpty . . .
think was going to happen?

. . . did he think I’d run away what could happen between 9:00 and
or start hanging around with 10:00 while I was baby-sitting,

the wild kids at the mall? that couldn’t happen before 9:00?

The next day

I needed some answers . . . and
there was only one person I could

think of who might have them.
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hi, Mimi. hello, are you here to see Claudia? no . . . actually,
Mary Anne. she is not at home -- I believe I came to see you.

she is baby-sitting for nina
and eleanor marshall.

of course . . . please come
and sit down. would you like

some tea, Mary Anne?

sure.
thank you.

60

In this weather, I always and how are I’m surviving okay,
think of spring. perhaps you surviving this I guess. but I’m not
we will be lucky and the getting along with my
groundhog will see his dreariness? father very well.
shadow.

Mimi, do you think I tell me what you know -- like other
act like a normal you mean by kids my age. am I as

12-year-old? “normal.” mature and responsible
as they are? do I have
the same interests?

yes. you seem like a normal 12-year-old.
you do not wear the clothes that my Claudia does,
but I do not think that means anything. you seem

very mature. but you are serious, too.

Is serious
the same as
responsible?

61

I’m not allowed to do I suppose
most of the stuff Kristy you have heard
people say that
and Claudia and Stacey your father is
can. doing the best

he can.

yes. I will tell you something I If this is truly
have often told my Claudia. important to you,
If you do not like the way then there is a way

things are, you must to change it.
change them.

but I’ve
tried!

and I know that you, what did you just say?!
my Mary Anne, will
find that way.

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Claudia . . . you are finished you called her . . .
baby-sitting already? “my Mary Anne.”

I heard
you!!

. . . yes. but I’m the only one you
I did. call “yours.” you don’t
even say “my janine.”
I thought
I was the
only one!

please do I will talk to Claudia, and just like that, once
not worry . . . and repair our again, not one of the
that was my members of the baby-
misunderstanding.
fault. sitters club was talking
thank you, to the others.
Mimi. ’bye.
oh, no.

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CHAPTER 8

Wouldn’t you know it . . . for our
next baby-sitters club meeting,
it was my turn to sit in Claudia’s

room and answer the phone.

even though she was still really
mad at me, it was cool to sit and
watch her paint. she’s so talented.

hello,
baby-sitters

club.

hi, mrs. newton . . . . . . what?
how are you? I can’t
hear you!
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what’s all that noise? I need a
sitter for Jamie on wednesday

afternoon.

I’m sorry . . .
can you hang
on a second?

Claudia, can
you please turn

that down?!

I know I’m not free . . . Claudia! . . . Claudia?
I’ll have to check .

can you check
with Kristy first?
I think Jamie would

like to see her.

. . . all right.
I’ll call
you back .

I must ask you to play your music more softly . . .
also, I was wondering if you would like to come
have a cup of tea with me while Mary Anne is on
the phone.

66

hello? . . . yes?

hi, mrs. newton
Kristy . . . needs a sitter
It’s Mary for wednesday.

Anne. Jamie wants
you. . . . can you

make it?

yup. all right, . . . yeah??
I’ll tell her.
what time
hey, does she
wait, don’t want me?
hang up --

ask her yourself!!

hello?
the baby-sitters
club. Mary Anne

speaking.

67

hi, Mary Anne, it’s I forgot to ask you can you and Kristy and
mrs. newton again . . . before. Jamie’s 4th Claudia and Stacey come
birthday party is in
as helpers? we invited
two weeks. 16 children.

that
sounds
like fun.

I’ll have to ask I called Stacey first, but she wasn’t
the others, though. home. I was relieved about that.

. . . oh, thanks, mrs. mcgill.
can you have Stacey give
mrs. newton a call
about it?

sure. ’bye.

next, I went to find Claudia.

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. . . Claud? hmmm- hm, hm -- mrs. newton wants us
hmmm- all to be helpers at
hm, I can’t Jamie’s birthday party.
hear you!
do you want to go?

. . . yes.
I’ll go.

and that just . . . oh. uh-huh. don’t strain yourself . . .
left Kristy. oh, all right. I can tell mrs. newton

what I’ll go, too. you’re busy.
is it??
don’t you
dare!

baby-sitters hi, Mary Anne! mr. pike and I are
club. hi, going out of town for an evening,
mrs. pike!
so we need a sitter for all of
the kids. actually, we’d like
two sitters.

okay, let
me check who’s
available. I’ll
call you back .

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let’s see . . . I’m hi, Kristy. It’s Mary Anne again.
free . . . Claudia has to the pikes need two sitters on friday
go to a presentation evening. you and I are the only ones
her sister’s making . . . free. we’d be sitting for all eight kids.

Stacey is already do you want to do it?
sitting for charlotte
with you?
that night . . . which
means . . .

yes.

not really. I’ll have to. Mary Anne
Spier, for
fine. I’ll get someone who’s
dawn schafer so shy, you
to sit with me. sure can

you be --
wouldn’t

dare!

what? what
can I be?
never mind.
I’ll sit
with you.

I was not looking forward
to baby-sitting with

kristin Amanda Thomas.

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CHAPTER 9

avoiding Kristy was sure
getting to be a lot of work !

hi, Kristy!
c’mon in!

73

oh, good, you’re both here! we’re
in a rush, but you both know where
everything is. the usual bedtimes for
everyone. dinner’s in the fridge . . .

we’ll be home by 9:00!!

adam
nicky

jordan

vanessa mallory
margo
byron

claire

what’s for cold fried chicken or then make yourself
dinner? tuna sandwiches.
a peanut butter
can I have
both? sandwich.

when do

okay. we eat?

I don’t
like chicken
or tuna fish.

6:00. 6:30. can me anD byron anD adam
make an obstacle course
in the living room?!

can I watch
cartoons?

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can I just can we start a yes, no, yes, yes,
read? baseball game? no, and yes.

can I can I
color? help make

dinner?

let’s do something together! hey, Kristy -- how
there are 10 of us . . . maybe about putting on

something with teams? a play?

good idea,
Jordan!

Mallory, tell Kristy Kristy, Mary Anne says -- hey, why do I have to
it would be fun to put tell her, Mary Anne? she’s not deaf.

on a play. oh! um . . .

75

we’re . . . we’re playing okay, everyone, sit down in a line. right here.
“telephone.” Kristy, you sit at that end. Mary Anne, you
sit over here and start the game.
we are?
!

Kristy Thomas is
a nosy, bossy
busybody.

hee
hee!

huh? what did
you hear??

cranky
tommy’s nose

is a bossy,
busy boy.

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now tell us what what I really
you really said, said??!

Mary Anne!

I said, “crystal no, you I’d forgotten I
tambourines - - ” didn’t! would have to do that!

you said, “critical . . . ” I mean,
“christopher . . . ” I mean . . .
oh, I don’t know what
you said!!

grrr . Kristy,
you start one

this time.

tell Kristy
to start the

game.

77

“tired carrots take It’s dinnertime, everyone!
the blame”? Into the kitchen.
food!
no, start
the game!! yay!

78

now hold we need what? did somebody she said
it!! some order! say something? we need some

order .

we need we need we need
order . order . order .

we need we need we need
order . order . order .

79

we need that’s how the rest of the evening went.
order, not once did Kristy and I have to speak
Kristy. to each other, and the kids never
realized anything was wrong.

whatever finally, I took the
that is. younger ones upstairs

they just thought we to settle down.
were playing a great game.

oh my gosh . . . quick, into bed!
It’s 8:55 your mom and dad
already! will say good night

to you in a few
minutes!

hello-o . . .
we’re back!!

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mrs. pike!! I’ve got
to be home right now!!

It’s almost 9:00!!

I know,
Mary Anne, I’m
sorry we’re late!
we got caught in
traffic on the

way back .

hop in the car with okay!
mr . pike, you two. he’ll good night,
mrs. pike!
drive you home.

. . . thank you!! I’ve thanks again!
got to go!! we’ll see you

both soon.

five minutes after nine!!
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gasp!
pant!

baby,
baby,
baby!!

82

. . . hi, dad.
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CHAPTER 10

dad actually surprised
me -- he wasn’t mad.

he did manage to get in
a good lecture, though.

. . . and the next
time it looks as though
you’re going to be late,
for whatever reason . . .

just give me a call,
all right?

. . . okay.

I suppose I could and he’s right like tonight at the
have thought to that there’s always pikes’. It could have
call, instead of
room for more been a disaster.
panicking. . . . responsibility.

we can’t keep running the club like this. but . . .
It’s time to get things back together,

starting with making up with Kristy. that
will take plenty of responsibility.

. . . how??

85

the next day what should I don’t
we do today? know!

hey, we never found out oh, that’s
if your dad knew my mom right!!
when they were young!

what year
did your father
graduate high

school?

hm, I forget . . . let’s see . . . so’s my mom!
he’s . . . 41. wait,
how old
is he? no, he’s 42.
that’s it.

let’s go
talk to my
dad right

now!

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hey, dad! oh, Mary Anne, you may heat up that casserole
we were -- I have to head into for lunch. dawn is welcome to
stay, all right?
the office for a
few hours. okay, thanks,
dad. see you
later .

why didn’t It wasn’t a good time,
you ask him?! believe me. besides,
I have another idea.

. . . yearbooks!!

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I used to go through them all the they’re my mother’s and my
time when I was little. . . . father’s . . . high school and
college. here are my dad’s
how come from stoneybrook high. . . .
there’s so

many?

let’s look at his senior oooh, this is the year
yearbook -- it’ll have my mom graduated, too!
the biggest pictures!
so they were in the
same class!!

open it!

ha ha, look at all the
weird stuff written
under everyone’s
pictures. . . .

I wonder
what it all

means??

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here’s my dad!! oh, wow, this is weird . . . “to s.e.p.: don’t walk in front
I forgot how weird of me -- I may not follow. don’t walk
he looks! behind me -- I may not lead. . . . ”

what’s
written
under his
picture?

“ . . . walk beside me -- who’s
and just be my friend. camus?

-- camus” beats me.
but “s.e.p.” . . .

those were my mother’s initials
before she got married.

89

quick!! turn to the p’s! there she is!
we’re looking for sharon emerson
sharon porter!
porter!!
she signed his
yearbook!! that’s all
it says . . .
no quotes or
silly stuff.
but look--

. . . I guess they
did know each
other!!

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CHAPTER 11

dawn and I agreed not to
mention our discovery

to our parents, although
we weren’t sure why we
wanted to keep it a secret.

find
anything

yet?

not
yet.

we spent sunday at dawn’s ah!! here we go!
house, looking for her
mom’s yearbook .

It’s anyone’s guess
which box it’s packed

in . . . .

ooh, ooh! what did my “the summer can be . . . whoa.
dad write to her?? forever. love always,

“for sharon . . . richie.” wow.
remember . . . ”
dawn . . .

what’s that
thing pressed
into the book?

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suddenly we had a million questions I wonder if yeah! If we could
but could only guess at the answers. there’s a prom find one, we could
picture of them see if my mother
what do you maybe a prom? wore a rose with
think the rose I bet they went to somewhere.
their senior prom a satin ribbon
is from? on it!
together.

“just one more summer.” or maybe I wonder what your
I wonder why they knew that’s not mother meant by
they’d have to break up what they “love is blind”?
meant at
at the end of the
summer? all.

maybe someone disapproved what could have I dunno . . . but
of their relationship, but been wrong? I bet someone
my mom and your dad were
too much in love to see disapproved
what was wrong. of them.

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but then on saturday, I had a sitting job for Jenny Prezzioso.
something happened to keep I got to her house at 11:30.
my mind off of our parents,

and the club.

It’s Mary Anne Spier, are you a who is it?
your baby-sitter . stranger?
no, I’m Mary Anne.
maybe you should go

get your mother.

this could be
a very long
afternoon.

Stacey had warned us all
about Jenny in the club

notebook , so I was prepared.

hi, Mary Anne. my husband his college is playing
I’m mrs. prezzioso, and I are going their biggest rival,
and this is my little up to chatham for so he’s very excited.
a basketball
angel, Jenny. ready,
game. honey?

93

we’re going to meet some of my friends, I’m sure everything
go to the game, and then have an early dinner. will be fine.
we should be home by seven at the very latest.
yes . . .
I’m nervous
about being so
far away. . . .

well, I’ve left you a lot of phone . . . so! what do you
numbers - - Jenny’s doctor, the number want to do, Jenny?
we’ve got the whole
of the gymnasium, and the usual
emergency numbers. . . . afternoon to
play.

nothing. aw, c’mon. It’s not nononono
that cold out. you want
no!!!
to see if claire pike
can play?

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okay, okay. how which one?
about a story?

I guess.

all right. we’ll read this
one. “one day a little Girl
and her mother went. . . ”

this isn’t once you calm Jenny
so bad. down, she’s really
very . . .
-- Jenny?

Zzzz

95

poor kid must huh?
not have liked . . .

she’s
burning

up!!

the prezziosos must aha!
have a thermometer in

here somewhere. . . .

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