Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 060

"Why didn't you tell us you were going to have a makeover?" Dawn asked me.

It was a fair question. But I felt something clench in my stomach. Dawn had not yet said anything nice. She was trying to be friendly, but something wasn't right. Did she think I looked terrible? Was she mad at me? Had I done something wrong before I left the house that morning?

"Well, I didn't really decide for sure till the last minute," I began.

"You just said you had been thinking about it for awhile," Dawn cut in.

"Thinking about it," I said. "But you know me - " "I thought I did." Dawn jammed some bean curd in her mouth.

"Well ..." I had the urge to apologize, but I knew that was silly. Apologize for what? Instead I just looked down and spread some vegetables on my pancake.

Dad began talking about the things we had seen in the mall - the man dancing with the mannequin, the jazz band, and the lunchtime scene.

The highlight was Dad's imitation of the drummer. He tapped his fork on the table, grunting, "Eh-eh ... eh eh eh eh." I started laughing, and Sharon looked at us with this curious smile, as if we'd just lost our minds.

"Must have been funny," Dawn said, staring down at a cube of bean curd.

Then Dad said, "By the time we went to the clothing store, I felt like taking a nap - " "Clothing store?" Dawn said, looking up. "You went to a clothing store, too?" "Yes," Dad said. "That's what's in all those shopping bags. Clothes. We went to some expensive place named after a young fellow who spells his last name with one letter." Dawn's eyes popped open. "You bought the clothes at Steven E?" "Yes," Dad said, rolling his eyes. "A dress, a sweater, shoes ..." "But -but it's right after Christmas!" Dawn said. "I mean, that place is so expensive, and - " "Oh, Mary Anne's going to pay for half," Dad replied. "And I won't forget to remind her." Dawn shot a look at her mom. I could tell Sharon wasn't thrilled about the expense, but she didn't really look angry.

I'll never forget Dawn's expression, though. I could tell she wanted to seem nonchalant, but her face was tense. She actually looked hurt.

My excitement faded. One thing about me, whenever I sense someone doesn't like me or is mad at me, I always assume I'm wrong. Most times I start to cry. Then I try to figure out what I did and what I can do to redeem myself.

Well, that was the way I felt about Dawn just then.

I could barely concentrate during the rest of the dinner.

It was my turn to clean up the kitchen that night, and Dawn's turn to clear the table. When she picked up my plate, she didn't even look at me.

I took some glasses into the kitchen and began loading the dishwasher. When I bent down, my hair fell across my eyes. I was startled. For a split second I thought a spider had fallen on me from the ceiling. I could tell I was going to have to get used to some new sensations.

But there was one sensation I never would have predicted - I felt guilty.

At first I didn't know why, but soon it hit me. Dawn was jealous of me. I should have seen it right away. Why was I so dumb? I shouldn't have bragged about what Dad and I had done. I shouldn't have let him buy me so many things. I should have suggested that Dawn come with us to the mall.

My thoughts were tumbling around. I didn't know whether to talk to Dawn, or. wait for her to come to me, or ask Dad's advice.

I decided to do none of the above. There was only one thing that would make me feel better at that point - talking to Logan. Just hearing his voice usually puts me in a good mood.

I quickly finished up and turned the dishwasher on. Then I sat on the stool by the wall phone and called Logan's number.

"Hello?" It was Logan's little brother, Hunter.

"Hi, Hunter," I said.

"Bary Add!" Hunter squealed. He has allergies to just about everything, so he always sounds nasal. "Logad! Logad! It's Bary Add! Bary Add, I got a didosaur backpack today!" "Wow, that's great - " "Hello? Mary Anne?" That was Logan. I wish you could hear his voice. It's really warm and cheerful, and he has this great Southern accent. (His family moved to Stoneybrook from Louisville, Kentucky.) "Hi," I said. "How are you?" "Almost thawed out," he said. "Dad and I were chopping up the ice on the driveway." "Sounds like fun." "Think so? We should have invited you over." "Yeah, I could have cheered you on!" "Big help." Logan laughed. "What'd you do today?" I wanted to tell him. I almost blurted it out. But I really wanted to wait and let him see it. "Um, Logan? I have a surprise for you." I heard a faint click. I figured Hunter or Kerry (Logan's sister) probably picked up the other line at his house.

"Surprise? What is it?" Logan said.

"I can't tell you," I answered.

Then I heard Dawn's voice. "Some surprise!" "Dawn?" I said.

"Sorry," she replied. "I picked up the other extension by - " "What do you mean, some surprise?" Logan insisted.

"Well, it's just - " Dawn began.

"Dawn!" I warned.

"It's not that earth-shattering, Mary Anne," Dawn said. "I mean, we all get haircuts." "A haircut?" Logan piped up. "You got a haircut?" I could not believe what was happening. "Dawn, I wanted to show him!" "Oh," Dawn said. "Sorry. 'Bye, Logan." The phone clicked again, and she was gone.

Sorry was about the last thing she sounded.

"What happened?" Logan pleaded. "Did you do something crazy, like cut it all off?" "Well," I said, "not all" "But it's real short, right?" "Yeah, but - " "Why did you do it?" I couldn't keep my feelings to myself anymore. "Why is everyone so upset about this?" I cried. "I was so happy! I couldn't wait to show you! Now I feel like I did some awful thing." Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Oh, Mary Anne, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like that," Logan said. "It's just a shock, that's all. I can't wait to see it. Can I come over first thing tomorrow?" "Yes," I said. "I - I have to go now." "Okay, I'll see you around nine-thirty." "Okay. 'Bye." " 'Bye." I hung up, half-expecting myself to burst into tears. That would have been the old Mary Anne's usual response. But my eyes were dry. I was annoyed. Annoyed? I was actually angry. How could Dawn be so rotten?

I decided I'd go into my room and wait for her to apologize. And if she didn't, fine. I had no desire to say another word to her, anyway.

Chapter 7.

I did talk to Dawn that night. I asked, "Where's the toothpaste?" (I had to. She had brought it into her room by mistake.) But that was it.

We kept our distance on Sunday, speaking to each other only when necessary. Dawn did not apologize or even mention what had happened the evening before.

The good thing was that Logan did come over that morning. And guess what? He said he loved my hair! Boy, did that make me feel better.

Well, the count was in my favor: three for my new look (four including Tigger) and one against. But Monday would be the big test. The whole world would finally see the New Mary Anne.

Well, at least SMS would.

On Monday morning I put on some makeup. No, I don't ever wear makeup to school, but I thought I'd try just this once. Then I brushed my hair and used a tiny bit of hairspray.

Dawn was eating her whole-grain puffed cereal and lowfat yogurt when I sat down to breakfast. I broiled some bacon and made myself some sweet, gloppy French toast.

(I wasn't really doing it to be mean. That was what I wanted to eat, and I wasn't going to bend over backward just because that stuff turns her stomach. Besides, she was almost finished eating.) I plopped my breakfast plate down at the table. A greasy piece of bacon slipped off. I picked it up and ate it.

"Gross," Dawn said.

"Good morning," I said.

We left separately for school.

I had butterflies as I walked into SMS. I half expected the entire eighth-grade class to be in the lobby, waiting to laugh at me.