Dawn- California, here I am! I can't wait to see my friends here for the next two days! I bet Stephie would want to see Mary Anne again. Sure enough, she was excited to see her favorite sitter.

The next day, we were heading to California and some of us get to spend the two nights with my dad, stepmom, and Jeff. Richard and Mr. Thomas planned to do the same thing.

"I can't wait to see Stephie again," said Mary Anne.

"I bet she's our mystery guest," I said.

"Me, too," said Mary Anne.

Later that afternoon, at my house, we had a surprise visitor.

Mary Anne and I said, "Hi."

"Hi, Dawn," said Stephie.

"Hi," said Mary Anne.

"Mary Anne!" Stephie exclaimed as she went to hug her.

"Carol asked us to watch Stephie. She just got here this morning," said Dad.

Don't get confused. That's my stepmom's name, too.

"My daddy got a cold," said Stephie.

"He will call when he gets better," said Dad.

"Want us to take over while we're here?" I asked.

"Sure," said Dad. "I'll take over when you leave if her father's not better."

"Okay," I said.

"Stephie may want to spend some time with Mary Anne, too," said Dad.

"Of course," said Mary Anne.

That night, Stephie wanted to sit with Mary Anne at dinnertime, so we decided to let them sit together. They don't see each other very often, so that was understandable.

The next day, we decided to take a drive into town. My California friends got permission to be with us for the day! I couldn't wait for that! They would be meeting us at the Cafe for lunch and would be with us for the rest of the day.

"Can I come?" asked Stephie.

"Sure," I said. "We don't mind."

At lunch, my best friend, Sunny said, "Too bad you're here until tomorrow."

"Yeah, I know, but we'd be going to New Mexico next," I said.

"Wow," said Maggie.

"I can't wait for that," said Mary Anne. "Mexican food is so good. I like tacos and Spanish rice."

"Me, too," said Stephie.

"Yuck, let me know on how it went," I said.

"Tough luck," said Mary Anne as we laughed about it.

After lunch, we were able to hang out for the rest of the afternoon.

We were browsing in the gift shops for awhile until it was time to go.

"Already?" asked Sunny.

"We can have dinner together," I said.

"Oh, good," said Sunny.

That's what we did.

"This was a fun day," said Maggie.

"It sure was," said Jill.

We went back to my house after bringing them home. At the house, we got ready to bed.