Ann Martin - Mystery At Claudia's House

"What about eyeshadow?" asked Janine. I remembered the blue smears she'd had on the other day, and winced. "If you want it, I'll show you how," I said. "But I think maybe brown would be a better color for you." I told her to close her eyes, and I quickly made her up, telling her what I was doing every step of the way. "Okay," I said, when I was done. "Take a look."

She opened her eyes and peered into the mirror. "Is that me?" she asked. "I can't believe it."

She did look different. I was going to have to get used to the new Janine.

"Thanks a lot, Claud." She was still staring at herself. "Wow," she said, under her breath.

Then she stood up to leave. She seemed to be in a trance.

"Why don't you stick around for a few minutes ?" I said, looking at the clock. "The club is meeting soon, and you could show everyone how you look."

"Club?" said Janine. "Oh, my gosh! You mean it's almost five-thirty?" She whirled around and checked the clock. "I have to go! I have to meet — I mean I have to be at the library!"

The library? Janine had been at the library every night that week. She'd been at the library the night she missed dinner. I know Janine's grades are important to her but nobody could have that much homework. "Janine," I said. "Where are you really going?"

"I can't talk!" she gasped. "I'm late. Thanks again — and 'bye!" She ran out of the room and after a moment I heard the front door slam.

A few minutes later, Kristy showed up. Stacey, Dawn, and Mary Anne were right behind her. And Jessi and Mal ran up the stairs at 5:25. I was mystified by Janine's behavior, so I grabbed the five minutes before our meeting to tell my friends about her strange behavior. I even told them that I suspected that she had been the person who had been "messing up" my room — not that I had any idea why she

would do that. Stacey had heard some of the story before, but this time even she was impressed by how different Janine seemed. "What do you think is going on with her?" she asked.

"I bet she got offered a part in a TV commercial," said Jessi. "That happened to this boy I used to know. He was just walking down the street, and these people came up to him, and — "

"That's pretty unlikely," interrupted Kristy. "She's probably thinking about running for student council, and she wants a new image."

"What?" asked Dawn. "No way. She must be up for some academic prize, and she's trying to impress her teacher."

"Maybe she has a boyfriend," said Mallory.

I looked at Mallory and snorted. Stacey laughed, too. The idea of Janine in love was pretty ridiculous.

We talked about my sister until Kristy interrupted us to bring the meeting to order. Then we talked about her some more, between phone calls. But we could not figure out what was making Janine act so weird. And the mystery was beginning to drive me crazy.

Chapter 7.

Stacey had tried to interest the boys in some kind of activity; a walk, a trip to the playground, an art project. But they vetoed every idea she came up with.

"It's been a long week," said Derek, sighing, "Now that it's over, I just want to relax."

Stacey couldn't -help giggling. Derek sounded like some forty-five-year-old guy with a job and a mortgage on his home.

"What?" he said, when he noticed her laughing.

"Nothing. But I would think school would be a breeze after the way you work when you're in L.A."

"School, a breeze?" asked Derek, raising his eyebrows. "Not for me! I mean, I like it okay and all, but boy, these Stoneybrook teachers give a lot of homework."

"Hmm. Well, do you have any this weekend?" Stacey asked. "Maybe I could help you with it."

"Uh, no," said Derek quickly. "That's okay. Really."

Stacey frowned. She noticed that Derek and Todd kept exchanging glances, whenever they thought she wasn't looking. She decided to ignore their mysterious behavior and just hope it would stop soon.

"So, how about if I fix us a snack, you

guys?" she asked. She was pretty sure they wouldn't turn down food.

"Sure!" said Todd. "Can I have a Popsicle?"

"He won't eat anything but Popsicles anymore,” said Derek. "Really! That's practically all he eats."

Stacey looked at Todd. He seemed healthy enough. "Well, if that's what you want, that's what you'll have," she said to him. "How about you, Derek?"

"Maybe a bowl of cereal. But I can get it myself."

Stacey led the boys into the kitchen. "What flavor do you want?" she asked Todd.

"Blue!" he answered.

Stacey laughed. "Is blue a flavor?" she asked. "Or a color?"

"Both," said Derek. He was pouring milk into a huge bowlful of Cheerios. "Those Popsicles don't taste like any certain flavor. They just taste blue."

Stacey hadn't had a Popsicle in years (because of her diabetes) but she kind of remembered what Derek meant. "I guess you're right. One blue popsicle, coming up!" She opened the freezer and found the box. Just then, the phone rang.

“I’ll get it!" cried Todd.

"No, I will!" shouted Derek.

"You're both wrong," said Stacey. "I'll get

it." When we're baby-sitting, we try to be the ones to answer the phone, so we can take a message, if necessary, and also so little kids don't tell strangers that "mommy and daddy aren't home."

"Hello?" Stacey said, panting a little. She'd had to race the boys to the phone. "Oh, hi, Byron. Sure, he's right here. Hold on." She handed the phone to Derek.

"I knew it was for me," said Derek. He put the phone to his ear. "Hi, what's up?" He listened for a minute. Then he turned to Stacey. "Can those guys come over?"

"Which guys?" asked Stacey, teasingly. "Donatello and Michelangelo and Raphael and Leonardo?"

Derek rolled his eyes. "Stacey! You know who I mean. Byron and Jordan and Adam and Nicky. Can they come?"

Stacey hesitated. If the Pike boys came over, she'd be in charge of six kids altogether.

"We're just going to hang out in my room," Derek said. "I promise we won't get rowdy." He gave Stacey his most adorable Waldo-type look.

"Oh, okay," said Stacey.

"Yea!" yelled Todd, throwing his hands in the air. His blue Popside flew across the kitchen.

"Come on over,” said Derek into the phone. He ducked as the Popsicle flew by him. "And don't forget to bring you-know-what." Then he hung up and grinned at Todd.

Stacey picked up Todd's Popsicle and rinsed it off. "Here you go," she said, giving it back to him. "Derek, why don't you finish your cereal before they get here?" She was curious about what "you-know-what" might be, but she knew better than to ask directly. She was already fairly certain that the reason Derek and Todd hadn't been interested in any of the activities she'd mentioned was because they'd had some sort of secret plans with the Pike boys. She .decided to wait and see what happened.

Derek had just taken the last bite of his cereal when the doorbell rang. "They're here!" he said. He jumped up and ran for the door.

"Hold on," said Stacey. "I'll answer the door." She knew the Pikes were ringing the bell; she also knew it wasn't a good policy to let kids answer the door. When she reached the door, with Derek and Todd close behind her, she checked out the side window first. She couldn't see anybody. Our club has had some scary times with people who ring doorbells and then disappear. Then the bell rang again, Stacey looked more closely, and there