Even compared to their usual Fridays, the phone barely stilled at that evening's meeting. Though Kristy had answered more than a few calls, Claudia, Abby, and Jessi had all gotten their fair share of phone time. Between parents suddenly requiring weekend sitters or regulars just calling in to get appointments lined up for the coming week, business couldn't have been better.

Not that anyone was complaining. Between Claudia running low on snacks, Stacey hitting up Bloomingdales in two weeks when she visited her dad for the weekend, and Jessi still needing to pick up a Mother's Day gift, no one could turn down extra money. Considering the number of calls that they were getting, she could only hope that Shannon and Logan could also use some cash.

"So," Stacey said, "is anyone going to see the new-"

Claudia's phone cut her off.

"Back to club business!" Kristy yelled. Reaching forward, she grabbed the handle and quickly pulled the phone to her ear. "Hello, Babysitter's Club. This is Kristy Thomas speaking."

"Kristy? Mathew, you said Mallory was on the line!"

"I said she-" The other voice was too muffled for Kristy to catch the rest of what he was saying.

She wrinkled her eyebrows together. "James, is this some kind of joke?"

It more than likely was. As far as she knew, neither of said two Hobart brothers had permission from their parents to use the phone.

"No!" His cry left her ear ringing.

Kristy rubbed the side of her forehead. "Is something wrong?"

Her heart throbbed against her rib cage. What if something was? While it wouldn't surprise her for charges to call the club if trouble was afoot, the BSC wasn't emergency services. They could always call 911 themselves and send a sitter or two down, but that would take time none of the kids might have.

"Is someone hurt? One of your brothers? You?" Kristy was clutching the phone's handle so tightly now that her hand had gone white.

The other club members sat forward, eyes wide.

"Kristy," Claudia said, "what's wrong?"

She merely held a finger to her lips. If everyone started talking at once, there was no telling what she might miss.

"James?" she repeated.

"Where's Mallory?" Mathew spoke this time.

Kristy's shoulders slumped. The tone of his voice told him all she needed to know. "The club is holding a meeting right now. Our line is very busy."

"Mallory!" Though distant and muffled, Johnny's voice was unmistakable.

Kristy gritted her teeth. Rude or not, part of her was itching to slam the phone back down. How many parents were waiting to get through?

Instead, she relaxed her grip on the phone's handle and looked straight to Mallory. "You have some callers."

Her mouth hung open though no sound came forth.

Kristy held the phone out. "Well, don't keep them waiting."

"Hello?" Mal squeaked.

If worse came to worst, they could always stay a few minutes late to catch some last minute calls. Ending the call might have put them back on schedule, but it wouldn't have gotten them on Mr. and Mrs. Hobarts' good sides.

"Oh, thank you, Mathew." Mallory curled a lock of hair between her left middle and index fingers. "Johnny, that's very sweet of you."

Abby looked straight at Kristy, one eyebrow raised. All she could do was shrug.

"Ben..." Mal bit her lip. "Thank you so much."

Jessi shot her a glance, but Mal might as well have been halfway across the country.

"I'll be sure to. You know, I never expected you to call."

Kristy cleared her throat.

Mallory's eyes widened. She looked between her fellow club members, her lightly pinked cheeks quickly turning tomato red. "I'll have to call you back tonight. The club meeting isn't over yet. Thank you, though."

A stream of goodbyes almost as long as the phone call followed. Kristy could practically feel the seconds slipping between her fingers.

"What was-"

Her question was lost in a stream of voices.

"What did Ben want?" Jessi asked.

"So no one was hurt?" That was Claudia.

Mallory shook her head. "Not at all."

"Then what happened?" Mary Anne asked. She was still sitting up rod straight.

Mallory scratched at the back of her arm, her eyes on the floor. "Oh, Ben's brothers found out that today is my birthday and wanted to call. Ben said that he tried to convince them to wait until I got home, but nothing could stop them."

It wasn't as though Kristy could accuse her of lying.

"Did no one tell them about your festivities getting postponed?" Abby asked.

Between the Pikes wanting to hold their own party and her birthday falling on a school day, the club had unanimously decided a little over a month prior to just have a celebratory sleepover the day after.

"It seems not." She hugged herself. "I'm sorry, Kristy."

"Let's just get back to club business." They still had ten minutes to make the most of.

"Are you excited, Mal?"

"Stacey!" Kristy tightened her fists.

"What? No one's calling."

She looked between each of the club members. "We can worry about the party later." They'd certainly had long enough to plan it!

"Did you hear that?" Abby said. "Her highness has spoken!"

Their fellow club members laughed, though some were better at hiding it than others. Her face hidden behind her hands, Mallory still couldn't meet anyone's gaze.

The phone suddenly ringing silenced Kristy's friends in a way that her glare couldn't. For a moment, no one moved or spoke. On the third ring, Stacey was the one who finally picked up the phone.

"Hello from the Baby-Sitter's Club! I'm Stacey McGill. May I ask who is speaking?" She nodded. "Yes, I think we can. I'll call you back soon." Quickly, she hung up. "That was Mrs. Newton. Is anyone available tonight from seven-thirty to ten?"

"I am." Kristy spoke before Mary Anne even had time to look up from the record book. She'd have to call Charlie as soon as the meeting ended to see about him picking her up that night.

"Are you sure?" Mary Anne asked.

She shrugged. "I know it's a little sudden, but I don't have any plans tonight."

With David Michael on an overnight class trip and Karen and Andrew staying with their mother, it wasn't as if anyone needed her home.

Stacey quickly called back.

"Hey, Mal," Abby said when the call ended. "Are you eating anything special tonight?"

Anything had to be better than the stale, smushed Little Debbie cakes that they'd spent the first few minutes of the meeting munching on.

"Something tells me that I'll be in for a surprise when I get home. My brothers and sisters have been even weirder than usual these past few days." She chuckled. "I'll let you know what happens tomorrow."

"Do I need to come over and help with damage control?" Jessi asked.

"Heh! Probably."

"We still have five more minutes!" Right then, Kristy would have given her left arm for a megaphone.

"You're going to love what I made you." Claudia said.

"I don't doubt that," Mal replied.

"Do you feel old yet?" Abby asked.

Mallory blushed. "My parents don't think so."

"At least ask them again tonight about getting your ears pierced. Maybe if they say yes, my parents will too." Jessi rubbed a hand against her cheek.

"I'll try."

When the phone rang again, it was Mallory who grabbed it. "Hi, this is... Oh, Marilyn, it's so nice to hear from you!"

Kristy sighed. This better be quick!


I know it's a little late, but happy birthday, Mallory! Hopefully, blowing out eleven candles hasn't yet lost its luster.