Chapter Three - Mary Anne
November 4. So very far behind goal. But this piece is a little over 1800 words (exact count: 1863), so at least I might be catching up. Kind of. Maybe.
Because Kristy and Mary Anne are BFF, yo. And the BSC always needs a good mystery.
Chapter Three - Mary Anne
Kristy, I know you said to write all of this down, but it doesn't really seem that IMPORTANT in the long run.
Mary ANNE. You promised you'd write!
I know I did, Kristy. And I am. I'm just saying I don't think it seems that important.
It doesn't matter.
I know, I know. Okay. So after our job at the Pikes' (poor Mal!), Kristy came over for dinner. And Dad managed to help us find some new clients...
Mrs. Pike got home a little late, so Kristy missed the late bus back home. Mrs. Pike apologized profusely and offered her a ride home, but I had a better idea.
"Dad and Sharon have some friends from work coming over tonight," I said. "There'll be plenty of food. Why don't you come over with me?"
"Sure," Kristy said. "Thanks."
I turned around. "You too, Mal. Come on, it'll be fun."
"Sure!" Mal said happily.
"Or not," Mrs. Pike said. "Sorry, Mal. But it's a school night."
Mal rolled her eyes dramatically, but didn't seem overly put out; she'd expected it. Her mom paid us, and Kristy and I headed over to my house.
I couldn't remember the last time wed hung out together like this. When Kristy and I lived next door to me, and I had lots of baby-sitters, we practically lived in each others' houses. But since we'd both left Bradford Court, since I'd moved in with Dawn and Sharon and Kristy moved into Watson's house, we never really got to spend time together anymore, just Kristy and me.
"I really missed this."
I turned to Kristy in surprise. "Hmm?"
"You know," she said. "Dinner at your house, dinner at mine..."
I laughed. "I was just thinking the same thing!"
"Best friend connection!" Kristy teased, but I could hear something a little more serious in her voice.
I knew Kristy was always a little upset that I had two best friends and she only had one: me. So she tends to pounce on things the two of us share. Not that she's not a fan of Dawn's- they're close friends, too- but I think sometimes Kristy's a little jealous.
I understood how she felt. I love hanging out with Dawn too, but I missed quality time with Kristy. "Exactly," I said. "Come on, we should let them know we're feeding another person."
"Is Dawn's mom cooking?" Kristy asked, making a face.
"Nope. Dad is. I've been promised meat," I said.
"Oh, good." Kristy laughed. "Remember when Sam tried to teach us how to make hamburgers?"
"And we set the smoke detector off?" I grinned. "That was fun."
"Not for Sam. Mom almost killed him." Kristy frowned. "Are you sure your dad won't mind? He is kind of strict sometimes."
"Positive. Come on." I led her up the driveway and inside. We live in an old farmhouse built in the seventeen hundreds. It has a barn, and a loft, and a secret passage from the Underground Railroad, which was where the slaves escaped to when they were rushing to freedom before the Civil War! We even have a ghost. Maybe. Dawn believes that we do, at least. I'm just glad my room isn't next to the secret passage!
We walked into the kitchen, where Sharon was putting together a salad and talking to a woman I didn't know. When Kristy and I stepped in, the other woman looked up.
"Why, Sharon, I thought your daughter was in California!" the other woman said.
"She is," Sharon said.
"Then who are these?"
Sharon looked up. "Oh, hi, girls. Well, this is Mary Anne- she's Richard's daughter from his first marriage- and that's Kristy, one of her good friends. Staying for dinner, Kristy?"
"If it's okay," Kristy said. "And if I can call my mom to let her know."
"Of course. To both. You know where the phone is." Sharon nodded at her.
I giggled. "The question is, do you?" My stepmother is a little bit absent-minded sometimes. Sharon and I both laughed at it.
"Mary Anne, this is Mrs. Parker. She works with your dad's company, but she's from California, so we were just talking about that."
"Wow, California!" I said. I'm normally shy around strangers, but I was excited. "Do you live near Dawn? Do you live near Hollywood? Have you ever seen a movie being filmed? Have you met Derek Masters? He's in P.S. 162. He lives in Stoneybrook. Have you met Cam Geary?" Cam Geary is my absolute favorite celebrity. He's an actor, and he's absolutely gorgeous. He looks just like Logan Bruno, my boyfriend.
"I live near Santa Barbara," Mrs. Parker said. "I haven't seen Cam Geary or Derek Marsters, but I do see a few soap opera stars every once in a while."
"Wow," I said. I was impressed. I even didn't bother to correct her mispronunciation of Derek's last name.
"Mrs. Parker doesn't have time to go look for a lot of celebrity sightings, Mary Anne," Sharon reminded me. "She's working with your dad on a big project."
"I know," I said, blushing. I knew Sharon didn't mean to embarrass me, but things like that always do. "I just thought-"
"Nonsense," Mrs. Parker said. "Everyone in California has one eye on the stars."
I laughed. I liked her a lot. "Why would you come to Connecticut?" I asked her.
"It's a big project," Mrs. Parker said. "I'm hardly the only one who's here."
"Really?" I asked. "Are there a lot of people?"
"Quite a bit. Let's see. In addition to the ones in our direct project..."
Kristy came in then. "Mom and Watson say it's fine, and to thank you and Mr. Spier for having me for dinner," she said to Sharon.
"Any time. It's quiet around here with just one teenager!" Sharon and Mrs. Parker both laughed. "As long as you're here, Kristy, why don't you help Mary Anne set the table?"
"Sure. Thanks, Mrs. Schafer," she added politely.
Sharon laughed again. "Gosh, thanking me for giving chores? Maybe I should start recruiting daughters more often!"
Kristy and I grinned as we moved into the dining room. "Your stepmom's really nice," Kristy commented.
"Your stepdad's really nice too," I reminded her.
"Yeah," Kristy agreed happily. Kristy didn't like Watson when he first started dating her mom, but now she's a big fan of him. "Thanks for having me over for dinner, Mary Anne."
"It's kind of selfish of me," I admitted. "Once they start talking about work, I don't understand a word anyone is saying!" We both giggled.
"How many people are here?" Kristy asked, surveying the pile of silverware that had been left on the table.
I counted on my fingers. "Dad, Sharon, Mrs. Parker, you, and me. So that's five, unless Dad's in the other room with some clients, which he probably is."
As if she were reading my mind, Sharon called out from the kitchen. "Mary Anne, your father's talking to three friends, so remember to set places for them too, okay?"
"Sure!" I yelled back, and then grinned at Kristy. "Eight."
She laughed too, and we began to pass out the forks and knives.
It didn't take long for Sharon to finish the salad, and when she brought it in she called for Dad, and soon we were all sitting around the table, ready to eat. My father had made two delicious entrees, London Broil and some cheese lasagna, and pretty soon everyone was enjoying the food. Then Dad introduced us to his coworkers. Besides Mrs. Parker, they were Miss Kim, Mr. Billings, and Mr. Samuels. "Kristy and Mary Anne are part of a very prestigious club," he informed them.
I blushed at the compliment, but not Kristy. "It's more of a business, really," she said. "I mean, we call ourselves a club, but we function as a business.
"That's very commendable," Mr. Billings said.
"What does your club- er, your business do?" Miss Kim asked.
I thought she was sort of teasing, but Kristy didn't. "We baby-sit," Kristy said. "I have some flyers, if you'd be interested."
Now even I giggled. "Kristy! They don't even live in Stoneybrook. They're not going to need baby-sitters."
"Actually," Dad said, "someone did just transfer in to the Stanford office."
"Steve?" Mr. Billings said.
"You're joking," Mrs. Parker said. "He has children?"
"Two girls and a boy," Dad confirmed. "I could give him a flyer if you'd like, Kristy."
"Sure, Mr. Spier, that'd be great!" Kristy's eyes lit up. There are very few things she likes more than new clients.
Mrs. Parker coughed loudly. I got the distinct impression that Steve was not her favorite person. Kristy raised an eyebrow at me. So she got that feeling too. I shrugged.
"Thanks, Dad," I said slowly. I couldn't wait to find out what was going on. Soon Kristy and Mr. Samuels started discussing baseball, and Mrs. Parker and I got into a conversation about knitting, and the entire subject was dropped. I was glad.
Kristy stayed after all of Dad's colleagues left, working on some math homework with me. While we waited for her mom to pick her up, we talked to Sharon and my father again. "Can I ask you something?" Kristy asked.
"Sure," Dad said. I smiled inwardly. Dad was never this relaxed before he started dating Sharon again.
"Why was Mrs. Parker so upset about your giving your coworker the number for the Baby-Sitters Club?"
Dad and Sharon exchanged a glance. It was clear that they both knew, and also clear that they weren't going to tell us. "It's a business quarrel," Dad said.
"But why was she so mad?" I asked hesitantly.
"Mary Anne, it's a dispute among adults. I don't agree with her for allowing a grudge to bridge personal and business relations, and I'd like to leave it at that."
I was surprised. Dad's always been strict, but he's not usually that cold.
I guess he realized that, because he softened the blow. "I'm sorry. It's not that you're not mature enough to hear about it. I just don't like this type of gossip."
I nodded slowly and pretended I understood.
We all turned towards the door as a car horn honked. "That must be me!" Kristy said. "Thanks for the dinner, Mrs. Schafer, Mr. Spier. It was delicious. And thanks for offering to give out the flyer!"
"Not a problem at all," Dad assured her.
"I'll walk you to the car," I offered. It was just an excuse to talk to Kristy alone again, but luckily, Dad and Sharon didn't pick up on that.
"What's going on?" she whispered to me. "Your dad and Dawn's mom were acting so weird!"
"I know," I said. "But I have no idea what's going on."
"Well, keep your eyes open and your ears wide," she instructed. "You've solved mysteries before, and you can do it again." She opened the door to the passenger seat of the car and slid in.
"I'm sure it's not a mystery," I said out loud to myself as I waved goodbye.
But as I watched the car retreat, I realized I wasn't so sure.
Because Kristy and Mary Anne are BFF, yo. And the BSC always needs a good mystery.
Chapter Three - Mary Anne
Kristy, I know you said to write all of this down, but it doesn't really seem that IMPORTANT in the long run.
Mary ANNE. You promised you'd write!
I know I did, Kristy. And I am. I'm just saying I don't think it seems that important.
It doesn't matter.
I know, I know. Okay. So after our job at the Pikes' (poor Mal!), Kristy came over for dinner. And Dad managed to help us find some new clients...
Mrs. Pike got home a little late, so Kristy missed the late bus back home. Mrs. Pike apologized profusely and offered her a ride home, but I had a better idea.
"Dad and Sharon have some friends from work coming over tonight," I said. "There'll be plenty of food. Why don't you come over with me?"
"Sure," Kristy said. "Thanks."
I turned around. "You too, Mal. Come on, it'll be fun."
"Sure!" Mal said happily.
"Or not," Mrs. Pike said. "Sorry, Mal. But it's a school night."
Mal rolled her eyes dramatically, but didn't seem overly put out; she'd expected it. Her mom paid us, and Kristy and I headed over to my house.
I couldn't remember the last time wed hung out together like this. When Kristy and I lived next door to me, and I had lots of baby-sitters, we practically lived in each others' houses. But since we'd both left Bradford Court, since I'd moved in with Dawn and Sharon and Kristy moved into Watson's house, we never really got to spend time together anymore, just Kristy and me.
"I really missed this."
I turned to Kristy in surprise. "Hmm?"
"You know," she said. "Dinner at your house, dinner at mine..."
I laughed. "I was just thinking the same thing!"
"Best friend connection!" Kristy teased, but I could hear something a little more serious in her voice.
I knew Kristy was always a little upset that I had two best friends and she only had one: me. So she tends to pounce on things the two of us share. Not that she's not a fan of Dawn's- they're close friends, too- but I think sometimes Kristy's a little jealous.
I understood how she felt. I love hanging out with Dawn too, but I missed quality time with Kristy. "Exactly," I said. "Come on, we should let them know we're feeding another person."
"Is Dawn's mom cooking?" Kristy asked, making a face.
"Nope. Dad is. I've been promised meat," I said.
"Oh, good." Kristy laughed. "Remember when Sam tried to teach us how to make hamburgers?"
"And we set the smoke detector off?" I grinned. "That was fun."
"Not for Sam. Mom almost killed him." Kristy frowned. "Are you sure your dad won't mind? He is kind of strict sometimes."
"Positive. Come on." I led her up the driveway and inside. We live in an old farmhouse built in the seventeen hundreds. It has a barn, and a loft, and a secret passage from the Underground Railroad, which was where the slaves escaped to when they were rushing to freedom before the Civil War! We even have a ghost. Maybe. Dawn believes that we do, at least. I'm just glad my room isn't next to the secret passage!
We walked into the kitchen, where Sharon was putting together a salad and talking to a woman I didn't know. When Kristy and I stepped in, the other woman looked up.
"Why, Sharon, I thought your daughter was in California!" the other woman said.
"She is," Sharon said.
"Then who are these?"
Sharon looked up. "Oh, hi, girls. Well, this is Mary Anne- she's Richard's daughter from his first marriage- and that's Kristy, one of her good friends. Staying for dinner, Kristy?"
"If it's okay," Kristy said. "And if I can call my mom to let her know."
"Of course. To both. You know where the phone is." Sharon nodded at her.
I giggled. "The question is, do you?" My stepmother is a little bit absent-minded sometimes. Sharon and I both laughed at it.
"Mary Anne, this is Mrs. Parker. She works with your dad's company, but she's from California, so we were just talking about that."
"Wow, California!" I said. I'm normally shy around strangers, but I was excited. "Do you live near Dawn? Do you live near Hollywood? Have you ever seen a movie being filmed? Have you met Derek Masters? He's in P.S. 162. He lives in Stoneybrook. Have you met Cam Geary?" Cam Geary is my absolute favorite celebrity. He's an actor, and he's absolutely gorgeous. He looks just like Logan Bruno, my boyfriend.
"I live near Santa Barbara," Mrs. Parker said. "I haven't seen Cam Geary or Derek Marsters, but I do see a few soap opera stars every once in a while."
"Wow," I said. I was impressed. I even didn't bother to correct her mispronunciation of Derek's last name.
"Mrs. Parker doesn't have time to go look for a lot of celebrity sightings, Mary Anne," Sharon reminded me. "She's working with your dad on a big project."
"I know," I said, blushing. I knew Sharon didn't mean to embarrass me, but things like that always do. "I just thought-"
"Nonsense," Mrs. Parker said. "Everyone in California has one eye on the stars."
I laughed. I liked her a lot. "Why would you come to Connecticut?" I asked her.
"It's a big project," Mrs. Parker said. "I'm hardly the only one who's here."
"Really?" I asked. "Are there a lot of people?"
"Quite a bit. Let's see. In addition to the ones in our direct project..."
Kristy came in then. "Mom and Watson say it's fine, and to thank you and Mr. Spier for having me for dinner," she said to Sharon.
"Any time. It's quiet around here with just one teenager!" Sharon and Mrs. Parker both laughed. "As long as you're here, Kristy, why don't you help Mary Anne set the table?"
"Sure. Thanks, Mrs. Schafer," she added politely.
Sharon laughed again. "Gosh, thanking me for giving chores? Maybe I should start recruiting daughters more often!"
Kristy and I grinned as we moved into the dining room. "Your stepmom's really nice," Kristy commented.
"Your stepdad's really nice too," I reminded her.
"Yeah," Kristy agreed happily. Kristy didn't like Watson when he first started dating her mom, but now she's a big fan of him. "Thanks for having me over for dinner, Mary Anne."
"It's kind of selfish of me," I admitted. "Once they start talking about work, I don't understand a word anyone is saying!" We both giggled.
"How many people are here?" Kristy asked, surveying the pile of silverware that had been left on the table.
I counted on my fingers. "Dad, Sharon, Mrs. Parker, you, and me. So that's five, unless Dad's in the other room with some clients, which he probably is."
As if she were reading my mind, Sharon called out from the kitchen. "Mary Anne, your father's talking to three friends, so remember to set places for them too, okay?"
"Sure!" I yelled back, and then grinned at Kristy. "Eight."
She laughed too, and we began to pass out the forks and knives.
It didn't take long for Sharon to finish the salad, and when she brought it in she called for Dad, and soon we were all sitting around the table, ready to eat. My father had made two delicious entrees, London Broil and some cheese lasagna, and pretty soon everyone was enjoying the food. Then Dad introduced us to his coworkers. Besides Mrs. Parker, they were Miss Kim, Mr. Billings, and Mr. Samuels. "Kristy and Mary Anne are part of a very prestigious club," he informed them.
I blushed at the compliment, but not Kristy. "It's more of a business, really," she said. "I mean, we call ourselves a club, but we function as a business.
"That's very commendable," Mr. Billings said.
"What does your club- er, your business do?" Miss Kim asked.
I thought she was sort of teasing, but Kristy didn't. "We baby-sit," Kristy said. "I have some flyers, if you'd be interested."
Now even I giggled. "Kristy! They don't even live in Stoneybrook. They're not going to need baby-sitters."
"Actually," Dad said, "someone did just transfer in to the Stanford office."
"Steve?" Mr. Billings said.
"You're joking," Mrs. Parker said. "He has children?"
"Two girls and a boy," Dad confirmed. "I could give him a flyer if you'd like, Kristy."
"Sure, Mr. Spier, that'd be great!" Kristy's eyes lit up. There are very few things she likes more than new clients.
Mrs. Parker coughed loudly. I got the distinct impression that Steve was not her favorite person. Kristy raised an eyebrow at me. So she got that feeling too. I shrugged.
"Thanks, Dad," I said slowly. I couldn't wait to find out what was going on. Soon Kristy and Mr. Samuels started discussing baseball, and Mrs. Parker and I got into a conversation about knitting, and the entire subject was dropped. I was glad.
Kristy stayed after all of Dad's colleagues left, working on some math homework with me. While we waited for her mom to pick her up, we talked to Sharon and my father again. "Can I ask you something?" Kristy asked.
"Sure," Dad said. I smiled inwardly. Dad was never this relaxed before he started dating Sharon again.
"Why was Mrs. Parker so upset about your giving your coworker the number for the Baby-Sitters Club?"
Dad and Sharon exchanged a glance. It was clear that they both knew, and also clear that they weren't going to tell us. "It's a business quarrel," Dad said.
"But why was she so mad?" I asked hesitantly.
"Mary Anne, it's a dispute among adults. I don't agree with her for allowing a grudge to bridge personal and business relations, and I'd like to leave it at that."
I was surprised. Dad's always been strict, but he's not usually that cold.
I guess he realized that, because he softened the blow. "I'm sorry. It's not that you're not mature enough to hear about it. I just don't like this type of gossip."
I nodded slowly and pretended I understood.
We all turned towards the door as a car horn honked. "That must be me!" Kristy said. "Thanks for the dinner, Mrs. Schafer, Mr. Spier. It was delicious. And thanks for offering to give out the flyer!"
"Not a problem at all," Dad assured her.
"I'll walk you to the car," I offered. It was just an excuse to talk to Kristy alone again, but luckily, Dad and Sharon didn't pick up on that.
"What's going on?" she whispered to me. "Your dad and Dawn's mom were acting so weird!"
"I know," I said. "But I have no idea what's going on."
"Well, keep your eyes open and your ears wide," she instructed. "You've solved mysteries before, and you can do it again." She opened the door to the passenger seat of the car and slid in.
"I'm sure it's not a mystery," I said out loud to myself as I waved goodbye.
But as I watched the car retreat, I realized I wasn't so sure.