This is a tragedy where Claudia is concerned. See, the thing about Claud is that she's smart, but she doesn't apply herself, as her teachers are always pointing out. Claud would much rather read a good Nancy Drew book (she's hooked) or work on her art. Usually her art takes priority. (That means that it's more important.) And no wonder. Claudia is a fantastic artist. Her work is incredibly distant. (That's a word my friends and I made up to mean supercool.) Claud can sculpt, paint, draw, make collages, you name it. She even makes her own jewelry.

That's another thing. Claudia's clothes. She's a real fashion plate. Talk about distant. Her clothes are so distant. Claudia is the most interesting dresser I know. She is always wearing things like Day-Glo high-top sneakers, cut-up jeans, off-the-shoulder sweat shirts (sometimes torn), and friendship bracelets. (Her best friend is Stacey McGill, the club treasurer, and Claud braided friendship bracelets for both of them.)

Claud is exotic-looking. She's Asian and has

long black hair that she fixes a million ways, almond-shaped eyes, and a complexion I would die for. How come I get pimples sometimes and Claud never does? Especially since she's addicted to junk food. She hides it all over her room. (Her parents, naturally, don't approve of this.) Also, she has two holes pierced in one ear and one hole in the other.

As I mentioned, the BSC treasurer is Stacey McGill. Two things about Stacey: 1. She is the most distant of all of us. 2. She has had the most problems of all of us (in my opinion).

Stacey originally came from New York City. That's where she grew up, and I think that's why she's so sophisticated. Stacey's clothes are at least as distant as Claudia's, and she gets to have her hair permed and stuff. She has pierced ears, of course, and she is slightly boy-crazy. But, her life has not been easy. First, Stacey's father's company transferred him to Stamford, Connecticut, which is not far from Stoneybrook, so Stacey had to leave New York and her friends at the beginning of seventh grade. Then, the McGills had only been living here for about a year when Stacey's father was transferred back to New York. And not long afterward, the McGills decided to get a divorce. Not only that, Mrs. McGill planned to return to Stoneybrook, while Mr. McGill