Ann Martin - Mallory And The Mystery Diary

Usually.

Dawn's job wouldn't have started off well no matter when she'd arrived. That was because she walked into a crisis.

The doorbell was answered by Suzi, who whispered dramatically to Dawn, "Fight! In the kitchen! Buddy did something bad!"

Oh, no, thought Dawn, as she went inside.

She was greeted by the sound of Buddy saying, "I do try. I don't fool around in class."

"But honey — " Mrs. Barrett began.

"Mom," interrupted Buddy, "I'm a good enough reader to read most of Mr. Moser's note. And he says you should help me at home."

"I know he does. I just don't know when we can — Oh, hi, Dawn." Mrs. Barrett paused as Dawn entered the kitchen.

"Hi," Dawn replied, feeling embarrassed. "Do — do you want me to take Suzi outside or something?"

"No, no. That's all right. You don't have to leave. We've just got a little problem. Buddy's teacher has suggested that I try to spend some 'quality time' with him in order to improve his reading. You know, flash cards, reading aloud, that sort of thing. But I've got three kids and only so much 'quality time.' I don't see any way to stretch that time."

"I don't want flash cards anyway/' mumbled Buddy. "Besides, I can read."

"I know you can read," said Mrs. Barrett wearily. "Mr. Moser is just saying that you don't read quite as well as the other kids in your class."

"So what?" countered Buddy crossly. He was sitting at the kitchen table, kicking the legs of his chair with his heels.

"I can read," spoke up Suzi importantly. "I can read lots of words. We're learning in kindergarten."

Buddy threw his sister a murderous glance.

Mrs. Barrett didn't seem to notice any of this. Instead she said, "I don't think Mr. Moser knows what he's asking. I work at home in the mornings so that I don't have to pay for a sitter for Marnie. Then I go to the office most afternoons and some evenings. When I'm not working, I'm trying to cook, clean, and play with each of the children. How am I supposed to be a reading teacher, too?"

Dawn felt pretty bad for Mrs. Barrett and Buddy, but she wasn't sure what to say. It didn't matter. Mrs. Barrett flew off to work in her usual rush then, saying, "Mamie's napping but she should be up soon. Buddy and Suzi have just had juice and cookies, so no

more snacks. Marnie can have some milk when she gets up, though. Her special cup is on the counter." She quickly kissed Buddy and Suzi. Then she was gone.

"Okay, you guys, what do you want to do today?" asked Dawn. "It's getting sort of drizzly out, so we better stay indoors."

Before the kids could answer, Dawn heard Marnie upstairs. "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!" she was singing.

"I better go get Marnie," said Dawn. "I'm sure she'll need to be changed, so I'll be a few minutes. Why don't you two play with Pow in the rec room?" (Pow is the Barretts' basset hound.)

Buddy and Suzi obediently headed for the stairs to the rec room, but Buddy looked like he'd just lost his best friend. Dawn paused, thinking, then dashed upstairs to Marnie.

"Hi, Marnie-O," she greeted her.

Marnie was standing in her crib. She was surprised to see Dawn instead of her mother, and for just a moment her lower lip quivered.

Dawn pretended nothing was wrong. She sang "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" very softly, pulled up the window shade, and straightened the things on Mamie's changing table. By the

time she turned back to the crib, Marnie was smiling. She likes Dawn.

Dawn picked Marnie up, laid her on the changing table, and said in a low voice, "Do you want me to ... tickle, tickle?"

"No! No!" shrieked Marnie, laughing.

Then Dawn played peek-a-boo with Marnie, changed her diaper, took her down to the kitchen, and gave her some milk in her two-handled cup.

"Dawn?" called Buddy from the rec room.

"Yes?" Dawn replied. She was putting the milk carton back in the refrigerator.

"Suzi's bothering me."

"Am not!" cried Suzi indignantly.

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Can it, you guys," Dawn called. "Marnie and I will be there in a minute. Just as soon as she finishes her milk." (We have all learned that it is not a good idea to let Marnie eat or drink anything in a room with a rug on the floor.)

When Mamie's cup was empty, Dawn led her downstairs (a slow process). She was greeted by the sight of Buddy and Suzi sitting scrunched up at opposite ends of the couch,

purposefully ignoring each other. Their heads were turned away from one another and their arms were crossed.

"All right," said Dawn. "I don't know what's going on, but stop it. Suzi, would you like to be my big helper today?"

"Sure!"

"Good. Why don't you and Marnie build something with blocks. I'm going to give Buddy a hand with his reading."

"You are?" said Buddy in astonishment.

"Yup."

"Do you promise — no flash cards?"

"Cross my heart," replied Dawn solemnly.

"Well . . . okay."

Suzi and Marnie settled themselves at one end of the rec room. They dumped out a big carton of wooden blocks and turned Sesame Street on low. At the other end of the room, Dawn sat Buddy next to her. She held a copy of Green Eggs and Ham in her lap.

"Here," she said to Buddy. "Try reading this/Buddy made a face but opened the book to the first page. " 1 . . . am . . . same/ " he read slowly.

"No, no," interrupted Dawn. "Not 'same.' It's 'Sam.' See? It's that funny guy's name."

Buddy nodded. He turned the page. The words were repeated. " 'I . . . am . . . Sa — Sam/ " he corrected himself.

"Good!" exclaimed Dawn.

Next page. " 'Sam ... I am.' "

"Great!"

Next page. Nothing. Buddy didn't open his mouth.

"Go ahead/' said Dawn.

"No. This is too hard."

"Okay, I'll read a few pages." Dawn read up to page nineteen. Then she gave the book back to Buddy. "Now you try again."

" 'Wuh-wuh — ' "

"Would," supplied Dawn.

" 'Would . . . you like . . . them ... in a . . .' "

Buddy paused.

"House!" cried Suzi. She had crept to the couch and was peering over Buddy's shoulder. "I know that word. We learned it in kindergarten. And that word is 'mouse'!"

With that, Buddy slammed the book shut. He stuffed it between the cushions of the couch. "I hate this old book anyway," he announced. "It's for babies and it's boring."

"It is not for babies!" squawked Suzi, insulted.

"Yes, it is."

"Okay, okay," said Dawn. "Enough reading. And enough fighting," she added. "Suzi, you go help Marnie again. Buddy, the rain has stopped. Why don't you take Pow out in the backyard and give him some exercise?"

Dawn knew Buddy needed to escape. She also knew he needed help — lots of it — with his reading. And by the time Mrs. Barrett came home, she had an idea.

She waited until she was alone at the front door with Buddy's mother. Then she said, "I was reading a little with Buddy today and I think he is having some problems. I was just wondering — would you like somebody in the Baby-sitters Club to tutor Buddy? I mean, spend a few hours a week working alone with him? Maybe he just needs some special attention."

'"Oh, Dawn, that would be wonderful. You're a lifesaver. As always," said Mrs. Barrett.

Dawn grinned. "I'll have to wait until our next club meeting so we can see who could fit something like that into her schedule. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!" Mrs. Barrett looked very relieved, and Dawn felt quite proud of herself.

Chapter 5.

Monday and Tuesday had passed. So had Wednesday and Thursday. Now, on Friday afternoon, we still hadn't opened the trunk. It was another drizzly day. I had nothing to do until our BSC meeting at five-thirty. Va-nessa and I were sitting on my bed, staring at the trunk. We were on my bed because Va-nessa's was littered with half-finished poems and there was no room for her.