Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 123

The TV screen went black and the three of them filed out.

I closed the door to Mom and Dad's room, then pulled the door to my room shut as I passed by. Downstairs, Shannon and Abby were playing "keep the cookie away from Anna in the hallway," while the hockey game was still going on in the dining room. I reached up and grabbed the "keep-away cookie" out of the air and ate it.

"Hey!" said Shannon.

"There are breakables here." I pointed at a lamp on the table.

The hockey game had divided itself into two teams, each with a cheering squad. They'd even moved the chairs out of the way. I slipped through them into the kitchen, thinking that if I brought the pizza out it might distract everyone.

Josh was standing by the counter with a funny look on his face. "What's the matter?" I asked.

"The pizza," he said. "I don't think the American cheese ... um ... worked." "Thanks for your help," I said sarcastically, taking a look at the pizza. He was right - it was a disaster.

"What's going on in here?" Joanna appeared at the door to the kitchen. "Josh? What's wrong?" Jeannie and Shira crowded in beside her.

"Nothing," Josh said, turning his back on me and joining them. "Let's go in the other room." I closed my eyes and counted to ten. I shouldn't have been so abrupt with Josh. I was starting to think I shouldn't have had a party.

At that moment the doorbell rang. Maybe the pizza man had forgotten to leave a large pepperoni. I was sure that would do the trick.

I passed Janine, who was holding up a cookie and explaining something to Pete Black, on my way to the front door. Pete had a dazed look on his face. I'll bet he had no idea what Janine was talking about.

"Claudia, where's the new Blade record?" Stacey called as I opened the door.

"In a minute," I answered, then turned to see who had arrived late, hoping they weren't expecting food.

Instead, I found Peaches, Russ, and Lynn.

Chapter 12.

"Peaches!" Her name came out as a squeak. Meanwhile, Russ's and Peaches's mouths were hanging open, and they kept blinking their eyes as if they thought what they saw might eventually disappear.

I turned, looking for Janine. She still held the cookie in the air. Then she swallowed, handed the cookie to Pete, and walked toward us. From the corner of my eye, I saw Stacey grab Mary Anne and Kristy. The three of them spread out and walked among the kids, talking in low voices.

Peaches began to speak, and the room suddenly fell quiet. "Tell me I don't see what I think I see," she said.

I heard rustling behind me, but no one said anything.

"Peaches, it probably looks worse than it is," Russ said.

Lynn grinned and reached out to me.

"Girls, I'd like an explanation," Peaches said in a voice that reminded me of Mom.

"It's only a few people," Janine said.

"Mom and Dad didn't say we couldn't have friends over," I added.

"This is what you call a special sister activity, Claudia?" Peaches was hurt that we - that I - had lied to her.

"Maybe we should come inside and discuss this after everyone has gone home," Russ said in a calm voice.

'After everyone has gone?" I repeated.

"I think it's time for your guests to leave," said Russ.

Peaches, clutching Lynn tightly, stalked into the living room.

"Who needs a ride home?" Russ called into the dining room.

"I'll call Charlie," I heard Kristy say to Abby.

Pete, Austin, and Rick were already at the door. They lived close, so they'd be picked up soon.

"Thanks, Claudia," Pete said, and the other boys echoed what he'd said.

Joanna, Shira, and Jeannie were next.

"We'll see you at school on Monday," Jeannie said.

"Thanks for the pizza," Shira said to Janine.

'And everything," Joanna added.

"Glad you could come," Janine said vaguely.

Both of us kept looking at Peaches in the living room. Mal and Jessi were playing with Lynn while Peaches watched, not a trace of a smile on her face.

Emily and Erica left quietly once Erica's dad arrived. In fact, everything was too quiet, especially considering how loud it had been before my aunt and uncle showed up.

"Do you want us to stay and help you clean up?" Stacey asked. Mary Anne and Abby nodded, indicating that they'd stay too.

The dining room floor was covered with cookie crumbs. Logan joined us in the hallway, crunching with each step. There were paper plates and napkins everywhere. Someone had taken the empty soda cans and built a pyramid on the kitchen counter. Dining room chairs were in the living room, and the ottoman usually in the living room was missing. Even though I knew it would take Janine and me from now until our parents came home to clean up properly - I swallowed hard when I thought about Mom and Dad and what they were going to say - I shook my head.

A horn honked out front. Charlie had arrived in record time. Kristy, Abby, Anna, Shannon, and Greer ran to the car, quiet until they reached the end of the walk, then talking as soon as the car doors opened.

"Mary Anne and I can stay to help," Stacey said again.

"You kids better go home," Russ said.

Josh appeared from the rear of the house, a serious expression on his face. I remembered yelling at him in the kitchen before Peaches arrived. Our eyes met, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"I'll stay and help," Josh offered in a quiet voice.

"Thanks," I said. Then I caught Russ's eye and he shook his head, so I added, "But you'd better go too." "Talk to you tomorrow," Stacey whispered, giving me a quick hug, then followed Mary Anne, Logan, Mal, and Jessi down the sidewalk. Mrs. Pike would give them a ride home.

Josh was the last one out the door. He stopped, then turned around and wiggled his fingers at me. I tried to smile.

Janine was sitting in the living room, across from Peaches and Lynn. Russ sat down beside Peaches. I felt all of them looking at me as I walked into the room and sank to the floor near Janine's chair.

"I couldn't believe my eyes. You two, my nieces, and a houseful of out-of-control kids ..." Peaches began.

"They weren't out of control," Janine said, but a piercing glare from Peaches shut her up.

Lynn held her arms out to me and I scooted forward to take her, but Peaches pulled her back.

"Your parents may not have said that you couldn't invite friends over while they were gone," Peaches said, turning to me, "but I'm sure they never dreamed, Claudia, that you'd invite over the entire student body of Stoneybrook Middle School." "It was just the kids in the BSC, some of my seventh-grade friends, and ..." I began to say, but one look from Peaches shut me right up. This was a side of my aunt I'd never seen.

"What was Mallory saying about a broken vase?" Peaches asked.

"She knocked a vase from a table," Janine said.

"It's a new vase. I'll buy Mom a replacement," I added.

"It's the only thing that was permanently damaged," Janine added.

Looking around, it was hard to believe that.

"And Janine - allowing Claudia to have a party when your parents are out of town, taking part in the activities, even. I cannot believe you acted in such an irresponsible manner." Peaches shook her head and pulled Lynn closer.

"Are you going to tell Mom and Dad?" Janine asked without looking up.

Peaches sighed loudly. "I wish I didn't have to." "But you are?" I asked.

"We are." Peaches looked at Russ and they nodded.

I swallowed hard. Mom and Dad were going to be more disappointed than Peaches and Russ, if that were possible.

"We didn't expect to be here longer than a minute. I wanted to see what a special sister evening consisted of. Little did I know," Peaches said, rising. "My advice to you girls is to clean up the house, spotlessly, and hope that your parents take your efforts into consideration when they're deciding how to handle things." "Okay," Janine said softly.