"Claire got some silly idea that I had been kidnapped, when all I told her was that I wanted to take a little nap later this afternoon. Then, while I .was down in the basement getting some cans of tomatoes for dinner, the boys tried to frighten her."

"I'm telling!" Jordan bellowed from the backyard. "You're going to get it!"

"No, you are!" Adam replied.

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

A loud crash sounded from the kitchen, and my mother put her hands to her face. "My casserole!" She looked up at me and pleaded, "Mallory, please do something about the boys!"

I wanted to tell Mom the great news about Young Authors Day, and how I planned to win the contest. I also wanted to tell her that if my sisters and brothers didn't leave me alone, I'd never finish my homework and then I'd never get a chance to start my story. But my mom looked worse than I felt, so I held my tongue.

I checked the mantel clock again as I came downstairs and saw that it was nearly 5:15. I

had just enough time to quiet the triplets and get over to Claudia's house.

So I opened the back door — and the triplets plowed right into me. Then Nicky ran up behind me, shouting, "Mallory! Frodo got loose again!"

I felt this tight lump forming in my throat, and suddenly I wanted to cry. Seven brothers and sisters is just too many! I hate to admit this but sometimes I wish they would disappear so that I could have a normal life. Like Jessi and the rest of my friends . . .

Chapter 2.

At 5:20 I grabbed my bike and pedaled as fast as I could away from my four brothers, my three sisters, and my unfinished homework. I ducked my head down low and made a beeline for Bradford Court, where Friday's meeting of the Baby-sitters Club was about to begin. I guess now would be the best time to tell you about the members of the BSC, since the club is one the most important things in my life (along with Young Authors Day now).