"Sure," I replied dully. What else could go wrong? I dialed Kristy's number again.

David Michael answered. "Hello, this is David Michael speaking. Who's calling, please?"

"It's Mary Anne," I told him.

"Hi!" he cried. "When are you going to come over and baby-sit for me again? Remember the

last time you came? We bowled paper cups down the stairs."

"Yeah, that was fun, wasn't it?"

"Yeah!"

"David Michael, can you call Kristy for me, please? I have to talk to her."

"Sure."

When Kristy got on the phone, she didn't say a word. I just guessed that she was there because I heard light breathing.

"Kristy?"

"WHAT?"

"Watson wants you to sit on Saturday — from two-thirty until five," I added pointedly.

"Fine."

"I'll call him back. Good-bye."

We hung up.

The phone rang again. "Hello, the Babysitters Club," I said.

"Hi, Mary Anne. It's Mrs. Newton again. I forgot to ask you whether you and Kristy and Claudia and Stacey want to come to Jamie's fourth birthday party. It's in about two weeks, and I'd like you girls to be there as helpers as well as guests. We've invited sixteen children, so I'm going to need lots of help."

"Sure!" I exclaimed. "I mean, if we can make it. It sounds like fun. I'll have to call the other girls."

Mrs. Newton gave me the information about the party, and I began to call the club members. Luckily, Stacey wasn't home, so I left a message with Mrs. McGill for Stacey to call Mrs. Newton.

One down, two to go. I didn't want to call Kristy a third time, but I didn't want to talk to Claudia in person, either.

I flipped a coin.