Jessi Ramsey, Pet-Sitter

  When everyone had voted, we folded our papers in quarters and gave them back to Kristy, who carefully put them in a pile. Then she handed out the ballots for secretary, a few minutes later the ones for vice-president, and last of all, the ones for president. Each time, I voted quickly, knowing just what I had to do.

  After the ballots for the office of president had been collected, Kristy said, “Let me just take a fast look through the ballots. If I see a lot of problems, I’ll ask you guys to help me count.”

  Kristy picked up the ballots for treasurer and glanced at them.

  “Hmm,” she said.

  She looked at the ballots for secretary.

  “Huh,” she said.

  She looked at the ballots for vice-president.

  “Well,” she said,

  And then she looked at the ballots for president.

  She burst out laughing.

  “What is it?” cried Claudia.

  “You will not believe this,” Kristy told us. “I hardly believe it myself.”

  “But?” Dawn prompted her.

  “But we unanimously voted ourselves back into our old offices! We all voted for Dawn for treasurer — even Dawn did. We all voted for Mary Anne for secretary — even Mary Anne did. And so on. You guys even voted for me for president.”

  There was a moment of silence. Then every single one of us began to laugh. Dawn laughed so hard she cried. Kristy laughed so hard I thought she was going to fall out of the director’s chair. And all the time we were laughing I was thinking. Now I understand what Mama meant when I asked her to tell me how to vote. She meant (but wanted me to figure out for myself) that we shouldn’t worry about who thought what or who would be mad or who would laugh about our choices. The purpose of an election is to vote the best person into an office. Period. And we realized that. We realized that the best people were already in the offices and we wanted to keep them there.

  The laughter was fading, and Kristy straightened up in her chair. “What happened?” she asked us.

  I raised my hand, heart pounding. I usually don’t speak up much in meetings, but I was pretty sure I had the right answer this time. “I think,” I began, “that we realized the best people had already been elected to the offices. I mean, Dawn is organized, but Mary Anne is even more organized, and Dawn is better at keeping figures straight, so Dawn’s the perfect treasurer and Mary Anne’s the perfect secretary. It would be tough to name anyone but Claudia as vice-president, and Kristy, you really deserve to be president since the club was your idea.”

  Everyone was looking at me and nodding. I added one more thing. “Can you live with the results of the election?” I asked the four officers. “You were pretty fed up with your jobs a little while ago.”

  “I can do it,” said Dawn quickly, and the others agreed. “There are parts of my job that I don’t like, but I guess I know I’m best at this job. And it would really mess up the club to start switching things around.”

  My friends were smiling again. Then Kristy’s smile faded. “I have something to say,” she began. “Okay, we realized we were in the right offices. But I have to admit that right office or not, I have been too bossy. Maybe I do come up with good ideas, but I shouldn’t force them on you. It’s — it’s just this thing with Charlie, I guess. You know something? I don’t think he’s acting like a big shot because he’ll be in college. I think he’s worried that he won’t get into college, and he’s taking his worries out by bossing me around. Then I take things out by bossing everyone else around. Jackie Rodowsky pointed that out to me. I mean, he pointed out that I was bossing him around. So I’m going to try to be better. No more forcing rules on you guys. When I get a new idea we’ll vote on it, okay?”

  “All right!” cried Claudia.

  So the meeting ended happily. And when Kristy suggested again that we go over to the Mancusis’, everyone wanted to see Misty. And Mal didn’t mind. She was glad our club was a club again.

  So was I.

  We arrived at the Mancusis’ just before twelve-thirty. Mr. and Mrs. Mancusi wouldn’t be home until later in the afternoon. I unlocked the front door, feeling like a nervous grandmother. How was Misty doing? Had she had her babies yet? How long did a hamster take to have babies anyway?

  “Follow me,” I said. “Misty’s in the kitchen.” (For some reason I was whispering.)

  I tiptoed into the kitchen, and Mal, Kristy, Claudia, Dawn, and Mary Anne tiptoed after me. I paused in the doorway, listening for unusual sounds, although what sounds a baby hamster might make I cannot imagine.

  At last I looked into Misty’s cage. There she was, a golden brown body…. And there were four tiny pink bodies! They looked like jelly beans. They had no hair at all and their eyes were closed.

  I gasped. “She’s had them!” I whispered. “Misty had four babies!”

  Everyone crowded around the cage.

  “Make that five,” said Kristy softly.

  “Oh, EW!” exclaimed Mary Anne, backing away. “That is disgusting.”

  “No, it isn’t. It’s beautiful,” said Dawn.

  “Five babies. I wonder what the Mancusis will name them,” said Mal. “I wonder if there will be more than five.”

  “I wonder if they’ll keep them,” said Claudia. “Do you think they will, Jessi?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t think another cageful of hamsters would be much extra work.”

  “Is there anything we’re supposed to be doing for Misty or her babies?” asked Mary Anne, even though she wouldn’t look in the cage anymore.

  “I don’t think so,” I replied. “Doctor West said to be sure not to touch the babies, even if I think one is dead. He said Misty will know what to do. He said the babies — actually he called them pups — will get scattered all around the cage, but that Misty will take care of them.”

  We watched for a few more minutes. Finally I said, “Maybe we should leave Misty alone. If I were in a cage giving birth to hamsters, I wouldn’t want six faces staring at me.”

  “If you were in a cage giving birth to hamsters,” said Mal, “you’d be a miracle of science.”

  “No, she’d be in a zoo!” said Kristy.

  We left the kitchen and wandered into the living room.

  “Aw,” said Claudia, “who’s this guy?”

  “That’s Powder. Hey, do you want to meet the rest of the Mancusis’ animals? I mean, do all of you want to meet them?”

  “Thanks, but I’ve already met Barney,” Mary Anne replied drily.

  “There are other animals here, though, and Kristy and Dawn haven’t been over before. Also —”

  “Where’s the beef? Where’s the beef?”

  “Aughh!” shrieked Kristy. “Someone’s in the house! We’re not alone!”

  Dawn began to laugh. “It’s a bird, isn’t it?”

  I nodded.

  “We used to have one,” Dawn told us. “A long time ago. I think it was a parakeet. His name was Buzz. He could say a few words. But the funniest thing he ever did was fly into a bowl of mashed potatoes.”

  “Dawn!” I exclaimed. “Is that true?”

  “Cross my heart,” she replied.

  It must have been true.

  We were all laughing hysterically and couldn’t calm down for awhile. When we finally did, we checked on Misty (six babies) and then I let Kristy and Dawn meet the animals.

  “Hey, Mary Anne!” called Kristy as we were leaving the sun porch. “Where’s the lid to Barney’s cage?”

  Mary Anne began screaming without even turning around to look at the cage. If she had turned around, she would have seen that the lid was on tightly. Kristy had to confess her joke in order to keep Mary Anne from running home.

  At last I suggested that we take Cheryl, Jacques, and Pooh Bear on their afternoon walk. I thought my friends might enjoy that.

  So we took the dogs on a long walk. When we returned I said, “Well, you guys, I hate to kick you out, but I have to feed the animals. And I should probably be the only o
ne here when the Mancusis come home.”

  “Okay,” Kristy answered. “We understand.”

  My friends left. I was alone in the house, although not for long. The Mancusis would return soon. Even so, I phoned my parents to tell them where I was and why I’d be late. Then I looked in on Misty. Ten pups! And they were all gathered around their mother in a big jumbly pile of legs and feet and ears. I guess Misty had finished giving birth. Now she could tend to her babies.

  While I waited for the Mancusis, I found a roll of crepe paper (out in the garage, with all the boxes) and tied a big red bow to each of the dogs’ collars.

  “You three look lovely,” I told them. “You’re doggie fashion plates.”

  “Rowf?” asked Jacques, cocking his head.

  “Yes, you’re very handsome.”

  I was about to make bows for the cats when I heard a car pull into the driveway. “Guess who’s home!” I called to the dogs.

  Of course, they had no idea, but when I ran to the front door, they followed me. I opened the inside door and waved to Mr. and Mrs. Mancusi as they unloaded their luggage from the car. They were surprised to see me, but they smiled and waved back. Then, their arms weighed down with suitcases, they walked to the front door, while I tried to open it for them and hold the dogs back at the same time. It wasn’t easy, but we managed.

  As soon as the Mancusis were safely inside, I cried, “Guess what! One of the hamsters had babies! …Oh, I hope you had a nice vacation.”

  “My heavens!” exclaimed Mrs. Mancusi. “One of the hamsters had babies?! How could we have missed a pregnancy? Are the babies okay? Which hamster is it?”

  “Everything’s fine. Honest,” I told them. “I knew something was wrong, well, I knew something was unusual, so my mom drove the hamster and me to your vet yesterday. Dr. West looked at her and he told me what to do.”

  “Oh. …” The Mancusis let out a sigh of relief.

  “Do you want to see the babies?” I asked.

  “Of course,” said Mr. Mancusi. He and his wife put down their suitcases and followed me into the kitchen, the dogs bounding joyfully at our sides.

  “It’s this one,” I said. “I moved the other hamsters to the aquarium on the table.” I stood back so the Mancusis could look in at Misty.

  “Ah, Snicklefritz.” Mrs. Mancusi scratched her head. “How did we miss this? I really apologize, Jessi. But I have to congratulate you. You did a terrific job in a difficult situation. We’re very grateful to you.”

  “I guess,” added Mr. Mancusi, “that in the excitement when we were trying to get away — our pet-sitter canceling and all — we just didn’t notice that Snicklefritz was pregnant.”

  “Well, everything worked out fine,” I spoke up. “Mis — I mean, Snicklefritz has ten babies.”

  The Mancusis watched them for a few moments. Then they turned to me. “Thank you again, Jessi,” said Mr. Mancusi. “You’ve been very responsible.” He handed me some money — much more than I’ve gotten paid for any other job.

  “Wow!” I cried. “Thanks…. Are you sure this isn’t too much?”

  “Not at all.”

  “By the way,” said Mrs. Mancusi, “do you have any friends who would like a hamster? We’ll let the babies go to anyone who will give them good homes — in about three weeks, that is. After the pups are weaned.”

  “Anyone?” I repeated. “Gosh, we’ve never had a pet. I’m sure my sister Becca would like one. I’d like one. And, well, I’ll spread the word. I bet I can help you find lots of homes!”

  I couldn’t believe it. A pet! Would Mama and Daddy let us have one? I had no idea. Neither Becca nor I had ever asked for a pet.

  I headed for the front door. The dogs followed me.

  “Good-bye, Cheryl. Good-bye, Jacques. Good-bye, Pooh Bear,” I said.

  The Mancusis were right behind the dogs. “They really like you,” Mr. Mancusi said. “Oh, and we like their bows. Very spiffy.”

  I smiled. “Well, thanks again. If you ever need another pet-sitter, let me know. And I’ll find out about homes for the baby hamsters. I promise.”

  The Mancusis and I called good-bye to each other and then I ran to my house. I was just about bursting with my news — Snicklefritz’s babies and homes for them. Maybe one would become our first pet.

  “Mama! Daddy!” I shouted as I burst through our front door.

  The Braddocks were back. Ballet school was in session again. My life had returned to normal. I missed the Mancusi animals, but I could probably visit them any time I wanted to. I’m sure I’d be allowed to walk the dogs from time to time.

  Anyway, since my life was back to normal, I baby-sat for the Braddocks the next day, Monday, and then tore over to Claudia’s house. I reached it a full five minutes before the meeting was supposed to start. I even beat Kristy, but of course she’s at the mercy of Charlie, so she doesn’t have a lot of control over when she arrives.

  Claudia and Dawn were there, though.

  “Hi, you guys!” I said as I entered Claud’s room.

  “Hello,” they replied, smiling, and Dawn added, “You sound awfully happy.”

  “Glad to be back at the Braddocks’?” asked Claudia.

  “Yes,” I answered, “but it’s more than that. I’ll tell you all about it when everybody’s here.”

  “Okay,” said Claud. “Potato chips, anyone?”

  “Oh, I’m starving!” I exclaimed, even though I sort of watch my diet because I have to stay in good shape for dance class.

  “Um, can you help me find them?” asked Claud, looking puzzled. “They might be under the bed, but who knows?”

  Claudia and Dawn and I dropped to our stomachs and crawled halfway under Claud’s bed. A ton of junk had been stashed there — boxes of art supplies, folders of drawings and sketches, magazines for making collages, that sort of thing. And because Claudia is such a poor speller, they were labeled SKECHES or PANTINGS or BURSHES.

  I found the potato chips in a box marked CALAGE SUPPLIES.

  “Here they are!” I announced.

  The three of us crawled out from under the bed, stood up, turned around, and found Kristy, Mallory, and Mary Anne staring at us. We began to laugh — all six of us.

  “That was so attractive!” said Kristy. “I hope I always come to a meeting just in time to see the three of you backing out from under a bed.”

  “My backside is my best side,” replied Dawn, looking serious.

  There was more laughter as the members of the Baby-sitters Club settled into their usual places. Kristy climbed into the director’s chair. She put her visor on. She stuck a pencil over one ear.

  And then she pulled a new checklist out of her pocket, smoothed the creases, and with big, showy sweeps of her arms, tacked it up on the bulletin board over the photos of Claudia and Stacey.

  “There,” she said with satisfaction.

  Claudia, Mary Anne, Dawn, Mallory, and I just stared at her. I guess my mouth was hanging open. Everybody else’s was.

  “I don’t believe it,” muttered Claudia, but just when it looked like she might jump to her feet and strangle Kristy, Kristy jumped to her feet and ripped the checklist off the bulletin board.

  “Now watch this, everyone,” she announced. She scrunched up the checklist and threw it in the wastebasket. “ ’Bye-bye, checklist. That’s the last of it. You won’t see it or hear about it again.”

  At first the rest of us didn’t know what to do. Then we began to smile.

  “You mean that was a joke?” exclaimed Claudia. “Oh, my lord! Kristy …”

  Kristy grinned at us. She looked like the Cheshire Cat reclining in his tree.

  Dawn threw a potato chip at her. I think a potato chip war might have started if the phone hadn’t rung.

  “Oh, no! We haven’t done any of our opening business!” cried Kristy. “Dawn hasn’t collected dues, I haven’t —”

  Ring, ring.

  Kristy stopped ranting and raving and answered the phone. “Hello, Bab
y-sitters Club.”

  We arranged a Saturday afternoon job for me with the Arnold twins. Then Kristy got down to business.

  “Dawn?” she said. “Ms. Treasurer?”

  “I need your dues,” announced Dawn.

  Dawn collected the dues while we groaned and complained. “I’ll walk out with you after the meeting and pay Charlie,” she told Kristy.

  “Okay. Thanks. That’ll be fine. Maybe that will improve Charlie’s mood.” Kristy paused. “All right,” she continued, “any club business?”

  “I have something to ask everyone,” I said, “but it can wait until after the real club business is over.”

  Kristy nodded. “Anything else?”

  The rest of the girls shook their heads.

  “Okay,” said Kristy. “I’m done. Over to you, Jessi. Oh, by the way, did you all notice that I didn’t ask whether you’d read the notebook?”

  “Uh, yes,” replied Dawn.

  “Good. I’m not going to ask anymore. I’ll trust you to read it. No questions, no checklists —”

  “You’ll actually trust us?” exclaimed Mary Anne.

  “I’ll actually trust you.”

  The phone rang again, and we arranged another job. When that was taken care of, I said, “Well, guess what. Misty’s name turns out to be Snicklefritz and she had ten pups yesterday.” (Mallory knew this already, since we tell each other everything. But the others hadn’t heard.)

  “Ten pups!” cried Mary Anne. “What will the Mancusis do with them?”

  “Well, that’s the rest of my news. The Mancusis are giving them away — to anyone who’ll promise the babies a good home. And Mama and Daddy said Becca and I can have one! Our first pet! We decided to name our hamster Misty no matter what color it is, and whether it’s a boy or a girl.”

  “Oh, that’s great!” cried Mary Anne and Kristy at the same time. (They both have pets.)

  “And,” I went on, “I’m asking around, finding out if anyone else would like a hamster. How about one of you?”

  Claudia shook her head. “They’re cute, but I hate cleaning cages.”

  Mary Anne shook her head. “A hamster wouldn’t last a second around Tigger.”