"We're here! We're here!"

The front door to my house burst open and in barged Karen and Andrew. Karen and Andrew are my stepsister and stepbrother. Karen is six and Andrew is four, and Karen was the one doing the yelling. Andrew is sort of quiet and shy. In fact, he's very quiet and shy. He's the opposite of Karen. It's hard to believe they're brother and sister.

"Hi, you guys!" I called. I was on the upstairs landing, looking down. I ran to greet them. "I'm so glad you're here early. I'm glad your mom had to go out."

"Me too!" exclaimed Karen. She slung her knapsack on the floor.

Andrew put his down more gently. "Me too," he whispered.

I hugged Andrew and Karen, and then Karen ran off to check on things - her room,Shannon (our puppy), and Boo-Boo (our cat).

Andrew glanced at me and said, "Maybe David Michael wants to play catch." He looked terribly hopeful.

"He might," I said. "He's out in the backyard. Why don't you go see."

Are you confused yet? I'll stop here so 1 can introduce myself and explain who all these people are. My name is Kristy Thomas. I'm thirteen and in the eighth grade. One of the most important things to know about me is that I am the president, founder, and creator of a business called the Baby-sitters Club.

David Michael is my brother. He's seven. 1 have two other brothers. They're in high school. Sam is fifteen and Charlie is seventeen. Up until not long ago my three brothers and I lived with our mother in a small house across town here inStoneybrook,Connecticut . (Our parents are divorced.) Then my mom met this guy, Watson Brewer, a divorced millionaire. Practically before we knew it, she had married him and he had moved us into his house - which is a mansion.

Karen and Andrew are Watson's children. They live with us every other weekend and for two weeks during the summer. The rest of the time they live with their mother and stepfather.