Claudia offered to take over Kristy's baby – sitting jobs while she was out for the week for her relative's funeral, and her friends were fine with that, and even Kristy liked the idea as well. Claudia had mentioned it to Kristy before she left to the funeral.
"I'll be sure to call and let you know when I'll be back," Kristy had told her.
Claudia had taken a baby – sitting job with Mallory since she comes from a big family. Kristy was supposed to have that job, and the Pikes were fine with that, so she arrived at Mallory's a bit before two o'clock. The Pikes were doing something in town, which was going to lunch and a movie.
Mallory answered the door for her when she rang the doorbell.
"Come on in, Claud," Mallory told her.
"Thanks. Have your mom and dad left yet?"
"No, but I'll let them know you're here," Mallory replied as she closed the front door when Claudia walked in.
Claudia looked around. She didn't see any of the other children quite yet.
Mallory returned.
"Mom is now putting on some makeup before they leave."
"Where are your sisters and brothers?"
"Some are trying to get their homework started or done, so it'll be a while until you see them."
It was only Tuesday, so instead of going to lunch, Mallory's parents were doing dinner and a movie instead. They could have done that when everybody was at school, and her father switched it up to after school was over for the day.
Claudia had left her homework at home instead of bringing it over.
"I have some news for you, but it'll have to wait until tomorrow's meeting. Kristy can hear about it when she comes back from the funeral."
"Good or bad?"
"Good, actually. Jessi might be a bit jealous when I mention it at tomorrow's meeting."
"I'll pass this over to the other girls at lunch tomorrow," Claudia replied as they saw Mr. and Mrs. Pike coming downstairs.
"Thank you for coming over, Claudia," Mr. Pike said.
"Anytime."
"Mallory, we'll be sure to call and let you know when we're coming home after the movie's over," Mrs. Pike said.
"It's going to be late, right?"
"It looks that way. You know how it is at the movie theater."
"I know, Dad. Claudia and I will do just fine."
That's when her parents opened the garage door and drove off.
"What would a good idea for dinner tonight?" Claudia asked.
"Mom said soup and sandwiches."
"That's easy. I decided to leave my backpack at home. My homework can wait."
"I don't have much, which I'm happy about."
"Neither do I, but am always happy about that. What do you have tonight?" Claudia asked as they saw Vanessa and Nicky join them.
"Aren't you supposed to do your homework?" Mallory asked her sister and brother.
"We're thirsty, and will be back. What's for dinner?" Nicky asked as he followed Vanessa into the kitchen.
"Mom said soup and sandwiches."
"No pizza?"
"Not this time."
"Bummer," Nicky said.
"That's what Mom wants for us tonight," Mallory replied.
Claudia only watched Mallory and Nicky, but didn't want to get involved with both pizza and soup.
"I'll help you with the soup and sandwiches," Claudia offered.
"Thanks, Claud. Appreciate it."
Claudia didn't reply.
"Do you know what movie your parents wanted to see?"
"I forget what it's called, but I do know for sure that the rating is something we're not old enough to watch."
"I understand. Looks like Janine is starting to date somebody."
"Did she say anything about it?" Mallory asked.
"No. I don't make that any of my business," she replied.
"You better save this for the meeting tomorrow."
"I plan to."
"That way nobody would miss out. Except for Kristy since she's at the funeral."
"Right. She's going to call me when they get back here in Stoneybrook."
"That's good," Mallory said.
"From what you just said at the last meeting, Mallory, it should be fun to see how the rest of the week would look like without Kristy."
"But you seem to be doing okay as president, even though it's been only a day so far."
"Thank you," Claudia told her.
It was finally time to start thinking about the soup and sandwiches they were going to have. Mallory helped Claudia by doing the soup. Claudia had helped watch Mallory's brothers and sisters several times in the past, so it was nothing new.
"Vanessa, would you call the other to join us?" Mallory asked her sister.
Vanessa didn't reply back, so all she did was head upstairs to let everybody else know dinner was ready.
"Thank you, Vanessa."
"You're welcome."
Everybody ran into the kitchen after Vanessa did.
"I'm done with my homework," Margo told them.
"May I watch some TV after dinner?"
"How about the rest of you?" Mallory asked.
"I'm almost done," Adam agreed as both Claire and Vanessa nodded in agreement.
"How about you?" Bryon asked Mallory.
"I'm doing it later. You don't need to know about my homework. You only pay attention to yours," Mallory said.
Everybody was able to talk about anything except for school. Once they all ran into the living room so the could watch TV for a while. After the TV was turned on a couple minutes later, Mallory told Claudia. "I should get started on mine also. Where's yours?"
"At home. Don't worry about me, Mallory."
"All right. Looking forward to hearing about your announcement tomorrow at the meeting."
"I know, but we've been talking about it for a while."
Mallory felt bad that Kristy couldn't be at the meeting to hear about it.
"If Kristy didn't have to go to that funeral, she would get to hear about this news."
"I don't think Kristy has anymore baby – sitting jobs after this one. I'll look at the schedule what Mary Anne did with it. I know she has not available for her. This is why I offered to take over."
"She can make up for it next week, Claud."
"I know."
"She'd be happy to hear how well we did without her being here to miss out on some news."
Claudia agreed with her.
Mallory washed the dishes since it was her turn to them since Adam did it last night.
After Mallory finished with the dishes, the phone began to ring.
"Maybe it's Mom and Dad."
"They might have changed their minds about that movie," Claudia guessed.
"Let's wait and see. Hi, Did."
Mallory listened to what her father was telling her.
"I'll pass it on. Everybody has their homework done and watching some cartoons, so there's nothing new. See you soon."
"What did they say?"
"You were right about them changing their minds. Had to wait in line since they all wanted tickets."
"No wonder they decided to go back home. It's a school night too."
"That was one other reasons why Mom and Dad changed their minds, even though it means you're still here."
Mallory decided her homework could wait for a while since she walked into the living room to tell the others their parents are on the way home.
"That was fast," Margo replied.
"Yes. Mom and Dad decided the weekend was probably the better time since we don't have any school."
"Does that mean we have to start thinking about going to bed?" Claire asked.
"That's what Dad wanted me to share with you."
"Bummer," Nicky repeated.
The others followed him upstairs and joined in on the complaining.
Once everyone was in bed, Mallory said, "Now is the perfect time to get started on homework for me, even though it's not much."
"I'll just turn the TV on and see what the weather is like. I'll see you later."
"I'm only doing it here in the kitchen anyway, so I'm not worried about where I want to do it."
Before they knew it, the Pikes returned from their date.
Mallory was still in the kitchen when her parents both walked through the front door.
"How did it go tonight, Claudia?" Mr. Pike asked.
"Okay. Everybody didn't complain much."
"Glad to hear that," Mrs. Pike said as they all saw Mallory join them.
Mr. Pike opened his wallet to give them both money.
"Thank you for staying here to help out Mallory," he told her.
"I don't mind doing it again in the future."
"See you at the meeting tomorrow."
"Yes, you would. See you then."
Claudia was home in no time. Now it was her tur to get her homework done.