I looked at Janine's friends. (There weren't too many of them.) The boys were carrying slide rules and protractors in their shirt pockets. The girls were, too, I realized. And not one of them looked like they'd seen the inside of a clothing store in years. The boys' pants were too short, and both the girls and boys were wearing stuff that didn't match, like checks with plaids. How did they dress in the morning? By closing their eyes, reaching into their closets, and wearing whatever they happened to pull out?

I knew my thoughts were very mean. I was just mad because of all the attention Janine was getting.

Anyway, Mom and Dad and I said goodbye to my sister, and then we walked outside.

"See you later, sweetie," Mom called to me as she slid into the front seat of her car. "I should be home right after your club meeting." "Okay, Mom. 'Bye!" Dad and I got into his car. I tried not to show how bad I was feeling. I didn't want Dad to think I was jealous. But I was.

Plus, it was Monday.

The only good thing about any Monday is that my friends and I hold a Baby-sitters Club meeting after school. We hold meetings on Wednesday and Friday afternoons, too. The club, which is really a business, was started by my friend Kristy Thomas to baby-sit for kids in our neighborhoods. I like the club for two reasons. One, I love to baby-sit. Two, I love having a group of close friends. In fact, I should probably introduce you to my friends.

The club members are Kristy Thomas, Stacey McGill (she's my best friend), Mary Anne Spier, Dawn Schafer, Mallory Pike, Jessi Ramsey, and me (of course). Oh, there are also two associate members who don't come to meetings - their names are Shannon Kilbourne and Logan Bruno (a boy!) - but I'll explain about them later.