Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 037

"We really should have sent out invitations," Myriah said, "but we've been so busy rehearsing, we didn't get around to it." She looked a little worried. "It's not too late to ask people to come, is it?" "I guess not." Mary Anne glanced at her watch. It was after three-thirty. "But we better get started right away. How about if I call Mallory Pike and see if she can bring some of her brothers and sisters?" "Oh, good!" Myriah clapped her hands together. "And ask Jessi to bring Becca and Squirt." "The more the better," James said. "The grown-ups can sit on the folding chairs, and the little kids can sit on blankets." "Are we inviting grown-ups?" asked Mary Anne.

"Of course! Otherwise it won't seem like a real play," James replied.

"Hmm, I guess you're right." Where could Mary Anne find some real live parents at a moment's notice? she wondered. She thought of Mrs. Pike. As far as she knew, Mal's mom was the only one of our clients who might be at home.

A quick phone call to Mrs. Pike settled things.

"Of course I'll come, Mary Anne," she said warmly. "Stacey took a couple of kids to the playground, but I'll round them up along with Vanessa and the triplets. I know they'd love to see a play." Half an hour later, everything was falling into place. Mal (who was baby-sitting for Charlotte Johanssen) arrived with Charlotte and her best friend, Becca Ramsey. Jessi brought the Newton kids. Stacey arrived a few minutes later with two of the Pike kids - Margo, who is seven, and Claire, who is five.

"Hi, Mary Anne-silly-billy-goo-goo!" Claire shouted. (Claire is going through an extremely silly stage right now.) Mary Anne was helping everyone find seats when Claudia appeared. "I just heard about the play," Claud whispered. "I'll help seat people if you want to go help James. He looks like he's got a problem." Mary Anne glanced up. James was darting back and forth with a clipboard, barking orders to his actors. "Johnny, I want you to be quiet until it's time for you to say your lines!" "Little dog lost," he sang softly.

James put his finger to his lips. "No talking," he said sternly.

"I wasn't talking. I was singing," Johnny said, making a face.

James looked like he wanted to throw his clipboard in the air. Mary Anne touched his shoulder. "I'll make sure the younger kids are in their places," she told him. "Why don't you do something about Chewy? He's making a racket in the garage, and I'm afraid someone's going to let him out." "Let him out?" Myriah repeated. "Oh, no!" She grabbed a Magic Marker and a piece of paper and told Mary Anne to make a sign that read: STAR'S DRESSING ROOM. KEEP OUT.

Mary Anne smiled. "I think that'll do it," she said.

The audience was settling down and James edged over to Mary Anne.

"Do you think I should say something to the audience?" He looked a little nervous.

Mary Anne nodded. "You'll have to introduce the play. After all, they don't even have programs." "I feel a little silly." "Don't feel silly. And remember to tell everyone that you wrote the play." "Do you think so?" "Of course. You should be very proud. Not many kids your age could write a play." James smiled then, and Mary Anne knew he was relaxing a little. A few minutes later, he cleared his throat and stepped in front of the crowd. Mary Anne crossed her fingers as he finished the introduction and took a seat in the front row. It was show time! Myriah made her entrance like a professional actress. She was wearing one of Mrs. Perkins's coats and was carrying a large pocketbook.

"Oh, I just love shopping at the mall," she said brightly.

"Hi, Myriah-silly-billy-goo-goo!" Claire shouted from the audience.

Myriah frowned but stayed in character. "Where shall I go first?" she said, coming close to the audience. "There are so many stores to choose from." Mary Anne knew that Chewy was supposed to be onstage by that point, but there was no sign of him. James turned around from the front row and caught her eye. "Get Chewy fast!" he mouthed.

Mary Anne grabbed Johnny Hobart, who didn't have to go onstage for awhile. "Quick, Johnny," Mary Anne hissed. "Let Chewy out of the garage!" Johnny stared at her. "I already did," he said solemnly.

"Then where is he?" Johnny pointed toward the Perkinses' yard, where Chewy was digging an enormous hole in the flower garden.

"Oh, no!" Mary Anne wailed.

"I can whistle for him," Johnny suggested.

"Do it!" Johnny stuck two fingers in his mouth and made an earsplitting sound. Chewy bounded across the lawn, knocked over Gabbie's "shoe store," and skidded to a stop at Johnny's feet.

The kids in the audience started laughing, not sure if this was supposed to be part of the show. Mary Anne knew she had to act fast. She grabbed Chewy's collar and pushed him "onstage." "Go on. Act like you're lost," she pleaded.

Myriah waited until Chewy raced over to her, and then she sank down to her knees. "Oh, you poor dog," she cried. "You're lost and looking for your owner." Chewy immediately began licking her face, nearly beside himself with joy. "You must be very . . . sad," she said doubtfully.

Ill Someone in the audience giggled at this line, because Chewy was running in circles and barking. He didn't look the least bit sad! Myriah decided to ad-lib some lines. "Sometimes dogs act happy, but they're really sad. And lost," she added, in case the little kids in the audience had missed the point.

James signaled to Myriah to begin her walk through the "mall," and she headed for Gabbie, who was rearranging her shoe store.

"Shoe sale! Shoe sale!" Gabbie yelled, picking up a decrepit shoe. It was muddy from Chewy's mad dash through the yard. Everybody laughed at her line, and Gabbie looked pleased.

James rolled his eyes. Mary Anne knew the play wasn't turning out at all as he expected, but at least he was getting a lot of laughs. And then-Man/ Anne got a surprise. She was standing at the back of the patio when Zach showed up! He was the last person in the world she wanted to see at the play.

Mary Anne wasn't taking any chances. She showed him to a seat way in the back of the audience, and decided to sit next to him. "It's a great play," she whispered. "Really funny." "Uh-huh." Zach looked totally unimpressed. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and didn't crack a smile for the next fifteen minutes. Mary Anne couldn't imagine why he had bothered to show up.

The moment the play was over (to wild applause) Zach grabbed James by the arm. "Hey, how about some football?" he said.

"I don't know. I'm sort of busy right now," James began.

"C'mon. Ditch this baby stuff and let's toss around the pigskin," said Zach, and James looked completely confused.

Zach pulled James down the driveway. Mary Anne didn't know why James let himself be dragged along, or why he didn't speak up. A lot of kids wanted to talk to him about the play, and James was letting Zach ruin his big moment for him. It didn't make sense.

Then Mary Anne thought about Dawn and Travis and got an idea. Dawn would be sure to read the notebook. Maybe this was Mary Anne's chance to tell her some things she'd been thinking about.

Chapter 13.

You're probably wondering why I would even want to see Travis again after that scene in the park. After all, I had seen him kissing another girl, so what could be left between us? I was tempted to forget the whole thing (and Travis, too) but I couldn't. I wanted Travis to know that I was on to him, and there was only one way I could do that. I'd have to wait until he left school with the girl and follow them again. But this time would be different. This time, I would confront Travis! What did I hope to accomplish? Well, if nothing else, I would embarrass him! I could just picture how Travis would react when I bumped into him with his girlfriend. Let's see how cool and confident he'd be then! I got my chance the following Tuesday after noon. We had a quiz at the end of the day, and our teacher said we could leave as soon as we handed in our papers. What a lucky break! I whizzed through the test, double-checked my answers (it was a multiple-choice test), and left school fifteen minutes early. I had plenty of time to catch Travis as he left SHS.