Twice recently, I had tried waiting for Kristy at my window with the flashlight after my father said good-night to me. The first time, Kristy's room stayed dark, and the second time, she didn't bother going to the window. Her shade was up, and I could see her in her room — doing her homework, talking to her mother, and playing with Louie, the Thomases' collie. But she never once even looked toward her window. How long would our fight go on?

I considered telling Dawn about it, and decided not to.

The next time it was my turn to answer the Baby-sitters Club phone calls, I didn't have nearly as easy a time as I'd had before. For one thing, Claudia was at home, and she was not pleased to have me in her room. She put a tape in her tape deck and played it so loudly that the first time the phone rang I almost didn't hear it.

"Hello!" I shouted into the receiver. "Babysitters Club!"

I'm sure the person on the other end of the phone said something, but all I could hear

was: "DUM-DE-DUM-DE-DUM DUM. CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOU-OU-OU-OU-OU."

"What?" I yelled.

"DE-DOOOO. DE-DOOOO. MY LIFE IS YOU-OU-OU-OU-OU."

"CLAUDIA, CAN YOU PLEASE TURN THAT DOWN?" I shouted.

Claudia ignored me. She began singing along with the tape. "DE-DOOOO/' she sang, "DE-DOP. IT'S LIFE AT THE TOP, THE TOP!"

I tried putting my finger in one ear. "HELLO?"

Very faintly, I could hear a voice say, "Why are you shouting? Is everything all right?"

"MRS. NEWTON? I MEAN, Mrs. Newton, is that you?"

"Yes. Mary Anne? What's all that noise?"

"Oh . . . just some music."

"Well, listen, I need a sitter Wednesday afternoon for Jamie. I'm going to visit a friend for a couple of hours and I'll be taking the baby with me. Is anyone available?"

Claudia's tape was between songs, so I could hear a lot better. "I'll have to check," I said. "I know I'm not free."

"Could you check with Kristy first? I think Jamie would like to see her."