"Hi!" I called out as I stepped onto Melody's driveway. Nancy was there, poised to ring the Korman's bell.

"Oh, hey," Nancy said. "I was going to walk with you but my mom offered a ride, and tailing boys all afternoon just tires me out!"

I giggled. Nancy stays after school and watches boys' basketball or baseball games, then randomly chooses one to "follow." Did I mention that Nancy was boy crazy?

"Oh, hi!" Melody smiled, fluffing her hair. She let us in, and we ran up to her room. She flipped on Usher as I pulled out a notebook and pen.

"So business like!" Nancy commented. I rolled my eyes.

"We've got to work," I returned.

Melody sat next to me on the bed while Nancy sat by Melody's sides of the bed on the floor.

"What's wrong?" Melody got in touch with her sympathetic side. "You seem kind of, not happy lately."

"Just things," replied I, keeping my head down. "Certain----things."

"Tell me!" Melody said, as Suzi and the Pikes came in with two others.

"Do tell! Do tell!" Suzi and Claire cried in unison.

Desperate to change the subject, I turned to the eighth graders. "Do tell—they're here because, why?"

"I think you will recognize them," Claire told me. Suzi showed me the "new and improved" list in her handwriting.

Call the Babysitters Club Today!

FULL TIME MEMBERS

Karen Brewer, fourteen

Hannah Papadakis, fifteen

Nancy Dawes, fifteen

Melody Korman, fifteen

Maria Kilbourne, sixteen

Margo Pike, fifteen

JUNIOR MEMBERS

Suzi Barrett, thirteen

Claire Pike, thirteen

Jen Prezzioso, twelve

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

Archie Rodowsky, twelve

Myriah Perkins, thirteen

I nodded. "Very good. Oh, Myriah, you have the sister that's friends with Emmy, right?"

"Gabbie is in Emily Michelle's fourth grade class, right. So, I would be too busy with the volleyball and swimming and…" (That's blah language for 'I'm too busy to bee a full time BSC member.')

"Okay, how are your babysitting skills?" I asked.

"Very good---I don't mean to be selfish." She answered in a clear, calm voice. "The BSC inspired me to become a babysitter, so I took a course last year."

I nodded again. Myriah seemed like the responsible type, so I accepted her. "Archie Rodowsky?"

"Oh, uh…" he seemed kind of nervous, being the only boy, but guess who walked in just then to make him feel more confident?

"Archie? What are you doing here?" Jen ran up to him, surprised.

"Jen, baby! I'm joining your club!" Ahh, seventh grade romance. I raised an eyebrow. Jen never mentioned any of this to me. Hugs, no kisses. I turned away.

Hannah and Maria ran in. "Sorry we're late, but—"Hannah looked towards Jen and Archie, "Uh…..um, I forgot what I was going to say."

Hannah took my spot on the bed. Grr.  "So, if you have a lot in common with Jen, Archie, I'll assume you're a good babysitter, and you're in."

"Oh, yes," Jen told me. I know Jen Prezzioso pretty well. She can be snobby and high maintenance, but she's no liar.

"Well, back to business," Hannah declared, "As president, I propose we take action upon making a list of kids to invite, and decide on a place and time, and lastly make invites. This is what we spent an hour doing:

Jessica Engle (4)

Jordan Engle (4)

Angie Morgan (4)

Brianna DeWitt (5)

Rebecca Perkins (5)

Shana Dale (5)

Cassie Morgan (6)

Brian Dale (6)

Joe DeWitt (7)

Luke Morgan (7)

Laura Perkins (8)

Andrea Prezzioso (8)

Danny Dawes (8)

Lucy Newton (8)

Skylar Korman (9)

Emily Michelle Brewer (10)

Marnie Barrett (10)

Sari Papadakis (10)

Gabbie Perkins (10)

You are cordially invited to………

A COSTUME PARTY!

Time: 1-4 P.M.

Date: Saturday October 27th

Place: The Brewer's backyard

1210 McLelland Road

Stoneybrook

"Well, this is going to be fun," Margo said. "I mean, a lot of you guys will be able to dress up your younger sibs."

Hannah added, "We can dress up ourselves that would be cool. Maybe we can go downtown to shop. I could ask Linny to drive us."

Melody perked up. "Hey, that's a good idea. Bill could probably drive another car." Linny and Bill are like, best friends. They are both seniors at SHS. Though, nine year old Skylar Korman doesn't have many friends around here; ten year olds think they're too mature for her.

Well, it was fine with all of our parents. It was off to the Washington Mall!