Baby-Sitters Club 057

by Ann M. Martin

  I guess my friends must have discussed who could take the job but I wasn't listening. I was too busy thinking about Stoneybrook's recycling problem and how I was going to fix it. Then I guess someone asked me a question because the next thing I knew, Stacey was waving her hand in front of my face.

  "Earth to Dawn!" she said. "Are you in there?" "What?" I blinked several times.

  "I can take the job," Kristy said, "but if you want it, that's okay with me." "What job?" I asked.

  Claud, who was busy passing her bag of candy around the room, announced, "Dawn's got her mind on other things. Like permanent garbage." "Sorry, Kristy," I said as everyone laughed at Claud's joke. "I wasn't paying attention. You take the job." The phone rang two more times and Mal and Mary Anne each agreed to take an afternoon job. Then the room became quiet. I thought if I didn't speak up then, I'd never get to explain my idea.

  "I have a very important announcement, everyone. I made a few calls today and discovered that Stoneybrook doesn't have a recycling program. They have that one bin by the courthouse, where people can bring their cans and bottles, but that's it. So I've decided to do something about it." Kristy turned to Stacey. "Is this part of your science project?" Stacey shrugged. "I don't think so. We're teaching that class." "This is completely separate from our class assignment," I explained. "This is my own project. I want SMS to become a true recycling collection spot." "For what?" Jessi asked.

  "Everything!" I could feel my voice growing louder with excitement as I said, "Do you realize how many items can be recycled? Newspapers, computer papers, plastic bottles, glass bottles, jars, aluminum foil." I pointed to Claud's wastebasket, where an empty Coke can lay. "That can. You could redeem it and get a nickel." "Oops!" Claud giggled. "I guess I was just being lazy." "Do you realize we use over 65 billion aluminum cans a year?" I said. "And if everyone threw theirs away, like Claudia, that would be a monstrous amount of unnecessary garbage." "Boy," Kristy said to Stacey under her breath. "Dawn's really serious." "You're right," I said, folding my arms across my chest. "This is very important to me, and it should be to all of you." "It is," Mary Anne said gently. "I guess we're just not as upset about it as you are." "Well, you should be." I pointed to Mary Anne's record book. "Look at the amount of paper you waste by writing on just one side of each sheet. Did you know that each of us uses five hundred and eighty pounds of paper a year? And it takes fifteen years for a tree to grow big enough to be made into paper. We're wasting a lot of time and trees." Mary Anne stared down at the club record book, her cheeks a deep red. "Next time I promise to write on both sides of the paper, Dawn." I realized I had embarrassed her and I felt bad about it. "Thanks, Mary Anne," I said, with an encouraging smile. "It means a lot to me. And next time we have to buy more paper for the club, I'd like to propose that we make sure it's recycled paper." Kristy shrugged. "That's all right with me." She looked around the room at the rest of the club. "Any objections?" Everyone shook their heads.

  The next fifteen minutes were filled with phone calls, so we couldn't talk about my project anymore. Just before the meeting ended, Claud announced, "I want everyone to come into the kitchen and see the new jewelry I've made. There's something for each of you. And," she raised one finger, "Dawn will be glad to hear that my jewelry is completely biodegradable." Everyone giggled but me. I knew that I was starting to sound like a grumpy old teacher, lecturing everyone, but I couldn't help it. If I couldn't convince the BSC of the importance of protecting our planet, how was I going to convince the town of Stoneybrook?

  Chapter 7.

  It was Saturday morning and Jessi and Mal had been asked to sit for the Pike kids. Vanessa and Nicky are the only ones in my Save the Planet class but I guess they were so excited about ecology that they made everyone else in their family excited about it, too. I wish I could have been there to see them in action. I know I would have been very proud.

  Anyway, Jessi arrived at the Pikes' house at ten o'clock on the nose and rang the bell. After several minutes, she heard a thundering of footsteps on the stairs. The door flew open and Mallory shouted, "Vanessa and Nicky are in the dining room. Watch them, will you?" Then she disappeared from sight.

  "Mal?" Jessi called, stepping into the foyer. "Where are you?" "I'm being held captive by the Green Patrol," a muffled voice yelled from the living room.

  Jessi stuck her head around a corner and found the triplets, Adam, Byron, and Jordan pinning Mallory's hands behind her back. Each boy wore a green baseball cap, with the bill turned backwards.

  "The Green Patrol. What's that?" Jessi asked.

  Jordan put his hands on his hips and stood with his feet apart. "We're here to guard against household waste." Byron pointed to Mallory. "She was caught drinking water out of a paper cup." Mal looked at me and shrugged. "At least it wasn't Styrofoam." "But why use paper that you throw away when you can reuse a glass?" Adam demanded.

  "She was also caught using paper towels in the kitchen," Jordan added. "She should have dried her hands on a cloth towel." Mal rolled her eyes at Jessi, then turned back to her brothers. "I promise I'll never do it again." "You better not," Byron warned. "But just to make sure, you have to go to Green school." "No, not Green school!" Mal groaned. "Not again." "What's that?" Jessi whispered.

  Mal gestured with her head to a blackboard that had been set up on the other side of the living room. Standing in front of it was the youngest Pike, five-year-old Claire. Beside her stood Margo, the seven-year-old, her arms folded sternly across her chest.

  "Bring Mallory here!" Claire ordered. "She has to read the rules." Jessi followed Mal and the triplets over to the blackboard. "I didn't know everyone in your family was taking Dawn and Stacey's class." "They're not," Mal murmured out of the side of her mouth. "But Vanessa and Nicky told them about it and they got so excited they formed the Green Patrol. They've been acting like this ever since last night." "What do your parents think?" Jessi asked.

  "They think it's cute," Mallory replied. "But they haven't been arrested by the Green Patrol yet, and forced to go to Green school. This is my third trip through." "Okay, Mal," Margo commanded, "read the blackboard." Mal sighed and began to read off each handprinted line.

  "I promise never to use plastic bags at the grocery store.

  "I promise to use dishcloths instead of paper towels.

  "I promise to carry my lunch in a lunch box, not a paper sack.

  "I promise to recycle all cans and bottles whenever I can." While Mallory spoke, Jessi checked on Vanessa and Nicky, who were sitting at the dining room table, hard at work on the Save the Planet assignments Dawn had given them. Each one wore the Kids Care badge.

  "Help, Jessi!" Nicky called out the moment he saw her come into the room. "I don't know what to say in my letter." "Who are you writing?" Jessi asked, peering over his shoulder. A yellow tablet was in front of him and a thick pencil was clutched in his hand.

  Nicky raised his eyebrows and said, "The President." "The President?" Jessi repeated. "You mean, of the United States?" "Uh-huh." "It's part of our assignment in Dawn and Stacey's class," Vanessa explained as she pulled an envelope out of an open box of pink stationery by her elbow. "We're supposed to write the world leaders and tell them how much we care about our planet." She pointed to several addressed envelopes piled neatly on the table. "I've already finished four letters." "Do you mind if I read one?" Jessi asked.

  "Here's my latest. It's supposed to go to Europe." Vanessa handed her the slip of pink paper. "Now I'm going to write Japan." Jessi took the letter and read it aloud.

  Dear Mrs. Queen of England, My name is Vanessa Pike. I'm nine years old and I'm very upset about the pollution in the world. If we don't stop throwing garbage in our oceans, and polluting our air, animals and fish could die. Things are getting so bad that I'm afraid the world won't be a very nice place when I grow up and have children. Please help stop pollution.

  Sincerely, Vanessa Pike Jessi looked up from the letter and smiled warmly at Vanessa. "That's really wonderful. I think
the Queen will be impressed." Nicky, who had been chewing anxiously on his pencil eraser asked, "Can I copy it?" Vanessa shook her head. "No, Nicky. We're each supposed to write our own." Jessi handed Vanessa's letter back to her and said, "Nicky, let me see what you've written." "It's terrible," Nicky cried, covering the page with his arm.

  "I'm sure it's not," Jessi prodded gently. "Let me see." Slowly Nicky pulled his arm away. The page was blank except for three words written across the top: Dear Mr. President.

  Jessi stared at them and said, "Well that's a good start. Now you just need to write the letter." "I can't." Nicky's lower lip was trembling dangerously. "I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to spell all the words." Jessi's sister Becca is the same age as Nicky, so Jessi is pretty good at handling eight-year- olds. "I've got an idea. How about if I act as your secretary?" she suggested. "You tell me what you want to say and I'll write it down." Vanessa, who was busily writing her letter to Japan, lifted her head to protest, "But it has to be in Nicky's handwriting." "Then Nicky can copy what I've written," Jessi replied as she sat down beside Mal's brother. She picked up the pencil and said, "All right, you've got 'Dear Mr. President.' Now what?" Nicky scratched his chin and wandered around the table muttering to himself. Here's the letter he finally dictated to Jessi: Dear Mr. President, You don't know me but I've seen you on TV. My name is Nicky Pike and I'm in second grade at Stoneybrook Elementary School. I have a pet hamster named Frodo and seven brothers and sisters. Garbage is taking over the world and if we're not careful, there won't be any room left for my family or Frodo. Plus the air is bad for us. So, will you do me a favor and help fix this? Thank you.

  Your friend, Nicholas Pike P.S. I'm sending my picture so you will know me the next time you see me.

  Jessi helped Nicky copy the letter and address the envelope. But before they could start another letter, the Green Patrol burst into the dining room. The triplets circled the table, joined by Margo and Claire.

  "Is that recycled paper?" Adam asked, pointing to the stationery they'd used.

  Jessi examined Nicky's yellow tablet and nodded. "Yes, I think so." "How about that!" Jordan pointed to the box of pink stationery and Vanessa's eyes widened in horror.

  Margo folded her arms across her chest. "You're the one who told us we had to use recycled paper." "I know I did," Vanessa muttered as she checked the outside of the box. "But I didn't buy this. Mom and Dad gave it to me for Christmas last year." Mallory stepped into the room. "I think maybe the Green Patrol shouldn't worry about the stuff we already have. You guys should just focus on the future. So from now on, Vanessa will make sure she buys only recycled stationery. Right, Vanessa?" Vanessa shot Mallory a grateful smile. "Right." Mallory clapped her hands together. "Now, I think it's time we had some lunch. Mom made PBJs for everybody before she left this morning." "Hooray!" Claire cried. "I love peanut butter." Jessi helped stack the letters in a neat pile on the sideboard, and then she and Mal led the group into the kitchen.

  "Uh-oh," Nicky shouted as they entered the big family kitchen. "Water leak!" He pointed to the dripping kitchen faucet.

  Adam leapt forward. "Who should the Green Patrol arrest?" Mal rolled her eyes at Jessi. "I don't think you need to arrest anybody," she told Adam in her most patient voice. "I think you just need to make sure the faucet is completely turned off." "I'll do it," Margo called, racing for the sink.

  "Maybe we should check all the faucets in the house," Vanessa suggested. "Dawn told us that even the tiniest leaky faucet can lose up to three thousand gallons of water a year." "How much is that?" Claire wondered.

  "She said that's like drinking sixty-five glasses of water a day for a whole year." "Wow!" .

  The kids stared at the kitchen sink and tried to imagine drinking that much water.

  "We better check out the rest of the house right away," Adam declared with a worried frown. "We've got lots of faucets and showers." Jessi grabbed his arm before he could leave the kitchen. "Lunch first. Then we can check the house, plus the spigots outside." "Outside?" Jordan repeated.

  "Sure," Jessi said. "Garden hoses can leak, too, you know." The prospect of inspecting not just the house but outside, too, cheered everyone.

  Mal's mother had set the sandwiches on a big plate on the counter. Next to them was a plastic baggie filled with celery and carrot sticks.

  "Uh-oh." Nicky pointed to the baggie. "The Green Patrol may have to arrest Mom. She used plastic." "Not so fast," Mal said. "It's not a waste. We can use this bag again. I'll rinse it out and then put it in the dish drainer to dry. How does that sound?" Nicky and Vanessa exchanged looks, and then Vanessa said, "I guess that's okay." "What a relief," Jessi murmured under her breath. Picking up a roll of paper towels, she said, "Okay, everybody, take your sandwiches to the table." "Look out!" Jordan shouted. "Jessi's going to waste paper. Green patrol!" Jessi pulled her hand back quickly. "If we can't put our sandwiches on paper towels," she asked Mallory, "what should we do about cleaning up crumbs, and wiping our mouths?" "I know!" Margo cried, "Let's use real plates and cloth napkins." Mallory smiled. "That's using your head." While the kids put their sandwiches on glass saucers, Jessi muttered under her breath, "Is it all right to give the kids glasses of milk to drink?" "Sure," Mallory replied. "Why wouldn't it be?" "I don't know," she said with a shrug. "Maybe milking cows is bad for the animals." Mallory laughed. "The Green Patrol has really shaken you up, hasn't it?" Jessi nodded her head. "I'm afraid to breathe. I might-pollute the air." After the kids ate lunch, they made a complete inspection of the house and yard. Several times Jessi and Mal made mistakes. Jessi found a soda can by the fence and threw it in the trash. She forgot to recycle. And Mallory left the light on in the kitchen. She was wasting energy. But the Green Patrol was right there to tell them about it.

  By the time Mr. and Mrs. Pike arrived home two hours later, the house and yard had been given a complete Green Inspection, and Jessi and Mal were totally exhausted.

  They had both been forced to attend Green school five times and, according to Jessi, "Once was more than enough!" Chapter 8.

  I spent most of the week planning a recycling program for Stoneybrook Middle School. First I designed a poster listing reasons why SMS was the ideal site for a recycling center. Then I drew up a schedule for taking the cans and bottles to the main terminal downtown. I'd even made a chart of how many students would be needed to work on the project each week, and how many hours they would have to spend a month to keep the recycling center going.

  On Thursday I got up my courage to present my plan to Mrs. Gonzalez. After school, I went to her classroom and told her about it. Her response was better than I ever expected.

  "Dawn, that's an excellent idea," she said. "I'm really impressed." "Thanks," I said proudly. "When can we start? Tomorrow?" Mrs. Gonzalez laughed. "Not so fast. These things take time." "But there isn't any time," I protested. "Every day the world gets covered with more and more garbage. You said so yourself." Mrs. Gonzalez folded her hands in front of her on her desk. "I'm glad to see you're so enthusiastic about this, and I have a feeling you could really make it work. But before we can start anything, Mr. Kingbridge will have to okay it." My stomach did a flip-flop. Mr. Kingbridge was the vice-principal and a visit to his office was always pretty scary.

  "I'll talk to him this afternoon." Mrs. Gonzalez slid her chair back and stood up. "We'll see if you can show him your presentation tomorrow." "Great." I swallowed hard.

  At home that night I practiced a speech over and over in front of the mirror. Then I performed it for Mary Anne and her kitten Tigger. At breakfast the next morning, I presented it to my mom and Richard. By the time I talked to Mr. Kingbridge that afternoon, I had memorized it completely.

  Mr. Kingbridge was sitting behind his big oak desk when Mrs. Downey, the school secretary, ushered me into his office. He gestured for me to sit down, then said, "Your teacher, Mrs. Gonzalez, is very impressed with you. She says you have an idea that will benefit not just our school but the whole town
of Stoneybrook. Is that right?" I swallowed hard and croaked, "Yes, sir." "Well." Mr. Kingbridge leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. "Tell me about it." I decided to stand up to make my speech, because that's how I had been practicing it. I was a little shaky at first (A little? My hands were quivering!) but after I showed him my poster and listed the reasons why SMS should be a recycling center, I started to calm down.

  "SMS is in a prime location for a recycling center - it's only a few minutes walk from lots of neighborhoods," I explained. "Having this center on our school grounds would train the students to be ecology-minded and they in turn would train their families." Mr. Kingbridge nodded his head and leaned forward as I continued my presentation. After I showed him the work schedule, and the plans for transporting the cans and bottles to the main center, I announced in a clear, strong voice, "Mr. Kingbridge, this project will not only benefit the community by giving them a convenient location to recycle but it will also benefit our school. Just think of the hundreds of pieces of paper we use here everyday that could easily be recycled. I bet our school cafeteria provides over a thousand cartons of milk a week to the students." "That's a lot of paper," Mr. Kingbridge agreed.

  "And the teachers' lounge has a soft drink machine. Those cans should be recycled. Why not let the students of SMS do something good for our school and our planet?" When I'd finished Mr. Kingbridge asked to look at my notebook once more. After studying it for a few minutes, he raised his head. "How much is this going to cost?" "It won't cost anyone a thing, but time." "What about the supplies?" "All we need are clearly labeled cardboard boxes that we can get free from grocery stores, and a dry place to store them." "How about advertising?" "We can make posters at my house and put them up around town." "We?" Mr. Kingbridge arched his eyebrows. "Who's we?" "The students at SMS." Mr. Kingbridge stared at me for a moment. Then he got up from his desk and looked out his window, his hands behind his back. After what seemed like a million years, he said, "If you can prove to me that the students at SMS support you, and are willing to work very hard to make this project succeed . . ." (he paused and then smiled) "then I see no reason why you can't start your recycling program." "All right!" I shouted so loudly that the sound surprised even me, and I clapped my hand over my mouth.