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suggestions," Stacey said to Mary Anne.
     
    "Great," she replied, sounding relieved.
     
    I looked around at my friends, then cleared my throat. "How would you guys like to come to a party?" I asked.
     
    "A party? Where?" asked Stacey.
     
    "For what?" asked Jessi.
     
    "What kind of party?" said Abby.
     
    "Who'll be there?" Mal wanted to know. Everyone but her had sat up a little straighter and looked a little brighter when I asked the question.
     
    "Right here, Saturday night, starting at seven and lasting until nine-thirty or so. Remember when I was trying to think of a way that you guys could get to know my seventh-grade friends a little better? That's what it's for." "Sounds like fun," said Stacey.
     
    "I've already talked to Shira, Joanna, and Jeannie. And Josh," I added. "They've all said they'll be here. I was waiting for the meeting to invite you guys. Do you think you'll be able to come?" "Logan and I were planning to watch a video on Saturday night at my house," said Mary Anne. "Could he come too? I mean, you don't want Josh to be the only boy." "That's a good idea. Do you want to call him or should I?" "I'll talk to him tonight," said Mary Anne.
     
    "Have you told Shannon about the party?" asked Kristy.
     
    "I'll call her." I picked up the list I'd been working on ever since Janine had said yes, and I added call Shannon after rent a video and order pizza.
     
    "What about Anna?" Abby asked.
     
    "Sure. Ask her," I said. "I'm leaving the asking up to you guys." This would bring the total number of people to what? Ten or eleven? That was still a small group.
     
    At six, everyone except Mary Anne and Stacey left. "Your parents agreed to let you have a party when they're out of town?" Stacey asked.
     
    "They didn't say I couldn't, and Janine said it was okay," I replied.
     
    "Janine said what was okay?" My sister stuck her head inside the doorway.
     
    "That I could have a party tomorrow night," I said.
     
    "I thought it sounded like fun." Janine stepped inside the room and sat down in the director's chair. "Don't you guys?" Mary Anne and Stacey nodded.
     
    "I'm thinking about the food. What do you like to eat? I know Claudia will say chocolate, but what about everybody else?" Janine asked.
     
    "I thought we'd have pizza," I reminded her.
     
    "We can have pizza too, but what about dessert?" Janine said.
     
    "You seem to have things pretty much under control," Stacey said, slipping her arms into her denim jacket and grabbing her backpack.
     
    Mary Anne stood up too.
     
    "But I could use help planning games. I wouldn't usually have games, but since the whole idea is for people to get acquainted, I thought games would be a way to break the ice," I said. I didn't want Stacey and Mary Anne to leave. They kept glancing at Janine, as if waiting for her to leave first. But Janine seemed to be glued to the chair.
     
    "Games?" she mused. "I could develop a trivia game, perhaps. Something challenging but not too challenging." "I think I may have enough games after all," I said quickly.
     
    "I'll talk to you tomorrow," Stacey said to me. "Casual?" "Definitely." "And I'll invite Logan," said Mary Anne.
     
    "Thanks. See you later." As Mary Anne and Stacey walked out of the room, the telephone rang. Janine and I reached for it at the same time, but she pulled back.
     
    "Hi, Claudia. It's Peaches," my aunt said. "How are things going?" "Good." "Are you eating dinner?" "Not yet. The BSC meeting just ended." "BSC meeting? Even with your parents gone? Oh, well. I'm sure they thought of that before they left. Janine was home, wasn't she?" "Yes, Janine was home." I looked at my sister and rolled my eyes. What had happened to my fun-loving aunt Peaches?
     
    "Russ and I thought the two of you might like to join us tomorrow evening for dinner," Peaches