Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 094

"How can you possibly look at it that way?" I asked.

"When will you be free to take baby-sitting jobs?" Kristy countered.

"I'll be baby-sitting every single day until five-thirty," I reminded her. "How much more of a baby-sitting club member can I be than that?" "But you won't be able to take other jobs," Kristy argued.

"What's the difference?" I retorted.

"You're sitting until five-thirty?" said Mary Anne. "You won't be able to come to meetings then." I grimaced. Meetings. "Oops, I forgot about meetings," I admitted sheepishly.

"You forgot about meetings!" Kristy exploded.

"For the moment," I said quickly. "Just for the moment. I could be there by quarter to six." "Why bother? You won't be free to take any baby-sitting jobs anyway." "Yes I will," I protested. "There's always Saturday and Sunday, which are our busiest times anyway." "Will you want to baby-sit on weekends after sitting all week long?" Mary Anne asked doubtfully.

Probably not, I thought, but I didn't want to upset Kristy any more than she already was. "Sure," I said. "If you need me I'll just have to do it. That's all." "We'll need you," said Kristy. "I guess it's all right if you come late to meetings. I hope everyone doesn't start doing it, though." "Don't worry," Mary Anne told her. "She's coming late for a good reason." "I'll be baby-sitting and I'll be at meetings, so you're not losing a member," I told Kristy.

"I hope not," she said sulkily. In a way, I couldn't blame her for worrying. With all the shifting around of club members lately she probably just wanted things to settle down and run smoothly for awhile.

"We were about to make some hot chocolate," Mary Anne told me. "Want to come in and have tea?" "No, thanks," I said. "I have to get home. I want to run this job past Mom." I got on my bike and started pedaling down the driveway. "See you guys tomorrow!" I called over my shoulder.

"I hope your mother says no!" Kristy called after me.

Would she? I didn't think so. But I began pedaling faster, anxious to talk to her and find out her answer for sure.

Chapter 4.

"It sounds terrific," Mom said when I told her about the job at the Cheplins'. "It's a commitment, though, you know." "Yeah, but it's just two and a half hours a day," I pointed out. "What's the big deal?" "All right, as long as you think you can handle it," she said.

I called Mrs. Cheplin right away and told her I was definitely interested in the job. "I start my job a week from this Monday," she said, sounding worried again. "I'll expect you to meet them at the bus that day. You won't forget, will you?" "Absolutely not," I assured her. "I'll write it on the kitchen calendar in big letters." As soon as I hung up, I did write it down, but I was sure I wouldn't forget. I'm pretty responsible about baby-sitting jobs. I certainly wouldn't leave two little kids stranded with no one to meet them at the bus.

The next day in school I was in a great mood. All I could think about was what play I'd take Robert to see. I figured I'd get Dad's suggestions when I saw him on the weekend.

I was also feeling good because I was looking forward to this evening. Robert and I were going to double date with Logan and Mary Anne. It was just a bowling date, but those are fun.

After lunch, Robert met me at my locker. "Got your bowling arm ready?" he asked with a smile.

"Yup," I replied, shutting the door to my locker. "I'm psyched. Mary Anne and Logan won't win again this time." Robert reached out and took my hand as we began walking down the hall. "I don't know," he said lightly. "Last time they were really on a roll. On a roll, get it?" I poked him playfully. "Very funny." "I didn't exactly score with that joke, did I?" Robert continued.

"Don't pin me down," I joked back.

We stopped at a corner of the hall. "Well," said Robert. "Here's where I split." "Oh, cut it out!" I laughed. "See you tonight." "I'll be at your house at seven," Robert told me. "With time to spare." "Aaaugh!" I cried, pretending to be exasperated. " 'Bye!" That night as I dressed to go out, I felt optimistic about everything. I imagined sitting with Robert in a Broadway theater. At intermission he would turn to me and say something like, "Stacey, you were right. The city is great. I'm wild about it! Thanks for showing me how much fun it can be." After I pulled on a pair of blue leggings and a long, bright pink sweater, I sat on the end of my bed and put on my new black leather ankle boots. I used a pick on my perm to fluff it out, then put on some mascara and pink lipstick. A pair of big hoop earrings finished the look. I went downstairs to wait for Robert.

"You look nice," said Mom just as the front doorbell rang.

"Thanks," I said, heading for the door.

Whenever I open the door to Robert I feel as if I'm seeing him for the first time. Each time, he seems just a little cuter than I remembered. "Hi," he said.

"Hi." Mary Anne ran to the front door behind him. "Ready?" she asked. I saw that her father, who was driving us to the bowling alley, had just pulled into the driveway. I waved to Logan, who was in the backseat.

" 'Bye, Mom!" I said as I grabbed my parka.

"Have fun," she told me. "Be out front by nine-thirty." Mom was picking us up. "We'll be there," I assured her.

Mr. Spier drove us to the bowling alley. We rented our shoes and didn't wait long for a free lane. Mary Anne and Logan were ready for us. They'd brought sharpened pencils for keeping score, and Logan had even borrowed his father's shiny blue-speckled bowling ball.

"We were just going easy on you last time," Robert told Logan. "This time we're ready." "Why? Have you been practicing?" asked Logan as he tied his red-and-black bowling shoes.

Robert and I looked at one another and burst out laughing. We couldn't picture ourselves being so into bowling that we'd actually practice. "No!" I blurted out.

"But we've been practicing in our heads," Robert said, his eyes dancing mischievously. "Mental attitude counts for a lot." "Okay, Mr. Spock," Logan teased. "Let's see if you can use the Vulcan mind meld to keep that ball out of the gutter." Robert put one hand on a bowling ball and the other on his forehead. He closed his eyes and scrunched up his face as if he were concentrating hard. "No problem," he reported, opening his eyes again. "The bowling ball and I are one." "One what?" Mary Anne asked as she wrote our names on the score sheets.

"One nut case." Logan laughed.

"You'll see," Robert said knowingly. "We're ready. Right, Stacey?" "Yeah, right," I replied sarcastically. "We're ready." As it turned out we did better than I expected. Maybe Robert was right about the power of the mind. I was in such a good mood that I bowled better than usual. I wonder if there was a connection. Throughout the game Robert and I were almost tied with Mary Anne and Logan.

"Whoa, guys!" Logan said admiringly. "That mind meld is working." "You'd better have a talk with your dad's ball," Robert kidded. "Tell him it's time to get tough. Stacey and I are through fooling around with you. Now we're out to win this thing." "In that case I need strength," Logan said. "I need a pizza break." "Pizza sounds good," Robert agreed.

"They have those big soft pretzels here," I. recalled enthusiastically. Pretzels are one of the snack foods I can have. The big baked kind reminds me of the city, where vendors sell them warm on street corners.

"I'll come help you carry the food back," Mary Anne said to Logan.

"Uh ... no ... one person from each team should go," Logan replied.

We all looked at him with puzzled expressions. "Why?" Mary Anne asked.

"Because . . . uh . . . uh . . . because that's fair. I mean, each team should have its members equally tired out," Logan said.

"Yeah, like walking to the food counter is so exhausting," Robert said dryly.