Read Online Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online Page A

it?”
    â€œYup.”
    â€œAll right, I’ll tell her.”
    â€œHey, don’t hang up!”
    No? Oh, boy. Kristy was going to make the big apology. I couldn’t believe it. After all this time, bossy Kristy was going to be the one to give in first, while I, timid Mary Anne, had managed to wait the fight out. Our fight was finally over! I felt so happy at the idea, that I practically hugged myself. “Yeah?” I said.
    â€œWhat time does she want me?”
    â€œAsk her yourself,” I said, and hung up. Then I called Mrs. Newton back.
    The next phone call was from Watson, needing a sitter for Karen and Andrew the following Saturday afternoon. “I know it isn’t your club policy,” said Watson, “but could you check with Kristy first? I’d sort of like Andrew and Karen to keep seeing her since she
is
going to be their stepsister soon.”
    â€œSure,” I replied dully. What else could go wrong? I dialed Kristy’s number again. David Michael answered.
    â€œHello, this is David Michael speaking. Who’s calling, please?”
    â€œIt’s Mary Anne,” I told him.
    â€œHi!” he cried. “When are you going to come over and baby-sit for me again? Remember the last time you came? We bowled paper cups down the stairs.”
    â€œYeah, that was fun, wasn’t it?”
    â€œYeah!”
    â€œDavid Michael, can you call Kristy for me, please? I have to talk to her.”
    â€œSure.”
    When Kristy got on the phone, she didn’t say a word. I just guessed that she was there because I heard light breathing.
    â€œKristy?”
    â€œWHAT?”
    â€œWatson wants you to sit on Saturday — from two-thirty until five,” I added pointedly.
    â€œFine.”
    â€œI’ll call him back. Good-bye.”
    We hung up.
    The phone rang again. “Hello, the Baby-sitters Club,” I said.
    â€œHi, Mary Anne. It’s Mrs. Newton again. I forgot to ask you whether you and Kristy and Claudia and Stacey want to come to Jamie’s fourth birthday party. It’s in about two weeks, and I’d like you girls to be there as helpers as wellas guests. We’ve invited sixteen children, so I’m going to need lots of help.”
    â€œSure!” I exclaimed. “I mean, if we can make it. It sounds like fun. I’ll have to call the other girls.”
    Mrs. Newton gave me the information about the party, and I began to call the club members. Luckily, Stacey wasn’t home, so I left a message with Mrs. McGill for Stacey to call Mrs. Newton.
    One down, two to go. I didn’t want to call Kristy a third time, but I didn’t want to talk to Claudia in person, either.
    I flipped a coin. Claudia.
    I walked slowly downstairs and found her drinking tea from the special cups with Mimi.
    â€œClaud?” I ventured.
    Claudia put her cup down and covered her ears with her hands. “HMM, HMM, HM-HM.” She closed her eyes and hummed loudly. “I CAN’T HEAR YOU.”
    I glanced helplessly at Mimi.
    Mimi reached across the table and touched Claudia lightly on the arm. That was all it took for Claudia to act human again. She opened her eyes and uncovered her ears.
    â€œMrs. Newton wants all the members of ourclub to be helpers at Jamie’s fourth birthday party,” I said. I told her when it was. “Do you want to go?”
    â€œYes,” she replied coolly. “I’ll go.”
    â€œFine,” I answered just as coolly.
    But I was beginning to wonder how fine an idea it really was. How could the four of us help out at a party when we wouldn’t even talk to each other? Nevertheless, I returned to Claudia’s room to call Kristy for the third time.
    â€œWhat
is
it?” she asked crossly.
    I told her about Jamie’s party.
    Kristy sighed. “Oh, all right. I’ll go, too.”
    â€œDon’t strain yourself,” I said. “I can call Mrs. Newton and tell her