Chapter 7

"Yes ma'am. No ma'am. It's a deal, ma'am. Good bye." I hung up the phone.

"That sounded formal", said Sharon, who was standing behind me in the hall. "Was it a teacher of yours who called?"

"No, it was Kristy", I told her.

Sharon looked at me astonished. "O-K", she replied slowly. "Well, I better get going lest I'll be late from work. You have fun listening to the election speech. Bear in mind that politicians always lie through their teeth, especially when they promise you a romantic trip to Rome and a golden bracelet if you just agree to… Yes, I must go now."

"Wait a second!" I cried after her. "Sharon, mmph, you might want to take off those slippers before you leave. And are you quite sure you need that whisk? I mean I don't think you can utilize it in any way while you're commuting."

Sharon smiled apologetically, took off the fluffy, fox-headed slippers and changed them to my father's brown boots. The whisk she left on the hat rack. "Thanks Mary Anne", she expressed her gratitude. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"Probably get yourself locked up in a mental institution", I couldn't help thinking. Aloud I just said: "No problem." I didn't have the heart to tell her that there were several knitting needles stuck on her sweater and that the riding helmet on her head really wasn't necessary when driving a car.

I started to wander around the house without being able to concentrate on anything. Charlie was supposed to pick me up in a half an hour. He had promised to give the whole BSC a lift to the Plaza of Liberty, a square next to the Stoneybrook courthouse, where mayor candidates usually gave speeches and debated.

Finally I heard Charlie tooting his car's horn. I rushed outside and took a seat beside Claudia. It was a Friday noon, and we all should've been at school, but our parents had given us a permission to take the day off because it was such an uncommon situation.

How on earth, you must wonder, did us all fit into Charlie's car? Well, we didn't, as a matter of fact. When Dawn still lived in Stoneybrook and the BSC's total number was seven members, two of us had to run behind and try to keep up with the car. Most of the time they were Mallory and Jessi. After all they are just junior officers and two years younger than the rest of us.

This time Mallory was jammed into the trunk and Jessi had to run alone. She is a ballet dancer so her legs are strong. Still we had to wait for her a pretty long time when we were at our destination. I noticed that Kristy got very impatient, but she didn't complain. There was no other choice.

Once we tried to pull Mallory and Jessi behind the car attached to a rope. They were wearing roller skates, of course. It could've worked, but we were brought to a halt by the cops. Although Kristy contacted their supervisor, they got fired and Charlie didn't have to pay his fines, we never did it again. Mallory wasn't too sad about it. She's clumsier than Jessi, and kept falling. Bruises and scratches really don't beautify her.

When Jessi had caught us and we were all together, we headed towards the rostrum. There was a bench about 50 feet in front of it and we gathered on it. Well, Mallory and Jessi had to sit on the ground. There's just never enough room for them.

Because it was a weekday there were very few people present. Most of them were senior citizens and mothers with their little children.

One old lady came to stand next to our bench. Stacey stared at her. "How can a person be that wrinkled?" she said loudly "Doesn't she know that plastic surgery is highly developed these days? Look at that, girls! My grandparents look like teen-agers compared to her."

"Be quiet, Stacey", Claudia whispered. "She can hear you."

"I don't think so!" Stacey almost yelled. "She's evidently blind so she must be deaf too."

The lady came a bit closer and turned to us.

"Do you mind letting me sit down for a while?" she asked politely. "In my age you don't have the energy to stand or walk a very long time." She was looking at Kristy, who was sitting on the end of the bench.

Stacey was stunned. "Oh. My. Gosh!" she exclaimed. "You ask us to move? This could so never ever happen in New York!"

Kristy looked friendly at the old lady. "Don't care about her", she said. "Of course we let you sit down as long as you want. How much are you willing to pay for it?"

That's what Kristy's like: business always comes first.

The old lady was bewildered. "Excuse me?" she asked.

But no one paid her any attention anymore. Claudia was gazing and pointing at the rostrum. A thin, blond woman was climbing on it. She was wearing a dark green jacket suit and high-heeled shoes, and carrying a huge pile of paper.

After introducing herself she started to speak without even glancing at her papers. Her voice was high-pitched and loud when she preached how Stoneybrook's drug problem, and generally all crimes, should be pulled up by the roots. That, she claimed, would be done if she were the next mayor. It was pretty funny though, because there is no criminality in Stoneybrook.

When she had finished everybody applauded. That is to say us and seven other people. Since no one had any questions to ask her, Mrs. Spier began to walk towards her black, shiny car.

"Now Mary Anne, go after her!" Kristy encouraged me.

And so I ran. "Mother!" I yelled. "Mother! Mrs. Spier!"

She stopped and turned to face me. "What are you talking about, child?" she asked. "I'm not your mother."

"I know you are!" I cried. "Father, I mean Richard, told me everything!"

"You don't understand", she said peevishly. "I'm not your mother. I don't have any kids."

I stared at her for a moment and started to shed tears. "If you're not my mom, then who is?" I sobbed.

Mrs. Spier sighed. "Calm down", she demanded. "And I'll explain you everything."