Ann Martin - Stacey's Broken Heart

We took our bikes from the nearby bike rack and put our rackets into my basket. As we rode through Stoneybrook (our quiet Connecticut town) I thought about Andi and Sheila. Why had I let them bug me? Andi was really okay, and Sheila had been the one who first let me know that Robert liked me. They weren't horrible.

Was it because I felt that Robert wanted to hang out with them? Possibly. I wanted him to want to be with me — only me. Was that jealousy? Maybe.

I didn't want to be jealous. I don't think jealousy is a particularly attractive trait in a person. "We can go back and play tennis with them," I told Robert as we pulled up alongside each other at a stop sign.

"No, it's okay," Robert said. "It sounded like fun at the time, but I know you're not really wild about Andi and Sheila."

"They're all right, I suppose, but, you know ... I want to spend the time with you," I explained.

"Yeah, me, too," Robert said. "I'd rather be with you, too."

We pushed off on our bikes and I suddenly felt light and happy. My perfect day with Robert hadn't been ruined after all. I was glad he'd rather be with me. My worries had been silly.

I promised myself never again to let mistrust or jealousy get the best of me. Robert and I were tight. Definitely. Nothing could change that.

When we reached my house, I used my keys to let us in the side door. Since it was Monday, Mom was still at work. The house was quiet. Which was why I jumped when the phone rang.

"Hello?" I said when I'd recovered from my surprise. It was Dad!

My mom and dad are divorced. My dad still lives in Manhattan, which is where I lived most of my life. I spend lots of weekends with him in the city, which I love. Not only do I get to see Dad, I get to spend time in Manhattan. I am a 'huge fan of New York. City. (Not that I hate Stoneybrook or anything. I like it here, too. But this way I get the best of both worlds.)

"Hi, honey," Dad said. "I thought I'd just

call and say hello." We talked awhile about his work. (Dad's a workaholic.) I told him about playing tennis with Robert. He told me he'd gone Rollerblading in Central Park with his friend (girlfriend?) Samantha. We agreed to Rollerblade together the next Saturday when I came to visit.

I had just hung up when the phone rang again. "Sorry," I said to Robert, who'd sat down at the kitchen table and was reading Time magazine. "Whoever this is, I won't stay on long."

"Don't worry. It's cool," he said. "I'm reading this article on Michael Jordan."

I picked up the phone and was greeted by a female voice I recognized from somewhere. I just couldn't remember where. "Hello. Stacey?"

"Mrs. Walker!" I cried, suddenly remembering. "Hi! How are you?"- Mr. and Mrs. Walker are a couple who live in our old Manhattan apartment building, the one we lived in before Mom and Dad split up. They have two adorable kids whom I'd baby-sat for a bunch of times. The Walkers are both artists. (She illustrates books and he does huge oil paintings.) Their apartment is crammed with great art.

"We're all fine," Mrs. Walker replied. "And I'm calling because Mr. Walker and I are-wildly

busy these days. We're trying to pull together a joint showing of our work at the Fitzroy Gallery."

"The Fitzroy is major!" I said. The Fitzroy is a big gallery several blocks away from where they live. Famous artists show their work there. It was a very big deal for the Walkers to have an exhibit there.

Mrs. Walker laughed lightly. "Yes, it is major. And we desperately want it to be perfect. Unfortunately the day camp Henry and Grace are now attending ends this Friday. Gabriel and I will never be ready for the show on time if we have the children underfoot all next week."

"So you need a baby-sitter," I guessed.

"Desperately!" she exclaimed. "We are madly in need of your services."

I chuckled to myself. I really like Mrs. Walker, but she has a funny, very melodramatic way of talking. Everything is desperate! Mad! Hopeless! Fabulous! To me, it makes her seem very artistic, very New York.

"Could you come and spend the week, Stacey?" she asked. "I was thinking you could stay with your father and then come baby-sit everyday. We would be forever grateful and, of course, we'd pay you."

A whole week in New York! "I'd love to!" I said, without even thinking. I'd be with Dad.

I'd be in the city. And, I'd be with the Walkers.

The Walkers know tons of interesting, sometimes even famous, people. Their-place is always full of excitement. Grace and Henry are cute, too. What could be better?

"I'll have to check with Mom and Dad," I added. "But I think it will be fine. I don't see why not."

Mrs. Walker sighed deeply. "I hope so. I can't tell you what a relief this is. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"You're welcome. When do you need me to start?"

"Could you be here this coming Saturday?"

"I think so. I was coming in to visit Dad, anyway."

"Super! Just super! Call me tonight to let me know for sure."

"All right," I agreed. "I hope I'll see you next Saturday."

"Wow! You look happy," Robert said as I hung up. "What was that about?"

I told him, and his face fell. "A whole week!" he exclaimed.

"It's just one week," I said.

"But it's the end of the summer," he protested. "We won't have much more free time before school."

"Aw, come on, Robert," I said, sitting beside him at the table. "It's not like we won't

see each other once school starts. We'll see each other every day in school. The week will go really fast. This is a chance for me to make some money and see my father. The Walkers are cool people, too."

"Well, I suppose," Robert said in a slightly sulky voice. "I'll miss you, though."

His words made me happy. I was glad he'd miss me. "I'll miss you, too," I said, laying my hand on his wrist. "But the time will go by like nothing. You'll see."

"I hope so," he mumbled, forcing a smile.

"It will," I insisted. "A week is nothing."

I didn't know then that the week wasn't going to be nothing. It turned out to be really something.

Chapter 2.

Robert and I started to play the computer game my dad gave me, Marvel in the Mist. (I had phoned Mom and she said it was okay for us to stay in the living room together.) We played for three and a half hours. We might have played longer but I had to leave for my BSC meeting.

BSC is short for Baby-sitters Club — it's what almost everyone calls the dub. At 5:20 I arrived at my friend Claudia's house on Bradford Court, which is where our meetings are always held. I knew it was 5:20 exactly because I checked Claudia's digital clock as soon as I stepped into her bedroom. Kristy, our president, is a real nut about being on time.

"Hi, Stacey," Claudia greeted me.

"Hey, look at you!" Abby said, smiling. She sat cross-legged on Claudia's bed. "Where did you get the Florida tan? Did you use that instant tan stuff that comes in a tube?"

"Oh, no way!" Kristy laughed and grimaced at the same time. She sat in her usual spot, Claudia's director's chair. "That stuff's too weird. You didn't use that, did you, Stacey?"

"Tennis," I told them. "I guess I got tan playing tennis. But what's wrong with that tanning stuff? I think it's kind of cool." Kristy, Abby, Claudia, and I started discussing artificial tanning creams while we waited for the others to arrive.