Bart raised his hand, "How about 'We're Off To See the Wizard'?" he asked.

"Perfect," I said. "Ready, everyone?" I got them started, and then after two verses I tapped my little brother David Michael on the shoulder. "You conduct now," I whispered to him. He took over, and I leaned back in my seat and sighed. Listening to nine voices singing the same song was about a hundred times better than listening to nine different songs. "Nice going, Kristy," said Bart. "Yeah," said Charlie from the driver's seat. "Thanks!"

Whew. Once again, I'd had an idea that saved the day. I don't mean to sound conceited, but that happens to me a lot. Getting ideas, I mean. I don't know where they come from; they just pop into my brain all by themselves. My stepfather, Watson Brewer, calls it "the eternal mystery of the creative process." I call it luck.

I guess I should introduce myself. My name's Kristy Thomas (Kristin Amanda Thomas, if you want to be formal), and I'm thirteen and in the eighth grade at Stoneybrook Middle School, which is in the little town of Stoneybrook, Connecticut. I have medium-length brown hair, brown eyes, and I'm short for my age. I'm not one of those girls you sometimes see who look like they stepped

out of a fashion magazine. In fact, I'm the opposite of that. I don't care much about how clothes look. I just want them to be comfortable. that’s why I usually wear jeans and turtlenecks and running shoes.

That Saturday, in the van, it was way too hot for jeans and a turtleneck. I was really glad I'd worn shorts and a T-shirt instead. On my T-shirt was written the name of my softball team; it said Krushers, in red. Bart was wearing a shirt that looked a lot like it, except his said Bashers. that’s the name of his team. Some of the kids in the van — Jerry, Joey, Chris, and Patty — are Bashers. The others — David Michael, Buddy, Karen, Jackie, and Nicky — are Krushers. But for that day, all nine kids were Krashers. That's right, Krashers. Bart and I had combined some of the players on each of our teams to make an "all-star" squad that could play teams from other towns. That's why we were traveling the thirty miles to Redfield.