Fabulous Five 023 - Mall Mania Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Today show tomorrow." Beth grinned broadly. Then she added
silently, By then I should have my own credit card!
    Her mother chuckled. "If you can come down off cloud
nine for a moment, you had a phone call from Mrs. Martin. She wants to know if
you can baby-sit tomorrow. She has to pick up her sister at the airport."
    "Great," said Beth. It was the answer to a prayer.
She needed baby-sitting jobs to pay Shawnie back. "I'll call her right
away."
    Beth flipped through the phone book and quickly found the
Martins' number.
    "Mrs. Martin?" said Beth. "This is Beth
Barry. Mom said you called about a baby-sitting job."
    "That's right," Mrs. Martin answered. "Could you
come tomorrow morning and stay with Jennifer and Davy from nine until eleven or
so? Even though it's Saturday, my husband has to work and can't watch them."
    Oh, no, Beth thought. I can't baby-sit then. The Fabulous
Five are coming over for pancakes and to watch The Wakeman Bulletin Board on TV!
    "Gosh, I'm sorry, Mrs. Martin," Beth said. "I
can't come tomorrow. I've already made other plans."
    "Okay." Mrs. Martin sounded disappointed. "I
guess I'll have to try someone else."
    Beth said good-bye and hung up. She stared out the window
feeling guilty. She needed to take every babysitting job that came along if she
was going to get Shawnie paid back any time soon. But she couldn't miss
watching her own television debut! She crossed her fingers, hoping she would
get another job offer before long.
     
    "Mmm," said Jana. "Beth, these are the most
delicious pancakes I've ever had."
    "They sure are," agreed Melanie. "Can someone
pass the syrup?"
    "Mel, how can you eat all that syrup!" Christie
said, making a face. "Your pancakes are already swimming ! "
    Melanie looked down at her plate. "They're not
swimming. They're just treading water." She giggled. "I mean,
treading syrup."
    "What time is it?" asked Jana. "We can't miss
your show."
    "Are you kidding?" said Beth. "I've had one
eye on the clock since I woke up this morning. It's exactly ten minutes to ten!"
    "In ten minutes, Beth Barry —our Beth Barry—will
become a TV star," declared Melanie. "I can't wait!"
    Beth's mother poked her head in from the living room. "Beth,
the time for your show is getting close. Dad is setting up the VCR to tape it."
    Beth's five-year-old sister, Alicia, tore into the room and
threw herself into Beth's arms, shrieking, "So we can watch it again and
again and again and again and again and again—"
    "All right, already!" Beth interrupted, laughing.
She tickled Alicia until the little girl's words dissolved into a fit of
giggles.
    "Come on, you guys," Jana urged. "Let's get
these dishes cleared so we're ready to sit down and watch the show."
    The girls carried their dishes to the kitchen and hurried to
the living room, where the rest of the Barry family was already sitting in
front of the TV. Beth's mom and dad sat on the couch with Alicia perched on her
mother's lap. Brittany sat cross-legged on the floor in front of Todd, who was
sprawled out on a soft chair, and Brian, Beth's older brother, leaned against
the door frame, nibbling a piece of toast. The volume was turned down so low,
there was no sound coming from the TV.
    "It's time," Beth said, flicking her eyes toward
the mantel clock. "Turn up the sound, Jana."
    Jana leaned forward and turned the volume switch. An instant
later, the program began with a close-up of The Wakeman Bulletin Board sign. The theme music played in the background. Beth held her breath.
    When the camera panned to Beth, there was a little gasp from
everyone in the room. While Beth spoke on TV, no one made a sound. But when the
camera moved to Shawnie, Brittany turned and said, "Beth, you look really great on TV!"
    "Yeah," Todd said, scratching his head, "what
happened?"
    Beth didn't even hear Todd because her head was spinning.
She did look great! In fact, she looked almost better on TV than in
person! The outfit she'd bought was perfect , and she looked like a