By Ann M. Martin. Published February 1988.
So the girls are about to start the eighth grade for the
first time. I think I’ll keep track of how many times they do so.
The most exciting thing that happens on the first day is
seeing a new boy, who looks exactly like Mary Anne’s favorite celebrity, Cam
Geary. He’s in Stacey’s homeroom, and his name is Logan Bruno. Mary Anne’s
jealous Stacey already knows him.
What Kristy thinks is high excitement, however, is noticing
a poster for a PTA meeting. She thinks that would be a great advertising
opportunity for the club. So girls agree to make up new fliers to hand out
then, as well as around Kristy’s new neighborhood, even though she thinks
they’re all snobs.
Their plan goes a little too well. Claudia is inundated with
calls from new clients, outside of meeting times. It’s so bad she calls an
emergency meeting during lunch. Logan overhears, sits down next to Mary Anne
and says that he has a lot of baby-sitting experience. They invite him to come
to a meeting. Mary Anne’s so nervous she can’t say anything.
So he comes to the next meeting, and it goes okay, except
the girls realize they can’t talk about things like bra straps in front of him.
It’s never been a problem before, but whatever. And Mary Anne still can barely
talk. But they line up a trial job for him, with a new client, the Rodowskys.
Kristy would like another sitter to go with him, and Mary Anne is only one
free.
Mary Anne gets over her nervousness enough to be
professional. Jackie Rodowsky gets his introduction, being the complete accident-prone
kid that he is. But Logan handles things well, and Mary Anne is impressed.
After the job Logan tells Mary Anne she has a pretty smile. Aww, yeah.
Claudia has a crazy job at the Perfect Perkins. The girls
are wonderful, of course, but their dog, Chewy, basically terrorizes the
neighborhood. All because Claudia dropped his leash. Dumbass.
The girls discuss Logan at their next meeting. They all like
him, and think it’s great he did a good job sitting, but they all remember how
uncomfortable it was when he attended a meeting. They aren’t sure they’re okay
with that. They decide to see what he says, and that Mary Anne should be the
one to call.
She gets her nerve up, and calls him. But he says he
actually doesn’t want to be part of the club. He then blindsides her by asking
her to the school dance. She says yes.
Stacey sits for Charlotte, and they come up with the idea to
surprise Mary Anne for her upcoming birthday. Stacey will have just a regular
party, not specifically for Mary Anne, so it won’t embarrass her. But she’s
planning a surprise cake, and having every one bring presents. That sounds like
a party for Mary Anne to me, but whatever. It’s also going to be boy/girl
party.
Mary Anne’s dad gives her his credit card to go shopping for
something to wear to the dance. The entire club goes, and they find the famous
cities skirt. I so wanted one of my own. It sounded like the shit.
Mary Anne’s so nervous about the dance, Kristy actually
cancels the meeting that day so they can all help her get ready. They pay
Janine a couple of bucks to answer the phone for them.
At the dance, Logan gives Mary Anne a corsage. Really? For
just a regular middle school dance? Okay. Anyway, the dance is half over before
actually start to, you know, dance. Mary Anne feels silly, but then she just
starts copying Logan, which make him laugh. So they’re having a good time. Then
he starts kicking like a Rockette (y’all just sit with that a minute), but when
Mary Anne does the same, she kicks her shoe off, nearly hitting the vice
principal in the head. Everyone laughs, and she’s mortified. She sits out the
rest of the dance, but at least Logan’s not mad about that.
Kristy sits for the little Thomas-Brewers, and Dawn comes
over to spend the night. There’s lots of foreshadowing for the next book, and,
ugh, I can’t even deal with it right now. The kids fight, and Kristy and Dawn
discuss possible gifts for Mary Anne.
Mary Anne gets permission to go to the party, asks Logan to
go with her, and he says yes. Yay.
The day of the party, Stacey asks Mary Anne to come a half
hour later. Mary Anne just thinks she’s nervous. When she gets there, she’s the
last to arrive. She and Logan sit and talk for a long time, and he says he
really likes this Mary Anne. But then they bring out the cake and presents, and
Mary Anne is so embarrassed, she bolts, and runs home.
Nobody calls to check on her, so she assumes everyone is mad
at her. That morning she asks her dad for a cat, and after some thinking, he
agrees. He’s such a cool dad now. She calls Logan to make up, and tell him her
news. He assumed she was mad at all of them, which wasn’t the case. So they’re
all good, and he even goes to the shelter to pick out a kitten. She chooses a
gray tiger cat she names Tigger.
Later, she calls Stacey to apologize. Like Logan, Stacey
thought she was pissed. So they make up, too, and they decide the whole club
should come meet Tigger the next day. When they do, they bring the cake and
presents, and have a belated party.
At the next meeting, it’s another crazy one where they’re
too busy to accept all the jobs. They come up with the idea of asking Logan to
be an associate member, meaning they’ll only call him when they have to, and he
doesn’t have to come to meetings. Mary Anne calls him with their proposal, and
he gladly accepts.
o
Arrgh, this line has always bugged the shit out
of me. “…and earn pretty much money, too.” I mean, what is that?
o
I don’t understand why they can’t use tape in
their lockers, but using gum to put pictures up is okay.
I always felt more like Mary Ann than any of the other members (the strict dad stuff really hits home!) so this was a special book for me.
ReplyDeleteI too long for that Cities skirt! It's funny the things that stick out when reading these 15 years later.
I love how Tigger was a kitten for the rest of the series. My cats were only kittens for a couple of months, but I also got to leave 8th grade.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite the trade-off, isn't it?
Delete