Ann Martin: Claudia And The Mystery At The Museum

that her follow-up on dues was 'professional and complete. She's tenacious,’ said Olinger. 'She'd make a wonderful agent someday.' "

Tenacious. There was that word again. I told my friends what it meant, and they agreed that I can be extremely tenacious. "You're tenacious about not giving up your Nancy Drew books," Mallory pointed out.

"Or your junk food," added Stacey.

"And you're definitely tenacious about not doing your homework on time," said Kristy, giggling.

I laughed and blushed at the same time. "Well, you guys are pretty tenacious, too," I said. "I couldn't have solved this mystery without your help. How about a pizza toast?"

We picked up our pizza slices and bumped them together, as if they were champagne glasses. "Here's to Claud!" said Stacey. "The best detective in Stoneybrook." Pizza toasts may be silly, but they're one of my favorite BSC traditions.

Jessi was looking at the newspaper again. "This is a great picture of you, Claud," she said. "You should cut it out and frame it."

"I just might," I said. "My parents like that picture, too. They must have bought a dozen copies of the paper so they could send it to our friends and relatives."

"You're a star," said Stacey. "No doubt about it."

"Speaking of stars," I said, "I've been so busy with the mystery that I almost forgot about Claire. What’s happening with her video?"

Mallory laughed. "Well, the agent sent it back," she said. "She said Claire has a lot of promise, but that she isn't looking for her 'type' at the moment."

"What's Claire's 'type'?" asked Stacey. "Silly brown-haired five-year-olds with blue eyes?"

Mal laughed again. "That must be it," she said. "Anyway, the agent was really nice to write a note like that. I think it made Claire feel better about being rejected."

"I thought she wanted to be rejected!" said Jessi. "At least, that's what she said the last time I saw her."

"Well, she did, in a way," said Mal. "I mean, I don't think she was ready for true stardom. But being turned down never feels good."

We nodded. That made sense. "She must be relieved, though," said Mary Anne.

"Not really," replied Mallory. "She still can't believe the agent didn't accept her. But you haven't heard the funniest part yet." "What's that?" I asked.

"It turns out that Claire's kindergarten class is planning to put on a production of Hansel and Gretel. They all tried out for parts, and guess who got the role of the witch? Claire!"

"So she's on her way to a career on the stage anyway," I said, laughing. "That’s great!"

My friends and I talked and ate pizza for a while longer, and then the party broke up. After everyone had left, I cleared the pizza box off my desk and pulled a sketch pad out from under my bed. I added the finishing touches to a drawing I had been working on all week, and then I rolled it up and stuck it into a mailing tube. I addressed the package to Don Newman. It was a drawing of the sculpture called Daphne, and with it I had enclosed a note:

I thought you'd like to have this. I hope you will always remember me as one of your biggest fans and as your partner in solving Stoneybrook's famous museum robbery.

Sincerely yours,.

Claudia Kishi.

About the Author

ANN M. MARTIN did a lot of baby-sitting when she was growing up in Princeton, New Jersey. She is a former editor of books for children, and was graduated from Smith College.

Ms. Martin lives in New York City with her cats, Mouse and Rosie. She likes ice cream and I Love Lucy; and she hates to cook.

Ann Martin's Apple Paperbacks include Yours Turly, Shirley; Ten Kids, No Pets; With You and Without You; Bummer Summer; and all the other books in the Baby-sitters Club series.