For one brief moment, Mallory Pike had her house to herself. She wasn't used to being left alone very often, and when it finally happened, it just seemed strange.
Luckily her friends would be arriving any minute to liven things up. And some of her family members would be returning from various locations. Mallory looked at the clock. She had scheduled the party to begin five minutes ago, but she knew better than to expect them to arrive on time.
Adam, Jordan, and Byron, the fifteen-year old triplets, were all being initiated as members of Stoneybrook's elite varsity football team. Although only sophomores, they were already making names for themselves. Mal could only hope that they would stay out of serious trouble.
Fourteen-year-old Vanessa was out, but would be returning shortly with her best friend, Haley Braddock, whom she had invited to spend the night. The girls had been talking on the phone all afternoon. The rest of the Pike siblings were spending the night with friends.
The doorbell rang, Mal answered it, and was greeted by Kristy Thomas and Shannon Kilbourne. Shannon's sporty white Camero was parked outside. Walking up the stairs behind them were Abby and Anna Stevenson. The girls all came in, dragging duffel bags and pillows.
Five minutes after that, Claudia Kishi, Stacey McGill, Mary Anne Spier let themselves in. Mal's best friend, Jessi Ramsey arrived shortly afterwards. Vanessa returned with Haley, and both girls bolted upstairs to her room. Suddenly, the Pike house came back to life.
"Mal, I'm starving. Can we order pizza now?"
"...Freshman initiation. It'll be hilarious. I wish you could be there."
"The triplets are all playing varsity this year. Yeah, even Byron..."
"Claud, you CUT your hair! It's so cute. Are those red streaks permanent?"
When Dawn arrived ten minutes later, there was a rush to say hello to her. Dawn had been on vacation with her family and hadn't seen her friends much all summer. It was a tough choice, but she planned to go all the way back to California for college. Ever since she was ten, she had planned to go to Pepperdine University.
"...Yeah, me and Sunny are going to be roommates. And we'll be suitemates with Maggie and Jill, " she said, referring to her friends in California, the We Love Kids Club.
"Wow, " Mary Anne sighed. Abby and Kristy looked equally awestruck. The three of them were planning on attending the nearby University of Hartford and living at home for the first year. They couldn't help feeling a little envious when they heard about their friends' plans for college.
They weren't the only former members of the Babysitters Club who would still be in Stoneybrook, though. Claudia, Mallory, and Jessi were all still attending Stoneybrook High. Mal and Jessi were going to be juniors this year, and Claud would be a senior.
Claudia had been held back when she was in eighth grade. She was forced to repeat the seventh grade. At the time, it seemed like the most terrible thing that could have happened to her. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She gained an extra year to prepare for high school, and by the time she was a freshman, she was caught up. She began making better grades, mostly B's and even a few A's.
As for everyone else... Anna would be attending Julliard in New York. Stacey and Shannon were going to be roommates at Columbia University in New York.
Mallory could tell that Claudia was getting a little sick of hearing about college, though. Earlier, she had been talking excitedly about initiating the freshman into SHS , but once Dawn got everyone started on college, she quieted down a lot. Mal changed the subject.
"Pizza time. Let me take your orders, guys."
That did it. Everyone was hungry, and pizza was a must-have. The girls were in the process of ordering when Vanessa and Haley crept down the stairs to join them. Upon spotting them, Claudia's face broke into a huge smile. Freshman, she thought deviously. She was having a flash of inspiration, similar to those of Kristy Thomas. She could just see it. Vanessa and Haley on the first day of school, singing "I'm a Little Teapot" wearing diapers on their heads. Vanessa and Haley kissing the feet of the senior guys. She has been waiting for it every since she got it herself as a freshman. Vanessa and Haley dancing to the fish song... she cackled with delight.
Stacey heard her and gave her a Look. Claudia laughed and shook her head.
While Mal, was on the phone ordering the pizza, Vanessa and Haley waited patiently. They had practiced what they were going to say all day over the phone, but somehow it didn't seem like enough. But they both knew they had to do it now, while everyone was still here to hear it.
Mal hung up, and was about to start up a conversation with her friends who had grown quiet for a moment. But before she had the chance, Vanessa spoke up.
"Hey...guys," she said a little awkwardly, "Me and Haley have something we want to talk to you about. All of you." That got everyone curious, and they all moved in towards the two younger girls looking interested in what they had to say.
"Vanessa had an idea, "Haley added. "Actually, I should probably say she borrowed an idea."
"Right," Vanessa cut in, not wanting Haley to tell all of it, "I borrowed it from you, Kristy. With your help and... permission, we'd like to start a babysitters' club. We're hoping maybe you could teach us some things and help us get started and we'd sort of..."
"...pick up where you left off," Haley finished.
Before they were done, Kristy was already beaming. Not only was she thrilled at the idea of another babysitters club, but she was honored that Vanessa and Haley were asking for help from the originators of the club.
"Well, " Kristy instantly had a speech prepared, "I guess I speak for all of us when I say...of course you have permission! (everyone laughed a little) In fact, you have our blessing. We'd be glad to show you how we did things. Gosh, there are so many things... the club notebook, Kid-Kits, advertising, club dues--"
"But its not as bad as it sounds, " teased Claudia. Kristy stuck out her tongue.
"Oh, but it doesn't sound bad at all!" Haley exclaimed, taking Claudia a little too seriously.
"The point is, we'll help you get everything together. So when is your first meeting?" Kristy asked.
"First meeting?" echoed Vanessa, looking a little overwhelmed. "We're not quite sure who's in our club yet! We're going to ask Becca and Charlotte to join. And Marilyn and Carolyn Arnold. I can't think of anyone else."
"That's plenty to start out with," Mary Anne said gently, "I'm sure you'll do fine."
Vanessa and Haley nodded, but they still looked a little uncertain.
"We'll have our first meeting as soon as we figure out who's going to be in the club. It'll probably be at Haley's house since she has her own phone line. We'll probably vote on club officers and see if we can get any calls then. If any of you would like to attend our first meeting to help us get started, we'd really appreciate it." Vanessa suddenly sounded very firm and confident.
A young Kristy Thomas was emerging.