Ann Martin - Baby-Sitters Club 027

Suddenly I started to giggle. The idea of trying to make friends by dumping over someone's book bag was just too silly. Before I knew it, I was laughing pretty hard. It was contagious. Derek started laughing, too.

"Hey," I teased, "I'll be your best friend if you tie my shoes together." Derek doubled over. After awhile, when we both quieted down, Derek's face grew thoughtful.

"It was horrible," he admitted. "I didn't want to do those things. I guess you make more friends by being nice to people, don't you?" "That's usually how it's done," I said, and smiled.

"Well, now I know," said Derek. "I guess I'll only be that mean again if somebody writes it into a script for me." "Good idea," I said, laughing.

It looked like it was time to go. I was dreading our good-byes.

"So, Derek," I said. "Good luck out there. Break a leg and everything. Send me a postcard if you get a chance." "Oh, I almost forgot!" Derek jumped up. He opened his dresser drawer and pulled out a large envelope. He handed it to me.

"Open it up," he said proudly.

Inside the envelope was one of Derek's head shots. His smiling face was staring right out at me. In the bottom corner, he had inscribed the photo: GOOD LUCK! YOUR FRIEND, Derek Masters. I gave Derek a big hug good-bye and hurried out of the house. I already felt kind of choked up and I didn't want to start crying.

When I got halfway down the street I stopped and pulled the photo out to look at it again.

"Your friend forever," it said.

Well, who could tell? Maybe that would end up being true. Anyway, it had sure been fun being friends with Derek so far. I slipped the photo back into its envelope and started to run home. After all, I had a lot of index cards to throw out. . . .

And, hey, I thought as I leaped over the curb, I had Swan Lake to learn, too! About the Author ANN M. MARTIN did a lot of baby-sitting when she was growing up in Princeton, New Jersey. Now her favorite baby-sitting charge is her cat, Mouse, who lives with her in her Manhattan apartment.

Ann Martin's Apple Paperbacks are Bummer Summer, Inside Out, Stage Fright, Me and Katie (the Pest), and all the other books in the Babysitters Club series.

She is a former editor of books for children, and was graduated from Smith College. She likes ice cream, the beach, and I Love Lucy; and she hates to cook.

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BSC025 - Mary Anne and the Search for Tigger

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