How are you? How was Argentina? I'm sure you didn't have near the fun I'm having. Not only is Amsterdam beautiful, it's also full of excitement. Like an adventure waiting to happen!
Your friend,
Shannon
I admit that I was exaggerating a little. Okay, a lot. So far, Amsterdam had been nothing but a drag. Almost everyone was either bickering or acting truly bizarre. Or, in Dawn's case, both. I was beginning to regret the entire trip. Obviously, the Baby-Sitters Club couldn't be in close quarters for more than twenty-four hours without developing homicidal tendencies toward one another. It was a huge disappointment.
There were other troubles, too.
My mom was a wreck. Even though it was Sunday, Cousin Saskia's attorney made an appointment to meet with Mom right after lunch. I went along for moral support. A lot of good I did. Mom was a mess through lunch and on the tram to the attorney's office. Once there, Mom and the attorney, Mr. Weimann, spent three hours talking. What they talked about I've no idea because they kept slipping in and out of Dutch.
After leaving Mr. Weimann's office, Mom took me back to Verbruggenhuis. She went out again, but wouldn't say where to. I found Maria and Amanda working on a jigsaw puzzle in the den, completely bored out of their minds. I decided to take them to the Artis Zoo for a few hours. Greer refused to come, claiming she needed to rest. She was under the impression everyone would be staying out until three a.m.
Probably, she was just sick of Amanda. I know I was. Maria and Amanda hadn't fallen into the old groove of their friendship. In fact, they were barely tolerating each other's existence. They spoke in simple one or two word sentences.
Of course, the zoo trip was an absolute nightmare. Maria wouldn't stop making animal noises. She wasn't even imitating the correct ones. Like, she kept mooing at the elephant habitat. Even the elephants were annoyed. I pretended not to know her.
Amanda was worse. Whenever she saw a zoo employee, she would ask them how much the nearest animal cost. No matter what the answer, Amanda replied, " I have a cat named Priscilla. She cost four hundred dollars." If a zoo employee wasn't around she would ask any random person how much they thought the animal cost. Several people attempted to avoid her by speaking french, not knowing that Amanda -at age eight - is almost fluent in the language.
By five 'o' clock, I was close to losing my mind. I dragged Maria away from the orangutans (and her weird monkey dance) and Amanda away from a confused octogenarian, who kept shouting, "a gold fish fountain in the foyer?" On the way out, we made a quick stop at the gift shop, so Amanda could buy a t-shirt for her younger brother. The entire tram ride to Verbruggenhuis, Amanda showed the t-shirt to various passengers while marveling, "Can you believe this cost seventeen Euros?"
Due to a pounding headache, I was not thrilled to find a sign on the front door reading: Emergency BSC meeting! Seven 'o' clock SHARP in the attic! (all members + Anna). I barely had time to wonder why Greer was excluded before I was confronted with the drama and chaos inside.
Tiffany was ranting over being excluded from the BSC meeting. Kristy, Abby, and Greer were locked in the attic and refused to let anyone inside. Jessi and Mallory were fighting, but no one knew why. Mary Anne was sobbing into her pillow, but no one knew why. Claudia and Stacey weren't speaking, but not even Claudia knew why. Dawn was banging on the attic door, screeching about fire hazards. Even Anna was irritated, storming up and down the stairs, grumbling about crunchy Californians and Connecticut crybabies.
Something had gone seriously, seriously wrong between the morning and the evening.
At a quarter to seven, Mom and Mrs. Carson left for dinner with Maria, Amanda, and Tiffany (still ranting over her exclusion). By then all the arguing and crying had quieted down. Even Dawn had her mouth shut for once. We gathered at the bottom of the stairs, everyone complaining that the emergency meeting could only mean bad news.
"Kristy probably wants us to open a day care at one of those hash bars," mumbled Jessi.
"Would we get paid?" Stacey asked, which seemed like a rather brainless question.
"I have much more important things to do this vacation. In fact, it's really not a vacation for me," Dawn looked around at us, smugly. "I'm on a crusade,"
"Oh, when are you not?" Stacey snapped.
Stacey stormed up the stairs. We followed with Dawn muttering under her breath about the narrow-minded superficiality of native New Yorkers. You know, I don't recall actually inviting Dawn on this trip. Either she invited herself or Mary Anne did. Thanks a lot, Mary Anne.
At the top of the stairs, I rapped on the locked door. Behind the door, we heard whispering, scurrying, and the clatter of the closet door. I glanced at my watch and rolled my eyes. This was ridiculous. I knocked louder. We waited.
"Maybe tomorrow we can go to the Anne Frank House," Mallory suggested to Mary Anne.
"Touring the attic will be absolutely heartbreaking," Mary Anne replied with a sniff.
Behind me, Claudia whispered to Anna, "Who are Anne and Frank? Are they related to Shannon?"
Sometimes I wonder about Claudia.
The door cracked open and one of Abby's dark eyes peered out. "Who goes there?" she giggled.
"Head count! Head count!" Kristy hissed from inside the room.
"Oh please," I grumbled, shoving the attic door open.
Kristy was seated at the center of the room in a makeshift directors chair made from a milk crate, some rolling pins, and her favorite Easter sweater. She had created a visor out of a gardening spade, dental floss, and a couple eyeliner pencils. Never had Kristy looked so stupid (and that's coming from someone who's seen her President's Day sweater.)
"Sit down, sit down," Kristy said, briskly. She banged a plastic whisk on the nearest bedpost. "The emergency meeting of the Baby-Sitters Club is now called to order," Kristy turned to Greer, who was seated indian-style on Claudia's bed. "Greer will be acting as secretary since she is familiar with the current situation. Sorry, Mary Anne." Mary Anne threw her arms around Anna and sobbed. Anna appeared disgusted. "Greer, please note for the record that two non-members are in attendance for tonight's emergency meeting - Miss Greer Carson and Miss Anna Stevenson. This is a rarity and likely will never happen again. In fact, it's never happened before." Kristy paused dramatically to allow the thrill of the moment to sink in.
Jessi breathed a stunned "wow".
"Charlotte came to a meeting," sniffled Mary Anne.
"Yeah," agreed Mallory. "So, did Laine."
"I think Janine did, too," added Claudia.
"That plastic whisk isn't biodegradable," said Dawn.
"Those weren't emergency meetings," snapped Kristy. "Now, we have important business to discuss. This afternoon, Abby, Greer, and I made a horrible discovery. One that threatens our morals, beliefs, and the future of the Baby-Sitters Club. We must make a decision regarding this problem. Remember, the consequences of our actions could follow us the rest of our lives."
Anna yawned and glanced at her watch. Jessi bit her fingernails. Everyone else was staring intently at Kristy. Except Stacey, who was counting on her fingers and mumbling to herself. And, except for Dawn, who was still eyeing the plastic whisk suspiciously.
"Can we get on with it, Kristy?" I asked.
Kristy took a deep breath. "Abby? Please show them what's in the closet,"
Abby saluted and marched to the closet. She bowed deeply toward Kristy, then turned the knob of the closet. She slowly pulled the door open.
Mary Anne gasped when a dark-headed boy jumped out of the closet and squirted Abby with a plastic flower pinned to his shirt. All the club members groaned.
"You've got to be kidding me!" yelled Claudia.
"Alan Gray! Ugh!" shrieked Mallory.
"This is Alan Gray?" I asked.
He bowed. "My reputation proceeds me," He reached for my hand and kissed it.
"Not that again, Alan!" Kristy shouted. "The first time was gross enough. Keep your slimy lips off my friends!"
Alan dropped my hand. "Twas not meant to be, ma cherie,"
"Alan Gray, you're such a goon!" I don't know who yelled that. It could have been anyone.
"What is Alan doing here?" Dawn demanded.
Kristy and Alan launched into the story of Alan shipping himself to Amsterdam. They kept stopping to argue over details, then Kristy would bang the whisk and declare herself the "winner". They winner of what, who knows. It took twenty-five minutes for them to reach the part of the story where Kristy, Abby, and Greer helped Alan escape the airport. By then, everyone was tired of the story and of Kristy and Alan's bickering, so we quickly redirected the conversation.
"What about your parents, Alan?" asked Anna.
"They think I'm in Myrtle Beach with Pete Black's family. Pete's sending postcards for me,"
"Pete Black's such a great guy!" exclaimed Mary Anne.
"He's a dead guy the next time I see him," grunted Kristy.
"Where are you staying?" asked Jessi.
Kristy, Abby, and Greer exchanged a Look.
"Well, all my money's tied up in planned extra-curricular activities," Alan replied.
"He wants to stay here," Greer told us.
The entire Baby-Sitters Club (including Anna) exchanged a Look, which took awhile. Then, we burst into argument.
"No way is Alan Gray staying here!" shouted Dawn.
"He's a boy!" hissed Mallory.
"What would Logan think?" asked Mary Anne.
"Who cares about Logan! What about my mother?" I demanded.
"Exactly how much money does Alan have?" asked Stacey.
Fweet! Fweet!
I distinctly remember telling Kristy to not bring her whistle.
"Quiet!" she shouted. "Let's take a vote. Who thinks we should allow Alan to stay?"
Stacey's hand immediately shot into the air. Claudia looked confused (maybe the instructions were too complex) and raised her hand, too. Abby and Greer followed. Mary Anne wrung her hands, sniffing, then finally raised her hand. I glanced around the room. It was five for Alan, six against. I almost breathed a sigh of relief. I wouldn't have to lie to Mom. Nor would I have some goony boy hanging around the attic.
Anna raised her hand.
Alan whooped with joy, pulled Anna to her feet and started line dancing. Kristy buried her face in her hands. Dawn dug her fingernails into Mary Anne's arm and drew blood. It looked quite painful, but strangely enough, Mary Anne didn't cry. She seemed to enjoy it.
"If this...person is going to stay here, I'm setting some ground rules," I said, taking charge. Kristy appeared peeved, but I didn't care. Verbruggenhuis was mine. Or, at least, my family's. "First off, he must stay out of sight. Mom and Mrs. Carson must never know. The same goes for Tiffany, Maria, and Amanda. Second of all, he must stay in the attic. At least until Mom and the others have left the house. And, he must get back before them in the evenings. Agree?"
Everyone nodded.
Alan shrugged. "My plans are flexible. I can do what I need to do just as easily during the day,"
I swear, he winked at Greer when he said that. What a weirdo.
"Wait," said Dawn. Greer groaned. Dawn glared at her. "Alan's sleeping in the attic? I am not sharing a room with the goon of SMS!" Dawn tilted her face upward and snorted. Lovely.
"There's nowhere else he can sleep without the risk being seen," I replied.
"Don't worry, Dawn," Kristy said. "We'll lock him in the closet."
"That's not good enough. I refuse to share a room with a subhuman. It's bad enough sharing with a bunch of carnivores. I demand someone change with me,"
"I will," Greer volunteered, quickly.
Dawn narrowed her eyes. "Thanks," she said, icily.
Stacey and I covered our mouths to suppress groans. Not even Mary Anne looked pleased. Although, Kristy's mood improved greatly at the news.
"I'm starved," said Abby. "Let's try that greek restaurant, De Twee Grieken."
Everyone agreed, but I lost my appetite. I couldn't believe this was happening. The trip was a disaster already and now I had to worry about some goofy boy running amok in my house? Mom would kill me if she found out! However, none of the BSC seemed to care. Not even Kristy. She didn't want Alan there anymore than I did. But, she objected to his presence not out of loyalty or concern. She just loathed the guy.
Alan held the attic door open for everyone. He gave Greer's rear a slap as she passed by. Instead of slugging him, like I would, Greer giggled. Dawn refused to allow Alan to hold the door for her, so he let go and gave it a gentle push, so it would hit Dawn in the head. Maybe he wasn't too bad.
Stacey and I were the last ones out of the attic. I turned to ask Stacey if she liked Greek food, but didn't get a word out. Instead, I saw Stacey wink at Alan and quite possibly slip her hand where it did not belong. Unless my ears deceived me, she whispered something about his "wad".
Face bright red, I rushed down the stairs. This trip was a bad idea. A very bad idea, indeed.