"Good." The phone rang then, and I told Mom not to bother with it. Whatever it was, I would handle it. "Hello?" I said. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to wish that Sam Thomas would be on the other end of the line. Sam is my new friend. Who's a boy. I hesitate to call him my boyfriend, but, well, we date sometimes. Sam happens to be the older brother of Kristy Thomas, president of the Baby-sitters Club and one of my good friends. Sometimes this situation has been a bit awkward, but that never prevents me from hoping Sam will call.

    "Hi, Stace! It's your old dad," said the caller cheerfully.

    "Hi, Old Dad!" I replied. "You sound, urn, perky." "I have good news. Would you like to hear it?" "Definitely." "Your old dad has finally been promoted." "Hey, great!" I cried.

    "Nope," said Dad. This is better than 'Hey, great.' This is major. I've been named vice-president of the company. I'm getting a raise, a bigger office, the works. It's what I've been waiting for." "Oh, my lord! Congratulations! Dad, that's fantastic!" "Thank you, thank you. You can't see it, but I'm taking a bow." (I giggled.) "The company is even holding a dinner in my honor." "Wow." That was impressive.

    "I'd love for you to be there." "Where? At the dinner?" "Where else?" "You mean kids can come?" "Well, I don't think any other kids will be there. But you're special. You're the daughter of the man being honored. You can be my date." "Cool. Okay. When is the dinner?" I was hoping Dad would say it was going to be on a Wednesday night or something, and then I could have a little break from school. But he didn't.

    "It's a week from this coming Friday," he replied. "I thought you could stay in the city for the weekend. We'll make it special. I'll get tickets to something for Saturday night" - when Dad says "tickets to something" he means tickets to something on Broadway, like a play or a musical - "we'll eat at Tavern on the Green, go out for Sunday brunch, what- ever you want.