I had to go very quietly so she wouldn't know I was there. Once she turned around suddenly and I had to duck behind a bush so she wouldn't see me. When we reached the Pikes', I hovered around the end of their driveway while Kristy went inside. I waited until the door had closed behind her. Then I rang the bell.

Mr. and Mrs. Pike were in a rush. Mrs. Pike let me in hurriedly and she and her husband started giving Kristy and me instructions. They were gone almost before I knew it. As soon as they left, the kids surrounded Kristy and me. They like baby-sitters.

"What's for dinner?" asked Byron, whose hobby is eating.

"Cold fried chicken or tuna sandwiches," Kristy replied.

"Can I have both?"

"No," Kristy said.

"Yes," I said.

"I don't like chicken or tunafish," Margo complained.

"Then make yourself a peanut butter sandwich," suggested Mallory.

"Okay," agreed Margo.

"When do we eat?" asked Byron.

"Six o'clock," I answered.

"Six-thirty," said Kristy.

"Can I watch cartoons?" asked Claire.

"Can we make an obstacle course in the living room?" asked Jordan, speaking for the triplets.

"Can I just read?" asked Vanessa, who's quiet. "I'm in the middle of The Phantom Toll-booth."

"Can I color?" asked Margo.

"Can we start a baseball game?" asked Nicky.

"Can I help make dinner?" asked Mallory.

"Yes, no, yes, yes, no, and yes," I replied.

The kids laughed. Kristy scowled.

"Let's do something together," said Adam. "There are ten people. We could do something with teams, five on a team."

"Hey, Kristy," I said, suddenly inspired.