Ann Martin - Claudia And The Mystery At The Museum

After I hung up, I drifted downstairs, feeling as if I were walking on clouds. I told my parents about the invitation, and my father said he would be happy to go to the party with me. (I didn't tell them about the detective work I was doing. In fact, I told a little white lie about having called Don Newman for a school project. I didn't know how else to explain the invitation.)

I floated back upstairs and tried to study again. But before long I had jumped up to look through my closet. I had been invited to a formal party, and I only had two days to figure out what to wear. This was going to take some thought.

Chapter 12.

On Thursday afternoon, Jessi and Mal sat for the Pike kids. It was a bright, sunny day, fortunately, which meant that the triplets, Nicky, and Margo were playing outside. Vanessa was curled up in an armchair with her nose in a book (her usual pose), and Claire was trying on different "audition outfits" and asking Mal and Jessi's opinion on each one.

"This is the glamorous look," she said, trailing a pink feather boa down the stairs. She wore a spangled tutu which Mal had worn in a first grade play (if s a little ratty by now, since all the Pike girls have used it for dressing up), white high heels swiped from her mother's closet, and a pair of red sunglasses pushed up on her head.

"Very nice," said Jessi. "But maybe just a little too — what’s the word?" she paused. "Um, too glitzy, maybe? The agent might like it if you looked more like a regular girl."

Claire nodded and ran back upstairs to change. She came back down in a few minutes, dressed in her best pink dress with lace trim. She was still wearing the high heels, and the sunglasses were still perched on her head. "I don't want to look too regular," she announced. "How's this?"

Jessi and Mal exchanged looks and tried not to giggle. "Fine," said Mal. "Just fine."

Claire curtsied. "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen," she said.

This time, Mal and Jessi were unable to contain their giggles, but Claire didn't seem to notice. "Can I call Rosie?" she asked. "I want to ask her some more questions. Plus, she said she would show me her tap shoes the next time I came over. So can I call?"

"How about if I call for you?" asked Jessi. She didn't want Rosie to feel pestered by Claire. She dialed the Wilders' number, and Mrs. Wilder answered. It turned out that Rosie was busy with a violin lesson. "And tomorrow her voice teacher will be here," said Mrs. Wilder. "Perhaps Rosie should call you back when she has some free time."

"Boo!" said Claire, when Jessi told her how busy Rosie was. "I want to talk to her some more. Why does she have to take so many dumb lessons, anyway?"

"That’s just how it is, when you're in show business," explained Jessi. "I know, since I'm a dancer. I take classes all the time. I have to, if I want to be a professional ballerina someday."

"But you already know how to dance ballet," said Claire. "I've seen you do it."

"That’s true, but I still have a lot to learn," said Jessi. "Being in show business can keep a person very busy. If s not an easy life."

"What do you mean?" asked Claire. She snuggled up next to Jessi on the couch. "Tell

me."

So, Mal went outside to watch her sister and brothers while Jessi told Claire about the life of a professional entertainer. She told her about the lessons that actors and dancers and singers have to take. "Even when they're stars, they still take lessons," said Jessi. She told her about auditions, and how nerve-wracking they can be. "Sometimes they reject people just because they're too tall or too short or too blonde or not blonde enough," she said. "You have to learn not to take it personally, and it isn't easy."

Then Jessi told Claire about callbacks and agents and meetings and endless rehearsals. She told her about the time she visited Derek Masters on the set of his TV show, and about how boring it can be on a TV or movie set — how it can take all day to film one little scene. And she told her about how entertainers have to perform all the time, even if they're sick, or tired, or injured. "That’s what they mean when they say, 'the show must go on,' " Jessi explained.

"But — but isn't it fun when people clap after you do something good?" Claire asked. "Or when they laugh at a joke you tell? Or cry when you sing a sad song?"

"Sure," said Jessi. "That’s why so many people stay in show business even though it's such hard work. For some people, those good things make all the bad things worthwhile."

"I never thought about the bad things," said Claire. "I just thought about having a dressing room with a big star on the door, and lots of fancy dresses, and a big long car to pick me up and drive me everywhere I want to go."

"Not too many people get all that," said Jessi with a grin.

Claire didn't grin back. Instead she said solemnly, "Jessi? I'm not so sure I want to be in show business anymore. I mean, I'd like to be a star, but not if it takes so much hard work."

Jessi nodded. "I can understand that," she said, reaching over to give Claire a little hug.

Suddenly,! Claire broke away from Jessi and sat up straight. "Oh, no!" she cried. She put her hand over her mouth.

"What?" asked Jessi.

"My video!" said Claire. "I don't want that agent to see it. We have to get it back before she watches it!"

"I don't think we can," said Jessi. "It’s already in the mail."

"Oh no!" Claire wailed. "What am I going to do?"

"Well," said Jessi. "I guess you just have to hope the agent doesn't like your tape." She

knew from experience that in show business rejection happens a lot more than acceptance.

Claire nodded. "But what if she does like it?" she asked miserably.

Jessi smiled. A few minutes ago Claire was dying to be discovered. "If she likes it, and she wants to make you a star, I guess you'll just have to tell her you changed your mind," said Jessi.

"That would be so, so embarrassing," replied Claire. Just the thought of it seemed to make her blush. "But I guess that's what I'll have to do." She stood up. "I don't think I want to talk about this anymore," she said. "Can I go out and play with Margo?"

"Of course," said Jessi. She gave Claire another hug, hoping to see her smile. But Claire hugged her back listlessly and walked slowly outside. Jessi felt awful. But she realized this was probably for the best. After all, it was better for Claire to find out ahead of time how hard show business could be.

Jessi followed Claire outside and watched with Mal as Claire and Margo played hopscotch.

"What happened?" whispered Mal. "Claire looks so sad."

Jessi told her about their conversation.

"That's too bad," said Mal. "But she'll cheer up soon. And I have to say that my whole

family will thank you. Maybe we won't have to watch that video anymore!"

The girls giggled. Just then, they heard a horn honk, and saw Mrs. Arnold leaning out of her car window. She had pulled up in front of the Pikes' house. "Hello, girls," she said.. "The twins and I are off to the museum. They've been after me to take them back there ever since the first time they went. They just loved the Discovery Room. Anyway, we were wondering if anybody would like to come along."

"Me!" cried Claire, looking more cheerful already.

"Me, too," said Margo. "Can we, Mallory?"

"Sure," said Mal. "I bet Vanessa would like to go, too."

"I'll go get her," said Claire. She ran into the house.

Mal and Jessi decided that Mal would stay home with the boys, who were busy with their treehouse, while Jessi went along with the girls.

"Can we all squeeze into your car?" Jessi asked Mrs. Arnold.

"Sure," said Mrs. Arnold, with a grin. "The more, the merrier."

Soon they were on their way. Jessi told me later that she had to smile when she heard Claire leading the other girls in a few rounds