"The End" with a great big flourish, and hoped for the best.

Then I did the math assignment and read aboutParaguay for social studies.

And then it was time to think about the Babysitters Club.

I smoothed out a fresh piece of paper and started making a list:

1. Members: Me

Mary Anne Claudia Who else!

2. Advertising: Fliers Telephone Newspaper!

3. Set up meeting times when clients can call to line up sitters. Where to meet!

4. Weekly dues for expenses!

My idea was that Mary Anne and Claudia and I would form a club to do baby-sitting. We would tell people (our clients) that at certain times during the week we could all be reached

at one number. We would hold our meetings during those times. That way when someone needed a sitter, he or she could make one phone call and reach three different people. One of us would be available for sure. Of course, people could call us individually at other times, but the beauty of the meetings would be the opportunity to reach several babysitters at once. That way, our clients wouldn't have to go through what Mom had just gone through at dinner.

We would have to advertise ourselves, I decided. I was hoping Claudia would help us make up some fliers to stick in the mailboxes in our neighborhood. She'd be able to draw something really cute on our ads.

I looked at my watch. It was aquarter to nine . Fifteen more minutes before I was supposed to signal Mary Anne. I was getting edgy. I had such a terrific idea and I couldn't even pick up the phone like a normal human being to tell Mary Anne about it. Mr. Spier would just tell me I could see Mary Anne in school tomorrow.

I sighed.

Mom knocked on my door. I knew it was Mom because none of my brothers ever bothers to knock. They just barge in.