Jessi and the Bad Baby-sitter (9780545768177) by Martin Ann M

Author:Martin, Ann M.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2014-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

“Mallory!” I cried in frustration. “What is the matter with you? Either go to a doctor or get better!”

We were standing in the front hall of her house while everyone else waited for us outside. Perhaps I should have been less impatient, but here it was Saturday and we were all set to go to the party store just the way we’d planned, and Mal was backing out on me. She said she was (I’m sure you can guess) too tired!

“My dad will still drive you guys like he promised,” she said sheepishly. “Honest, though, if I go I’ll just be dragging around. I won’t be any help.”

“Too bad you’re not putting on Sleeping Beauty,” said Vanessa as she came down the stairs. (She had braided the short ends of the hair I’d cut and tied them with a rainbow bow.) “We know who would get the lead role.”

“Ha, ha, ha,” said Mallory, unamused.

“I suppose she can play Sleepy, though,” Vanessa went on.

“Only the kids are going to be in the video,” I told Vanessa.

“Too bad,” Vanessa teased. “Mallory is a natural for the part. Don’t you think?”

“You’re a riot, Vanessa,” Mal said. “Listen, would you do me a favor?”

“What?” Vanessa asked.

“Would you go with Jessi and Mary Anne, instead of me? You know, just to keep an eye on Margo and Nicky.”

“Which is what you were supposed to do, Mallory,” I reminded her.

“It’s not my fault!” Mal insisted.

I was torn. Normally I’m sympathetic when someone is sick. But I couldn’t tell if she was really sick. There was nothing sick about her except this constant tiredness, which was starting to sound like an excuse to do nothing but lie around. Only, that wasn’t like Mallory. She isn’t a lie-around person.

Mary Anne stuck her head in the door. “Almost ready?” she asked.

“Mallory isn’t coming,” I told her.

“You’d better see a doctor,” Mary Anne said. She frowned thoughtfully. “Do you think we should cancel the trip? We have a lot of kids to keep track of.”

“Vanessa will watch Margo and Nicky,” Mallory said, volunteering her sister. “Okay, Vanessa?”

“I guess so,” said Vanessa.

Vanessa is at a funny age. At nine, she still needs a baby-sitter. But she’s mature enough to be a big help.

“I suppose if Vanessa helps, it will be all right,” Mary Anne agreed.

“Come on, Vanessa. See you, Mal. Get some sleep!” I said as we dashed out the front door. In the driveway, Mr. Pike was warming up one of the family station wagons. It wasn’t freezing, but today was probably the coldest day we’d had so far, around forty degrees. Suzi Barrett and Margo Pike were jumping up and down to keep warm. Nicky Pike and Buddy Barrett were solving the same problem by chasing each other madly around the front lawn. We’d agreed to let the kids come with us to the party store since they were so excited about the video.

“All aboard the Pike Express,” Mr. Pike called to us. We loaded into the car and were soon heading toward downtown Stoneybrook.

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