Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 037

As soon as we stepped into Surf and Sail I knew I was out of my league. I've been sailing plenty ,of times, but I don't know a whole lot about serious boating equipment. Travis stopped in front of a display case filled with compasses, and I decided to speak up. "Travis, I'm afraid I'm not going to be much help to you. Are you sure your father wants a compass?" Travis laughed and slid his arm around me. "I just wanted an excuse to see you today." "Really?" I felt a little light-headed. Travis picked out a compass very quickly, and we were back on the sidewalk a few minutes later. Now what? I wondered. I was totally confused. (And a little disappointed. I'd been hoping that Travis would take a long time to make up his mind, so we could spend more time together.) I started for the car, but he grabbed my elbow and steered me toward Burger Bite. "Aren't we going back home?" I asked.

"We've got hours ahead of us. I thought we'd stop for a snack and then do some more shopping." I've got to tell you that Burger Bite is not my favorite kind of restaurant, and I was surprised that Travis wanted to go there, too, since he'd said once that he likes health food. Still, I was glad to be sitting in a back booth with him. I reached for a menu, but Travis closed his hand over mine. "We don't need that. I come in here all the time." But I don't, I longed to say. Travis was obviously planning on ordering for me. I know some girls like it when a boy takes charge like that, but I like to make up my own mind. Besides, how could Travis possibly know what I felt like eating?

I practically held my breath when the waitress appeared, and wondered if I should mention that I don't eat meat. I lost my nerve at the last minute, but luckily, Travis ordered grilled cheese sandwiches for both of us.

"So," Travis said when the waitress had left. "What's been happening with you today?" "Not much, how about you?" I still felt a little tongue-tied around Travis and decided it was easier to let him keep the conversation going. Anyway, he always seemed to have something to talk about.

"I tried out for track today," he said earnestly. "You wouldn't believe what happened. I was the first guy the coach picked. I guess all that running I did in California paid off ..." I let Travis's words drift over me, thinking how wonderful it was to be sitting there with him. If I had to describe the ideal boy, it would be Travis. Tall, good-looking, with a fantastic smile and a great personality. And he liked me even though he was three years older than I was.

When the sandwiches arrived a few minutes later, he had moved on to another topic, football. "You see, Coach Larson was demonstrating an intricate play for us," he said, looking into my eyes. He took a bite of sandwich and moved a salt shaker next to the napkin holder. "The quarterback ran down to the twenty-yard line like this ..." I watched, caught up in the sound of his voice. "And then the tight end zigzagged over here . . ." He picked up a ketchup bottle and plunked it down next to the sugar bowl. "Bingo! Right over the line for a touchdown." "That's amazing," I said, trying to look impressed.

"And you know what?" he added, sliding the pepper shaker across the table. "I was the only guy there who knew what he was talking about." "That's wonderful. You really know a lot about football." Travis grinned. "What can I tell you?" He wolfed down the rest of his sandwich and I hurried to keep up with him.

It was almost four by the time we left Burger Bite, and I was starting to feel a little edgy. I knew Mom wouldn't be thrilled if she found out that I had spent the afternoon with Travis (but I also knew that she and Richard wouldn't be home for another two hours). So I was safe, at least for the moment.

We walked around downtown, and Travis surprised me (as usual) by leading me into the Merry-Go-Round. "I saw some pierced earrings in here that would look great on you," he said. He led me to a display counter and spun an earring tree with his thumb. "Good! They're still here." He lifted a pair of delicate silver earrings off the tree and held them out to me. "Do you like them?" " They were perfect. Tiny butterflies in flight. "I love them," I said softly.

Travis held them up to my ear and smiled. "I knew they'd be right for you." "I'll wear them under the stars," I promised him. (1 should explain that I wear two earrings in each ear.) "No," Travis said flatly. "You should wear them up higher. Just get another hole punched in your ear." "Three holes? I don't know," I said doubtfully. I remembered that I'd had to persuade Mom to let me get my ears pierced in the first place.

Travis laughed. "It's no big deal. All the girls in California wear them that way. It would look really cool on you." "I'll have to think about it," I said, trying to sound casual.

"There's nothing to it," Travis answered. We were standing side by side at the cashier. "They could probably do it for you right now." "No!" I was starting to feel a little panicky. I could just imagine Mom's reaction if I did something like that without asking her.

I felt relieved when we left the Merry-Go-Round a few minutes later and headed back to the car, even though I knew that Travis was a tiny bit annoyed with me.

"Thanks for the earrings," I told him, trying to smooth things over.

"I'm glad you like them." He squeezed my arm. I knew I would never, ever forget this moment.

My happiness didn't last long though, because when I got home I had the surprise of my life. Mom and Richard were waiting for me in the kitchen.

"You're home early," I said casually, tossing my books on the kitchen table.

"You're home late," Mom answered, frowning a little. She was cutting up vegetables for a salad.

"Urn, not really." I nibbled on a carrot, stalling for time. I could tell that Mom and Richard were both annoyed with me. What an ending to a perfect day! "Mary Anne said you went shopping with someone named Travis," Mom went on. "I'd like you to tell me about it." Mom can be really direct when she wants to.

There was nothing to do but tell the truth.

"I ran into Travis after school," I said slowly. "He's a friend of mine, and he asked me if I'd like to ride downtown with him - " "Ride? You went in his car?" Richard interrupted.

"Well, yes. We were going to buy a birthday present for his father," I said quickly.

"Who is this Travis?" Mom said. "And how come he can drive?" "He's old enough to drive," I told her. "He's sixteen." Wrong move. Richard looked furious, and Mom looked upset.

"Let me get this straight," Richard said slowly. "You went out with a sixteen-year-old boy in a car? A boy we don't know?" "Yes, but - " "But nothing!" Mom said. "You had no business going off like that without asking me first." I shrugged. This was getting complicated. (And deep down, I had the nagging feeling that Mom was right.) "Look, why don't we just forget the whole thing and fix dinner? I'll help you," I said, reaching for the salad bowl.

"There's no way we're going to forget this," Mom said. She put the knife down and faced me. "No one's going to eat anything until we get this straightened out." I knew from the look on her face that she meant business. I sat down. I was really in for it.

Chapter 7.

Mary Anne wandered into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw me. She had "uh-oh" written all over her face. She took her time opening a can of cat food for Tigger, her kitten, and I knew she was listening to every word. If only she hadn't told Mom and Richard that I had been out with Travis! "We've got a problem here," Richard said flatly. He motioned for me to sit down at the kitchen table.

"I didn't think you would get this upset," I began, but Richard held his hand up.

"You showed very poor judgment, Dawn," he said sternly.

"I know it looks that way, but - " "I'm very disappointed in you," Mom spoke up. She sat down across from me. I felt like I was being attacked from all sides! "If you met Travis, you'd really like him," I protested. I stared at my hands, not knowing where to begin. "He's really a nice boy." Mom stared at Richard. "I'm sure he is, but that's not the point." Mary Anne took a quick peek over her shoulder and went back to feeding Tigger. I couldn't believe all the trouble she had gotten me into.