Kristy's Great Idea Read Online Free PDF Page B

can just say so. You don’t have to run away. Look, we’ll put the Gummi Bears back.”
    â€œNo, no, it’s not that. I just—I just forgot something. It’ll only take a minute.” Stacey dashed out of Claudia’s room.
    Mary Anne and Claudia and I looked at each other and shrugged. Stacey returned about twenty minutes later. Her hands were empty.
    â€œWhere is it?” I asked her.
    â€œWhere’s what?”
    â€œWhat you forgot.”
    â€œWhat … I …? Oh, no, I just forgot to
do
something. But it’s all taken care of.”
    I started to ask her another question, but Claudia flashed me a look that said I was being a pest.
    We worked on our flyer then, and when it was all finished, this is what it looked like:
    Need a baby-sitter?
Save time! Call:
    THE BABY SITTERS CLUB
555-3231
    Monday, Wednesday, Friday 5:30–6:00
and reach four experienced baby-sitters.
    Kristy Thomas, President
Claudia Kishi, Vice President
Mary Anne Spier, Secretary
Stacey McGill, Treasurer

Available:
weekends
after school
evenings
    â€œI’ll give the flyer to my mom,” I said. “She can make copies of it on Monday and we can pass around the flyers next week. I’ve got to go home anyway. It’s almost dinnertime, and Mom’s going out with Watson tonight.” I made a face.
    â€œWho’s Watson?” asked Stacey.
    â€œHer boyfriend,” I replied. “My parents are divorced.”
    â€œOh,” said Stacey, looking slightly uncomfortable.
    â€œAre your parents divorced, too?” I asked. I realized how little I knew about her.
    â€œNope. They’ve been married for fifteen years.”
    â€œMine have been married for twenty years,” said Claudia.
    â€œMy mother died when I was a baby,” said Mary Anne quietly. “She had cancer.”
    Again, Stacey looked embarrassed.
    â€œIt’s all right. Really. I don’t remember her. But sometimes I wish I did.”
    I stood up. “Well, I really better go. See you guys tomorrow,” I called as I started down the Kishis’ stairs.
    Watson arrived at 6:30.
    David Michael ran to meet him. He lovesWatson. That’s because he doesn’t remember Dad, so he thinks Watson is better than no father at all.
    I stayed in my room until Mom yelled up to me, “Kristy! Watson’s here!”
    Why does she always make me come down to see Watson? She knows how I feel about him.
    â€œComing,” I said, trying to sound put out, as if she had interrupted something important.
    When I came downstairs, Watson was standing in the kitchen with cartons of Chinese food. “Surprise!” he said.
    â€œWhat?” I asked suspiciously.
    â€œIsn’t this nice, Kristy?” said Mom brightly. “Watson brought over Chinese food so we can all eat together before he and I go out.”
    Watson’s always bringing over food. You’d think he owned a restaurant.
    â€œWho’s taking care of your kids?” I asked pointedly. I thought it was really stinky that on the weekend his kids came to stay, Watson not only had to go to work but left the kids with a baby-sitter while he went out with my mother.
    â€œI found a very nice baby-sitter,” Watson replied pleasantly. “She took care of Andrew and Karen this morning while I went to the office, and they liked her very much.”
    â€œOh,” I said.
    Watson set the white cartons on the table and began opening them while Sam and I got out plates, napkins, and silverware. I made a face at Sam to show him what I thought about the dinner, but Sam said, “Thanks, Watson. This is really great.” Sam and Charlie sort of like Watson, too. Once, Sam even baby-sat for Watson’s kids. I, for one, will never, ever baby-sit for them. I bet they’re brats.
    â€œYeah,” said Charlie. “I’m taking Carole out for hamburgers tonight, but I don’t mind eating first.” Charlie has a