I walked down the stairs, trying to look calm and happy to see Robert.
Robert stood at the bottom of the stairs. As I've said, each time I see him I swear he's cuter than he was before. "Hi," I said, smiling. "I didn't know you were coming over." "It's Valentine's Day," he said. That's when I realized he was holding one hand behind his back. That could mean only one thing.
"Here," he said when I reached the bottom of the stairs. "This is for you." In his hand he held one long-stemmed red rose and a small box wrapped in red wrapping tissue. "Thank you," I said as I took the rose and smelled it. Laying the rose down on a side table, I unwrapped the box. "Wow!" I gasped when I opened it. Inside was a gorgeous gold necklace with a delicate prism looped onto it. "It's gorgeous," I said sincerely, putting it on. "I love it!" "Do you really?" Robert asked.
"Yes, really!" Slowly, my smile faded. It was the moment of truth. "I don't have anything for you," I said apologetically.
I studied Robert, but it was hard to read his expression. He blinked as if he were absorbing this news and trying to figure out how he felt about it. "That's okay," he said.
"No, it's not." I took his hand. "I'm so sorry. Really. I am. I meant to at least make you a card, but then everything got so crazy today at the Cheplins'." "It sounds like things are always crazy over there." "I know, but today I had to take the kids to Logan's. You know, I told you how the kids canceled Logan's reservation so they tried to make it up to them by making them a valentine's dinner and - " Robert held up his hand to stop me. "I want to hear about it, but later. It's nice that they had a valentine's dinner, but what about us? You seemed so touched that Logan was buying Mary Anne a ring. That made me think Valentine's Day must be important to you. Is it?" "It is, Robert," I wailed. How had I let things get so out of hand? "It's really important. And so are you. I know it must not look that way right now. This job at the Cheplins' is making me nuts. My whole life is falling apart!" "Stacey, I think Mrs. Cheplin is taking advantage of you." "You do?" I said. "You know, I've been feeling the same way." I sighed. "I might as well tell you why I took the job to begin with." "Why?" "I wanted money for your birthday present," I admitted. "I took the job because of you, but because of the job I've hurt your feelings." "My feelings aren't hurt," Robert said. "What's my present?" "I'm not telling. But it's something I hope will make you like New York City better." "Oh, Stacey," he said, taking my other hand in his. "Do you mean you've been doing all this just because I said I didn't like the city?" I nodded.
"I'll give the city a try if it's that important to you," Robert said softly.
"You will?" I asked, looking up.
"Sure." Gently he pulled me closer and we kissed. I was so lucky to have Robert.
I stepped back and stood a moment, staring into Robert's eyes.
I jumped when my mother walked into the hall. She jumped, too. "Oh, sorry," she said, embarrassed.
"I have to go," Robert said awkwardly. "I'll see you in school tomorrow, Stace." " 'Bye, Robert," I said dreamily. "Thanks for the necklace and the rose." "You're welcome. 'Bye." Robert left and Mom picked up the rose from the sidetable. "How sweet," she said wistfully. "Let me see the necklace." I showed it to her and she sighed. "I remember when I used to get gifts on Valentine's Day." I put my hand on her shoulder, seeing for the first time how lonely she must be feeling. I'd been so absorbed in my hectic schedule I hadn't thought about her much. But I saw now how she missed me, and how she missed having someone special to spend Valentine's Day with.
"An Affair to Remember is on," Mom said.
"What's that?" I asked.
"It's a great old movie. It stars Gary Grant. It's wonderfully sad." "You nuke the popcorn, I'll get the tissues," I suggested.
"Really?" Mom said with a surprised smile.
"Sure. I wouldn't mind a good cry either." I picked up the remote control and snapped on the TV. F. Scott Fitzgerald would just have to wait.
Chapter 15.
I handed in old F. Scott first thing Friday morning, although I don't think this paper was any less rushed than the one before it. I'd gotten up at five-thirty in the morning to finish typing it. (After An Affair to Remember I'd wiped my eyes and barely had enough energy left to stumble up the stairs to bed.) As I sat in English class that morning my eyes felt dry and sandy, my throat was scratchy, and my brain was definitely foggy. Face it - I was a mess.
I hated feeling this way. At least it was the last day of the week. I just had to pray that Kristy didn't guilt me into taking any job that came up at the meeting that afternoon. I wanted to be free to sleep all weekend.
Wait a minute! I thought, my eyes opening wide for the first time all morning. I couldn't sleep all weekend. I was supposed to go to my father's.
Usually I look forward to seeing Dad, but I was so exhausted that I didn't even want to go. Maybe I could cancel. But, no. Dad was looking forward to seeing me. If I canceled, especially this late, it would ruin his weekend. I'd be letting him down, just like I'd let down Robert.
So I had to go, although I wouldn't be very good company. I hoped Dad hadn't bought the tickets to that show. I'd probably fall asleep in the middle of the play.
Tired as I was, I somehow made it through the day. The bus was waiting when I reached Dana's and Adam's stop. Thankfully the bus driver waited a moment for me to arrive.
"You look terrible," said Dana as she got off the bus.
I could imagine. At lunchtime I had circles under my eyes and red splotches on my cheeks. I probably looked even worse now.
When I saw Mrs. Cheplin's list I nearly burst into tears. It was two pages long again.
"Could we play a game today?" Adam asked.
"Sorry, Adam," I said. "I have too much to do." "You always have too much to do." "I know, I know," I muttered as I headed for the kitchen.
That day the chores were torture. Not only was I exhausted, but midway through the chores I realized I was angry. I resented having to do so much housework. I didn't think it was fair to Adam and Dana, either. I couldn't spend any time with them at all.
I finished the last chore just as Mrs. Cheplin walked in the door. The kids had been great. They'd done their homework without any help from me. (I had no idea whether they needed help or not.) Barely-Made-It McGill slides through once again, I thought, blowing a stray piece of hair from my face.
"You've done very well this week, Stacey," said Mrs. Cheplin, looking around as she always did.
"Thanks," I said without enthusiasm. To tell you the truth, I wanted to tell her off. Or maybe just to step on her toe very hard. I took my money and got ready to leave.
"Stacey, I'm so pleased with your work. I'd like to offer you another two-week job." "Another two weeks?" I repeated dully. Suddenly I saw what was going on. Mrs. Cheplin was going to keep me on probation forever. I'd have to prove myself endlessly.
"I don't know," I told her.
"I'll pay you twice as much," she said.
Twice as much? I could take Robert to the best play in town. I'd have my sports car in half the time. Perhaps I could buy it without even getting a loan.
"Can I call you tonight?" I asked. "I need to think about it." Mrs. Cheplin's face fell. "Is something wrong, Stacey?" The tables had turned. Now she was concerned about pleasing me.
"I just need to think about a few things," I told her.
I said good-bye to Dana and Adam and rode my bike toward Claudia's house. When I arrived I threw myself onto her bed. "What's wrong?" asked Kristy, alarmed.
Everyone gathered around me. "Are you okay?" asked Mallory.
"No," I said, tears brimming in my eyes. "I'm not okay." I poured out the whole story - everything, how I'd been feeling, how I ruined Valentine's Day, how I'd deserted my mom and had no energy for my father this weekend. "And I'm sure I'm going to get a terrible grade on my English paper even after I got a second chance at it. Now Mrs. Cheplin just offered me twice as much money to stay on, and I can't say no to it." "Why not?" Claudia asked.
"What do you mean why not? I need the money. You know that." "Do you need it more than friends and family and good grades in school?" Kristy asked.
"No," I admitted.
"You don't need it more than your health," said Claudia. "You don't look so good." "I know." I wiped the tears from my eyes. "And I don't need it more than my brain. I feel like that's the next thing to go." "Quit," Kristy said simply.
"Mrs. Cheplin sounds like a pain, anyway," Abby added.
"She is a pain. But I don't want to leave her stranded." "She'll find someone else," Jessi said. "She might need a grown person who has a car and no homework at the end of the day." "She might," I said. "But she won't find someone quickly." "Tell her one of us will come over every day until she finds someone permanent," Kristy suggested. "But we don't do housework." "Okay," I said. "I will." As the meeting wore on, I realized I was feeling better and better. I had needed the support of my friends to help me make the decision to quit, but I'd made it.
I called Mrs. Cheplin as soon as I got home.
"This is Stacey," I said. "I've decided not to take your offer for the next two weeks." At first there was silence at the other end of the phone. "Why not?" she asked after a moment.
"Mrs. Cheplin, I feel taken advantage of," I said. "The lists of chores are way too long. I don't think it's good for the kids when the person taking care of them is tied up with housework. They need attention, too." I decided not to add my complaints about her attitude or the way she wouldn't commit to a steady job. I'd said enough already. I'd said the important things.
I suppose I'd hoped she'd say, "Oh, Stacey, you're right. I've been so wrong. I'm sorry." That's not what she said.
"Obviously, you don't have the maturity required for this job," was her reply.
"No, I don't have the time," I said politely. I told her she could count on the BSC for fill-in sitters until she found someone permanent. "Tell the kids I'll miss them." "They'll miss you, too," she said grudgingly. "Good-bye." " 'Bye." I hung up the phone and drew in a deep breath. Then I jumped up and punched the air. "Yes!" I shouted. I was free. I could have a normal life again. There was no doubt in my mind that I'd done the right thing. It felt right. And I was glad I'd mentioned the housework problem. Dana and Adam needed attention more than they needed a tidy house.
Mom came into the kitchen. "What happened?" she asked.
"I've just learned a big lesson about what's important in life and what's not," I told her.
"You have?" she asked, looking pleased.
"Yes. I was allowing money to be the most important thing in my life. My job at the Cheplin's was taking over everything." "It was?" "Yeah. Like friendship and you and Robert. My school work was suffering. And the worst part was that I didn't even have time for me. I didn't have a minute to think a thought or to relax." Mom smiled. "You have learned a lot. I'm glad." I phoned Robert and told him the good news. He was very glad to hear it. "Way to go!" he cried. "That took guts, Stace. I'm proud of you." He couldn't have said anything nicer.
"This weekend I'm going to buy those tickets and then Dad and I are going to have a long talk," I said to Mom that evening as we prepared supper together.
"About what?" she asked.
"About not being a father-daughter team of workaholics! There's so much more to life!" About the Author ANN MATTHEWS MARTIN was born on August 12, 1955. She grew up in Princeton, NJ, with her parents and her younger sister, Jane.
Although Ann used to be a teacher and then an editor of children's books, she's now a full-time writer. She gets the ideas for her books from many different places. Some are based on personal experiences. Others are based on childhood memories and feelings. Many are written about contemporary problems or events.
All of Ann's characters, even the members of the Baby-sitters Club, are made up. (So is Stoneybrook.) But many of her characters are based on real people. Sometimes Ann names her characters after people she knows, other times she chooses names she likes.
In addition to the Baby-sitters Club books, Ann Martin has written many other books for children. Her favorite is Ten Kids, No Pets because she loves big families and she loves animals. Her favorite Baby-sitters Club book is Kristy's Big Day. (By the way, Kristy is her favorite baby-sitter!) Ann M. Martin now lives in New York with her cats, Gussie and Woody. Her hobbies are reading, sewing, and needlework - especially making clothes for children.
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BSC094 - Stacey McGill, Super Sitter
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Baby-Sitters Club 094 Page 8
