I tried to shove all my worries to the back of my mind. "Hey, Mal," I said, "let's get our hair done there, sometime!" I pointed out the window to this funny little beauty shop I've always noticed on my way into Stamford. Carmelita's Casa de Beauty, it was called. There were pictures in the window of ladies with towering hairdos, their hair teased and curled into fluffy mounds.

    "Great," said Mallory. "We'll look like poodles." She giggled. "Maybe we'd win first prize at the pet show!" "The pet show," groaned Kristy. "Please, let's forget about the pet show for one day. I've heard enough about it to last a lifetime!" Just then, Charlie pulled into the civic center's parking lot. "Okay, everybody out!" he said. "Jessi, how are they supposed to get inside?" he asked me.

    "They can use that side door," I said, pointing. "Can you help everyone sneak in? It's going to be dark in the back of the theater." By then, the BSC members had piled out of the backseat. "Good luck, Jessi," said Mallory. "We'll be watching!" "And taking notes," said Dawn. She held up a little notebook and a tiny flashlight shaped like a pen.

    "Wow," I said. "You guys are serious about this detective stuff. Please be careful - and don't get caught." "We won't," said Claudia. "Don't worry - just forget we're even here. Have a good rehearsal, Jessi!" I waved at them as they headed for the side entrance, led by Charlie. I knew he'd help get them settled before he took off to do the errands he'd been planning to do for his mother and Watson.

    Then I turned and went into the backstage entrance. I shivered a little as I opened the door, remembering the excitement of the other performances I'd danced in. I only hoped that The Sleeping Beauty would come off as well as they had.