Part 15 (2/2)
”Yes, really. Well, after awhile I did.”
At last, it was Stacey's turn to say good-bye. She and Laine threw their arms around each other. ”I'll see you soon,” said Stacey.
”I know.”
”Come visit me in Stoneybrook.” - ”Okay.”
Stacey turned away. She hailed a cab. She and Dawn and I slid inside.
I felt that our vacation had already ended.
Epilogue.
Claudia.
Well, we're back. New York is a nice place to visit and Ston-eybrook is a nice place to live. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm happy to be home, but I'm sorry our vacation is over. I think we all are, even Dawn. But J must say that our arrival at the Stoneybrook train station was pretty spectacular. Guess who came to meet us? Everyone in our families. They had all turned out when we left Stoneybrook, but when we returned, they were a little more organized. The Pike kids had made a banner on computer paper. They had printed out a picture of the Statue of Liberty at one end (obviously, their computer does graphics), then the words FROM NEW YORK TO STONEYBROOK, and then an outline of the state of Connecticut. Kristy's brothers and sisters and mom and stepfather were wearing blue T-s.h.i.+rts with THOMAS printed on the fronts and BREWER printed on the backs. (I think Kristy was a little embarra.s.sed by that. But when Emily presented her with her own s.h.i.+rt, Kristy nearly cried.) I searched the crowd for my family. There they were. In the back. Not holding banners or wearing T-s.h.i.+rts. Just there.
I ran to them. I hugged all of them, including Janine.
”You're back!” said Dad. (Duh.) ”You made it home safely!” said Mom. (What did she expect?) ”Did you, by any chance, visit the IBM Gallery of Science and Art?” asked the genius. (Oh, my lord.) ”We did so much!” I exclaimed, deciding to ignore what they'd just said. ”We went on a sightseeing tour - ”
”On a bus?” asked Janine.
”No, a boat. We circled Manhattan. Did you know it's an island? And for art cla.s.s we went to Rockefeller Center and the Cloisters.”
”The Cloisters?” repeated my sister.
And for once, I was able to explain something to her.
Our big group of welcomers started to go home.
” 'Bye, Roomie!” I called to Stacey.
My other friends were calling back and forth to each other.
”See you tomorrow!” Mallory called to Jessi.
” 'Bye!” Jessi called back.
” 'Bye, Dawn!” I called.
” 'Bye, Mary Anne!” called Stacey.
” 'Bye, Claudia!” called Jessi.
” 'Bye, Stacey!” called Kristy., And then she added, ”This is starting to sound like the end of The Waltons. ” 'Bye, John Boy! 'Bye, Mama! 'Bye, Jim Bob!”
I piled my junk into the back of our car. There was quite a bit more than when I had left. I mean, you have to buy souvenirs and go shopping when you're in New York. Isn't that half the point of being there?
At home, I proudly showed my family the work I had done at Falny. If I do say so myself, my portfolio was impressive.
”Claudia, this work is so different from most of your drawings,” exclaimed Mom.
”Do you like it?” I asked anxiously.
”It's wonderful,” said Mom and Dad.
And Janine added, ”It's totally, um, what's the word? Oh, yeah. It's totally awesome.”
”I kept a diary, too,” I said shyly. ”Well, sort of. I didn't write in it every day. But I have a good record of what we did. And my friends kept track of what they did. When they give me their notes and stuff, I'll make an ill.u.s.trated trip diary.”
Needless to say, Mom and Dad nearly keeled over with shock.
”What a wonderful idea,” exclaimed Mom.
”I cannot wait to see the finished product,” said Janine.
It took me a long time to finish my project. While I was working on it, the members of the BSC were keeping in touch with their New York friends. The mailman had his hands full for awhile:
About the Author.
ANN M. MARTIN is a former editor of books for children and was graduated from Smith College. Her other books include Ma and Pa Dracula; Ten Kids, No Pets; b.u.mmer Summer, and all the books in the Baby-sitters Club series. She lives in New York, New York, with her cat, Mouse, and her new kitten, Rosie.
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