Oh, and why don't you buy yourself a new dress or outfit to wear to the dinner. Put it on a charge card. I'll pay your mother back." "Awesome! Thanks, Dad! Listen, I have to go. I have a sitting job. But I'll tell Mom about the weekend, and I'll call you later so we can talk some more. Congratulations again!" A few minutes later I was once more running through the yards, and then knocking breathlessly on the Pikes' back door.

    Margo let me in. She's the seven-year-old Pike. Claire, the kindergartener, is the five-year-old. Then there are eight-year-old Nicky, nine-year-old Vanessa, and the ten-year-old triplets, Adam, Byron, and Jordan. (They're identical.) "Hurry and come in!" exclaimed Margo, tugging at my hand. "Come see what we're doing. We are very busy." Margo pulled me into the rec room where I found her brothers and sisters poring through magazines and comic books.

    "What is this? A reading club?" I asked.

    Jordan snorted. "A reading club?" "Jordan," said Mrs. Pike warningly.

    "Sorry," said Jordan immediately.

    Mrs. Pike looked at me apologetically. Then she said, "Mal, Stace - this should only take about an hour. I know you have a club meeting at five-thirty. I'll try to be back by five." "Okay/7 Mal and I replied.

    Mrs. Pike hurried through the door to the garage, and I approached Jordan. "So what are you doing?" I asked.

    "Ordering stuff," he replied.

    Vanessa looked up from a corner of the couch where she was sprawled, one magazine open in her hands, two others spread across her stomach. "You wouldn't believe what you can order," she said. "And cheaply. I already ordered a sample of hair conditioner. And a bust-developer. The bust-developer cost five dollars, almost, but the conditioner was practically free." "Now we're going to see what else we can get for free," added Nicky.

    "Here's something!" Adam called out triumphantly. "Well, it's almost free. For twenty-five cents you can order a trial pack of Ever-Flow baby bottle liners." Mal and I exchanged a Look. Oh, well. At least the kids were busy. They entertained themselves until their mother returned.