Susan performed her trick again.

Everyone was aghast - the teasers, the Hobarts, the Pikes.

I felt extremely proud of Susan.

Chapter 8.

Stacey arrived at my house at a hectic time. Nannie was rushing out the door, afraid she'd be late meeting her friends. Sam and Charlie were standing in the kitchen, begging. They'd remembered that they'd promised to bring food - potato chips or something - to the party they were going to, and not only had they forgotten to pick anything up, but they were broke.

"Gee, you wouldn't be broke if you had a great job like mine," I said.

Boy. If looks could kill. Sam and Charlie gave me Dagger Eyes.

I shrugged. Then I led Stacey into the den. On our way I could hear Mom saying to my brothers, "You mean neither of you has any money?" In the den were Karen, Andrew, Emily, and David Michael. They were watching The Wizard of Oz on the VCR.

"Remember," I said, "you can only watch until Dorothy leaves Munchkinland. Then the TV goes off." "You're not in charge," replied David Michael, never taking his eyes off the set. "You don't make the rules tonight." Mom appeared in the doorway. "You can only watch until Dorothy leaves Munchkin-land," she said. "Then the TV goes off." "Darn," said David Michael.

"Bullfrogs," said Karen.

Sam and Charlie left then, each carrying a bag of potato chips, which Watson had probably given them. And then I left with Mom and Watson. They were going to drop me off at Susan's, and the Felders were going to bring me back later.

Stacey was alone with my little brothers and sisters. She sat on the floor and watched the movie with them. "Okay," she said after awhile. "Dorothy's outta there. Time to turn the set off." Some minor arguing followed.

"She's not out yet," said Karen. "She's on the Yellow Brick Road and she hasn't met the Scarecrow. So I think she's still in - " The Scarecrow appeared on the screen at that very moment.