There are Kristy's softball games (she coaches a team called Kristy's Krushers), Claudia's art lessons, and Stacey's trips to New York to take into account, for example. And I have to be aware of the schedules of our alternate members, Logan Bruno and Shannon Kilbourne. They don't come to meetings, but they can fill in if we need extra sitters. Shannon lives in Kristy's new neighborhood, and I've already told you that Logan is my boyfriend.

I've never had a problem keeping up with the record book, but if I ever couldn't make it to a meeting, Dawn would take over my job. In fact, she could take over anyone's job — she's what we call our alternate officer. I think Dawn's just as happy not to have a major job; she loves the club, but she doesn't exactly crave power or responsibility.

Now Dawn, Stacey, Claudia, Kristy, and I are all thirteen and in the eighth grade. But two of our club members are eleven years old and in the sixth grade. Mallory Pike and Jessi Ramsey are our junior officers. "Junior" means that they can only sit after school or on weekend days — no nighttime jobs unless they're sitting for their own families. This is fine with them, and fine with us. They get plenty of work, and we get freed up for evening jobs.

Jessi and Mal are best friends and, like me and Kristy, they're a case of opposites attracting. Mal comes from a huge family (eight kids!), has red, curly hair, and glasses and braces, and likes to do quiet things like read and write and draw. She'd like to illustrate children's books some day. Jessi comes from a regular-sized family (three kids), has black hair, brown eyes, and beautiful chocolate-colored skin, and likes to spend her time dancing. She's studying to be a ballerina.

The two of them do have a lot in common, though. They both wish their parents would stop treating them like children (Mal would love to get contacts; Jessi would like to be able to wear mini skirts), they both love to read (especially horse stories), and they're both great baby-sitters.