Baby-Sitters Club belong to Ann M. Martin

I was studying for a spelling contest that's being held in two days. I was doing it with a friend who is having the same test. The friend that I'm studying with is Claudia Kishi, who isn't a very good speller, but she is doing better when my other friends and I take turns to help Claudia out.

"At least we would be doing the spelling bee in class first," said Claudia.

"Thank goodness for that. I'd be nervous to do it in front of everyone," I said. "As long as some of us are in it together, I'm good."

"Just like we are in Annie," said Claudia.

"Exactly," I agreed. "Being on stage with my friends just make me feel comfortable."

I'm Mary Anne Spier. I'm 14 and I'm a ninth grader at Stoneybrook High School here in Stoneybrook, Connecticut. In fact, I heard it's going to have a spelling bee like Claudia just mentioned. I'm shy, but I'm sure I'd be able to do it. To tell you the truth, I'm a pretty great speller. What helped me to overcome my stage freight is that I'm doing Annie on National Tour with my greatest friends. I play Annie and it's actually fun to do. Plus, I record CDs and do other fun stuff with Cam Geary- who happens to be my favorite movie star!

My stepsister, Dawn Schafer, who already studied earlier, was baby-sitting. We also have tomorrow to study. My stomach was starting to get queasy while we were still studying. Dad and Sharon were out at the time. So were both of my adopted siblings, Carlos Peters and Meredith Sousa, who were with their friends.

"Just perfect," I muttered. "Excuse me so I can get TUMS for my upset stomach."

I got up and took a TUM. Then, I went back to my room to finish studying. We finally decided to call it quits ten to fifteen minutes later.

"It's Stacey's turn tomorrow," said Claudia.

"Okay. I find when someone helps you study, you'd do just fine," I said.

"I agree," said Claudia.

"See you tomorrow at school," I said when her mom came by for her.

I just get tired after studying for so long, which was why we ended the study session. My neck started to stiff a bit. Great! So, I found a heating pad for my sore neck and put it on. That's better.

At eight, I still had the heating pad when Dawn came home and said, "Are you alright?"

"My neck was bothering after Claudia and I finished studying for the spelling bee," I said.

That was when Dad and Sharon got home. Luckily, my neck was better enough to take the pad off.

In the middle of the night, my back started to hurt me.

"Now what?" I muttered.

I tried to ignore it, but it didn't help, so I decided to put the heating pad on my back this time. Somehow, I was able to sleep with that for the rest of the night. Dad already knew about that.

The next day, my back was still hurting me, so I asked Dad if I could stay home from school to rest my back and Dad agreed with me for that.

"You'll miss the bee," said Dawn.

"It's not until tomorrow, remember?" I asked. "Besides, I can't move my back at this moment."

"Mary Anne's correct," said Meredith.

"Will you be able to move your move at the studios today?" asked Dad.

"I'll see how I feel first," I replied.

"Okay," said Dad.

That afternoon, my back wasn't better enough for me to attend the studios, so I skipped it. My back was getting to get a bit better until later that night and I studied for an hour or so later that night. I was glad that my back was much better the following day in time for the spelling bee. I didn't want to miss that.

In English, the teacher came in and said, "Morning, everyone, I'll do roll call before you line up for the spelling bee. Remember, the final person standing is the winner."

I raised my hand and said, "Can it be a tie?"

"Yes, it can. Thank you for asking," said the teacher.

After she did roll calls, we lined up. It would be in ABC order. I'm a bit nervous, but I had a light breakfast. The next thing I knew, it was my turn.

"Mary Anne, please spell impatient," said the teacher.

I gave myself a few seconds then, smiled and said, "Impatient. I-m-p-a-t-i-e-n-t. Impatient."

"That is correct," said the teacher.

I was proud that I was still standing. Within minutes later, it was back to me. The spelling genius is Greg Vines. It was the two of us left.

"Mary Anne, can you spell competition?" asked the English teacher.

"Competition. C-o-m-p-e-t-i-t-i-o-n. Competition," I spelled.

"Excellent," commented the teacher. "Greg, this is the final word. Spell suggestion."

"Suggestion. S-u-g-e-s-t-i-o-n. Suggestion," spelled Greg.

"Sorry, Greg, but it's incorrect," said the teacher as she looks at me. "Mary Anne?"

"Suggestion. S-u-g-g-e-s-t-i-o-n. Suggestion," I spelled.

"Correct. Congratulations for moving onto the next round in the auditorium after school on Friday, Mary Anne," said the teacher.

I'll tell Cam not to wait for me that day after school when Mr. Hall come for me at two-forty-five.