Ann Martin - Mallory Pike, No.1 Fan

Kristy is president because the club was her idea, and also because she is the driving force that keeps things going smoothly. She runs the club strictly, like a real business. And she's constantly coming up with great new ideas. Kid-Kits, for example. Kid-Kits are boxes filled with our old toys and books, plus new art supplies and stuff. We don't bring them on every baby-sitting job, but kids love them when we do. The BSC notebook is another of Kristy's ideas. It's a book in which we record what happens on all of our sitting jobs. It's a great reference if you are sitting for a family for the first time, or if you want to know what's been happening with certain kids since the last time you sat for them. Some members grumble about having to write in it, but I love to. (Naturally, since I love to write.) When Claudia's phone rings, the person sitting nearest answers, and takes down the client's information. She tells the client we'll call right back, and then asks Mary Anne who can take the job.

Mary Anne is the club secretary. She keeps the record book in order. The record book lists everyone's schedules (my orthodontist appointments, Jessi's ballet classes, Stacey's doctor appointments, etc.). It also contains information about our clients - addresses, rates paid, plus records of our charges' allergies or any special problems.

By checking the record book, Mary Anne can figure out which of us is free to take a particular job. Once we decide who will take it, we call the client back.

Stacey is the club treasurer. She's a math whiz, which makes her the natural choice for the job. She collects the dues and keeps the money in a big manila envelope. We use the money to help pay Claudia's phone bill, and to pay Kristy's brother, Charlie, to drive Kristy and Shannon to meetings, since they live so far away. We also use the money to restock our Kid-Kits from time to time. If there's any money left over (sometimes there is, thanks to Stacey's good money management) we put it toward something fun such as a pizza party or a slumber party.

These days, Shannon is the alternate officer (that's usually Dawn's job). The alternate officer must know everyone's job, so that she can fill in if anyone is absent. Jessi and I are called junior officers, but we don't have any special duties.

At this particular meeting, the phone didn't start ringing until about a quarter to six. No one had any new business either. So, while Claudia passed~ around a bag of Doritos, and Mary Anne wrote in the club notebook, I told the others about Jessi's and my English assignment. "Does anyone have any good ideas for us?" I asked.

"I have an idea for Jessi," said Stacey. "Why don't you write down the stories of some famous ballets? Sometimes when I go to the ballet with my father at Lincoln Center, I have no idea what the story is. I mean, the dancing is gorgeous and all, but it would be nice to understand the story behind the dance. You could make a book of the stories." "What a great idea!" said Jessi. "I could do Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and The Firebird!" "And you wouldn't have to interview Madame Noelle," I said, laughing.

"She can be a little intimidating," Jessi agreed. "But I like the idea of telling the stories. I can write about how they make me feel and how the feelings behind the stories affect my dancing." "Mal, why don't you just write another story?" Mary Anne suggested.

"I was thinking I'd like to do something with kids," I told her. "After all, I do want to write for kids. I was thinking of working with the Kids Can Do Anything Club at the elementary school, but I'm not sure what to do." "Kids, huh," Kristy mused. "Why don't you write a play? A play featuring kids. Maybe you could get the Kids Club to perform your play." "I like that," I agreed excitedly. "I like it a lot." Good old Kristy. You can always count on her for a great idea.

Chapter 3.

On Monday, after school, I headed over to Stoneybrook Elementary. I wanted to talk to Mr. Katz and Ms. Simon, who run the Kids Club. I was eager to find out what they thought about my writing a play for the kids to perform.

When I reached the classroom where the club meets, room 164, I peeked through the window in the door. Becca, Haley, and several other kids, some of whom I know from around the neighborhood and from baby-sitting, were busily sorting through boxes of canned goods. Mr. Katz was sitting in a chair, making checks on a paper attached to his clipboard. It looked as if their Thanksgiving food drive was well underway.

"Mallory," said a woman, coming up behind me in the hail. It was Ms. Simon. "How nice to see you. What brings you here?" "Hi, Ms. Simon," I replied. "Actually, I came to see you. You and Mr. Katz." "Great. Just to say hello?" "No, I mean, not only to say hello. I have to do a project for English and I thought I'd write a play and have the kids in the Kids Club perform it." I hadn't intended to just blurt out my idea while standing in the hallway like that. But that's how it came out. I studied Ms. Simon's expression, looking for a reaction.

Ms. Simon nodded thoughtfully. "What will the play be about?" "Urn, I haven't actually gotten that far yet," I admitted. "Does it matter?" "Well, for one thing, I'd like the kids to learn something from it." "But isn't being in a play a learning experience?" I asked. It hadn't occurred to me that the teachers might turn me down. "They learn how to act, and speak in front of a group, and make costumes, and a lot of helpful things like that." "You're right," Ms. Simon agreed hesitantly. "More important, though, Mallory, the Kids Can Do Anything Club is a service oriented group. I'm not sure how putting on a play fits in with that." "Well . . ." I pressed my lips together as I tried to think of something persuasive to say. Luckily, a stroke of genius came my way right then. "People in hospitals and nursing homes love to see plays. If the kids learned how to put on their own plays, they'd be able to entertain people in those places. That's a very valuable service." Ms. Simon's eyes brightened with enthusiasm. "That is brilliant, Mallory!" ( I agreed.) "The food drive is wrapping up. Mr. Katz and I were wondering what to do next. With the holidays coming soon, we can put together a show, and travel to spots where people can't get out." "That would be great," I said. "But, well, I wanted to write the play." "Yes, of course. They can do your play to learn about plays. And then they can put their own together. It think this might just work out beautifully. Would you be willing to work with interested kids on the topic of drama, of telling a story through dialogue, and so forth? If we can shape this as a real learning experience it would be wonderful." How could I say no? Besides, it sounded like fun. "Sure, that sounds good," I agreed.

"Let me discuss this with Mr. Katz. If he agrees, and I think he will, we'll arrange for you to come in and talk to the kids at the next meeting. How does that sound?" "Cool," I replied happily. "I'll start working on a talk." "Wonderful! I'll call you up tomorrow afternoon and we can discuss it some more," said Ms. Simon.

"Thanks!" I said, smiling.

That night I lay on my bed and worked on my proposal for Mr. Williams. Although I plan to write books for kids, I might like to try playwriting for them, as well. Writing a play for kids will be a new experience for me, I wrote. A writer must always grow and expand as an artist. I am looking forward to this project because it will open me to a new experience in writing. I thought that sounded pretty good. I wrote another page which wasn't entirely honest. I said that watching the kids work on the play would give me a good chance to observe kids and see how they acted and felt, which would help in my writing. True, it would give me that experience, but I didn't exactly have to put on a play in order to observe kids. Between my brothers and sisters and the kids I sit for I have tons of kids to watch. Still, I wanted to make this project seem highly educational.