Mary Anne was entering Jessi's trip in the BSC record book, in her neat handwriting. She's the club secretary, which is the hardest job. She keeps track of our sitting schedules, making sure to remember all our conflicts — doctor and orthodontist appointments, ballet classes, and after-school activities. Plus she constantly has to update our client list, complete with current rates (they vary from client to client). On top of that she keeps a detailed description of the likes and dislikes of all our charges.

Know how many mistakes she's made? Zero. And knowing her, she probably never will.

Jessi, by the way, is really into ballet. You should see her perform. Incredible! She practically glides in the air. She takes lessons in Stamford and has danced major roles in various productions. Someday she's going to be a pro. And you heard it here first.

I can't mention Jessi without mentioning Mallory Pike. They're best friends, and our junior members. Junior because they're eleven years old and in sixth grade, two years younger than the rest of us. They both have early curfews, so they mainly take on afternoon jobs. Here's what they have in common: they love to read (especially horse books), they're convinced their parents treat them like babies, they're the oldest kids in their families, and they're extremely creative. Mallory's talents are writing and illustrating. She wants to be a children's book author someday.

Here's what they don't have in common: Jessi's black and Mal's white, Mal wears glasses and braces (Jessi doesn't), and Jessi has a much smaller family than Mal's. There are eight Pike kids altogether (yes, eight). Jessi has only two siblings: an eight-year-old sister named Becca and a baby brother named John

Philip Ramsey, Jr. (Squirt, for short).