One thing you never, ever do as a BSC member is cancel an appointment — unless you have somebody to cover for you. (Even then Kristy chews you out.)

With a sigh, I slumped onto the bed. I was

stuck. I was going to have to let down all those kids.

Well, maybe not. We hadn't said we were definitely doing it. Had we?

I waited a few minutes and picked up the phone again. Adam was finished, so I called Ben.

I explained everything to him. I hoped he wouldn't be too mad.

The first thing he said was, "Cancel it."

"Cancel my job?" I asked. "I can't do that."

"Well, you said you'd do this first."

"Yeah, but this is a job."

"So? What am I going to tell the kids?"

"Ben, we said we'd think about caroling. We didn't say we would do it!"

"Tell them that. My brothers have been practicing! They can't wait."

I fell silent. I could hear Ben breathing like an angry bull. "I ... I don't know what to say," I murmured.

"So you're going to cancel on us?" Now he was practically shouting.

"I have to, Ben."

"Fine. Great. Whatever."

Click.

I stared at the receiver, gaping.

He hung up on me. Just slammed the phone

down without saying good-bye.

What a jerk.

I slammed the phone down, too. Let him take the kids by himself. Let him do whatever he wanted by himself.

No way was I ever going to talk to him again.

Chapter 5.

Suzi.

You know what Stacey calls me? A little dictator. Because I dictated my entry to her.

Stacey thinks that is very funny.

I know how to write. But it takes too long. Anyway, I really like the way Stacey puts hearts on her i' s. So I let her write, when she baby-sat for me.

I am in my old house. I miss it so much. Even though I still live here. That's because my family will be moving. So we're kind of connected to the new house now.