Okay, it isn't that bad, but it is messy. Claudia needs all sorts of supplies for her projects, and there just isn't enough room for them on her shelves and in her closet. So she's stored boxes of stuff under her bed, in stacks against the wall, everywhere. She's also a junk-food addict, and she really has to hide her Fritos and Doritos and Heath Bars and M&Ms well. That's because her parents don't approve of her habit and told Claud, "No junk food," but she just couldn't give it up. It's hidden everywhere - in the boxes of art supplies, in drawers, even in her pillow.

So Dawn and I weren't too surprised to see Claudia half under the bed. I'm not supposed to eat right before dinner. Even so, I hoped she was searching for food, not art materials. I was pretty hungry.

"Hi, you guys," said Kristy with a smile, as Dawn and I entered Claud's room. "What's going on?" (We had all just seen each other at school, but that didn't matter. Every time we get together, it's as if we haven't spoken in a week.) "We rode downtown to buy toys for Tigger," I replied. "What's Claud doing?" "Looking for my Double Stuff Oreos," answered Claudia from under the bed, only it sounded as if she said, "Lummy fummy dummy fuff ooeey." "Oh, good!" exclaimed Kristy. "Double Stuff Oreos." "How on earth could you understand her?" Dawn asked Kristy as she and I settled ourselves gingerly on the bed. We didn't want to crush the vice-president beneath us.

Kristy shrugged. "Practice." Claudia emerged from her junk-food hiding place with an unopened package of Double Stuff Oreos in one hand.

"Oh, yum," said Kristy, looking as if she might faint from happiness.

While Claud was opening the cookies, Jessi and Mal arrived.

"Great. We're all here," announced Kristy. "Let's begin." Mal and Jessi took their usual places on the floor, Claudia passed the cookies around, and Kristy called our meeting to order. As president, that's one of her jobs.