Mary Anne is the club secretary. She keeps the record book in order. The record book lists everyone's schedules (my orthodontist appointments, Jessi's ballet classes, Stacey's doctor appointments, etc.). It also contains information about our clients - addresses, rates paid, plus records of our charges' allergies or any special problems.

By checking the record book, Mary Anne can figure out which of us is free to take a particular job. Once we decide who will take it, we call the client back.

Stacey is the club treasurer. She's a math whiz, which makes her the natural choice for the job. She collects the dues and keeps the money in a big manila envelope. We use the money to help pay Claudia's phone bill, and to pay Kristy's brother, Charlie, to drive Kristy and Shannon to meetings, since they live so far away. We also use the money to restock our Kid-Kits from time to time. If there's any money left over (sometimes there is, thanks to Stacey's good money management) we put it toward something fun such as a pizza party or a slumber party.

These days, Shannon is the alternate officer (that's usually Dawn's job). The alternate officer must know everyone's job, so that she can fill in if anyone is absent. Jessi and I are called junior officers, but we don't have any special duties.

At this particular meeting, the phone didn't start ringing until about a quarter to six. No one had any new business either. So, while Claudia passed~ around a bag of Doritos, and Mary Anne wrote in the club notebook, I told the others about Jessi's and my English assignment. "Does anyone have any good ideas for us?" I asked.

"I have an idea for Jessi," said Stacey. "Why don't you write down the stories of some famous ballets? Sometimes when I go to the ballet with my father at Lincoln Center, I have no idea what the story is. I mean, the dancing is gorgeous and all, but it would be nice to understand the story behind the dance. You could make a book of the stories." "What a great idea!" said Jessi. "I could do Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and The Firebird!" "And you wouldn't have to interview Madame Noelle," I said, laughing.