The Baby-Sitters Club belongs to Ann M. Martin and Scooby Doo was created by Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, and Iwao Takmoto
I was packing my overnight bag on a Thursday night because I'll be spending the weekend in New York to be with Stacey and her father. I was planning to see my best friend, Kayla Willis, at her grave. She died five months ago and it was tough on me. She struggled with leukemia for quite awhile. I miss her too much. And, it happened a month after my 16th birthday. I had a big sleepover party and she was there. She had a fun time. Stacey was supposed to have plans with her best friend, Claudia, but had plans, but she didn't care. They'll make up for it when she gets back home on Sunday. I invited April and Kaylee. April's coming, but Kaylee just got a cold, so she won't be joining us. We plan to drive to the train station after school since Dad and Sharon would be working. Grandma Verna offered, but I told her we're all set since I'll be having my car. We take two trains. One goes to Boston and we go to South Station for New York.
I'm Mary Anne Spier. I'm 16 and live in Portland, Maine. I attend Portland Voc-Tech High School as a junior.
The next day, I was having cereal for breakfast. At school, April said, "I got my suitcase in my locker."
"Good idea," I said.
After school, we went straight to the station. The train wasn't there yet. We went to the platform when it started pulling in.
A few hours later, in Stoneybrook, Stacey had just gotten when the train showed up. She came and spotted us as she sat with us.
"Hi," said Stacey.
"Hi," we both said it at the same time.
"I can't wait to spend the weekend with you," I said.
"Same," said Stacey.
In New York, we went to Mr. McGill's apartment to get settled for the night. I plan to visit Kayla tomorrow.
The next day, I went to visit Kayla's grave site after breakfast. April decided to come with me. I didn't mind.
"I figured I'd come to visit you for a bit. Kaylee and I still miss you. I'm thankful to have her. I'm glad that we're still close," I said.
I stayed for a bit longer and then, left ten to twenty minutes later. That night, at 7:00 pm, we were watching a program, but then there were breaking news. The cemetery was on fire and they named it. The milk almost spit out of my nose when I heard that.
"That's where Kayla's buried!" I exclaimed getting upset.
"Oh, no. We were just there, too," added April.
Some of the graves were burnt, but when I noticed Kayla's was included, I was shocked.
"You were just there earlier," said Stacey after she saw that on the news.
"That's what I just said," said April.
"Good thing Kaylee's not here with you," said Stacey.
"I know. She would've been very upset," said April.
"Excuse me. I can't watch it anymore," I said.
It was upsetting me even more. I got up and went to Stacey's room where I was staying. At 11:00 pm news, there was more information about the fire, but I stayed in Stacey's room because I did not want to hear it. I couldn't believe about what happened to the cemetery including Kayla's grave. Who would do something like that and why? That's what I want to know.
In the middle of the night, I was tossing and turning while dreaming about based on the news. April must have saw that she came to me. I thought I saw a ghost when I woke up. I was seeing double vision.
"Were you alright? You were tossing and turning," said April.
"The news got stuck in my head," I said.
"I bet," said April.
Stacey came in from using her insulin. "Is everything okay?"
"The news were starting to bug Mary Anne," said April.
"I'm shaken by the news," I said.
"I know," said April comforting me.
I was crying in the meantime.
The next day, Stacey, April, and I had an early lunch before we got to the station. Stacey got off in Stoneybrook while we continue going to Boston. We arrived in Maine by 4:00 pm.
In Maine, I dropped April off at her home before going home. At home, I unpacked the overnight bag and put it away. I was still shaken by the news. Part of me lost Kayla all over again.
"Mary Anne," a voice was heard.
It was Dawn who came in.
"I noticed you were all shaken up when you came. Are you okay?" asked Dawn.
"The cemetery where Kayla got caught on fire," I replied.
"Really? Let's sit before you get all worked up," said Dawn as we sat on my bed.
"What's worse is that all the graves including hers got burned down," I said. "It was on the news last night."
"Wow," said Dawn.
"Thank god Kaylee wasn't with me. She would've been worse than me," I said. "I'm debating to tell her mom. I don't want to bug her if she's still sick."
"I don't blame you," said Dawn.
Later, I was next door at the Willis'.
"Are you busy?" I asked.
"No," said Mrs. Willis. "What's up? You look shaky. Let's talk on the back porch."
Out there, I told her what was going on while I was sobbing. "I was so upset when I saw that. I was just there, too."
"I don't watch much news, but I'll let Kaylee know when she's better," said Mrs. Willis taking my hand.
"I lost my best friend again," I said. "I didn't want to text her in case she's sleeping."
"You were right to come over to tell me first," said Mrs. Willis.
At the dinner, Dad announced it was time for dinner. When they all came to the table, they noticed something was missing: Me.
"Where's Mary Anne?" asked Sharon.
"She's not hungry tonight," said Dawn as she came to the table. That was when she told them about what was going on. "We had a long talk. She was shaken by the news and she was crying."
"That doesn't sound," said Carlos.
"I know. I felt bad for her," said Dawn.
"I'll go see her after dinner," said Dad.
After dinner, I was in my room, I heard Dad, "Mary Anne."
He came in to be with me. "Are you okay? I heard about happened."
"It was on the news. I had just visited her grave earlier in the day. I don't get why someone would do that. I felt I lost my best friend all over," I said.
"I know, honey," said Dad.
"I'm just glad Kaylee that didn't come with us," I said. "She would've been upset or furious."
"I thought about that, too," said Dad.
"I already told her mom and will tell her when she's better," I said.
Grandma Verna wasn't home at the time. She still volunteers. She was at Bingo.