Attention readers: BSC belongs to Ann M. Martin

It was a Sunday afternoon. We had just gotten home from church, but we were asked to rake leaves. Carlos was helping out. In the meantime, Dawn and I are talking about having a sleepover party this weekend. We try to figure which day is better.

"We can do a Friday after the BSC meeting," said Dawn.

"Oh, yeah, that's true," I said.

"We'll be on our own that night anyway since Mom and Richard have plans," said Dawn.

That makes sense. Who would want to be alone?

"We can ask them after we're done with the leaves," I said.

"Good idea," said Dawn.

We went to check with them.

"That's a fine idea," said Dad.

"We figured you guys got plans," said Dawn.

"We'll be going to a club with friends," said Sharon.

"Only if you agree to one rule," said Dad. "No leaving the house at any time after dark."

"Got it," I promised.

"What do you mean you got it? We've done it before," said Dawn.

"That's in the summer. I got Dad's point: it's still spring," I said. "Rules are rules."

"We plan to walk to Claudia's for the meeting," said Dawn.

"That is fine, but that's it. Come straight home after that," said Dad.

"You can only hang out outside," said Sharon.

"No problem," I said.

"We'll be going to New York City coming up before during Spring Break and if I hear someone breaks the rule, that one will not go," continued Dad.

I know Dawn is not crazy about that rule, but that's the way it is. Later, I was doing I was doing a book report, which was due the day after tomorrow, for Winkle in Time. It's one of my favorites. I was already done before dinner. We just had to do a three-page book report.

The following day, at school, I gathered the girls with our sleepover invitations to give out.

"There is only one condition," I said.

"What now?" asked Mallory.

"Dad don't want us to leave the house after dark," I said. "We can only go outside."

"What kind of a rule is that?" asked Jessi.

"He wants us to go right home after the club meeting," I said. "We can get in trouble and the trip to New York."

"But that's not fair," said Mallory.

"Tell me about it," said Dawn.

"I can understand. It doesn't get dark later yet, it's only April," I said. "You girls can come over after school to drop off your things before we go to the meeting."

"Okay," said Stacey.

"If we want to go hang out, why can't we have Carlos cover for us?" asked Dawn.

"I am not taking a risk of staying behind from New York," I said.

"Mary Anne's right," said Kristy. "We should respect her father's wishes."