The Pikes are good customers, even though they usually just need a sitter for Claire and Mar go and the younger children. The older ones can take care of themselves. However, Mrs. Pike's call was not one of her usual ones.

"Hi, Mary Anne," she said. "Listen, Mr. Pike and I have been invited to a cocktail party over in Levittown. It'll be an early evening — we'll be back by nine — but we don't want to leave the kids alone while we're out of town,

so we need someone to sit for all of them. Actually, we need two someones."

"Okay," I said. We'd done that before — sent two sitters over to the Pike brood.

Mrs. Pike gave me the information and I said I would call her back in a few minutes when I had found out who else was available. I checked our record book. I couldn't believe it.

The only person free was Kristy.

I didn't bother to sigh or get nervous. I just picked up the phone and dialed.

Kristy answered.

"Hi, it's Mary Anne again," I said in a rush. "The Pikes need two sitters on Friday while they go to a party in Levittown. You and I are the only ones free. We'd be sitting for all the kids. Do you want to do it?"

"With you?"

"Yes."

"Not really."

"Fine. I'll get Dawn Schafer to sit with me. I don't want to let Mrs. Pike down."

"You wouldn't dare."

"I'll have to."

"Mary Anne Spier, for someone who's so shy, you sure can be — "

"What? I can be what?"

"Never mind. I'll sit with you."

"We'll have to be mature about it, you know."

"Look who's talking."

"I'm serious, Kristy. We don't want the Pike kids telling their parents that we were righting or anything."

"I think that would be impossible."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not speaking to you."

"Good," I said.