Chapter Fifteen

A Big Surprise

After Pamela had left, I snuck out of my room. I could hear Mommy downstairs on the phone. I tiptoed to the stairs to listen. I have to spy on Mommy way too much to find out what is going on.

"Yes, Kristy, I need a babysitter this afternoon. I am sorry it is last minute. I need someone to be here at 1:45 at the latest. I would prefer 1:30 but I will understand since it is such short notice. You'll check and see who is free and call me back in ten minutes? Sounds perfect. Thank you. I knew I could count on the Babysitter's Club." Mommy hung up the phone.

Hmm something suspicious was going on. I did not know what but I would find out. I always find out. I am much smarter than Mommy and she knows she is not able to hide anything from me. I stayed in my hiding spot next to the stair case to keep listening.

"Mommy where are you going? Why do I have to have a babysitter?" I heard Andrew whine.

"I have to take Karen somewhere. It is not a long trip." Mommy informed him.

Andrew kept on whining, "Where are you taking her? I want to know why you are not taking me too."

Mommy snapped, "It is a surprise for Karen. Stop asking about it Andrew."

Andrew did not stop, "A surprise? Like a birthday surprise? I want a surprise too."

Mommy really has a short fuse and no patience. She says I used it all up. I personally say it was Andrew's whining but Mommy disagrees. "Andrew, go and play. Do not worry about Karen."

I slipped back to my room with a big grin on my face. I was getting a surprise. I love surprises. I do not know why I was getting one since Mommy had shut down my training of Pamela over such a small incident. She had really overreacted just like Andrew had. Maybe she had realized her mistake. I sure hoped so. Pamela and I were just having fun with puppets. Andrew has a short fuse just like Mommy. I do not see how this is my fault.

Mommy came in a few moments later, "Karen, come downstairs for lunch. You can go to your room afterwards."

I wen down and had a tuna sandwich and an apple with a glass of milk. I ate by myself. Mommy said Andrew was eating his lunch as a picnic in the backyard and I was to leave him alone. I ate my lunch then brushed my teeth and went back to my room.

I sat down at my desk and started making a list about what the surprise might be. Hm a new toy? Maybe a young pony to replace the stupid old Blueberry? A swimming pool? Or maybe Mommy had decided it was finally time for a trip to Club G? Oooh if my Club G lifetime ban is removed and I get to go on a shopping spree it would be like my birthday and Christmas all at once. Mommy would never be that nice though would she?

I was so engrossed in my list that I almost did not notice when Mommy burst into the room, "Karen, we have somewhere to be. Mary Anne is coming over to watch Andrew. Please change into this dress and wear your navy sandals."

Mommy left the room as quickly as she had come in. I looked at the dress she had shoved into my hand. It was a navy blue shirt dress with a ruffled hem. I changed into the new outfit and went downstairs. Mary Anne Spier was coming through the front door. She was carrying her kid kit. Andrew was jumping up and down excitedly.

Mommy picked up her purse, "We will not be gone for more than two hours. I put my cell phone number on the fridge door along with the number for the place we are going. Thank you so much, Mary Anne."

"Not a problem! Andrew and I will have a great time. Bye Mrs. Engle!" Mary Anne waved as Mommy herded me out the front door.

I got into the car and into my booster seat without a complaint. I was eager to see what my surprise would be. I remembered a song from a Christmas special called the 'Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. It is called 'Big Surprise'. I started to sing it with my own words. "Oh, Karen is getting a big surprise! Big surprise! She bets Mommy will get her a really nice prize! Really nice prize!"

"Karen, no more please." Mommy started the car. I saw her program some directions into her phone and as soon as we started off the Google maps lady started talking. I do not like the Google maps voice. She annoys me so much that I decided it was Mommy's evil twin sister.

The voice led us through the streets of Stoneybrook then to the outskirts of town. Nothing looked familiar after awhile.

"Where are we going?" I demanded to know.

"Somewhere important, Karen," Mommy turned the car onto a tree-lined road.

There were so many trees on the road that it made things darker. The trees got thicker and thicker the further down the road we went. I realized we were now in a forest. It was pretty creepy. Morbidda Destiny probably spend her days here looking for herbs for her witch spells. The thought made me shudder. To keep my mind off witches, I picked up a copy of 'Green Eggs and Ham' that Andrew had left on the seat. It is a baby book but it was better than looking out the window for Morbidda Destiny.

I was so busy reading that I did not notice the car stop until Mommy started talking.

"Karen? We are here." Mommy announced.

I looked out the window. We were in a parking lot in front of a big brick building. The building was almost as creepy as the woods around it. I got out of the car and followed Mommy inside. We entered into a big lobby. It was some type of reception area.

Mommy motioned to a bench, "Sit here while I talk to the receptionist."

I sat on the bench and did some looking around while waiting for Mommy. There was not much to see. We were in a big lobby with some benches and plants arranged around it. I saw several hallways that I could not see down from where I was looking. I saw a elevator. I saw a door marked stairs. I squirmed in my seat. I really wanted my surprise right now and did not want to have to wait for Mommy.

As if she had read my mind, Mommy came back over, "Follow me, Karen."

We got inside the elevator and Mommy pushed to go to the third floor. When we got there, the door opened and we were in big room. It reminded me of Daddy's library. There were cozy sofa and arm chairs. Tables with plants and magazine racks on them. There were a few book cases. In one corner there was a low table with a water cooler next to it. On the table there was a coffee pot and cups. There was a door in the middle of the back wall and in the other corner there was a desk where a woman was sitting. Mommy went over to talk to her while I sat down.

Mommy was sure being mysterious. I figured she was busy planning my big surprise with these receptionists she kept talking to. I started to hum the big surprise song under my breath. Then I started to sing it softly then I kept getting louder.

Soon I was standing on a chair belting out my song, "Oh, Karen is getting a big surprise! Big surprise! She bets Mommy will get her a really nice prize! Really nice prize! A prize of candy or lots of toys. She has been a really good girl this year. Will you get her a really nice prize? A really nice prize? Big surprise!"

The lady and Mommy turned to look at me. Mommy did not look happy but I kept on singing. "Oh Karen is getting a big surprise! Big surprise! How can you ignore her puppy dog eyes? Puppy dog eyes! A little girl with a rich dad. A little girl with a mom that is mad. A genius girl a lot smarter than Andrew. A wonderful girl who is the best it is true. It is true! Big surprise!"

Mommy was standing in front of me but I did not care and kept right on singing, "We love you, Karen Brewer! We will worship you all day! You can take turns playing with me. You each can have me for a day!"

Mommy grabbed me and plopped me on my bottom in a chair. "That is enough, Karen!" She hissed at me through gritted teeth.

Boo and bull frogs! I was not done singing my song yet. "But Mommy, there is one more verse to go."

"You will not be getting any type of surprise at all if you do not stop making a spectacle of yourself. You are not always the star of the show. There is a time and a place for everything." Mommy was very angry.

I folded my arms across my chest and growled, "There is never a time and place for what I want to do Mommy. I cannot go to church. I cannot play with Pamela. I cannot go to Club G. And now I cannot sing and dance because I am happy."

Mommy did not say anything. She handed me a book from one of the shelves. It was a copy of The Littlest Witch which is normally one of my favorite books but today I did not want to read it. I set it down on the table next to me and sighed loudly. Mommy ignored me and began to read a magazine. I really hate to be ignored.

On another table I found a basket of paper and a box of crayons. I began to draw. I drew a picture of me dressed up as a devil. I was inside a church. Outside the church I drew Mommy beating on the door trying to get in. I drew Pamela barricading the door so Mommy could not get in. I started to giggle. Mommy looked at me and I stopped but the more I drew the more I could not help myself. My picture was hilarious. I started to laugh so hard I fell out of my chair and started rolling on the floor laughing.

Mommy snatched my picture away then picked me up and plunked me right back into the chair, "I cannot even trust you to draw a picture like a normal child. I see you have labeled this picture as Devil Karen Locks Mommy Out of Church. Why not a nice picture of a bunny or a clown?"

"Mommy, bunnies are not nice. Do you remember when Andrew and I got bunnies and all they did was go potty all over the house?" I could not believe Mommy had forgotten that.

"They were nicer than this mean picture you drew of me!" Mommy said in a grumpy voice.

I was about to say something back to her but then I looked up. Another woman had come out of the door on the back wall. She was carrying a clipboard and said, "Karen Brewer?

We got up and followed her through the door and down a hallway with more doors. She opened one of the doors, "Right in here."

We went inside the door and there was a man sitting at a table inside. He stood up and came over to us. He offered a hand to Mommy to shake, "Mrs. Engle? I am Dr. Brannon."

Mommy shook his hand, "Thank you so much for seeing us. Karen's pediatrician said you were the best child psychologist for dealing with cases like hers."

I could not believe it. This doctor was my big surprise? I let out a animal shriek in disappointment.