Baby-Sitters Club belongs to Ann M. Martin

I was packing my suitcase because we were getting ready to go away for a week in New York City. No school for us. Isn't that awesome? I already did all of my homework so I could have a good time. I only need to study for three tests, which would be taken when we return. It would be for Science, French, and History.

I'm Mary Anne Spier. I'm 13 years old and a longtime resident of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. I'm shy, which is a bit odd since I have a boyfriend, Logan Bruno. He came from Kentucky with his parents and two younger siblings. I have brown hair and eyes. I love to sew. I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up.

I'll tell you about my family. I'll start with Dad since he raised me on his own after my mom died when I was a baby. He's a lawyer. He was the one who wanted to take the summer off from work for a change. He's thrilled about that.

My stepmother, Sharon Schafer happens to be the mother of my best friend and stepsister, Dawn! Her son, Jeff, is here to join us for the vacation. See, Dad went out with Sharon way back in high school. Isn't that a funny story? But then, they had to break up and she moved to California where Dawn and Jeff grew up in. Sharon got divorced last winter and she decided to return here with her kids. Only Jeff didn't stay here for long and moved back to California with his father shortly before Dawn and I became stepsisters. Jeff would always join us whenever we go on trips. He's 11 years old now. But he has school right now. The only he joins us is during school vacations.

I also own a cat, Tigger. I got him for my 13th birthday. He was one of my favorite birthday presents. He joined me and Dad when we moved from Bradford Court, where I grew up on, to Burnt Hill Road to live with Sharon and Dawn. That was after Dad and Sharon got married. My old house was too small for the Schafers to move in with us. Their farmhouse was bigger for us. I didn't want to move because I lived across the street from Claudia Kishi and right next door to Kristy. We all grew up together.

So, that's my entire family. I love them all daily. We'll be leaving at around eight in the morning, so we'd be have to up by seven. We don't have to go to bed too early since New York City is only an hour away, so we would be there at nine.

I finish packing to be all set so I won't have to do it later on. That evening, we ordered Pizza from Pizza. It came 20 minutes later.

"Pizza just arrived, everyone!" called Sharon.

I came down to the table. My favorite topping is pepperoni.

The next day, when I got up about five minutes before seven, I took a shower in the bathroom down in the basement.

At seven-fifty-eight, we were ready to go.

An hour later, we were already in New York City and at the plaza.

"We can get settled in before we spend the day in the city," said Dad.

"Sounds good," I said.

"Can we go downstairs for the gift shop?" asked Dawn.

"Sure," said Dad.

Dawn and I went downstairs. Stacey was there.

"Hi, guys, I'm here with old friends of mine while spending the weekend with my dad," said Stacey. "Girls, this is Kayla and her twin, Kaylee."

"Hello," said Kayla.

"That's Mary Anne and Dawn. They're part of the club with me I told you about," said Stacey.

"Oh, yeah," said Kaylee.

"We are staying here overnight all week," I said.

"That sounds fun," said Kayla.

"Yes, Logan and Shannon are taking over starting Monday," said Stacey.

"Thank goodness for them," I said.

"I didn't see how they could do it with their busy schedules," said Kaylee.

"They manage," said Stacey. "I help out with their family. They have six other siblings."

"Wow, just like Mallory," I said.

"Exactly, they're the oldest," said Stacey.

"And, we're moving to Stoneybrook next month," said Kayla.

"They were just telling me that," said Stacey.

"You'll see them more often," said Dawn.

"Yes," said Stacey.

"And, that's the best part," said Kaylee.