The club notebook is another of Kristy's big ideas. It's a good one, I guess, but it's kind of a pain, too. In the notebook, each of us is supposed to write up every single job we go on, and tell what happened and how the kids behaved and stuff. Then we're supposed to read the book at least once a week to find out what's happened on the jobs our friends have taken. This is helpful, but it sure uses up a lot of time.

We assured Kristy that we'd been reading the notebook. Then Claudia passed around some of the junk food she keeps hidden in her room, most of which I can't eat. I settled for some pretzels.

And then the phone began to ring — my favorite part of each meeting! People call us needing sitters, and we divide the jobs up according to who's free. It was a good day.

The phone rang six times, and we each got one job, except for Dawn, who wound up with two. My job was with Charlotte Johanssen.

Our meetings end atsix o'clock , but that evening we all sat around a few minutes longer. Even Mary Anne did, and she usually rushes right home to start dinner for her and her father. At6:05 , the phone rang again.

"A late job call?" I wondered aloud. "It's a good thing we're still here." I picked up the phone since I was sitting closest to it. "Hello, Baby-sitters Club. . . . Oh, hi, Mom." (Why was my mother calling?)

"Honey," said Mom, "would you please come on home? You're late."

"It's onlyfive after six ," I pointed out. I usually haven't even reached my house byfive after six .

"I'd like you to hurry home," she said firmly.

Something in her voice made my heart leap into my mouth, "Okay," I said, feeling scared. "I'll be right there. 'Bye." I hung up. "I have to go, you guys," I told my friends. "I don't know what it is, but something's wrong."