Ann Martin - Mallory And The Mystery Diary

"Does he sound upset?" I asked.

Dawn shook her head slowly. "No . . . more like he's excited."

I took the phone from her. "Hiya, detective," I said.

Buddy laughed. "Guess what."

"What?" I replied, wondering if Buddy was going to answer, "That's what!" which is currently Claire's favorite joke.

Instead he said, sounding extremely proud and important, "Today I was moved from the Crows to the Robins."

"Excuse me?" I replied.

"I was moved from the Crows to the Robins. The Crows are the lowest reading group in my class, and the Robins are the middle group."

"Oh, Buddy!" I exclaimed. "That is fabu-

lous. It really is! And you deserve it. You worked very hard." I cupped my hand over the receiver and relayed the news to the other BSC members.

"I bet/' Buddy went on, "that I can make it into the Hawks before the school year is over. That's the highest reading group."

"I bet you can, too."

"And you know what else?"

"What?"

"I just read a chapter book by myself. I read the whole thing. And I only needed a little help from my mom."

"Fantastic! What did you read?"

"A Hardy Boys book. And I even solved the mystery before the end of the story."

Is there such a thing as too much good news? There might be. I felt a little overwhelmed after I'd hung up the phone. The portrait had been found and Buddy was becoming a reader.

"Stacey?" I said. "Is the treasury in good shape?"

"Yup," she answered. "Why?"

"Well, I was wondering. Can the treasury money pay for rewards?"

"Rewards?" Stacey glanced at Kristy. Kristy glanced at me.

"I want to reward Buddy for his hard work/' I said.

"I think the treasury can handle that," replied Kristy.

"Great. There's a book I want to buy him. Anyone who likes to read has to read about the naughtiest kids around. So Buddy's just got to read GOOPS and How to Be Them."

Stacey opened the treasury envelope as carefully as if she were picking a lock. She handed me some money, grimacing.

"Bring back the change/' she told me.

And we all started laughing again.

About the Author

ANN M. MARTIN did a lot of baby-sitting when she was growing up in Princeton, New Jersey. Now her favorite baby-sitting charge is her cat, Mouse, who lives with her in her Manhattan apartment.

Ann Martin's Apple Paperbacks are Bummer Summer, Inside Out, Stage Fright, Me and Katie (the Pest), and all the other books in the Babysitters Club series.

She is a former editor of books for children, and was graduated from Smith College. She likes ice cream, the beach, and I Love Lucy; and she hates to cook.