Disclaimer: All of these characters belong to Ann M. Martin, except for the ones you don't recognize!
Okay everybody, this is the third chapter of, 'I hope you're happy'. I really hope you like it! I worked on it for a while and extended this chapter a bit. Sorry I hadn't updated, it took a long while, for this chapter to pop in my head, well, time flies, and it's already a Friday. It's also time for Shannon's date with Bart, and it's also a club meeting...
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Eventually Friday rolled along, I already had brought out some clothes but I couldn't decide so I called Claud, and told her my fashion crisis. "Okay, why don't you bring all of those clothes out to my house, I'll help you pick and maybe you could borrow some earrings or something," She said casually into the phone.
"Thanks Claud, I really want to have a lot of fun tonight,"
"No prob, why don't you come over early, I'll call Stace if you want so she can help as well,"
"Fine with me, I'll be there as soon as I brush my teeth,"
Claud giggled, "Okay, hurry up!"
"Bye!" I grinned.
Claudia chuckled into the phone, "Sure, Bye!"
I hung up hastily packing a 2 denim skirts and 2 blouses along with some cowboy boots in a duffel bag (I was wearing tight-fitting jeans and a baggy white sweater that had black sheep knitted on I was also wearing cowboy boots) I ran to the kitchen, "Hey Mom, do you think you could drive me to Claudia Kishi's?"
"Whoops, sorry Shannon, but I'm taking Maria to her art class in Stamford, why don't you ask your father?"
"Okay, thanks anyway Mom. Wait a minute, Dad's home?"
"Sure he is honey," Mom gave me a quizzical look.
"Thanks again Mom,"
"Oh, honey,"
"Yes?"
"Have fun on your date," Mom winked at me,
"Thanks Mom," I smiled sarcastically,
"It's only 5:00!" She raised her eyebrows,
"I know, I want to get to the meeting early, Claud and I have a project to do, Mom," I smiled,
"Hmmm, okay honey, have fun in the meeting and on your date,"
"Okay Mom," I chuckled, "Hey DAD! WHHERRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEE ARRRRRRRRRRREE YOUUUUU?"
"Hi Princess," Dad folded me in a hug.
"Do you think you could drive me to Claud Kishi's?" I pleaded.
"You want to go early to your meeting, honey?" He inquired,
"Well, I have to put together an outfit with her for a special activity, so she asked me to come early," I didn't want to say that we were putting this outfit together so I could impress Bart, so I clamped my mouth shut and gave him the best sad-puppy-eyes look.
Dad smiled, "Okay, let's go, I'll just get the keys, did you say "bye" to your Mom already?"
"I did, Dad," I giggled.
"We have to pick up Tiffany from her tutor, Bart will pick you up at Claud's won't he?"
"Yeah, I just have to give him another call after the meeting to say that we're done,"
"Sounds fine,"
We rode silently to Denver Drive, and picked up Tiffany from her tutor, she was waiting outside, her shoulder bag swinging from side to side, and her coat on.
"Hi!" She cried, greeting Dad and me,
"Hey Honey, are you cold? It's a perfectly warm summer's day," Dad gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi Tiffany," I greeted as she slid into the backseat.
"Guess what?!" She squealed, forgetting about Dad's comment.
"What?" I inquired.
"Oh, is something exciting going to happen, sweetie?" Dad said as he turned right to Crestwall Street, which is about two more blocks away from Claud's,
"Ms. Roper is having a birthday party and all her students are invited, she said that you, Mom, Shannon, and Maria should come too,"
"Wow, Tiff, when is it?" I asked her, as I could see Claud's house came into view.
"January 12, 1:30- 6:30PM,"
"We'll definitely be there, right, Dad?" I asked,
"Of course, but that means getting Cledine a gift, and we're fresh out of napkin holders, so we might have to go to Washington mall," Dad sighed happily, (Cledine is Ms. Roper's first name, she was also my tutor when I was little)
"YES!!" Tiffany and I screamed.
"Alright, we can discuss this at dinner," Dad wiped his brow, and pulled onto Claud's driveway, I glanced at my wristwatch: 5:12PM. "Thanks Dad for beating the clock, I'll see you later!"
"Bye Shannon!"
"Yeah, bye Shannie!"
I waved as they pulled off the driveway and back home, I pressed the doorbell, Claud flung open the door, "Hurry, show us what you've got, Stace just arrived a little while before you did," She giggled excitedly, we thundered up to her room,
"Hi Shannon!" Stace smiled as she jumped off the bed,
I smiled and brought out the stuff from my bag,
"Hmm," Claud closed her eyes.
"OH CLAUD!" Stacey screamed.
"What?" Claud jumped up from her spot on the floor.
"Why don't we use your fabric decorater, it will look great on Shannon's light denim skirt,"
"Oh my Gosh, Stace, that is creative, I forgot I bought that," Claud ran to her desk and pulled open one of the bigger drawers, she brought out five colorful tubes, "Shannon, you can borrow my cowboy hat that I decorated, it would give you an outback look," Claud smiled at the thought,
"Yes, and I brought this t-shirt that would look perfect with the outfit," Stacey beamed pulling out something from her shoulder-bag, it was a beaded spaghetti-strap, it was extremely stunning, lots of glitter, and in the center it read, 'Ride on,'
"Wow, this is stunning," I grinned as Stacey handed over the shirt to me.
"You can keep it, I have lots of other clothes that look exactly like that," She smiled at me.
"Oh my Goodness, this is great," I cried, "Thank you, thank you!" I grinned like a fool.
"Stupendous," Claud squealed.
"Amazing!" Stacey laughed.
Stacey helped me try-on the shirt, we found out if I stretched it would kind of show-off my flat stomach. Claud decorated my skirt with the fabric decorator, drawing white horses and cowgirls, I was thankful it said quick- dry. Claud let the skirt sit on the bed, to dry out, while she ran to get something out of the basement. "I got it," She cried breathlessly,
"An IRON?" I stared, my eyes wide.
"An iron." Stacey replied as if Claud had figured out the true meaning of life. She filled it with some paint water, and plugged it to a socket beside her bed, as she ironed the decorated parts on my skirt, she hummed. Stacey told me later that sometimes an iron made things "glow" or "stand-out"
"Here it IS!" Claud flung out a white cowboy hat from her closet, and said I could return it on Monday, or if I could give it to Kristy or Abby when I see them, so they could give it back to Claudia in school. She said that the fabric decorator would come off much, much, later, so I didn't have to worry about it falling off. Kristy, Jessi, and Dawn opened the door as I put the shirt, hat, and the skirt back in my bag, "Hi you guys," Jessi smiled,
"Don't you have ballet Jessi?" Stacey asked,
"No, it was cancelled today, Madame is sick." Jessi frowned,
"Hey, I got dropped off by Mom, she had an interview to go to," Dawn said as she joined Claud, and Stace on the bed.
"What's in the bag Shannon?" Kristy asked me curiously,
"Oh, I uh-" I said slowly.
"Is it your date with Bart?" Mal asked plainly,
"Yeah, when did you get in Mal?" I questioned.
"Oh, I just got in, I was behind Kristy, but I dropped something on the stairs," She reached into her pocket, "This," She smiled.
"Wow, that's the smallest notebook I've ever seen, Mallory," Claud answered.
"Yeah, I found it in the attic," Mal shrugged and stuffed the notebook back in her pocket. "The Pike family is doing spring-cleaning," Mal flopped onto the bed.
"Oh my, I remember when we did spring cleaning, Becca had allergies, you know, from all of that dust," Jessi shook her head pitifully,
"HI!" Mary Anne and Abby ran into the room, it was now 5:29PM,
"Are we late?" Mary Anne asked.
"No, we're just about to start," Kristy said firmly.
"Wow, those are amazing boots, Shannon," Mary Anne admired, Mary Anne, even though her father is as loose as he can be, he still wants to know what his daughter is wearing, so far, no very cool stuff, like tight-fitting pants, pierced ears, dyed hair, and, anything out-of-this-world.
"Thanks Mary Anne," I blushed.
As Claud's digital clocked beeped to 5:30PM, Kristy hollered, "May this meeting come to order?"
We all straightened up.
"All of you read the club notebook?" Kristy asked.
8 heads nodded.
"Any club business?" She spoke up.
"Yeah, come on Shannon tell them your news," Claudia beamed at me,
"No, it's okay Claudia, it's not CLUB business,"
Kristy glanced at me,
"Well, Bart and I are going to a movie after the meeting, that's it!" smiled.
"Wow!" Abby exclaimed.
"How fast," Mary Anne giggled.
"You CAN'T!" Kristy stood up.
"What? What do you mean, I can't?" I glared at her.
"Kristy, let it go, it's just a first date, right, Shannon? Anyway, they're just starting out, CALM DOWN!" Mary Anne pulled her down to the director's chair.
"Kristy, you can't hold a grudge, you did break up with Bart over a few months ago," Dawn spoke up.
"Look, Shannon, I'm sorry," She muttered sarcastically,
"No you're not," I argued,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SHANNON LOUISA E. KILBOURNE, Y..Y...YOU ARE SUCH A SNOB," She sputtered,
I exploded, "No, I didn't Kristy! You just don't want to let it go, and I am not A SNOB,"
"KRISTY, SHANNON!" Jessi shouted.
"WHAT?!" We glared.
"Kristy, like Mary Anne said it's only a first date," (I stuck my tongue out at her), "but, Shannon, maybe you could've told Kristy in a calmer way?" Jessi said nervously. (Kristy snickered and crossed her eyes at me)
RING
"I'll get it," Kristy and I both cried reaching for the phone,
I grabbed it first, "He-"
Kristy snatched it out of my hand, "Hey, Baby-Sitter's Club what can I do for you?" "Oh, hi Mr. Newton, for Jamie? Okay, what time? Okay...Yes... Okay. I'll call you right back," "Mr. Newton," She said glancing at all of us, but glaring at me, "needs a sitter for Jamie on Tuesday and on Saturday, next week, from 3:10- 7:00PM. Mary Anne grabbed the record book, "Let's see, Jessi you have a ballet class, Mal you have a doctor's appointment, Stacey, Kristy, and me, we're the only ones who are free that day," She finished.
"Oh, Mary Anne, I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday but I'm free on Thursday," Stacey said. "Mary Anne! I have to accompany Shannon to the vet on Tuesday, and Charlie, Mom, and Watson are car less on Thursday, Nannie went to New York to visit her friend so sign me out." Kristy sighed.
"Okay, why don't I watch Jamie on Tuesday-" Mary Anne began,
"Yeah, and I'll watch him on Thursday," Stacey smiled.
"Sounds like a good plan," Kristy smiled, she called Mr. Newton back to tell him that Mary Anne would be sitting on Tuesday and Stacey on Thursday. Then a call from the DeWitt's for Taylor, Madeline, and Ryan on Sunday, the Ramsey's for Becca, one new client: The Guiro's for Jerry (6) and his little sister Christine (3) on Monday, then finally Kristy's mother for Karen, Andrew, and Emily Michelle on Friday (next week). Mary Anne looked through the schedule once more, "Wow, you guys, we're fully booked"
"Lot's more business," Claud's eyes gleamed.
"More money," Stacey bounced, Stacey's a really good treasurer she loves numbers, and money and hates to give it (the money) away.
We all giggled.
"Knock, knock,"
"Come in," Claud sounded,
"Claudia, there is a boy, named Bart Taylor, he is coming to pick up Shannon, apparently she was supposed to call him at 5:30PM and well, it's already 5:45PM." Janine glanced at all of us.
"WOW, thanks Janine, here go to my bathroom and change Shannon," She handed me my clothes and I jumped into the bathroom.
As I came out, Claud, Abby, Kristy, Dawn, and Bart gawped at me,
"Hi you guys, thanks again Claud," I gave her a hug, and waved at Kristy, Dawn, and Abby. "Let's go?"
"Sure," Bart smiled at me,
This was going to be a fun night, but even then, I could feel Kristy's eyes melting my head.
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Stay tuned for Chap. 4, coming to a fan fiction near you, lol. Had too much coffee tonight, well, I will update soon. No flames, and remember constructive criticism is always welcomed. Review if you liked it, review if you hated it, and review if you think it's just plain weird. Oh, and I'm going to post another story soon, won't say anything about it yet, just look out for it!!
Okay everybody, this is the third chapter of, 'I hope you're happy'. I really hope you like it! I worked on it for a while and extended this chapter a bit. Sorry I hadn't updated, it took a long while, for this chapter to pop in my head, well, time flies, and it's already a Friday. It's also time for Shannon's date with Bart, and it's also a club meeting...
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Eventually Friday rolled along, I already had brought out some clothes but I couldn't decide so I called Claud, and told her my fashion crisis. "Okay, why don't you bring all of those clothes out to my house, I'll help you pick and maybe you could borrow some earrings or something," She said casually into the phone.
"Thanks Claud, I really want to have a lot of fun tonight,"
"No prob, why don't you come over early, I'll call Stace if you want so she can help as well,"
"Fine with me, I'll be there as soon as I brush my teeth,"
Claud giggled, "Okay, hurry up!"
"Bye!" I grinned.
Claudia chuckled into the phone, "Sure, Bye!"
I hung up hastily packing a 2 denim skirts and 2 blouses along with some cowboy boots in a duffel bag (I was wearing tight-fitting jeans and a baggy white sweater that had black sheep knitted on I was also wearing cowboy boots) I ran to the kitchen, "Hey Mom, do you think you could drive me to Claudia Kishi's?"
"Whoops, sorry Shannon, but I'm taking Maria to her art class in Stamford, why don't you ask your father?"
"Okay, thanks anyway Mom. Wait a minute, Dad's home?"
"Sure he is honey," Mom gave me a quizzical look.
"Thanks again Mom,"
"Oh, honey,"
"Yes?"
"Have fun on your date," Mom winked at me,
"Thanks Mom," I smiled sarcastically,
"It's only 5:00!" She raised her eyebrows,
"I know, I want to get to the meeting early, Claud and I have a project to do, Mom," I smiled,
"Hmmm, okay honey, have fun in the meeting and on your date,"
"Okay Mom," I chuckled, "Hey DAD! WHHERRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEE ARRRRRRRRRRREE YOUUUUU?"
"Hi Princess," Dad folded me in a hug.
"Do you think you could drive me to Claud Kishi's?" I pleaded.
"You want to go early to your meeting, honey?" He inquired,
"Well, I have to put together an outfit with her for a special activity, so she asked me to come early," I didn't want to say that we were putting this outfit together so I could impress Bart, so I clamped my mouth shut and gave him the best sad-puppy-eyes look.
Dad smiled, "Okay, let's go, I'll just get the keys, did you say "bye" to your Mom already?"
"I did, Dad," I giggled.
"We have to pick up Tiffany from her tutor, Bart will pick you up at Claud's won't he?"
"Yeah, I just have to give him another call after the meeting to say that we're done,"
"Sounds fine,"
We rode silently to Denver Drive, and picked up Tiffany from her tutor, she was waiting outside, her shoulder bag swinging from side to side, and her coat on.
"Hi!" She cried, greeting Dad and me,
"Hey Honey, are you cold? It's a perfectly warm summer's day," Dad gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hi Tiffany," I greeted as she slid into the backseat.
"Guess what?!" She squealed, forgetting about Dad's comment.
"What?" I inquired.
"Oh, is something exciting going to happen, sweetie?" Dad said as he turned right to Crestwall Street, which is about two more blocks away from Claud's,
"Ms. Roper is having a birthday party and all her students are invited, she said that you, Mom, Shannon, and Maria should come too,"
"Wow, Tiff, when is it?" I asked her, as I could see Claud's house came into view.
"January 12, 1:30- 6:30PM,"
"We'll definitely be there, right, Dad?" I asked,
"Of course, but that means getting Cledine a gift, and we're fresh out of napkin holders, so we might have to go to Washington mall," Dad sighed happily, (Cledine is Ms. Roper's first name, she was also my tutor when I was little)
"YES!!" Tiffany and I screamed.
"Alright, we can discuss this at dinner," Dad wiped his brow, and pulled onto Claud's driveway, I glanced at my wristwatch: 5:12PM. "Thanks Dad for beating the clock, I'll see you later!"
"Bye Shannon!"
"Yeah, bye Shannie!"
I waved as they pulled off the driveway and back home, I pressed the doorbell, Claud flung open the door, "Hurry, show us what you've got, Stace just arrived a little while before you did," She giggled excitedly, we thundered up to her room,
"Hi Shannon!" Stace smiled as she jumped off the bed,
I smiled and brought out the stuff from my bag,
"Hmm," Claud closed her eyes.
"OH CLAUD!" Stacey screamed.
"What?" Claud jumped up from her spot on the floor.
"Why don't we use your fabric decorater, it will look great on Shannon's light denim skirt,"
"Oh my Gosh, Stace, that is creative, I forgot I bought that," Claud ran to her desk and pulled open one of the bigger drawers, she brought out five colorful tubes, "Shannon, you can borrow my cowboy hat that I decorated, it would give you an outback look," Claud smiled at the thought,
"Yes, and I brought this t-shirt that would look perfect with the outfit," Stacey beamed pulling out something from her shoulder-bag, it was a beaded spaghetti-strap, it was extremely stunning, lots of glitter, and in the center it read, 'Ride on,'
"Wow, this is stunning," I grinned as Stacey handed over the shirt to me.
"You can keep it, I have lots of other clothes that look exactly like that," She smiled at me.
"Oh my Goodness, this is great," I cried, "Thank you, thank you!" I grinned like a fool.
"Stupendous," Claud squealed.
"Amazing!" Stacey laughed.
Stacey helped me try-on the shirt, we found out if I stretched it would kind of show-off my flat stomach. Claud decorated my skirt with the fabric decorator, drawing white horses and cowgirls, I was thankful it said quick- dry. Claud let the skirt sit on the bed, to dry out, while she ran to get something out of the basement. "I got it," She cried breathlessly,
"An IRON?" I stared, my eyes wide.
"An iron." Stacey replied as if Claud had figured out the true meaning of life. She filled it with some paint water, and plugged it to a socket beside her bed, as she ironed the decorated parts on my skirt, she hummed. Stacey told me later that sometimes an iron made things "glow" or "stand-out"
"Here it IS!" Claud flung out a white cowboy hat from her closet, and said I could return it on Monday, or if I could give it to Kristy or Abby when I see them, so they could give it back to Claudia in school. She said that the fabric decorator would come off much, much, later, so I didn't have to worry about it falling off. Kristy, Jessi, and Dawn opened the door as I put the shirt, hat, and the skirt back in my bag, "Hi you guys," Jessi smiled,
"Don't you have ballet Jessi?" Stacey asked,
"No, it was cancelled today, Madame is sick." Jessi frowned,
"Hey, I got dropped off by Mom, she had an interview to go to," Dawn said as she joined Claud, and Stace on the bed.
"What's in the bag Shannon?" Kristy asked me curiously,
"Oh, I uh-" I said slowly.
"Is it your date with Bart?" Mal asked plainly,
"Yeah, when did you get in Mal?" I questioned.
"Oh, I just got in, I was behind Kristy, but I dropped something on the stairs," She reached into her pocket, "This," She smiled.
"Wow, that's the smallest notebook I've ever seen, Mallory," Claud answered.
"Yeah, I found it in the attic," Mal shrugged and stuffed the notebook back in her pocket. "The Pike family is doing spring-cleaning," Mal flopped onto the bed.
"Oh my, I remember when we did spring cleaning, Becca had allergies, you know, from all of that dust," Jessi shook her head pitifully,
"HI!" Mary Anne and Abby ran into the room, it was now 5:29PM,
"Are we late?" Mary Anne asked.
"No, we're just about to start," Kristy said firmly.
"Wow, those are amazing boots, Shannon," Mary Anne admired, Mary Anne, even though her father is as loose as he can be, he still wants to know what his daughter is wearing, so far, no very cool stuff, like tight-fitting pants, pierced ears, dyed hair, and, anything out-of-this-world.
"Thanks Mary Anne," I blushed.
As Claud's digital clocked beeped to 5:30PM, Kristy hollered, "May this meeting come to order?"
We all straightened up.
"All of you read the club notebook?" Kristy asked.
8 heads nodded.
"Any club business?" She spoke up.
"Yeah, come on Shannon tell them your news," Claudia beamed at me,
"No, it's okay Claudia, it's not CLUB business,"
Kristy glanced at me,
"Well, Bart and I are going to a movie after the meeting, that's it!" smiled.
"Wow!" Abby exclaimed.
"How fast," Mary Anne giggled.
"You CAN'T!" Kristy stood up.
"What? What do you mean, I can't?" I glared at her.
"Kristy, let it go, it's just a first date, right, Shannon? Anyway, they're just starting out, CALM DOWN!" Mary Anne pulled her down to the director's chair.
"Kristy, you can't hold a grudge, you did break up with Bart over a few months ago," Dawn spoke up.
"Look, Shannon, I'm sorry," She muttered sarcastically,
"No you're not," I argued,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU SHANNON LOUISA E. KILBOURNE, Y..Y...YOU ARE SUCH A SNOB," She sputtered,
I exploded, "No, I didn't Kristy! You just don't want to let it go, and I am not A SNOB,"
"KRISTY, SHANNON!" Jessi shouted.
"WHAT?!" We glared.
"Kristy, like Mary Anne said it's only a first date," (I stuck my tongue out at her), "but, Shannon, maybe you could've told Kristy in a calmer way?" Jessi said nervously. (Kristy snickered and crossed her eyes at me)
RING
"I'll get it," Kristy and I both cried reaching for the phone,
I grabbed it first, "He-"
Kristy snatched it out of my hand, "Hey, Baby-Sitter's Club what can I do for you?" "Oh, hi Mr. Newton, for Jamie? Okay, what time? Okay...Yes... Okay. I'll call you right back," "Mr. Newton," She said glancing at all of us, but glaring at me, "needs a sitter for Jamie on Tuesday and on Saturday, next week, from 3:10- 7:00PM. Mary Anne grabbed the record book, "Let's see, Jessi you have a ballet class, Mal you have a doctor's appointment, Stacey, Kristy, and me, we're the only ones who are free that day," She finished.
"Oh, Mary Anne, I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday but I'm free on Thursday," Stacey said. "Mary Anne! I have to accompany Shannon to the vet on Tuesday, and Charlie, Mom, and Watson are car less on Thursday, Nannie went to New York to visit her friend so sign me out." Kristy sighed.
"Okay, why don't I watch Jamie on Tuesday-" Mary Anne began,
"Yeah, and I'll watch him on Thursday," Stacey smiled.
"Sounds like a good plan," Kristy smiled, she called Mr. Newton back to tell him that Mary Anne would be sitting on Tuesday and Stacey on Thursday. Then a call from the DeWitt's for Taylor, Madeline, and Ryan on Sunday, the Ramsey's for Becca, one new client: The Guiro's for Jerry (6) and his little sister Christine (3) on Monday, then finally Kristy's mother for Karen, Andrew, and Emily Michelle on Friday (next week). Mary Anne looked through the schedule once more, "Wow, you guys, we're fully booked"
"Lot's more business," Claud's eyes gleamed.
"More money," Stacey bounced, Stacey's a really good treasurer she loves numbers, and money and hates to give it (the money) away.
We all giggled.
"Knock, knock,"
"Come in," Claud sounded,
"Claudia, there is a boy, named Bart Taylor, he is coming to pick up Shannon, apparently she was supposed to call him at 5:30PM and well, it's already 5:45PM." Janine glanced at all of us.
"WOW, thanks Janine, here go to my bathroom and change Shannon," She handed me my clothes and I jumped into the bathroom.
As I came out, Claud, Abby, Kristy, Dawn, and Bart gawped at me,
"Hi you guys, thanks again Claud," I gave her a hug, and waved at Kristy, Dawn, and Abby. "Let's go?"
"Sure," Bart smiled at me,
This was going to be a fun night, but even then, I could feel Kristy's eyes melting my head.
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Stay tuned for Chap. 4, coming to a fan fiction near you, lol. Had too much coffee tonight, well, I will update soon. No flames, and remember constructive criticism is always welcomed. Review if you liked it, review if you hated it, and review if you think it's just plain weird. Oh, and I'm going to post another story soon, won't say anything about it yet, just look out for it!!